Apple’s Latest Short Film Proves the iPhone 16 Pro Is a Serious Camera

The line between professional cinema and everyday technology has officially been blurred by Apple. And the new iPhone 16 Pro is the culprit. Apple's latest short film, Big Man, is a poignant and visually stunning piece shot entirely on the new iPhone, and it contains some stunning visuals and showcases the power of the productLet's dive in. Apple's New Short on an iPhone 16 ProBig Man is a really cool short film that stars the acclaimed UK rap artist Michael "Stormzy" Omari and is helmed by Academy Award-winning director Aneil Karia. It tells the story of Tenzman (played by Stormzy), a world-weary musician who rediscovers his passion and a sense of family through an unexpected road trip with two enterprising children.It's the latest entry in Apple's long-running "Shot on iPhone" campaign. Produced by Stormzy's own #Merky Films in association with Somesuch and Apple, the film leverages the advanced camera capabilities of the yet-to-be-released iPhone 16 Pro, turning a device that fits in your pocket into a veritable Hollywood-grade camera.And I have to say, I was blown away by how good the movie looks. For director Aneil Karia, who had never before shot a narrative piece entirely on an iPhone, Karia praised the device's flexibility and intimacy."The lightness and flexibility that comes with that is boundless in a sense."Why Shoot on the iPhone 16 Pro?Apple's short film was shot entirely on the iPhone 16 Pro, leveraging its professional-grade camera system. This system includes a powerful 48MP Main camera, a new 48MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP Telephoto lens, all enhanced by advanced software and the tactile new Camera Control button.In the behind the scenes featurette above, Director of Photography Stuart Bentley highlights the specific technological leaps of the iPhone 16 Pro that made the film possible. "We're pushing the camera to the very limits of what it's capable of, and we've found it to be really resilient," said Bentley.Cinematic Mode in 4K at 120 frames per second: This allowed for breathtaking slow-motion sequences, like a dynamic trampoline scene, with a shallow depth of field that keeps the focus squarely on the characters.Apple ProRes Log: Shooting in Log format provided the filmmakers with significantly more data, offering immense flexibility in post-production for color grading and handling scenes with high dynamic range.Advanced Low-Light Performance: The film features numerous scenes shot at night, in dimly lit arcades and dark music studios, all captured with remarkable clarity and detail.This project is a far cry from the early days of grainy phone videos. It demonstrates that the conversation is no longer about whether a phone can be used for serious filmmaking, but rather what new creative avenues it opens. The portability of the iPhone allowed the crew to capture shots in tight spaces and adopt a more guerrilla-style, naturalistic approach that a larger camera rig would have prohibited.Summing It All UpBig Man is a compelling story in its own right, but it's cool to see how a great filmmaker can just use the tech in the palm of their hands to make a movie that's compelling and looks great.This short definitely proves that smartphone filmmaking is definitely going to be a huge part of the future.Let me know what you think in the comments.

Jun 19, 2025 - 23:25

Apple’s Latest Short Film Proves the iPhone 16 Pro Is a Serious Camera

The line between professional cinema and everyday technology has officially been blurred by Apple.

And the new iPhone 16 Pro is the culprit.

Apple's latest short film, Big Man, is a poignant and visually stunning piece shot entirely on the new iPhone, and it contains some stunning visuals and showcases the power of the product

Let's dive in.

Apple's New Short on an iPhone 16 Pro

Big Man is a really cool short film that stars the acclaimed UK rap artist Michael "Stormzy" Omari and is helmed by Academy Award-winning director Aneil Karia.

It tells the story of Tenzman (played by Stormzy), a world-weary musician who rediscovers his passion and a sense of family through an unexpected road trip with two enterprising children.

It's the latest entry in Apple's long-running "Shot on iPhone" campaign.

Produced by Stormzy's own #Merky Films in association with Somesuch and Apple, the film leverages the advanced camera capabilities of the yet-to-be-released iPhone 16 Pro, turning a device that fits in your pocket into a veritable Hollywood-grade camera.

And I have to say, I was blown away by how good the movie looks.

For director Aneil Karia, who had never before shot a narrative piece entirely on an iPhone, Karia praised the device's flexibility and intimacy.

"The lightness and flexibility that comes with that is boundless in a sense."

Why Shoot on the iPhone 16 Pro?

Apple's short film was shot entirely on the iPhone 16 Pro, leveraging its professional-grade camera system. This system includes a powerful 48MP Main camera, a new 48MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP Telephoto lens, all enhanced by advanced software and the tactile new Camera Control button.

In the behind the scenes featurette above, Director of Photography Stuart Bentley highlights the specific technological leaps of the iPhone 16 Pro that made the film possible.

"We're pushing the camera to the very limits of what it's capable of, and we've found it to be really resilient," said Bentley.

Cinematic Mode in 4K at 120 frames per second: This allowed for breathtaking slow-motion sequences, like a dynamic trampoline scene, with a shallow depth of field that keeps the focus squarely on the characters.
Apple ProRes Log: Shooting in Log format provided the filmmakers with significantly more data, offering immense flexibility in post-production for color grading and handling scenes with high dynamic range.
Advanced Low-Light Performance: The film features numerous scenes shot at night, in dimly lit arcades and dark music studios, all captured with remarkable clarity and detail.

This project is a far cry from the early days of grainy phone videos.

It demonstrates that the conversation is no longer about whether a phone can be used for serious filmmaking, but rather what new creative avenues it opens.

The portability of the iPhone allowed the crew to capture shots in tight spaces and adopt a more guerrilla-style, naturalistic approach that a larger camera rig would have prohibited.

Summing It All Up

Watch Apple's New Dynamic Short on an iPhone 16 Pro

Big Man is a compelling story in its own right, but it's cool to see how a great filmmaker can just use the tech in the palm of their hands to make a movie that's compelling and looks great.

This short definitely proves that smartphone filmmaking is definitely going to be a huge part of the future.

Let me know what you think in the comments.