At the end of this month, the film Formula 1 starring Brad Pitt will premiere. To mark the occasion, Apple showed how operators used the iPhone to get beautiful shots from the racing car. Due to technical limitations, the smartphone had to be converted into an action camera running iOS.
Director Joseph Kosinski and director of photography Claudio Miranda turned to Apple for help in solving a technical problem in the midst of making the film. The filmmakers wanted to get authentic shots from the driver’s point of view, but professional equipment cannot be installed on a Formula 1 car due to aerodynamic considerations.
As a result, the company assembled a compact camera based on the iPhone, similar to real “racing” modules for live broadcasts. Inside the small case, they placed an unnamed Apple chip and a camera sensor – according to rumors, both were borrowed from the iPhone 15 Pro. The gadget worked under a custom version of iOS.
The camera recorded in ProRes Log format, and was controlled via an iPad connected to the device via a USB-C port (direct control of the camera via radio is not allowed due to racing regulations). According to the film crew, Apple’s development surpassed the devices that are usually used to broadcast races in terms of its characteristics.
The film will premiere in the US on June 27 and will later appear on Apple TV+ streaming.