For the production of F1, Apple created a distinctive camera due to the inadequacy of broadcast cameras.
Headline: Unveiling the Super-Camera: Behind the Scenes of the Brad Pitt F1 Movie's Stunning Footage
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Dreaming about the Brad Pitt F1 flick, but unsure if it'll make the race or crash and burn? Fret not! The production's passion for cinematography is obviously on the checkered flag with director Joseph Kosinski, best known for the eye-popping Top Gun: Maverick. Apple, the film's notable backer, constructed a state-of-the-art camera, akin to an iPhone on steroids, to capture the racier-than-ever onboard footage. Gears grumbled over typical Formula 1 broadcast cameras, which just weren't cutting it for Hollywood standards.
On the big screen or mobile screen, a myriad of cameras were strapped onto the APX GP vehicles - the imaginary chariots driven by Brad Pitt and co-star Damson Idris. However, the cinematographers needed a very special gadget for that iconic overhead shot that brings the nail-biting action to life. Existing cameras capturing that angle during actual racing fall far behind movie marvel, lacking superb resolution and the flexibility over image parameters that filmmakers crave.
Enter Apple's brilliant solution - harnessing the camera system from an iPhone 15 Pro and wedging it into a chic winglet pod that perches above the driver's head. That's right! You now have a portable iPhone 15 Pro knocking about on those swanky racecars!
Wired and tech-savvy YouTuber Bobby Tonelli recently dropped juicy details about the mini-module, and if you fancy some tech talk, buckle up—the modest module packs a powerful punch! The iPhone's camera sensor teams up with one of Apple's powerful A-series processors, ensuring striking images and ultimate computational control. Pair this with an iPhone battery and an ND filter to manage the intensity of light whizzing through, and you've got yourself a winner! The steel-bead lens is a class above consumer smartphone snappers.
But wait, there's more! To ensure this beauty could withstand rough racing conditions—up to 220 mph speeds and enormously high G-forces—Apple put it to the test, using the technology's engineering prowess. It had to be as featherweight as the cameras usually employed by Formula 1 vehicles since, you know, they're all about shedding the pounds!
Though all footage recorded by the system is saved in Apple's top-tier lossless ProRes format, it can't be controlled wirelessly – naughty, FIA regulations! So, the savvy production team had an iPad connect to the camera pod via a USB-C cable to wield control, adjust settings, and start/stop recording.
This peek into the tech inventions crucial to capturing cinema-worthy onboard footage in the fast-paced F1 world is fascinating. One can't help but wonder if the Brad Pitt's F1 flick will soar into the pantheon of top racing films – but let's face it, it's sure to look stunning!
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Enrichment Data:
- Apple, the primary financial backer of the Brad Pitt F1 movie, constructed a custom onboard camera system using components from an iPhone 15 Pro to render cinematic-quality footage that standard Formula 1 broadcast cameras were unable to provide. This unique camera, internally dubbed "Carmen," incorporated the camera sensor from an iPhone 15 Pro, along with one of Apple’s powerful A-series processors. The system included an iPhone battery to power it, a neutral density (ND) filter to regulate the amount of light hitting the sensor, housed in a winglet pod above the driver’s head to capture the overhead shot desired for the movie. The camera and its hardware were ruggedized to withstand speeds up to 220 mph and high G-forces, and matched the lightness of the camera systems typically used in F1 vehicles. The footage was recorded in Apple's lossless ProRes format, with the camera being controlled via an iPad and USB-C cable due to FIA regulations preventing wireless control.*
- The highly anticipated Brad Pitt F1 movie will showcase stunning visuals, thanks to Apple's innovative onboard camera system, modeled after the iPhone 15 Pro, dubbed "Carmen."
- This custom camera system, designed to capture cinematic-quality footage, will enhance entertainment value in the film, proving that technology can revolutionize the movie-making process.
