Brothers
Broke and alone, two brothers who drank away their inheritance start a new life together while trying to put their troubled past behind them. Living off the grid in New Jersey, their innovative ability to survive went on for four years…until one of them decided it was time to get out, leaving his brother to make an important decision.
This 16 minute doc was made with an iPhone 5s.
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Jack BalloDirectorElio, Before You Leave, Destiny's Bridge
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Jack BalloProducerElio, Before You Leave, Destiny's Bridge
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Jack BalloWriterThe Doo Dah Man
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Project Type:Documentary, Short
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Runtime:16 minutes 20 seconds
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Completion Date:January 6, 2018
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Production Budget:0 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:iPhone
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Art House Urban Film FestKolkata
India
January 6, 2018
India Premiere
Finalist -
Lyons International Film FestivalLyons, Colorado
United States
March 24, 2018
North American Premiere
Best Short Documentary -
Moscow ShortsMoscow
Russian Federation
April 13, 2018
Russia Premiere
Best Documentary Short Film -
SmartPhilm FestivalWashington DC
United States
June 2, 2018
Best Documentary -
Mobile Motion International Film FestivalZurich
Switzerland
June 9, 2018
Switzerland Premiere
Best Feature -
Short to the Point International Short Film FestivalBucharest
Romania
April 30, 2018
Romania Premiere
Official Selection -
Interrobang Film FestivalDes Moines, Iowa
United States
June 22, 2018
Iowa Premiere
Official Selection -
Benicia Film FestivalBenicia, California
United States
August 31, 2018
Premiere California
Best Smartphone Short -
Thunderdance Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
June 9, 2018
Official Selection -
Calcutta International Cult Film FestivalKolkata
India
April 27, 2018
Finalist -
International Independent Film AwardsEncino, California
United States
June 22, 2018
Silver Winner -
South Georgian Bay Film FestivalOntario
Canada
July 14, 2018
Canada Premiere
Official Selection -
Brighton Rocks Film FestivalBrighton
United Kingdom
May 25, 2018
Best Phone Film -
Baja California International Film FestivalTijuana
Mexico
August 25, 2018
Mexico Premiere
Best Smart Device Film -
Copenhagen International Web FestCopenhagen
Denmark
September 22, 2018
Denmark Premiere
Finalist -
New Delhi Film FestivalNew Delhi
India
September 22, 2018
Official Selection -
Great Western Catskills International Film FestivalAndes, NY
United States
October 20, 2018
Official Selection -
EyeCatcher Film FestivalMcAlester, OK 74502
United States
November 9, 2018
Oklahoma Premiere
Official Selection -
Great Message International Film FestivalMaharashtra
India
September 22, 2018
Official Selection -
Reel Recovery Film FestivalStudio City, CA
United States
October 20, 2018
Official Selection
Jack Ballo is a documentary filmmaker and screenplay writer. He teaches DIY documentary filmmaking and also writes a blog packed with info and techniques about DIY filmmaking. His workshops include an iPhone filmmaking course that emphasizes story over equipment.
One of the few pure cinema verite filmmakers around today, Ballo makes his docs following the philosophies of great classic verite filmmakers like Albert Maysles, D.A. Pannebaker and Bill Jersey. He is known for his raw natural style of filmmaking and does all the filming, editing, color and sound mixing himself.
He shares his experiences in making do-it-yourself docs in his blog, DIY Documentary Filmmaking. The blog is designed to assist aspiring filmmakers to tell their story from the simplest approach while doing the entire production themselves. He also gives workshops and instructs a DIY documentary filmmaking course.
His latest documentary BROTHERS (2017) was filmed entirely on an iPhone 5s. Prior to the iPhone doc was his acclaimed "Tent City" documentary called DESTINY'S BRIDGE (2016). He also co-wrote the screenplay THE DOO DAH MAN (2015) a movie based on his own true story about hitchhiking across the country when he was picked up in a stolen car by a con-artist who just broke out of prison. Ballo made two other award winning documentary films, BEFORE YOU LEAVE (2012) and ELIO (2010).
I filmed the entire Brothers documentary with an "Out of the Pocket" iPhone. Out of the Pocket, meaning no apps or accessories were used. This iPhone documentary, BROTHERS, captured the story in a natural way without any type of film crew. I believe that the emotional impact of the story is enhanced by both the verite filmmaking approach and the unobtrusive use of the iPhone.
As I filmed these two men they never saw a camera, they never saw a sound person holding a boom mic or witnessed a cinematographer shuffling through their bag to find the best lens or accessory for the shot at hand. The fact that the subjects never caught a glimpse of any video equipment and barely noticed the iPhone contributed greatly to a more authentic and truthful film.
The documentary was filmed in handheld iPhone cinema verite. Everything the viewer learns from the story unfolds as the two brothers are doing things that they would have been doing even if I wasn't there filming. I never zoomed the iPhone in while making the doc, what I did was I moved the camera closer to get close-ups just like a person would walk closer to see something up close. I also panned the phone in the same manner someone would move their head. This approach gives the viewer the same natural viewing perspective that we all have, making the viewer feel that they are right there in the scene.
I represent the viewer when I film as I bring them into the story with the hope that they see and feel as I do. There aren't any formal interviews in the movie. I only asked questions when I felt the viewer would have asked it if they were there...I didn't get into heavy questions. I let the heavy questions answer themselves throughout the film.
A photographer once said "It's not the camera, but the person behind it.” I think that would also apply to my iPhone film BROTHERS. “It’s not the camera, but the story it tells.”