Steven Soderbergh’s 2nd iPhone-Shot Film?
Rumours are filtering onto the web that Steven Soderbergh has shot his 2nd smartphone-shot film. Following psychological thriller UNSANE, which was shot on iPhone 7s, reports are that Soderbergh has returned to the iPhone. Acquired for distribution by Netflix, the film is a basketball drama called HIGH FLYING BIRD, Deadline Magazine and others reported on Tuesday.
The film stars Andre Holland (Moonlight, The Knick) and Zazie Beetz, and was written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Academy Award Best Screenplay winner for “Moonlight,” which was based on his own play.
Also starring are Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2), Melvin Gregg (UnREAL), Sonja Sohn (The Chi), Zachary Quinto (Star Trek: Beyond), Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks) and Bill Duke (Predator). Holland plays the agent, Beetz his right-hand and Gregg the rookie basketball player.
Soderbergh said at the time that he loved shooting with an iPhone and planned to do so again for future films. Soderbergh is said to have worked extremely fast, as he did with UNSANE. “High Flying Bird” was shot in just two weeks in March of this year. It’s hard to believe, but rumours also suggest Soderbergh had a working cut done less than three hours later.
Actor Joshua Leonard, who co-starred in UNSANE said Soderbergh had done the same thing in that film, assembling the film in a matter of hours during a wrap party.
Nobody has yet reported which model iPhone was used for HIGH FLYING BIRD, but we think it was probably the iPhone X.
The maverick director has long-advocated making movies outside the studio system. So it’s no surprise he has now hooked up with the streaming giant. Netflix will release “High Flying Bird” in 2019.
More about this: Soderbergh, iPhones and the Return of the B Movie and High Flying Bird – Steven Soderbergh’s 2nd iPhone Movie Slamdance Premiere
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Simon Horrocks
Simon Horrocks is a screenwriter & filmmaker. His debut feature THIRD CONTACT was shot on a consumer camcorder and premiered at the BFI IMAX in 2013. His shot-on-smartphones sci-fi series SILENT EYE featured on Amazon Prime. He now runs a popular Patreon page which offers online courses for beginners, customised tips and more: www.patreon.com/SilentEye