Apple's 'Shot On iPhone' Illusion: The Expensive Reality Behind the 'Scary Fast' Event

Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) “Scary Fast” event, filmed with an iPhone 15 Pro Max, may have appeared seamless and attainable to everyday users, but a closer look at the behind-the-scenes reality reveals the extensive and costly equipment necessary to achieve its cinematic quality.

What Happened: During Apple’s ‘Scary Fast’ event, viewers were treated to “spooky” but stunning visuals captured using the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The cinematic quality left many in awe, but as the behind-the-scenes footage unveiled, this production level isn’t as accessible as it seems.

On Tuesday, Cupertino posted the BTS video on its official YouTube channel, revealing that the production of the pre-recorded event “shot on iPhone” involved many professional equipment, including drones, gimbals, dollies, and industrial lighting setups. 

See Also: Many Loved To Hate This Macbook Pro Feature, So Apple Decided To Just Cancel It: ‘Good Riddance’

Moreover, the professional lighting and recording accessories used in the event were anything but ordinary. These are typically found on the sets of big-budget movies or high-end studio productions. 

Breaking down the behind-the-scenes video, well-known tech analyst Marques Brownlee explained that three key factors make Apple’s event videos impressive.

Stabilization: To get those steady and smooth shots, the production team didn’t rely solely on the iPhone’s built-in stabilization. They used professional tools like the DJI Ronin 2 and a “Spacecam” rig for big movements.

Set Design: Many important shots are taken on the Apple campus, but for a more commercial or home-like feel, the team used a dedicated soundstage. 

Lighting: The biggest reason Apple’s videos shine is the lighting. Every shot is expertly lit to make the subject look fantastic. They used tricks like overhead fill and light modifiers to achieve this.

Brownlee further said that it seems that every presenter in an Apple video wears a special hidden microphone under their shirt, because we don’t see any visible microphones in these videos. It’s impressive how good the audio sounds with these concealed microphones.

Why It’s Important: For the unversed, during the October event, Apple introduced a series of new Macs featuring its latest M3 chips, including a refreshed 24-inch iMac and 14 to 16-inch MacBook Pro models. 

The 24-inch iMac costs $1,299 with an eight-core CPU or $1,499 with a 10-core chip. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro chip starts at $1,999, and the 16-inch M3 Pro model starts at $2,499. 

All the devices are now open for preorders and will be available beginning Nov. 7.

Image Source – Apple

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