“Snowball” is Apple’s hugely popular iPhone 11 demonstration video directed by David Leitch. It was our first 2020 Mobile Movie of the Week feature. Looking in from the outside, master mobile moviemaker Blake Calhoun deconstructs the two-minute snowball fight movie, focusing on cinematic techniques and the gear used during the shoot. While “Snowbrawl” is a sophisticated production, in his clear and thoughtful presentation Calhoun is persuasive when he says that anyone can achieve something similar to Leitch’s professional shots and sequences.

The 17-minute “Breakdown” is packed with plenty of information on a variety of topics such as filters, monopods, snow machines,  two-camera shooting, and Twixtor, an app for achieving super slow motion in post production. Given the presentation’s richness, you might wish to view it several times.

Even a single viewing will demonstrate that Blake Calhoun speaks from experience. We’ve showcased three of his excellent shorts: First Dance, Miranda, and The Movie Star. Calhoun also known for his in-depth tutorials including Smartphone Cinematography 101 and The Complete Guide to FiLMiC Pro.  You can learn more about his work at The iPhoneographers website and YouTube channel.