The reMarkable 2 Review: Good for Filmmakers?

As a filmmaker, inspiration can strike at any moment. Whether on set or in a coffee shop, having a reliable tool to jot down ideas, sketches, and notes is crucial. My secret weapon has been the reMarkable 2 tablet. With an impressive E-Ink display, precise stylus, and powerful note-taking and sketching capabilities, The Remarkable 2 has helped me stay organized on the go.

But the question remains: is the reMarkable 2 tablet good for filmmakers? In my reMarkable 2 Review, I’ll dive into the features and benefits of the reMarkable 2 and explore how it can help take your filmmaking to the next level.

Design and Display

The reMarkable 2 tablet has a sleek and minimalist design, with a thin and lightweight body that makes it easy to bring everywhere, especially on set. The device features a 10.3-inch E Ink display that offers a paper-like feel and reduces eye strain, making it comfortable for extended use. The display also has a high resolution of 1872 x 1404 pixels, which ensures that your sketches and notes look sharp and clear. One thing to note, the screen mimics paper; therefore, you’ll need extra light in dark settings. You can format your reMarkable 2 in a left-handers mode for our left-handers. For more on how to set up left-handed mode on your reMarkable 2, check out this article.

Note Taking and Sketching

One of the standout features of the reMarkable 2 tablet is its note-taking and sketching capabilities. The device comes with a precise stylus that offers a natural and seamless writing and drawing experience with minimal lag and no noticeable parallax. The stylus also features tilt and pressure sensitivity, allowing for a range of line widths and shading options. You can upgrade your stylus to add an eraser feature, but the reMarkable 2 has options to erase sections on your pages.

The reMarkable 2’s note-taking app offers a variety of pen and marker options. Depending on your preference, you can change the size and intensity of the pen, pencil, marker, and highlighter options. The app also allows for seamless zooming and panning, making adding details and annotations to your notes easy. The device’s palm rejection technology also ensures you can write and draw without worrying about accidental touches or smudges.

You can choose from various pens and markers and create custom templates and grids on The reMarkable 2 tablet. This is handy when making storyboards, shot lists, script mockups, editing notes, and location scout notes. There are also many resources available online with even more templates and grids. Here is my go to site for free templates for the reMarkable 2 tablet. Here is a tutorial on how to add templates to your reMarkable 2 tablet.

Organization and Connectivity

Keeping track of your notes and sketches can be challenging, but the reMarkable 2 offers a range of organizational features to help streamline the process. The device allows you to create custom notebooks and folders, add tags to your notes, and even search your notes by keyword. One of the most notable features is easily exporting your notes as PDFs or images, making sharing your work with colleagues or collaborators easy.

The reMarkable 2 tablet also offers a range of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi and USB-C, allowing you to transfer files between devices and access cloud storage options such as Dropbox or Google Drive. This makes it easy to work collaboratively with others, whether sharing notes with a team or collaborating with a fellow filmmaker on set.

These features come in handy when I’m on set working with a director on a shot list. I can mock up the script with notes and export the PDF straight to the director, who can also mock up the same script with their notes. This has come in handy when working quickly and changing the script or shot list. It’s also been helpful for a script supervisor to make notes directly on the script and send that version to an editor. For more about shot lists and how to make one, be sure to read my blog post about film coverage.

Battery Life, Performance and Accessories

The reMarkable 2 tablet has an impressive battery life. While their website claims to allow up to two weeks of use on a single charge, I’ve found that I can get about a week out of a single charge with frequent usage. With a powerful processor and 8 gigs of storage, I’m able to work on dozens of projects at the same time.

To outfit your reMarkable 2 tablet, you can purchase various accessories. Some of my favorites are the screen protector, the magnetic folio case, and the stylus holder.

Pros and Cons

Is the reMarkable 2 tablet a good option for filmmakers? Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• High-quality E Ink display offers a paper-like feel and reduces eye strain
• Precise stylus provides a natural and seamless writing and drawing experience
• Range of organizational features makes it easy to keep track of notes 
• Connectivity options allow for easy sharing and collaboration
• Long battery life and powerful performance ensure reliable use
• Supports PDFs, JPGs, PNGs, and EPUB ebooks

Cons

• The device is relatively expensive compared to other tablets
• Some users may miss the color display and capabilities of traditional tablets
• The subscription for desktop/app integration is USD 2.99 per month

FAQs About The reMarkable 2

My reMarkable 2 Review Verdict

The reMarkable 2 tablet offers a range of features and benefits that can significantly benefit filmmakers. With its intuitive note-taking and sketching capabilities, precise stylus, and connectivity options, the device offers a seamless and streamlined way to capture ideas, stay organized, and collaborate with others.

The high-quality E Ink display is also a plus, providing a paper-like feel that can reduce eye strain during extended use. Since having my reMarkable 2 tablet, I’ve eliminated using paper on my sets and kept all my notes organized from the beginning of each project. It’s been instrumental in allowing me to work on projects on and off-set and easily share my workflow with my collaborators.

While the device may be relatively expensive compared to other tablets, the reMarkable 2 is specifically designed for note-taking and sketching, making it a unique and specialized tool for filmmakers and other creative professionals. While you may miss traditional tablets’ color display and multimedia capabilities, the reMarkable 2’s focus on simplicity and functionality may benefit those who prefer a distraction-free writing and drawing experience. 

Here’s a tutorial featuring tips and tricks for using your reMarkable 2 tablet.

Overall, if you’re a filmmaker looking for a reliable and efficient way to capture and organize your ideas, the reMarkable 2 tablet is an excellent investment. Its precise stylus, high-quality display, and range of organizational features make it a valuable tool for both on-set and off-set use. Its long battery life and powerful performance ensure it can keep up with even the busiest and most demanding creative professionals.

Let me know in the comments if you enjoy your reMarkable 2 tablet and what creative uses you’ve found. Thanks for reading, and happy filmmaking!