Tokyo-based Aoi Advertising Promotion creates smartphone apps to help production crew on set

One of the largest TV commercial production companies in Tokyo, Aoi Advertising Promotion Inc. (“Aoi” in short) and its consolidated subsidiary aoi digital creation inc., a digital/web production company (“aoi-dc” in short), has launched two new smartphone apps “Director’s Finder” and “Frame Watch,” which mark the start of their wild attempt to use their professional knowledge and experiences of filming and production, to help the crew on set and the production process.

The series of apps underlying this passion are named “Aoi Shooting Utilities,” and “Director’s Finder” and “Frame Watch” are the first two apps developed.

The executive managing director of Aoi, Mr. Yasuhito Nakae says, “It had always been my desire to share our know how and use the resources we have to contribute to the content industry. These apps that support the filmmakers just perfectly fit into what the company was aiming to challenge.”

The first app is called “Director’s Finder.” The user can simulate film (image sensor) / lenses focal points with it. Meaning, the type of camera/lenses selected (from ARRI, SONY, CANON, PANASONIC, RED, Weisscam, Phantom, FAST CAM—over 50 types of cameras, plus 7 generic sizes such as Super 35, Super16 or Digital Still Camera 35mm Full-size, etc.) offers the user a view from the iPhone lens that is very close to that of an actual camera lens. The user can save the picture, email it with the camera/lens information with GPS/altitude/camera tilt angle/frame information, and even save it to Evernote. This app is convenient at location scouts. For example, the user can shoot stills with the possible camera/lens to bring back for discussion or when posting on to PPM materials.

The second app is called “Frame Watch.” It is a simple stopwatch by frames, with a convenient time-calculator. The stopwatch could be useful when drawing storyboards, editing and during shoots. There are of course a selection of frame rates to choose from, including normal 30fps and 24fps, as well as high speed shoots such as 60fps. It also keeps a log each time the user presses start/stop, which might be useful when trying to get voice overs to fit precisely on the product shot!