20 More Must-Have Apps for Filmmakers

1. DSLR Slate

Slating shots on set is a must if you are only running dual system audio and no scratch track. Even if you are capturing scratch track audio, it’s a good idea to slate; this makes important scene information readily available for the editor and his team. If you don’t have a slate handy, but you have an iPad, then check out DSLR Slate.

Price: $9.99

2. FilmTouch

FilmTouch is a call sheet manager that allows you to import and list your call sheets and crew lists. Get rid of all that paper, and go paperless with this app. You can store crew information, making it easier for you to contact and collaborate with personnel for your next project.

Price: $9.99

3. Shot Designer

Shot Designer gives you the power to create animated camera diagrams. Another awesome feature is the app’s ability to create a shot list and storyboard for the animated diagram you’re creating. This aids the entire production crew and it’s all available right there in one app. Oh, and it’s free!

Price: Free

4. ShotList

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a editable production stripboard. Keep track of your shots and scenes, and make sure your crew is on the same page with you. While Shot Designer can do some of this, ShotList is a little more flexible andeasier to use.

Price: $11.99

5. ShotPro

Another app to consider for pre-visualization is ShotPro. This app gives you the ability to build 3D sets and scenes in a matter of minutes. You can then animate characters, props, lights, and cameras, and then export your creation in seconds.

Price: $29.99

6. Cinemek Storyboard Composer HD

Ever been on set and discovered that the scene you originally wanted can’t be pulled off? Do you need to storyboard a quick scene? The Cinemek Storyboard Composer HD app can help make that happen. It allows you to take photos of the scene, drop your characters into that scene, and then add the camera and scene direction.

Price: $29.99

7. FiLMiC Pro

Turn your iOS device into a 2K HD broadcast camera. With variable speed zoom, audio gain control, and adjustable frame rates. This app is ideal for the production team during rehearsals and auditions.

Price: $7.99

8. Cine Meter II

Need a spot meter with a RGB waveform monitor and false-color picture? then check out Cine Meter II. This app also serves as a incident, color, and exposure meter that shows you foot-candle readouts, color temps, and exposure compensations.

Price: $24.99

9. Artemis Director’s Viewfinder

For use by directors, cinematographers, and VFX supervisors, the Artemis Director’s Viewfinder app can reproduce any camera, aspect ratio, and lens combination. It also includes a list of commonly used cameras for you to choose from. This app is ideal for blocking, location scouting, or storyboarding.

Price: $29.99

10. Set Safety

After the tragic death of camera assistant Sarah Jones, an app was developed to provide crew members with safety assistance. Professionals can use this app to anonymously report any and all safety issues on set. Users can upload pictures and time cards as evidence for their submission. Even though crew safety should be priority number one, this is not always the case. This app helps remedy that.

Price: Free

11. Cinema Forms

Cinema forms is designed to help you go paperless on-set. The app has a number of commonly used filmmaking forms that can be saved on the device, so you can focus on the film, not keeping up with papers. This app is only available for iPad, but if you are looking for a way to have all your forms in one place, it’s a great option. There is an additional “Pro” version for $30 that gives you access to all the forms beyond the initial 13 you are given in the free version.

12. Gobo

Gobo is a digital directory with commonly used filmmaking terms. It is meant to be a resource for filmmakers who may be new to the film industry. From video formats to color temperature charts you’ll find lots of good information here.

13. LVRUSA

LVRUSA is designed as a pocket manual for some commonly used cameras in the industry. Here you’ll find various useful information like how long you can record on a certain card and the crop factor for an APS-C sensor. LVRUSA also has dozens of camera manuals on file making it incredibly easy to reference. Our friends over at theBlackandBlue.com also have a set of camera pocket guides for nearly every professional camera – definitely worth checking out.

14. AJA Data Calculator

The AJA Data Calculator does exactly what you might imagine a data calculator should do, it calculates how large your file sizes will be for various shooting scenarios. In the app users can select a variety of codecs and file formats for both video and audio. You don’t have to be shooting on an AJA camera for this app to be useful to you.

15. Kodak Cinema Tools

The Kodak Cinema Tools app is designed as a resource for filmmakers and photographers alike. In the app users have access to a sunrise/sunset calculator, depth of field calculator, & film run time calculator, along with various other useful apps. This app may have been designed for those shooting on actual film, but it is definitely useful for digital shooters as well.

16. Panascout Lite

Unfortunately Panascout doesn’t turn your iPhone into a Panavision camera, but it is a location scouting app that allows users to take pictures of potential locations with GPS data attached. The app also allows users to account for varying aspect ratios and crop factors so you can get a good idea as to what the framing will be once your get your camera there. Panavision Lite also comes equipped with a sunrise/sunset indicator

17. Magic Hour

Magic Hour is less about pre-production and more about incorporating filmmaking/photography into you everyday life. As you probably already know magic hour is the special time of day where lighting and colors are perfect for capturing photos and video. This app gives you a push notification every day when magic hour begins.

18. Celtex Shots

Celtex Shots is an app designed to assist users in creating storyboards and on-set blocking. Using the available icons, users can drag and drop lights, subjects and props into the scene, making it easy to share blocking ideas with crew members. The app also allows users to share storyboards with other crew members by sending stills via email in a variety of formats. Users can also save stills to their photo roll for easy sharing and access on-set.

19. SMAPP

SMAPP has a useful lens selection tool that helps determine what lenses you’ll need for certain shooting situations. It also has a packing tool that provides a list of recommended equipment to pack for different scenarios. One of the best features is the stabilization recommendation tool – which will tell you if you should use a monopod, tripod, slider, glidecam, etc, based on the type of shooting you’re doing. These features, plus built-in tutorials, make this a must-have filmmaking app.

20. Focus Chart

Trying to check the focus of your lens? With the free Focus Chart app you can easily test and focus your lens. There aren’t a lot of bells-and-whistles here, but if you do a lot of lens calibration you might want check out this free app.