Set up scene. Actors to the floor. Take out your iPhone 4. Shoot!
Because of a particular 30-minute horror film that debuted in South Korea, the world of technology has hit a new high. Created and directed by director Park Chan-wook, who is a famous horror-film figure in the S. Korean industry for his works like “Old Boy” and “Mother”, a new film has touched the market called “Paranmangang”, or “Ups and Downs”. It was filmed entirely on his new iPhone 4.
To nationally promote the new iPhone 4, Korea Telecom held a film festival towards local film creators alike, challenging them to make films all through their cell phones in honor of iPhones everywhere. It became a huge deal when Park submitted his own work, as he is one of the most renown directors in Korea. Making the 30-minute fantasy-horror thriller, it only cost $130,000 to create, funded by his own piggy bank and Korea Telecom.
“Paranmanjang” is about a fisherman who, while reeling in his line, discovers the body of a dead woman caught on his hook. After fainting, which any natural person would react similarity to, he regains consciousness, only to discover he is seeing everything through the eyes of a woman. Want to guess who it is? The film debuted in local theaters on it’s January 27th release date.
According to Park, who made the film with his younger brother Park Chan-kyong, this film is like any other. “From hunting for a film location, shooting auditions, to doing a documentary on the filming process, everything was shot with the iPhone 4,” he explained. But using your tech to get things done in the filming industry is, apparently, nothing new. In fact, it’s become a bit of a stylish trend. Take Michael Koerbel, for instance, who made the first professional short film on his iPhone 4, editing it with his iMovie app. Called “Apple of My Eye”.
Koerbel’s film is about a grandfather and granddaughter walking towards a toy train company building. Standing at the display window, they watch an electronic toy train whizz around plastic houses and people with the words “Head on” placed in a small fake theater. Snapping, too, when his granddaughter calls his attention, it finishes with him saying “Let me tell you a story,” and them both walking off-scene. The film is only 1:30 minutes, far shorter then Park’s 30 minute accomplishment.
What does this mean for the future of the film industry? The future of how we use technology, even? On the iPhone homepage, ‘storyboards’ have been made; these are apps that allow parents to read movies as stories, or read with children as they try to learn English over the classics we used to have to flip pages for. Their newest storyboard app is on “Megamind”, an animation directed by Tom McGrath, and children can go through it themselves if their parents aren’t around. Would this kind of technology separate families instead of bring them closer? It seems like just another way to disregard annoying parents (at an even younger age now) and gawk mindlessly at a glowing screen.