Watch a Completely Improvised Movie (for free)
- Blake Calhoun
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
I've been experimenting with new (cost-effective) tech ever since I began working as a filmmaker and that continues today using iPhones...
Back in the early days of my career in 2001 I shot & directed a feature film on Mini DV, and for it's time it was cutting edge, but it was standard definition (there was no affordable HD at the time).
The movie played some film festivals in 2003 and we did a limited DVD release. Then in 2017 we updated and remastered it, and then in 2024 we had better tools to upscale it to HD. And now in 2026 I decided to put it on my second YouTube channel to watch for free.
The film is called 88 Hits and is a completely improvised mockumentary about a once-proud mob family who has fallen on hard times. And it stars a real-life improv comedy troupe called Four Day Weekend.
So if you're interested you can watch it right now (below) or add it to your YouTube Watch Later list and check it out on your TV.
And if you're wondering, no, I have not made a feature film solely shot on an iPhone... yet. But I've been thinking about it a lot recently and now just trying to find the right idea.
My most recent movie though I did use an iPhone for lots of macro and second-unit style shots that I matched in with a RED Komodo. If you're interested in seeing that one it's called Casey Makes a Mixtape and is streaming on Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube Movies and more. Trailer for it is below.
If you've been considering making a movie there's never been a better time to do it as it relates to the tech and tools now available to everyone. Of course it won't be easy. And it will be near impossible to sell. But you won't know unless you try.
Today there are no excuses.
Grab whatever camera you have, including an iPhone, and go make your movie.
Happy filmmaking!
-BC
P.S. But be sure to watch my movies first. ;)
P.P.S. Btw, I have made several short films that were entirely shot on an iPhone and one of them called Preowned I'm considering turning into a feature film. Watch it below.
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