How a Groundbreaking AppleTV+ Show Shot an Entire Episode Using Just an iPhone Camera – Unbelievable!

Summary

Director Eric Appel used iPhone footage in The Afterparty season 2, episode 8 to give an authentic found footage experience, convincing studios with his serious approach.

The inclusion of various genres and different perspectives in each episode provides a more profound examination of the characters, shedding light on potential reasons for the murder.

With only two episodes remaining, the identity of the murderer remains uncertain, however, future episodes are expected to unveil further insights into the characters and their underlying motivations.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Season 2, Episode 8 of The Afterparty! Director Eric Appel has shared his approach to filming an entire episode of The Afterparty using only an iPhone. In this second season of the Apple TV+ murder mystery comedy series, each episode presents the events from a different character's perspective. The most recent episode gave viewers a deeper insight into the ongoing mystery through the lens of wedding videographer Kyler, who documented critical moments on his iPhone.

In an interview with Comicbook.com, Appel discussed his successful execution of shooting an entire episode with an iPhone. By utilizing an authentic iPhone during filming, Appel created a more genuine and immersive experience, which ultimately persuaded the studios involved to embrace this innovative method. Here is what Appel had to say:

I previously worked on a Quibi show when it was still around, so I was familiar with shooting vertical content. Surprisingly, I approached it with a serious mindset, treating it as if it were any other film genre. One thing that bothers me is when I see iPhone footage in movies or TV shows that doesn't actually resemble real iPhone footage. It appears too polished, like it was shot with professional equipment. To avoid that, I went to great lengths to make it truly seem like it was shot by a regular 17-year-old holding their phone vertically. Even though Grant, the camera operator who usually works with a steady cam for "Power of the Dog," handled the footage, I constantly had to remind him to simplify things. I'd say, "You need to make it look worse, Grant. It should resemble the work of a non-professional 17-year-old holding a camera."

Additionally, convincing everyone to use the native iPhone camera app for shooting was a bit of a task. Many wanted to use Filmic Pro for better control over the raw image. However, I insisted on using the native app to maintain authenticity. I wanted viewers to experience those little imperfections, like when you pinch to zoom in and there's that brief moment of lenses changing and a slight loss of focus. So, I took the whole process seriously and aimed to create an authentic found footage experience.

Why The Afterparty Season 2, Episode 8 Used iPhone Footage

In each episode of the murder mystery comedy series, the storytelling style and genre varies, with each episode presenting the events from different characters' perspectives. For instance, in season 2, episode 3 titled "Travis," the titular character shares his point of view of the wedding as a crime drama. This approach maintains a consistent style for the present-day scenes while offering insights into the characters' mindsets through the different genres used in their recollections. It also suggests that some characters in The Afterparty may not be reliable narrators.

In Appel's episode, he cleverly uses iPhone footage captured by Kyler to present a potential motive for Edgar's murder. Throughout the episode, the wedding footage of Feng is juxtaposed with his present moments, providing context to Kyler's videos. This technique allows for a deeper examination of Feng's character from various perspectives, shedding light on why he might have – or might not have – killed Edgar.

There are only two episodes left in season 2 of the show, leaving uncertainty around the identity of the murderer. The upcoming episode will feature Isabel sharing her perspective, confident in her knowledge of Edgar's true killer. The remaining episodes of The Afterparty season 2 will likely shed light on the characters and their motivations, although it remains unknown which genres will be explored.