Sampling Swallows

BACKGROUND Mobile filmmaking practices as part of Mobile Media discourse in books, journals, conferences and festival screenings are situated within Film, Television and Digital Media. Theorists influencing this research are (Schleser 2014, Simons 2009). The work made investigates the influence new media technologies and practices are having on the development of mobile filmmaking. There is an issue with practitioners and theorists focusing on mobile filmmaking as a remediation of film and television practices (Simmons 2009). CONTRIBUTION This inquiry explores how the affordances of a smartphone as a camera device with an operating system, connected to the network can be used for filmmaking. 'Sampling Swallows' is an experimental video work that uses screencast techniques to capture the interface and present the shots recorded. Acknowledging the constraints and affordances of a smartphone the work reflects on the recording and editing process. The work aesthetically explores how a smartphone as a networked portable computer can be used to identify stylistic techniques particular to mobile filmmaking. SIGNIFICANCE 'Sampling Swallows' was screened in the peer-reviewed 'MINA International Mobile Innovation Screening 2015'. The work was peer-reviewed by an international committee and selected from 250 entries into a screening program of 26 works. The work was screened publically at RMIT University, Palias University France, Mobile Film Festival Macedonia, Federation Square Melbourne and the New Zealand Film Archive. The work contributes to the development of mobile filmmaking discourse and practice, as part of a curated screening program, and MINA symposium journal and book publications.