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Best Apps for Moviemakers 2011
From Pre-Production to Post, The Perfect Assistant Fits in the Palm of Your Hand
Ah, how things have changed in just one short year. When we published our first list of 25 must-have apps for moviemakers in last year’s Future of Moviemaking edition, the world of apps was still a relatively new one. Last year’s list included only one app exclusively for the then-brand-new iPad, and today’s newest technological toy du jour, the iPad 2, wasn’t even on the radar.
This year’s list is still Apple-centric, though the recent (and growing) popularity of Android-based devices has given rise to some helpful apps for this year’s list, as well. By 2012 there will be even more apps that let us easily organize script ideas, keep track of auditions, create storyboards and who knows what else.
Unless otherwise indicated, all of the apps below are compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
= Android Only
= iPad Only
Acacia, FREE • If you’re the first camera assistant, you assist the cinematographer with keeping the image in focus. But who assists you? That would be Acacia, which makes the life of the 1st AC a little bit easier by calculating depth of field and hyperfocal distance.
AJA DataCalc, FREE • AJA DataCalc performs a simple yet indispensable function: You tell it a few key bits of information—like your video’s length, frame rate and resolution—and it tells you how much storage space your video will require, and gives you the option of e-mailing a summary of its calculations. The app was designed by AJA Video Systems, an award-winning company specializing in editing and conversion hardware, and the app’s no-frills interface was designed with the hectic work schedule of the video pro in mind.
Almost DSLR, $1.99 • There are plenty of apps out there that let people edit video and photos they’ve taken with their iPhones. But moviemakers are less concerned about whether they can make their video sepia-toned than they are with technical concerns like “Will it be in focus?” With almost DSLR you can control the focus point, exposure point and white balance of video and still shots.
CamCalc, $1.99 • Cinematography literally means “writing with light,” and though a good cinematographer is an artist, there are still a lot of technical concerns he or she can’t ignore, like depth of field, field of view and color temperature. CamCalc can calculate such things for you, so you spend less time trying to get your footage in focus and more time realizing your goal of becoming a cinematic da Vinci.
Celtx Script, $4.99 • There are many screenwriting apps out there, but what makes Celtx Script special is how seamlessly it integrates with Celtx’s pre-production management software and the online collaboration facilitator Celtx Studio. You can start your script on your desktop using Celtx’s free software, use your iPhone to write that brilliant scene you just thought up while on the subway and then use Celtx Studio to share your work with potential producers and investors.
Cinemek Storyboard Composer HD, $29.99 • With Storyboard Composer, featured in last year’s list, moviemakers could use their phone’s camera to create entirely digital storyboards. The new iPad version of the app benefits from the tablet’s increased size, but the app developer Cinemek hasn’t slacked off on adding new improvements. Now users can better organize their scenes, view a panel and the overall storyboard at once and share their storyboard with others by sending it as a .CSC file.
Cut Notes, $7.99 • To use this app, simply start your video on your editing software of choice, press Cut Notes’ play button at the same time and—voilà!—you’re in business. When you make a note in Cut Notes about a flubbed line or an audio hit, the timecode is automatically saved as well, so you don’t have to worry about scribbling it down longhand (and having to decipher your handwriting later).
Doddle Pro, $9.99 • When we wrote about Doddle in last year’s list, it was a handy 24/7 mobile production guide. This year there’s Doddle Pro, which moviemakers can use to create and electronically distribute call sheets in addition to everything they could do with Doddle’s previous incarnation. DoddlePro also makes it easy for any environmentally-conscious producer to edit and re-send call sheets, saving a few trees in the process.
DSLR Slate, $9.99 • DSLR Slate allows for input of all the things you’d find on a traditional slate, like the project name and the director, plus the scene and take numbers. But it also provides fields for white balance, shutter speed, aperture and more, so DSLR moviemakers can better keep track of all their camera settings.
EditCalc, $0.99 • For editors who want an inexpensive timecode calculator that will effortlessly switch back and forth between timecode, frames and footage, look no further. EditCalc is simple, accurate and allows for input of various frame rates and footage types for easy customization, all for under a dollar.
Festival Genius, FREE • Festival Genius, made by the movie-oriented technology company Slated, has been a godsend for film festivals, as it allows attendees to put a festival’s schedule in their hands—literally—in a form that’s simple, yet packed with content. With the new Festival Genius app, all of the festival information you used to have to access on a big old computer (think screening times and venues) is now easily accessible on your iPhone. Good for festival staff, directors, fans… good for everyone, really.
GoodReader, $4.99 • Okay, so this app wasn’t made exclusively with moviemakers in mind. You’ll forgive us for including it, though, because it’s just so darn helpful. This app makes it possible to read large PDF files—say, a script you’re interested in producing—take notes on it and then sync the annotated file to other services like GoogleDocs, all on your iPod or iPad.
iMovie, $4.99 • Make your movie from start to finish with Apple’s iMovie app. You can start with video and audio captured on your iPhone (or iPad) and then edit it in iMovie. Once you’ve added visual and sound effects, transitions and titles, use the app to share your finished product with the world.
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COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
- Comment by DavieAlvin on 8/10/11 at 9:45 am
Until recently I used a lot of cheap or free apps for movie making but I was not pleased with them anymore so I bought a license for “Movie Magic Scheduling To Go”. I think this program is brilliant but I had some problems with some dll files recently. I think it is because I updated my Windows 7 and now the programs are not compatible anymore. What should I do?
- Comment by NeilKirchoff on 8/10/11 at 10:28 am
A lot of movie making apps don’t work on the newest Windows because of some dll files. I recently tried everything to make them work but I couldn’t so I had to switch to Linux so I can carry on with my work. I hope that Microsoft can fix this soon because I already miss my Windows.
- Comment by Internet Security on 8/15/11 at 11:35 am
These are some of the best movie editing applications I was able to find so far. The greatest part about them is that, although they are all professional, they are not as expensive as I would have expected. I appreciate that you have shared them with the community and I look forward to see what great software you will find next.
- Comment by iPhone 5 releases date on 8/20/11 at 4:25 am
A word of warning to all Apple enthusiasts out there. Apple has released a beta version of iOS 5 which is available for download on the internet. This was released so that developers can search out all the bugs and glitches. It is not meant for public use and should not be treated as such. As with most beta software it requires constant updating and once your device has been upgraded to iOS 5 beta it is extremely difficult to restore back to iOS 4. So if you are not a developer I strongly suggest you sit tight and wait until Apple releases a public version of iOS 5.
- Comment by imagesf22 on 11/12/11 at 5:36 am
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This story was published in the Future of Moviemaking 2011 MovieMaker Magazine. The headline was:
25 Must-Have Moviemaking Apps/ From Pre-Production to Post, The Perfect Assistant Fits in the Palm of Your Hand
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