close
close

Yiamastaverna

Trusted News & Timely Insights

    • The Weeknd’s upcoming music video was shot on the new iPhone 16 Pro
    Frisco

    The Weeknd’s upcoming music video was shot on the new iPhone 16 Pro

    Bronwen Cerys Posted on

    A person with curly hair, sunglasses and a dark jacket stands in a misty, blue-tinted environment. He is filmed by a camera, which can be seen in the foreground and is held by two hands. Leafless branches can be seen in the background.

    The Weeknd and Apple announced that the pop star’s latest music video was shot entirely with the just-announced iPhone 16 Pro.

    The video for Dancing in the flames is by director Anton Tammi and cinematographer Erik Henrikkson.

    A film crew member leans into a convertible and holds a camera close to the actor in the car. Another crew member stands behind, also operating a camera. The scene is lit in blue, creating a moody atmosphere. A time stamp is visible at the bottom.

    Apple says the new iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are powered by the A18 Pro chip and built for Apple Intelligence and are “the most advanced iPhone models we’ve ever made.”

    Tami and Henrikkson used the capabilities of the iPhone 16 Pro to record in 4K 120 frames per second (fps) in Dolby Vision to capture smooth slow-motion video.

    A person with a camera and an umbrella films another person standing in a misty, blue-lit environment. The scene is mysterious and atmospheric, with silhouettes and scattered light sources in the background.

    In a behind-the-scenes video, The Weeknd (real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) quickly sings along to a sped-up version of the song so the crew can render the video at 120 fps — a technique known as “speed ramping.”

    “When we were told that the iPhone could now record in 4K, 120 fps, we wanted to shoot a music video in slow motion,” says Henrikkson.

    “Shooting in 4K 120 really helped us slow down reality; slow down the elements; slow down The Weeknd’s movements.”

    A person is holding a mounted smartphone and recording a video in a blue-lit room. The phone screen displays the image of another person who appears to be sitting on a sofa, partially visible through the screen.

    The crew said they were “very impressed” with the iPhone 16’s performance, particularly praising the device’s ability to capture strong highlights and deep blacks.

    “The iPhone 16 Pro blurs the line between what is considered a ‘professional camera’ and what is not. And I think that will really help young filmmakers,” says Henrikkson.

    “We were shooting with a very bright HDMI backlight in the rain and that was something I was worried about. ‘How is the iPhone picking up these lights, how is the contrast controlled, how is this going to look on The Weeknd’s face?’ And when I saw the results, I was honestly completely gobsmacked.”

    A black and white image depicting a film set. Several crew members can be seen operating cameras and other equipment, shooting a scene in which a person performs a dynamic action on a mechanical structure shrouded in smoke. A ladder and film lights are also visible.

    The crew shot the video in Apple ProRes Log, which offers “more flexibility when examining colors after the fact.”

    “The iPhone 16 Pro’s new camera features make it a powerhouse for filmmakers,” says Henrikkson.

    “You stop thinking that it’s an iPhone and treat it like a normal camera.”

    Dancing in the flames will premiere on Friday, September 13. It is from The Weeknd’s upcoming album Hurry up tomorrow.

    Photo credits: Courtesy of Apple.

    Tagged:

    LEAVE A RESPONSE

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Bronwen Cerys
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like

    ads