Useful Cinematography iPhone Apps to Have on Set (Part 5)

Toolkit 4 Comments

Apple’s iPhone is an amazing piece of technology and in the previous parts of this series (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4) I highlighted apps from depth-of-field calculators to camera reports that make it a must-have tool on set. So, let’s take a look at five more apps that stand to turn the phone in your pocket into a hard-working piece of gear.

LVRUSA IconLVRUSA

Price: Free
Available on iTunes – Website

This app comes recommended by reader Patrick King and is chock full of useful information. The biggest feature in this app is its gathering of digital camera manuals. From RED to Alexa to 7D, the app puts the PDF’s into your hands without having to load them manually.

LVRUSA iPhone App Screenshots

While LVRUSA provides pure information — it’s not a calculator of any sort — it does contain a lot of it. It shows how much time can be recorded on popular media types as well as the estimates on how long different batteries will hold a charge. It truly is a great resource and the best part is that it’s free.

Gobo Filmmakers Dictionary iPhone App IconGobo (Filmmakers Dictionary)

Price: $0.99
Available on iTunes – Website

The Filmmakers Dictionary, renamed to simply “Gobo,” is an app that takes production slang and organizes it into an easy to navigate glossary. I was sold on this app once I saw that it defined specific equipment, but also common phrases like “Greek it out” that you see in the screenshots below.

Gobo Filmmakers Dictionary iPhone App Screenshots

It’s also great that the app divides the glossary into different departments which have their own set of terms and nicknames. If you’re new to the filmmaking game and don’t want to be caught on set not knowing what something is, download Gobo.

Clinometer iPhone App IconClinometer

Price: $0.99
Available on iTunes – Website

In my article on matching shots, I noted that a level or clinometer is necessary to do the job properly. On my iPhone I have a level app, but once I saw Clinometer in the app store, I ponied up the $1.00 for it. After seeing the beautiful screenshots, I couldn’t help but give it a shot.

Clinometer iPhone App Screenshots

You’ll find that Clinometer pulls no punches on its specificity and usefulness. It strives to be the ONLY level/clinometer app that you want to use. It calibrates seamlessly, launches quickly and works effectively.

Also available for iPad

KeeMe iPhone App IconKeeMe

Price: $0.99
Available on iTunes – Website

These days, many film professionals will end up working on visual effects heavy shoots. KeeMe serves a very specific responsibility on these types of shoots, but one that I think is inventive and necessary. Basically, KeeMe will display a chosen color on an iPhone along with tracking markers to later overlay whatever you want onto the phone’s screen.

KeeMe iPhone App Screenshots

Again this app serves a very specific purpose, but for the instances in which it is used, it will help the visual effects artists’ job tremendously. Or if you’re shooting a project yourself, it might be worth the buck to make your After Effects session a bit shorter.

Also available for iPad

Wrap Time iPhone App IconWrap Time Lite

Price: $1.99
Available on iTunes – Website

Making money and getting paid are all results of working in this industry. Keeping track of that can get confusing, but with this app, it makes calculating your day rate and the amount of work hours a lot easier.

Wrap Time iPhone App Screenshots

After you input your rate, the overtime stipulations and other job specific details, Wrap Time Lite just needs you to note the times at which certain events like lunch happen and it’ll calculate the rest. When you’re done you can email it to a producer, an assistant director, or whoever is cutting the checks. Not cinematography related, but will help you save some time at the end of the day.

Note: There is no “full” version yet available

A Filmmakers iPhone

With the launch of the iPad 2, Apple doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, but it’s their phone that has exploded within the filmmaking industry. From grips to gaffers, the iPhone has shown that it’s versatility makes it a tool worth keeping in your kit — unless you’re working with Android.

Find more Useful Cinematography iPhone Apps from this series of posts.

About the author:

About the author: Evan Luzi is the editor and founder of The Black and Blue as well as a freelance camera assistant.

You can learn more about him or follow him on Twitter and Google+.

This Isn't About One Gig. It's About Launching Your Career.
  • Bud Smithson

    What do you think about Viewfinder Cine for iPhone?
    Bud

  • http://www.facebook.com/ryan.grosjean Ryan Grosjean

    Bud, the Artemis Directors viewfinder app is pretty good and was recommended to me from Karl Walter Lindenlaub, ASC. Plus you can take pictures with it, which makes it great when doing location scouts as it saves the meta data with the picture with focal length and gps coordinates.

    -Ryan

  • http://www.theblackandblue.com/ Evan

    Hi Bud, I haven’t used Viewfinder Cine, but I will look into it for the next part of this series. I think Ryan gave a great reply about Artemis, which I have reviewed in one of my other posts.

  • http://www.solubleapps.com/shotlist Peter Johnson

    HI Evan

    Soluble have just released “Shotlist”, the first complete Production Stripboard system for iPhone and iPad for planning and tracking shoots.

    You can instantly change schedules and send email updates, hold important numbers and web links for a scene, and track your progress on the day. More info and video on http://www.solubleapps.com/shotlist.

    We hope you’ll be able to take a look and add it to your list.

    Cheers

    Peter
    Soluble Apps