Soderbergh's UNSANE - behind the scenes insights

Soderbergh’s UNSANE – behind the scenes insights

Here’s some “behind the scenes” photos from the making of Steven Soderbergh’s UNSANE – a feature film shot on iPhone 7s.

In the first image we can see Steven operating an iPhone 7 mounted on a Beastgrip rig, with a lens attached using the Beastgrip. He’s filming Claire Foy acting in an office scene.

He’s using FiLMiC Pro as his camera app.

But wait… if that’s Steven filming, who’s that guy in the background who looks a lot like Soderbergh?

And here’s how that shot turned out in the movie.

Here’s Steven holding his iPhone mounted on a gimbal (Any guesses which one?)

Plus a whole stack of equipment most of us can’t afford.

Here’s a clearer shot of that gimbal…

I think that stack of kit is audio recording stuff:

Here’s Soderbergh using a wheelchair to film a smooth tracking shot.

But he already has the iPhone mounted to a gimbal so why does he need the wheels? Because even with gimbal you still get that slight up and down movement from the operator’s footsteps.

This is a frame to show how that tracking shot came out in the movie:

See how important audio is?

Even when a director is operating his own smartphone to shoot a film, he still has a load of sound crew and kit.

Here’s how that shot turned out:

What is this thing they are strapping to lead actress Claire Foy?

Is this part of the story? Or is it some kind of motivational device used by Soderbergh? “If you don’t get the next take right you’re going in the iron girdle again…”

“NNOOOOOOO…..!!”

Ahhh that’s what it is. Strap the camera to your chest, mounted via Beastgrip again – plus lens and FiLMiC Pro.

Did you know Martin Scorsese was one of the first directors to do this? A famous scene in Mean Streets has Harvey Keitel with a camera strapped to his chest. But in the case of the film shot in 1973, the camera was a Panavision 35mm. Somewhat bigger and heavier than an iPhone…

A great example of a creative filming style. Because the YouTube “how to make your film cinematic” videos would never recommend you do this. The reason behind this shot in Mean Streets is to give you a real sense of being drunk at a party.

In this shot, we get a reverse of the camera so we get to see the lens mounted on that Beastgrip.

Any guesses what the lens is?

This rig was used to get this “multiple exposure” style shot in the movie. The creative idea behind the shot is to create a feeling of the increasing madness experienced by Foy’s character.

Here’s Soderbergh getting a another gimbal-mounted tracking shot. This time he’s on foot. Creative choice?

Here’s what it looked like in the film:

And now back in the wheelchair…

In this shot, Soderbergh uses one of those little Joby gorillapods:

With an iPhone, getting a low angle shot couldn’t be easier…

What’s this? It’s a Phantom Lite. But what’s that lens?

Is this enough grip for you, Mr Soderbergh?

Gimbal-mounted running shots…

You won’t get a wheelchair to roll smoothly through these trees. Plus, creatively you probably want to keep the footstep movement in the shot.

How about some blue filter?

Girdles are not just for girls…

Joshua Leonard also had to wear one.

How many crew do you need to watch a Soderbergh shoot an iPhone movie?

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