Mobile to Cinema: Shooting the Same Action in Nicosia Phone Vs DSLR

Why We Tested This in Nicosia 

Nowadays, almost everyone has a smartphone in their pocket, and many of them can record surprisingly good video. This made us wonder how close a phone can get to a professional camera when both are given the same treatment in post-production.  To test this, we filmed the exact same scene in Nicosia using an iPhone 14 and a Panasonic GH7. We kept everything as similar as possible, including the framing, lighting conditions, and camera position. We then edited and color-graded both versions to see how much of a difference remained in the final result 

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One Light, Five Looks – Practical On-Set Lighting for Mood

Have you ever watched a film and felt how your perception of an image shifts with different lighting? A character who appeared to be the sweetest creature alive suddenly loses your trust and becomes suspicious after simply standing in darker, more intimate lighting. Well, in this blog, we filmed five identical scenes, using and changing nothing but the placement of one light to find out how just these simple movements in lighting techniques impact the mood of a shot.  
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Foley in a Day – Building a Basic Soundscape

Have you ever watched a film and wondered how the tiniest sounds, such as footsteps, doors creaking, drizzling rain, and creaking floors, somehow feel real? That’s the magic of Foley. Simply put, Foley is one of the core techniques in sound design, where every day noises are recreated to enhance the atmosphere and impact of a scene. And for this blog, we got to dive into it ourselves. Continue reading

Mediazone, University of Nicosia – The only audiovisual hands on experience you need!

Volunteering at Mediazone, University of Nicosia was a great experience that blended enjoyment and work seamlessly.

It really helped me with getting to know people as I was an international student with the Global Semesters program, who knew next to no one when I began volunteering.

Right from the start, Mediazone got me working on an audiovisual project – post production / editing and recording an event.

The group at Mediazone is like a family. There was not one time I would go to work on a project where I was not greeted with a smile and a short conversation. It is a great outlook onto the ‘media industry and puts everything into perspective.

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Mediazone: Student Volunteers from half way around the world!

My career path has always been influenced by what I enjoy, but also by doubts and uncertainty about my skills when it comes to the real world. Being a volunteer at Mediazone not only reignited my passion for video production projects and storytelling—it made me realize how capable I can be when the best is expected of me.

 

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The Gimbal challenge: What’s the Longest Take We Can Pull Off?

What is the longest continuous take you have ever spotted in a film? Was it in Goodfellas by Martin Scorsese, with its mesmerizing three-minute tracking shot that kept your eyes glued to the screen? Or maybe it was in the war movie 1917, where the seamless cuts were nearly impossible to spot, with uninterrupted shots lasting up to 8 minutes. Regardless, one thing is for sure: We have a newfound respect for anyone who attempts a long continuous take.

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Behind the Screens: The Unseen Challenges of Running a University AV Department

Most people just see the final product—a polished video, a flawless live stream, a perfectly lit interview. What they don’t see is the behind the scenes effort. The last-minute technical glitches, the juggling of multiple projects, the race to fix something before anyone notices. That’s where Studio Assistants come in.

Working at the University of Nicosia’s Mediazone isn’t just about handling cameras and sound equipment. It’s about thinking on your feet when a microphone suddenly stops working or a file won’t export five minutes before a deadline. It’s about guiding students who’ve never touched a camera while keeping things moving for those who have. Supporting our students and staff in their practical courses means great ‘customer service.

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“I’m with the Crew”

The word “crew can mean a lot of things. You need a cabin crew to fly an airplane, a rowing team is also called a crew. From my very first event, Music Vibes, back in my first year in 2021, I wore the Mediazone Crew Shirt for the first time. That black polo felt like armor, preparing me for a battle; directing one of the most crowded and highly anticipated Music Vibes events we had ever hosted. This was no ordinary event, it was the first one after COVID. The music blared through the speakers, students jumped and danced like there was no tomorrow, and my crew and I stood shoulder-to-shoulder, cameras in hand, ready to capture it all. It was chaos, it was exhilarating, and it was our moment.  

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