1. A handheld device that allows a user to control a virtual scene generated by a computer system, the virtual scene including one or more characters, a plurality of non-character assets and at least one virtual camera, the plurality of assets including one or more immoveable objects, moveable objects or self-propelled objects, the handheld device comprising: a body; an I/O channel configured to enable the handheld device to communicate with the computer system that generates the virtual scene; a display mounted on the body and configured to show a representation of the virtual scene as generated by the at least one virtual camera; and one or more input controls operable to enable: (a) a first user-selected mode for recording images with a virtual camera of the at least one virtual camera in the virtual scene using the input controls, and (b) a second user-selected mode for selecting individual ones of the plurality of assets and moving the selected assets within the virtual scene and for selecting between different virtual lenses for the virtual camera.