January 11, 2011
SEOUL (AFP) - A movie claimed to be the first ever cinema-standard film to be shot solely on the iPhone has been premiered by celebrated South Korean director Park Chan-Wook.
"Night Fishing" is said to have the same picture resolution as conventional movies but took just 80 people, 150 million won ($133,000) and 10 days to create.
Park Chan-Wook said he at first approached the project, a 30-minute film about a surreal encounter between a fisherman and a female shaman (medium), for fun.
"New technology always offers wonders and useful features. Testing them is part of the amusement," he told Yonhap news agency in an interview after Monday's premiere.
But the director, best known internationally for "Oldboy" and "Thirst" which each won Cannes festival prizes, discovered unexpected benefits.
"It was a new experience compared with making a meticulously planned movie. Even a casual and spontaneous shot delivered a surprise," he said.
"It felt like there were more choices."
The scenes were shot simultaneously with two iPhones from different angles, but staffers also contributed with recordings on their own iPhones.
"Some of them had an unexpectedly interesting angle," said Park Chan-Wook, describing the process as more democratic since everyone with a smartphone took part.
PROne, the agency representing Park Chan-Wook, claimed the iPhone movie would be the first ever to be shown in cinemas.
Park Chan-Wook, however, said the medium would not outweigh the message.
"Making a film with smartphones might generate more interest at the moment. But as time goes by, stories and actors on screen will be seen as more important," he told Yonhap.
KT Corp, sole local agent for the iPhone which has sold 1.8 million units in South Korea since November 2009, partially funded the film.
The movie, co-directed by Park and his brother Park Chan-Kyong, will be shown in 10 cinemas nationwide from January 27 for four days.
