As the entertainment industry grinds to a halt during COVID-19 lockdown, Apple’s getting a whole lot of free publicity for the power of its iPhone camera. More and more productions are filming on the iPhone, with the latest being American Idol.
And Apple took a moment Monday to humblebrag about it.
In a statement to TechCrunch, Apple said that:
“We know that people are relying on their favorite shows while staying at home, and we are happy to be a part of that process with the team at American Idol. iPhone offers a unique solution to deliver broadcast quality video, in the palm of your hand, while keeping production staff and on-air talent safe and in their homes.”
For the primetime talent contest, American Idol, the show’s producers sent special home studio rigs out to contestants and judges. This setup includes three iPhone 11 Pros, a tripod, and a ring light.
This is similar to the rig used for the recent Parks and Recreation reunion, whereby cast members filmed themselves on iPhone and were directed via Zoom. In March, Conan O’Brien announced that he would full his new shows with an iPhone. “This will not be pretty, but feel free to laugh at our attempt,” O’Brien quipped at the time.
The iPhone camera isn’t going to replace the professional cameras used for TV production any time soon. But, right now, it may be the best tool at Hollywood’s disposal. No wonder Apple is so happy!
