‘Olive’: The Oscar Contender Made With a Smartphone

Hooman Khalili, a San Francisco DJ, used a Nokia N8 to shoot “Olive,” a family film starring Gena Rowlands

No traditional film cameras — only a smartphone.

No studio.

No distributor.

No previous experience making movies.

How did "Olive" co-directors and co-writers Hooman Khalili (left) and Pat Gilles make a feature film under these circumstances?

Moreover, how did they rope in Gena Rowlands, raise thousands of dollars in funding thanks in part to a former Facebook executive — and get Oscar to take notice of the film?

"Olive," the first feature film to be shot entirely with a smartphone, has already had two limited runs in L.A.-area arthouse theaters; a song from the movie is on the short-list for an Academy Award.

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