Apple’s latest documentary, “Poached”, is set in Singapore and revolves around Singapore’s favourite Chicken Rice. Set in our very own Maxwell Food Centre, it tells the story of two Chicken Rice shops in Singapore that are in a stirring battle between the traditional methods of cooking versus a modernised twist on Singapore’s beloved dish. Best of all, the entire documentary was shot on the iPhone 13 Pro by acclaimed food documentarian David Gelb.
“Poached” – the mini documentary of two chicken rice stalls
The mini documentary shot by acclaimed food documentarian David Gelb showcases the “chicken rice war” between two stalls both situated within Maxwell Food Centre. The documentary is largely about hawker pride and conviction and tells the tale of two competing chicken rice vendors.
The two stalls featured in the documentary are the famous chicken rice stall Tian Tian Chicken Rice and the stall just two doors down, Ah Tai Chicken Rice. The latter was opened by Tian Tian’s former chef of 20 years.
The former Tian Tian’s chef had left the famous chicken rice shop after a disagreement with the owner’s daughter when she took over the business. He then went on to open another stall just two doors away and served what he considered to be the way Tian Tian’s chicken rice was cooked before the change in ownership. Today, the two stalls are both serving the same dish and have garnered their own loyal following.
The title “Poached” is tribute to the traditional method of cooking chicken rice but also hints at the complicated history of the two main characters of the film. The Chinese title 有鸡可趁 (yǒu jī kě chèn) which is a play on words on the idiom 有机可趁 which means to make the best out of a good opportunity.
Showcasing the prowess of the iPhone 13 Pro
For everyone who had doubts about the performance and specs of the iPhone 13 Pro, the short film comes to dismiss any doubts you have about the iPhone. Particularly, the use of Cinematic mode and macro shots – two key features of this new iPhone.
While shooting the documentary, Gelb has said that the “iPhone 13 Pro has an extensive suite of tools within this one device. One of the great things about Cinematic mode is that it can automatically rack focus from one subject to the next.” When shooting in Macro mode, you can be sure to be able to see every grain of rice.
But filming this documentary on the iPhone was not without any challenges. The challenge came from the small and cramped spaces. It was important for Gelb to capture the stall owners in action without disrupting their routine or getting in their way. “Shooting in a hawker kitchen, there’s not a lot of space. We want to tell their story, but we don’t want to interfere, and we want to present what they are doing in a very authentic and natural way,” said Gelb.
As you will see from the making-of video, Gelb reveals exactly how he worked within the confines of the small shop space. This included mounting the phone onto sliders and tripods and using different mounts and turntables, together with some other professional equipment.
The iPhone was also great for capturing shots in cramped conditions. At one point, the iPhone was even mounted onto the chopper used to prepare food in the stall, while the Apple Watch acted as the viewfinder to ensure the camera angle was correct.
iPhone 13 Pro – Get it or nah
The iPhone truly lived up to its potential as evident from the documentary. As Gelb says “When I was first starting, I wish I could have had a device like this. All that an aspiring filmmaker needs to worry about is finding a great story to tell, and then all the tools to tell that story are right in front of them. I imagine that it’ll inspire a generation.”
Apart from serving us awesome visuals and triggering a craving for chicken rice, the documentary has a second purpose. That is, to inspire and show budding content creators and filmmakers that creativity is at the touch of your fingertips.
“Poached” is part of the Shot on iPhone series and follows the February film titled “Life is But a Dream,” which Apple commissioned from internationally renowned director Park Chan-Wook. You can watch the entire mini-documentary here. And if you’re hesitant about getting the iPhone 13 Pro, we say “Get it!” Let the iPhone 13 pro take you on a creative journey.
