Boo (left) with Tan (right).
While using mobile phones for filmmaking only emerged around 2008, recent technological advancements have empowered many phone owners to become filmmakers.
Huawei’s first film awards, the HUAWEI Film Awards (HFA), aim to raise awareness about this potential in the Asia Pacific region and cultivate local talent. Their latest phone, the HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro, boasts features like 4K video recording, ultra-wide angle lens, and ultra slow motion capabilities, making it a capable filmmaking tool.
At the Singapore launch on December 21st, Huawei presented a film by Mediacorp artist and Huawei ambassador Romeo Tan. Tan’s interest in photography sparked during his time experimenting with his father’s film camera and developed further during his design studies and subsequent work at Mediacorp.
Tan highlighted that actors need to collaborate closely with cameramen and understand the constraints of varying lighting conditions. He believes his experience at Mediacorp provided him an advantage when making his short film.
“The entire process was a great learning experience,” he shared. “As a director, you must constantly plan the next shot, demanding significant imagination and mental editing.”
The outdoor shoot spanned five days, culminating in a 30-minute film after post-production. Tan expressed satisfaction with the final product, considering the limitations of time and budget.
He acknowledged that the project relied heavily on the goodwill and generosity of others.
For aspiring directors, Tan emphasizes the importance of teamwork: “The entire crew is crucial. Effective communication with the right tone and approach is key to conveying your message accurately.”
He also acknowledged that limitations are inevitable, encouraging filmmakers to “challenge themselves to be creative within those constraints.”
The event featured the premiere of Boris Boo’s short film, Karung Guni. The writer and director shared that he started developing the story and storyboard in Taiwan back in October.
“From the initial contact with Huawei to the finished film, the whole process took only about a month,” he revealed.
Boo admitted that his team, initially hesitant about filming entirely on a mobile phone, overcame their doubts. “We weren’t sure if we could pull it off. Many of my team members are established film professionals; they didn’t want to lose face,” he confessed.
Despite their experience with traditional professional equipment, the team took a leap of faith, embracing the challenge of shooting entirely on the HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro. “We had to familiarize ourselves with the phone’s features,” Boo stated. “What it offered was remarkable.”
To achieve a cinematic look, the phone was mounted in a cage, and external lenses were used. Boo explained, “The Huawei phone lens is incredibly sharp. To create a more cinematic feel, we needed to swap lenses.”
The result was impressive: most of Boo’s friends and industry colleagues couldn’t tell that the film was shot on a phone.
He praised the camera’s quality: “It eliminates the need for post-production rendering.”
Boo encourages aspiring directors to refine their skills using mobile phones, highlighting the HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro’s portability and professional-grade features. He recommends mastering filmmaking techniques using a phone.
Through the HFA, themed “Empowering Your Possibilities,” Huawei aims to foster innovation and creativity in filmmaking using smartphones. They hope to demonstrate how advanced technology makes mobile filmmaking accessible.
The HFA is accepting submissions from smartphone filmmakers and content creators until February 25th, 2020 (11:59 pm, GMT+8). Entries must be filmed entirely on a Huawei mobile phone, run for under 10 minutes, and align with the “Empowering Your Possibilities” theme.
The judging panel comprises five prominent figures in film and broadcasting: Malaysian film and television producer and screenwriter Adele Lim, Thai postmodern author Prabda Yoon, Rajay Singh, senior founder partner of film and TV commercial production company Directors Think Tank, Alex Lin, Asia Pacific President of Huawei Consumer Business Group, and Chris Humphrey, who oversees regional broadcasting at A+E Networks.
The grand prize winner of the APAC Best Film at the HFA will receive US$20,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Bangkok, Thailand, for the awards ceremony. The HFA winners will be announced regionally on March 6th, 2020. Awards include categories like APAC Best Director, APAC Best Cinematography, APAC Best Actor (Male or Female), and Country Level Best Film. Winners in all categories will receive a trophy and certificate. The winner of the Country Level Best Film in Singapore will also receive additional prizes.
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Get more details on HFA participation
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