To be memorable, a travelogue will usually accomplish some or all of the following tasks: It will give a true picture of the location and the people who inhabit it. It will be visually arresting, going beyond picture postcards and what the casual observer might see. Its sound track will reinforce the pictures, and in some cases play a role that’s as important as what the camera sees. Mahmood Al-Shafai’s “Planet Tokyo” suggests another challenge: Getting the viewer to think: “This is a place I’d like to visit.” Mahmood’s persuasive travelogue was a finalist in this year’s FiLMiC Pro competition in the travel category.

About the project, Al-Shafai writes: “I have always dreamed to go to Japan. Finally my dream came true on April of 2017, I flew from Saudi Arabia to Japan to see cherry blossoms, temples and parks.”

Gear Used was an iPhone 6s, a Moment Wide Angle lens, a Moment telephoto lens, and a DJI Osmo Mobile stabilizer. The travelogue was shot using the FiLMic Pro camera app and was edited using Final Cut Pro X.

Music was licensed from Musicbed.

You can follow Mahmood Al-Shafai on Twitter and Vimeo.

The editors of MobileMovieMaking Magazine have chosen “Planet Tokyo” as a Mobile Movie of the Week.