Smartphone-made Cyberlante releases online
midlandsmovies • September 28, 2020
Smartphone-shot Midlands movie CYBERLANTE is now released and available on Amazon. Shot entirely in Loughborough in Leicestershire with an East Midlands cast and crew, the production was put together in just over a week and is now released worldwide.
Cyberlante was a production born from the chaos of an abandoned shoot and filmed entirely on a Google Pixel Original smartphone.
The film follows the story of Matt, a young man with a dark past who moves to a new town to work in an isolated hotel run by an unsympathetic bully who has deadly secrets of his own and is directed by James Smith and produced by Caroline Spence. Cyberlante stars Gavin Gordon, Emily Haigh, Mark Peachey, Domenic Tiberius Russo, John Savage and Mia Mills.
Cyberlante’s journey to the screen has been a tough one. Back on 15th February 2019, principal photography for the third feature film by Raya Films got underway. Yet on just day three, after two key crew members quit the set, director James Smith was left with no camera gear and no camera department.
Producer Caroline Spence explains, “The schedule was now impossible to meet, and the shoot was postponed. Less than 24 hours later, a new outline treatment was created for another version of the movie based on the availability of the remaining cast and locations, not to mention some new recruits”.
“A few days later, photography commenced with a very different Cyberlante theme”.
The first in a double-bill of Smartphone-shot movies, director James Smith and producer/writer Caroline Spence have joined the ranks of Sean Baker’s Tangerine (shot on an Apple iPhone 5S) and Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh with Unsane (shot on an iPhone 7 Plus), by shooting Cyberlante entirely on a phone.
This film will be closely followed by Surveilled, a ‘whodunnit-horror’, and an even bigger project shot with similar techniques.
Making full-length narrative features on mobile phone technology, however, is still rare since most content produced in this way comprise short films, promos and web series. Yet despite the many challenges, the experience of shooting on a phone was a liberating one, and the team wrapped filming after only twelve days.
“With such lightweight equipment our ability to move quickly between locations saved a lot of time,” explains screenwriter/producer, Caroline Spence. “Plus, we were able to seize unplanned photographic opportunities and weave them into the fabric of the story. James captured some beautiful cinematography with the camera phone that many would find difficult to distinguish from larger-scale movies.”
Fast-forward to 21st March 2019 and shooting continued guerrilla-style in locations that ranged from freezing, waterlogged fields to luxurious properties. And following events that encompassed scripting on the fly, and casting actors in less than a day (and an armed robbery at one of the locations apparently), Smith and team finally wrapped on the production.
Utilising the latest lightweight camera phone technology, Cyberlante sees the emergence of some new and exciting acting talent.
Cyberlante, is now available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon worldwide, with further platforms and channels to be announced soon.
Amazon.co.uk (UK)
Amazon.com (USA)
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Jacob Christie for Countenance Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)
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