Skip to main content

The new app from the director of HBO’s The Jinx lets you shoot your own iPhone documentaries

knowme app andrew jarecki
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Andrew Jarecki, the Emmy Award winner behind HBO’s The Jinx, has released a new app that allows everyone to create and edit their own iPhone documentaries.

The free iOS app KnowMe allows users to shoot and edit videos on the go using both the iPhone’s front- and rear-facing cameras. Additionally, you can import your existing iPhone images and videos to use in your new clip — alongside images and music from the Web — during the editing process.

KnowMe’s unique audio features allow you to add voiceovers to existing clips, meaning you can narrate your visual story. Music can also be used to add a soundtrack to your narrative.

For those worried about the daunting editing process, KnowMe overcomes that by allowing you to simply hold down video and image thumbnails in order to rearrange them on your documentary’s timeline.

Jarecki claims he was inspired to make the app during the course of his research on The Jinx. The acclaimed HBO documentary about accused murderer Robert Durst saw Jarecki interview around 100 people who all “wanted to tell their story.”

knowme-e1453324844994
Image used with permission by copyright holder

KnowMe has already found some famous Hollywood users and patrons. Director J.J. Abrams, who has previously professed his love for the iPhone-shot Sundance hit Tangerine, is backing the app. Meanwhile, Mike Myers, Greg Kinnear, and Sean Hayes have all reportedly created clips using the app, which has been in beta mode for the past year.

For inspiration, Jarecki has listed the type of clips you could create using KnowMe, aside from documentaries. Possible uses for the app include enhancing job applications, listing apartment shares on Airbnb, or even auditioning for a rock band, the filmmaker told the New York Post.

There is also a social element to KnowMe that lets you follow other users and share your clips to your favorite social network.

Editors' Recommendations

Saqib Shah
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Saqib Shah is a Twitter addict and film fan with an obsessive interest in pop culture trends. In his spare time he can be…
Everything you need to know about the massive Apple App Store outage
App Store on-screen illustration

Happy Wednesday evening, everyone! You're unwinding for the day, getting ready for a relaxing night, and ... you realize that the App Store and a bunch of other Apple services aren't working. Don't worry, you aren't alone.

What Apple services are down? When did the problems start? Is the outage still ongoing? Here's everything you need to know.
When did the App Store outage start?
According to DownDetector, reports of outages with the App Store flooded in a little after 6 p.m. ET. Reports appear to have spiked at over 6,000, indicating pretty widespread problems.

Read more
10 reasons you should buy an iPhone in 2024
Purple iPhone 14 (left) and a green iPhone 15 in hand.

The iPhone 15 lineup — which includes the standard iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro — is the iPhone at its best. It's the latest series of iPhones available today and the default choice if you're buying a new iPhone in 2024.

But it’s not the only choice of iPhones you can purchase. In fact, Apple still sells the iPhone 14, iPhone 13, and the iPhone SE on its website. You could also find other iPhone models available – refurbished or new — from other retailers or carrier stores.

Read more
We now know when Apple is adding RCS to the iPhone
The iPhone 14 Plus held in a man's hand.

Last November, Apple made a surprise announcement when it confirmed that RCS was coming to the iPhone in 2024. It's something iPhone and Android phone users alike have been waiting years for, but there was just one small problem: Apple never said when in 2024 RCS was coming. Thanks to Google, of all companies, we now have a better idea of when RCS is heading to the iPhone.

As spotted by 9to5Google, the Android website was recently updated with a new page dedicated to Google Messages. If you click on the "See more features" button for the section talking about RCS, there's a section titled "Better messaging for all" with the following text: "Apple has announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024. Once that happens, it will mean a better messaging experience for everyone."

Read more