CJ ENM’s Back! Stage Pushes the Boundaries of iPhone 16 Pro Filmmaking

CJ ENM has officially announced their latest project, Back! Stage, directed by Bang Sung-jun and shot entirely on the iPhone 16 Pro. This groundbreaking release marks another milestone in mobile filmmaking, proving once again that smartphones are powerful creative tools capable of delivering cinematic results.

A Story of Redemption and Music

Back! Stage follows Gi-seok, played by Yunho of ATEEZ, who gets a sudden call from the very band that cut ties with him two years ago. With no time to prepare, he’s asked to urgently step in as a substitute vocalist just before their performance.

The film captures the emotional tension and raw energy of this moment, blending music and storytelling in a way that connects deeply with audiences. It premiered in South Korea on August 18, and fans worldwide are eager for news of a wider release.

Music That Drives the Story

The original soundtrack is a major highlight of Back! Stage. The lead single, “SPOTLIGHT,” reunites the fictional band Orange Taxi Club and carries the same emotional weight as the story itself. With its lively melody, crisp rhythm, and soaring vocals, the track delivers a refreshing yet powerful resonance.

The music video for “SPOTLIGHT” features exclusive clips from the film, giving fans a preview of both the visual storytelling and the synergy between music and cinema.

Pioneering Mobile Filmmaking with Beastgrip

What makes Back! Stage especially exciting is not just the story or the music, but the way it was filmed. The production team relied on Beastgrip’s professional smartphone filmmaking gear, including the Beastcage for iPhone 16 Pro with the new BeastMod cage upgrade, and the next-generation DOF Adapter Фoton.

The Фoton adapter is a concept product currently in development that allows PL-mount cinema lenses to be paired with the iPhone 16 Pro. By combining professional lenses with iPhone camera technology, the adapter delivers an authentic cinematic look traditionally reserved for big-budget productions.

Projects like Back! Stage showcases the potential of this next-generation adapter. They also provide our team with valuable feedback from professional filmmakers, helping us refine the technology into a final product for future release.

Behind-the-Scenes Look

CJ ENM also released a behind-the-scenes video tied to one of the film’s singles. In it, you can clearly see the Beastcage and Фoton adapter in action. This offers an inspiring glimpse into how professional creators are embracing mobile filmmaking tools to achieve results once thought impossible on a smartphone.

Final Thoughts

Back! Stage is more than just a film; it’s a testament to how far smartphone cinematography has come. With the right tools, vision, and innovation, a device in your pocket can transform into a Hollywood-level camera system.

The future of filmmaking is mobile, and projects like this are paving the way.