Filming a clip with your phone

You don't need a camera bag to film a clean clip. A phone and a few habits will get you most of the way. Here's how to make a trick look like a trick.

Get low

Hold the phone low to the ground, around knee height or lower. Filming from below makes tricks look bigger and lets the viewer see the board and the pop. Filming from standing height makes everything look flat.

Show the board

Frame so the whole board and the landing are in the shot. A clip that cuts off the board at the moment of the flick or the landing doesn't show the trick.

Distance

• Close enough to see the board clearly.
• Far enough to see the whole trick and the roll-away.

For flat-ground tricks, a few meters away usually works. For bigger spots, step back.

Light

Film with the light behind you, not behind the skater. If the sun is behind the skater, they'll be a silhouette.

Hold steady

• Use both hands.
• Move smoothly if you're following.
• Lean against something for a still shot.

Follow or stay still

• Still shot: the phone stays in one spot and the skater rolls through. Easier, very clean.
• Follow shot: you ride or run alongside. Harder, but looks great when it works.

Start with still shots.

A worked example: one clip

Leo films his friend doing a kickflip. He crouches low, about three meters to the side, with the sun behind him. He frames the board and the landing spot, holds the phone with both hands, and starts recording a couple of seconds before his friend pushes. The clip shows the pop, the flip, the catch and the roll-away.

Filming yourself

No filmer? Prop your phone on a bag, a shoe or a curb. Point it at the spot, check the frame, then skate into it.

For Global SKATE

In Global SKATE, attempts are filmed in the app camera, as one official take. You get two minutes to set up, a ten-second countdown, and up to 25 seconds for your attempt. Filming your official take (and why there are no retakes) covers that in detail.

Fisheye vs long lens

Skate filmers use two classic looks:

• Fisheye (wide angle): close to the skater, very wide view. Makes tricks look big and close. Many phones have an ultra-wide lens that gets you some of that look.
• Long lens: filmed from farther away, zoomed in. Flatter look, shows the whole spot.

On a phone, try the ultra-wide lens up close, and the main lens from a bit farther back. See what you like.

Frame rate

Phones can film at different frame rates. Higher frame rates are smoother and let you slow down clips without them looking choppy. For a normal skate clip, a standard frame rate is fine. For slow-motion replays of your technique, use a higher one.

Editing

You can do a lot with a basic phone editor:

• Trim the start and end so the clip starts right before the push and ends after the roll-away.
• Cut together a few tricks into a short edit.
• Add music, keeping in mind that some platforms mute songs you don't have the rights to.

Keep it simple. A clean trick with good framing beats a fancy edit of a sketchy one.

Filming your friends

If you're filming someone else, talk before they go: where will they push from, where's the trick, where will they roll away? That way you're not surprised, and you can frame it right. Do a practice run without the trick if it helps.

Steps: a clean clip every time

1. Pick the angle before the skater starts: low, to the side.
2. Check the light and move so the sun is behind you.
3. Frame the whole trick, push to roll-away.
4. Hit record a couple of seconds early.
5. Hold steady with both hands until they've rolled away.
6. Watch it back right away, and film again if it's cut off.

Common mistakes

• Filming from standing height. Get low.
• Cutting off the board. Frame the whole trick.
• Shooting into the sun.
• Shaky hands.

FAQ

What's the best angle?

Low and to the side is a good default.

Should I film in slow motion?

For checking your technique, it can help. For a regular clip, normal speed is usually better.

Can I upload a clip from my gallery to a Global SKATE game?

No. Official attempts come from the app camera only, with no retakes. Your gallery clips are for everything else.

Next: What is pixel art? A skater's look at the style

Join the testers at skatelabs.app/testers and play a Game of SKATE with your friends. Global SKATE is free and in testing on iPhone and Android.