Chinese Opera is a key part of Chinese New Year traditions, tracing back to the first dynasty of Imperial China. The majestic art form of musical theatre has since been supplanted by ever-changing modern entertainment. This year, the ambition for Apple’s annual CNY film is to reinvigorate the ancient art form with a movie-grade quality captured entirely with the latest iPhone 14 Pro. Through the Five Passes is a coming-of-age story about a young opera practitioner who goes against all odds to give the performance of a lifetime, even if just for a mere five minutes. Based on a renowned Chinese Opera story, the title itself is a famous expression that embodies a powerful spirit to do whatever it takes to overcome adversity. The story celebrates the spirit of resilience, particularly following the turbulent year of 2022, when people pushed through despite the constant uncertainty of China’s Covid policies. Traditionally captured in a static frame or onstage play, our ambition was to take Chinese Opera and inject contemporary aesthetics through innovative cinematography. With the iPhone’s versatility at our fingertips, we were able to breathe fresh new life into this ancient art form. We captured Chinese Opera with filmmaking techniques that include ingenious camera placements on and off stage, on and around the performers. Getting close enabled us to capture intricate details and dynamic movements to show viewers a never-before-seen side of Chinese Opera, all while showcasing the latest iPhone features. From dazzling choreography to rich colors, it all came together to create a surrealistic and artistic opera performance from our protagonist in his final encounter. This dream-like sequence represents his personal journey filled with emotional hardships, and is reflected in the powerful yet fluid motions of the camera, altering the viewing experience of Chinese Opera for the modern day audience.