TBWAMedia Arts Lab Shanghai has turned out the sixth Chinese New Year film for Apple. Titled Through the Five Passes, the short centers around the Chinese Opera, one of the oldest dramatic art forms in the world.
The title refers to a renowned Chinese Opera and is also an expression that means to overcome all odds. It embodies a powerful spirit of doing whatever needs to be done to overcome adversity. Directed by Venice Film Festival Award-winning (Underground Fragrance) director Peng Fei, Through the Five Passes is a story about the core Chinese virtue of resilience and one man’s perseverance in keeping the art of Chinese Opera alive.
Set during 1987, Gu, a dedicated Chinese Opera performer, awaits backstage ahead of his big performance in “Through the Five Passes.” As he chats with the other entertainers who left the Chinese Opera to pursue contemporary dance and songwriting, he has flashbacks to struggles he has overcome while dedicating his life to the traditional art: being disciplined as a kid by his master, learning his father is in critical condition before performing, ruining his sister’s performance, and putting up with the jokes his friends and family make about the traditional art form. As he is about to go on stage, the program manager reduces the hour-long performance of “Through the Five Passes” to just five minutes. Despite all this, Gu is empowered by his hardships and determined to perform. The film closes with a short reprisal moment to represent the individuals and communities practicing the arts of Chinese Opera in modern China.
The film was shot on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max and include features: Action mode, Cinematic mode, Macro, Low Light, Ultra Wide, Telephoto, Stabilization, ProRes.
