How to Film a Fake FaceTime or Video Call Scene
Short answer: To fake a FaceTime or video call, play pre-recorded footage of the other caller full screen with a live self-view in the corner, plus the call controls, on the actor's real phone. PhoneGuy's video call beat does this on iOS (FaceTime style) and on NDOS01 (video call style). The operator starts, mutes or ends the call on cue.
Step by step
- Shoot the caller first. Record the other actor's side, framed for a vertical phone.
- Build the call beat. Add the footage, caller name and ringtone.
- Set the self-view. Use the front camera for a live picture-in-picture.
- Run it on cue. Trigger the incoming call, answer, play and hang up from the control room.
Common mistakes
- Landscape footage cropped badly to portrait
- The self-view showing the crew instead of the actor
- The caller's lines not timed to the actor's pauses
FAQ
Can the other side be live instead of recorded?
PhoneGuy has talkback for live audio into calls; video calls use pre-recorded footage so takes repeat exactly.
Does it say FaceTime on Android?
No. On NDOS01 it is a neutral video call with its own design.
Related guides
- How to fake a phone call on set
- Fake an Incoming Call on Cue, Synced to the Actor's Line
- Fake iPhone for a Movie: Props, Dummy Phones and Live Screens
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