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Sony shot an entire Hollywood movie using a full-frame mirrorless camera
A small-budget thriller called The Possession of Hannah Grace is the first Sony Pictures film to be shot on a full-frame mirrorless camera. Sony said that the film was primarily shot on its own A7S II, a consumer camera that costs a mere $2,000. "The smaller camera's ability to see beautiful under low light conditions, the LED lighting technology, and the [eco-friendly] methods we used in set construction made this whole production a case study in how to be efficient and still tell a great story with a fantastic look," said producer Glenn S. Gainor.
Apple is reportedly planning to set up shop in Hollywood
In June, Apple announced that it had hired Sony bigshots Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg to head its video programming division. The move signaled that Apple might be more serious about its TV and film aspirations than its currently small offerings would suggest. Now, the Financial Times is reporting that the company has its eye on a major Hollywood studio.
Studio Ghibli reopens for Hayao Miyazaki's new film
Just a few years ago, Studio Ghibli's future was in the air after co-founder and legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki (supposedly) retired. The place is about to be jumping again, however, as the studio announced that it has re-opened to start production on a recently-announced new film by the not-so-retired Miyazaki. He was on hand for a small ceremony on July 3rd, where he "brought together his main collaborators already engaged on his new feature film to talk to them about the project," the company said in a news release (translated).
Netflix's first original feature film will be shown in UK cinemas
Netflix has earned a reputation as a producer of high-quality TV shows and documentaries, and now it wants to do the same with feature films. Beasts of No Nation, a war drama featuring Idris Elba, will be available to stream on October 16th, but Brits will also have option to watch it in cinemas from October 9th. Netflix has struck a deal with Curzon Cinemas, a chain specialising in independent and art house films, to get its first major movie up on the big screen. It's also set to premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 8th -- with more mainstream exposure, there's a greater chance it'll pick up some awards and legitimise Netflix's filmmaking efforts. Beasts of No Nation is based on a 2005 novel by Uzodinma Iweala, and stars Abraham Attah as a young boy swept up in the middle of an African civil war and forced to become a child soldier. The first trailer shows promise -- it's a cut above what we're expecting from Adam Sandler's The Ridiculous Six, anyway.
Olive: the first feature film 'intentionally' shot on a smartphone (video)
Sure, your smartphone might shoot HD, you might even have a dolly, but most of us know that 30 seconds of accidental filming inside a pocket and a blurry clip from the office party are about the best we can hope for. Not director Hooman Khalili. He made a feature length film using his trusty Nokia N8 and a custom lens, and now plans to show it in movie theaters. The film, called Olive, tells the story of a mute little girl, and the impact she has on the lives of those who meet her. Partly financed by the former Facebook CPO Chris Kelly, this Kickstarter story has the making of a movie itself. Should it raise the required $300k in funding, Khalili hopes it might even get a sniff by the Academy. That's assuming, of course, they've had a recent change of policy. For a sneak peak and a look at the making of, check the video after the break.
