Breaking News: Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later to Feature Groundbreaking iPhone Cinematography
In a move that is set to revolutionise the world of filmmaking, acclaimed director Danny Boyle has revealed that his upcoming horror threequel, 28 Years Later, was partially shot on an unprecedented 20 iPhones. The film, which is set to release on June 20th, marks a significant departure from traditional cinematography techniques, and Boyle’s experimentation with cutting-edge technology is being hailed as a game-changer in the industry.
According to a report from The Verge, Boyle’s decision to shoot on iPhones was more than just a gimmick. The director, who returns to the series after helming the 2002 original, 28 Days Later, wanted to pay homage to the digital video camcorder used in the first film. Boyle and his cinematographer, Anthony Dod Mantle, took the camcorder as an "influence" in choosing to shoot partially on a phone, which is the closest modern equivalent.
The iPhone rig used in the film’s production was a specially designed contraption that could hold up to 20 phones at once. The Verge reports that the movie actually uses a mix of regular cameras, drones, and iPhones, including three special rigs designed to hold eight, 10, or 20 iPhones at once. Boyle revealed that there is an "incredible shot" in the second half of the film that uses the 20-rig camera, which he described as "quite graphic" and "a wonderful shot that uses that technique, and in a startling way that kind of kicks you into a new world rather than thinking you’ve seen it before."
The 20-phone rig was dubbed "basically a poor man’s bullet time" by Boyle, who explained that it allowed the crew to shoot some of the film’s more violent scenes in new and innovative ways. "It gives you 180 degrees of vision of an action, and in the editing you can select any choice from it, either a conventional one-camera perspective or make your way instantly around reality, time-slicing the subject, jumping forward or backward for emphasis," he told The Verge.
In addition to its unconventional cinematography, 28 Years Later was also shot in an especially wide 2.76:1 aspect ratio, the equivalent of 70mm film. Boyle explained that this was a deliberate choice to keep viewers guessing about where the film’s infected could pop up. "If you’re on a widescreen format, they could be anywhere… you have to keep scanning, looking around for them," he said.
As the film industry continues to evolve and new technologies emerge, it’s clear that Danny Boyle’s experimentation with iPhone cinematography is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the big screen. With 28 Years Later set to release later this month, fans and critics alike will be eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see this groundbreaking technique in action.
The film’s use of iPhone cinematography has generated significant buzz in the industry, with many experts hailing it as a innovative and bold move. As The Verge reports, Boyle’s decision to shoot on iPhones is a testament to the versatility and quality of modern smartphone technology. With 28 Years Later, Boyle has once again proven himself to be a visionary director willing to take risks and push the boundaries of what’s possible in filmmaking.
