[ philmblog ] — iPad for Directors | Part 2

iPad for Directors | Part 2 | The Apps

Previous entry: iPad for Directors | Part 1 | Introduction

So, you’ve read the introduction. Let’s get down to iBusiness. I’ve scrolled high and low to find apps that will aid the director on set. Yep, we all know there are lots of great iPhone apps for filmmakers and cinematographers but the iPad is a new beast. Here’s what I’m currently using…

iAnnotate PDF - Read and comment on scripts

I get sent a lot of features scripts and I’m not a big fan of reading them on a screen at my desk. So, I end up printing out all 120 odd pages (or 60 if put two to a page) so I can write on them and make notes as I read. When you’re developing/producing a script, you’ll easily go through six or seven drafts of the same screenplay. Now thats a lot of wasted paper. Typing up notes to email is also really time consuming. iAnnotate PDF allows you to read PDF versions of a script from the comfort of your sofa and actually highlight, scribble and make notes onto the PDF. Then, when you’re done, you can email this script, complete with the notes you’ve just scribbled, straight back to your writer/producer/actor. Job done.

To transfer your script from your computer to the iPad, the designers of the app would like you to download some software for your desktop. I wouldn’t bother with this. Once the app is installed and you’ve synced the iPad back to your computer, have a look at the Apps tab in iTunes for your iPad. Scroll down and you’ll see that the app has been added to the file sharing list. Click on it and select “Add” to transfer the PDF. It’ll now be visible in the app.

Price: £4.99 | Get it here

Adobe Ideas - Sketch ‘em out

I don’t know about you but a lot of time - and randomly - an idea for a shot or image will pop into my head and it’ll need to sketch it somewhere before it runs away. Hundreds of potential shot ideas for a feature film can lead to an untidy desk. Adobe Ideas is perfect for drawing these, collating them and it’s free. It’s really easy to use and you can email them (probably embarrassingly to an actual storyboard artist who doesn’t draw stick men) straight from the app. Another great thing is the ability to import a photo as a layer and draw on top of it. Ideal for making notes on any images, location shots or references.

Price: Free | Get it here

Penultimate - Replace that notebook

A similar scribbler app to Adobe Ideas but this is better tailored for handwriting. Make notes on different subjects/projects/film ideas with appear as different ‘notebooks’. It’s probably a handy thing to have open on set to make quick notes with whilst at the monitor. It’s nicely designed too.

Price: £1.79 | Get it here

Camera for iPad - Take shots

Yep. Seriously. This amazing app allows you to use your iPhone as a remote camera for your iPad over a WiFi or Bluetooth connection. On WiFi the range is pretty impressive. You can see a live feed from the iPhone on the iPad, take a photo and the app will automatically transfer the image into your photo library. Awesome. It even gimmicky can use the iPad as a ‘flash’ but I don’t know why you would. It’s easy to set up. Just have your iPhone and iPad on the same network/paired via bluetooth (which the app does for you) and make sure you have the app loaded on your iPhone. Open them at the same time and hit ‘Connect’. Enjoy!

How would I use it? Have the iPad on and roam around the location on a recce taking photos/lining up shots and have them all sent to my iPad. Open them in Adobe Ideas and start sketching some rough storyboards with them while your DoP gathers around and is either impressed at how you’re able to represent your idea/in different because he or she has an iPad and has being doing it too/bored of your iPad already.

Price: £0.59 | Get it here

Artemis Director’s Viewfinder / Artemis Remote for iPad

We all know (or should know) how good the Artemis director’s viewfinder is on the iPhone. I don’t think it’d ever replace looking through glass on set for me. However, it’s a handy (and pretty accurate) tool to have for recce’s or just to go on a creative wander whilst the crew is setting up another shot and you don’t want to bother the busy camera assistant for a lens on a stick. Well you could, you’re the director, but that’s besides the point. It’s a handy tool to have in your pocket. Using the same idea as Camera for iPad you can use your iPhone running Artemis Director’s viewfinder and send a remote live feed to your iPad. It’ll allow people to see what the iPhone is seeing, change lenses and send images to the iPad. Clever stuff.

Artemis Viewfinder for iPhone | Price: £17.99 (required) | Get it here

Artemis Remote for iPad | Price: £2.99 | Get it here

DropBox

More of a must-have for any iPad owner, DropBox is a brilliant way of transferring files to your iPhone and iPad using a secure space on the internet. You can even ‘favorite’ files on your iPad which will download them so they can be accessed if the iPad is ever offline.

Price: Free | Get it here

Coming Soon

I’ll be no doubt updating this section as I find more useful apps but here’s a few to look out for in the next few weeks. Storyboard Composer is coming to iPad. I’ve never really been a massive user of it but do appreciate the tools it can give to directors - especially new filmmakers. Maybe I’ll change my tune once I see it on the big screen iPad! Also, there’s word that Final Draft for iPad is coming very soon. I wonder whether they’ll have annotation features like iAnnotate PDF? It’ll be perfect if they do. Either way, it’ll be a great app to have just to open those pesky Final Draft files. Okay, not strictly an app for directors but if you do the odd bit of grading at home then keep an eye on Gradiest, an app that turns your iPad into multi-touch control surface for grading. The first version will be for First Light with word on the grapevine that they’re developing a version for Apple’s Color. Woo.

…and finally

If you shoot a lot on the RedCam (like I do) and your regular director of photography is wondering what to get you for a birthday/Christmas/tuesday just suggest this. I already have. When’s it arriving Mike?

Next entry: iPad for Directors | Part 3 | Organising image/video references