Shenzhen – October 28, 2026 -- A ten-video smartphone filmmaking masterclass built around the vivo X500 Pro Max goes live on November 9, 2026, taking learners through the making of one vertical Reel from first shot to final export.
The course comes from Kolder Creative, the platform of filmmaker Sam Kolder, and follows the global launch of the vivo X500 Series. It consists of one introductory video and nine lessons, all built on the same project.
Kolder walks through every stage of a vertical Reel
Kolder covers native camera controls, composition, footage selection, editing, sound design, color grading and export. He shoots in vivo's native camera app and demonstrates Log recording for more flexibility in grading. He also shows how frame rate and shutter settings change the look of movement, and how neutral-density (ND) filters help control exposure.
For composition, he works inside the 9:16 vertical frame. Close-ups, medium shots and wider views add variety and build complete sequences. He starts with a broad story direction but stays open to unexpected moments during filming and editing.
“A phone now does what used to take a bag of gear,” Kolder said.
DaVinci Resolve handles editing and color grading
In DaVinci Resolve, learners see how Kolder organizes footage and builds a narrative around voiceover and music. Matching movement between shots creates fluid connections, and sound design adds atmosphere. His color grading workflow uses look-up tables (LUTs) and adjustment nodes.
The course includes the Reel's final soundtrack. It also offers 50% discounts on Filmkid LUTs, which Kolder uses in his grading demonstrations, and on LUTs by Bryn North, a filmmaker and Kolder collaborator.
The masterclass extends Kolder's work with vivo after “The Garden Route,” a short film shot entirely on the vivo X300 Ultra.
The X500 Pro Max packs a 200 MP telephoto and 4K 240 fps
The X500 Series is co-engineered with ZEISS. The Pro Max has a 200 MP ZEISS APO Telephoto Camera for tighter framing. Its ZEISS TrueDynamic Main Camera offers Cinematic Pro Log Video, with a dedicated Log curve tuned to the camera's 17 EV dynamic range to preserve highlight and shadow detail.
DaVinci Resolve natively supports vivo Log and vivo Wide Gamut, which is meant to simplify color-grading workflows.
For motion, the phone records Multi-Focal 4K at 120 fps, and its main camera records native 4K at 240 fps for slow-motion footage. A 7800 mAh BlueVolt Battery and 90W FlashCharge support filming on location.