VERTICAL VIDEOS OFFER iPAD USERS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
by Christoph A. Geiseler

Over the last hundred years, motion pictures have been almost exclusively produced in a horizontal aspect ratio for theaters, projectors, televisions and computer screens (e.g. 4:3 and 16:9). Suddenly, smart-phones, tablets, rotating monitors and lightweight projectors make it possible for users to watch videos in a vertical format that was never possible on conventional screens in the past (i.e. 3:4 or 9:16 ratio, or "vertical videos"). Vertical videos require filmmakers to improvise with equipment not designed to produce videos in this way.

To explore the aesthetics of the vertical video format, I filmed, edited and produced a vertical video documentary about India called "Curry Power" (which is embedded to the left of this text as a vimeo link, just click play). The 10-minute documentary is a musical collage that features tigers, camel polo, holy men, dancers and live music by renowned musicians Pete Lockett and Wasifuddin Dagar. During the "Curry Power' production process, I did not have access to a tripod for vertical videos or customized video editing software for post-production. Here are 10 useful insights and tips for filmmakers who want to produce vertical videos.