You could say GoPro and Apple are making the hottest consumer gear today, but you shouldn’t dismiss them on the professional front either, especially filmmakers. GoPro’s action camcorders and Apple’s mobile smart devices are finding their way onto production sets, alongside traditional cinematography equipment (in some instances, even in lieu of). Realizing the increasing use of these devices, social network Stage 32 and software maker i4software partnered to create Prizmia, an iOS filmmaking app for GoPro users.
If you haven’t heard of either company, Stage 32 is a social networking website that connects those in the cinematography (film and TV) and theater industries, with more than 300,000 members. I4software is a developer of mobile apps that include VIZZYWIG Multi-Camera Video, Fast Camera, and the popular Flashlight for iPhone.
Together, the two built an app that lets users edit and add more than 40 filters and effects to video shot with a GoPro. GoPro camcorders don’t include the optional LCD, but you can view footage through a connected smart device. When paired to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod, the Prizmia app takes it a step further by giving users “full screen, real-time preview…while filming with filters and grading effects applied.” Other features includes time-lapse, nine speed settings, and “independent color grading controls for contrast, saturation, gamma and brightness, optical slow motion speed adjustment, live filters preview, Direct GoPro media library access, and full control over all GoPro settings and features.”
According to the press release, many Stage 32 members use GoPro camcorders (one Emmy Award-winning member, Katie Damien, shot a whole film with GoPro cams). “Prizmia for GoPro will help our filmmaking community take their craft to the next level,” said Stage 32 founder and CEO, Richard Botto. “Any limitations they had before filming on GoPros are instantly answered by all of Prizmia’s features in the app.”
For i4software, developing Prizmia is just the first of new apps being made for GoPro. “We developed Prizmia for GoPro for two reasons,” said Michael Zaletel, founder of i4software. “One, we absolutely love our GoPro cameras and decided to build a companion app that would do everything we dreamed of doing. Two, we needed to build Prizmia to set the stage for our next app, ‘Vizzywig for GoPro,’ which will allow users to connect multiple GoPro’s for live switching and live streaming.”
The app has a scheduled launch on the iTunes Store in late July, but 50 people will be randomly chosen for an early preview; those interested can sign up here, but it’s open only to Stage 32 filmmakers. The 50 filmmakers will be chosen on July 14, 2014.
