Ever wondered what goes into making a short film entirely using your phone? We decided to find out the answer to that and create a short film entirely scripted, planned, and shot using Samsung gadgets—all within just 12 hours.
This was no ordinary product shoot—we took it very seriously, involving a full cast, crew, production team, and even a director. The challenge? To craft a relatable video comparing two generations: Gen Z and Millennials.
The day began early, with a 6:30 AM call time. Most of us aren’t morning people, but we had to make sure that everything was set up before 7:00 AM to begin filming on time.
Our talents arrived bright and early as well. We had Nadia (@@n4.dia), playing our Gen Z and Del (@del.lim) playing our Millennial, along with various other extras who are mostly colleagues from the Val Media office.
Once we got everyone ready, the production rolled forward—but there were some early challenges.
Editor
Jennifer chevron_right
Table of Contents
Lights, Camera, Action!
Most of the film’s scenes took place in our office, which, let’s be honest, isn’t the most visually appealing space. Dull, boring, drab, and messy, it wasn’t exactly the setting we envisioned.
To compensate, we turned to our neighbors’ offices for cool props and decorations. We also used Samsung’s Circle to Search with Google feature to scan and order additional props, so we could transform the offices into prime shooting locations in short notice, providing a much more vibrant backdrop for our scenes.
Honestly, our biggest challenge was capturing the entire project using the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. We partnered with SJM Productions, a professional production house in Malaysia, and tasked them with filming everything on the Galaxy S24 Ultra—no fancy cinema cameras, no external apps like Da Vinci or Filmic Pro, just Samsung’s built-in Pro Video feature.
Despite some initial doubts, we got to work filming our first scene at 8:30 AM. At one point, we have to use a tupperware to get just the right angle needed for one scene—something that only a smartphone could achieve according to the director!
Behind & During The Action
Did you know? The entire storyboard for the film was created on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6. Our designer and director used the foldable phone to draft the storyboards, and I have to say, it was incredibly convenient. The fact that the Galaxy Z Fold6 fits in your pocket yet allows for professional-grade production planning makes it perfect for this challenge.
One of the coolest features we utilized during the shoot was the ability to monitor the phone’s camera remotely using the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. While the phone’s screen stayed off to conserve battery, we could still control everything from the tablet.
This was especially useful when the camera was mounted in hard-to-reach places. It helped us manage lighting and exposure settings without hassle, as it’s easier to see the bigger picture with, well, a bigger screen.
Given the tight 12-hour timeline, we needed every advantage we could get. Galaxy AI played a huge role in helping streamline production. We used AI-driven tools like Samsung’s generative editing features for quick composites, script adjustments, and rough cuts.
With the help of the Galaxy Z Fold6, we were also able to pre-visualize how each scene’s lighting, props, and background would look before shooting. While not 100% accurate, it got us close enough to save valuable time on set.
For many of the scenes, we actually swapped between the telephoto lens and the 1x lens to capture a variety of perspectives. While we could have shot in 8K, we opted for 4K resolution to take full advantage of the camera’s wide range of lenses, from ultra-wide to telephoto. The decision paid off, as the footage came out beautifully crisp and dynamic.
The Final Stretch
As the day wore on, we started falling behind schedule. The sun was setting, and we still had key scenes to shoot. The small office spaces weren’t ideal, but our director found clever solutions. For one scene, we bounced light off the walls to create an ambient glow. A smaller light panel was used to add depth to the subject, giving the footage a more polished look.
The final scene of the day took place in a highly reflective elevator, which posed a unique challenge. Since we couldn’t film the elevator doors opening and closing naturally, we planned to add CGI elevators in post-production. #
By this point, the whole team was exhausted, and to top it off, the building management wasn’t too thrilled with us filming in the lift lobby.
Finally, the director called “cut,” and with that, the production was complete. Despite the tight timeline, multiple challenges, and innovative use of Samsung gadgets, we managed to create a short film that captured the generational comparison between Gen Z and Millennials—completely within the 12-hour deadline.
The final result? A fun and creative film, just with Samsung’s ecosystem and a dedicated team.
By pushing boundaries and utilizing Samsung’s powerful devices, we proved that high-quality production is possible even without all the professional cameras. It truly was an exhilarating experience, and here’s our final product: