Sure, it may have been designed to bring ALEXA image quality to UAVs and tight spaces, but one brave pioneer of cinema has discovered the greatest use of the ALEXA Mini yet. The selfie stick.

I jest, of course. This test is pure silliness for silliness' sake. With that said, shots like this are nothing new. In fact, various incarnations of the Snorricam (made famous by Requiem for a Dream) have been achieving these warped first person perspectives for decades. Though Snorricam shots are not technically selfies because they lack the element of self-awareness, the effect is similar.

Here's a fantastic supercut from Jacob T. Swinney, which was commissioned for Slate, that compiles the greatest Snorricam shots in cinema history.

Also, it's important to remember that the selfie, as much as we may make fun of it, has become a legitimate piece of our visual language in the 21st century. For that reason, we should be aware that it's something that we can incorporate into our films if it makes sense in the context of the story we're trying to tell. For example, it could be used as a way to visually portray the self-absorbed nature of a particular character. The possibilities for how this can be used are both endless and fascinating.

What do you guys think? What role, if any, will selfies play in the future of cinema? Share your thoughts down in the comments!

Source: Anders Holck

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Cinematography & Cameras