Rehearsal of all elements and full process of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics
The duration is about 100 minutes. The creative principle is "simple, safe and wonderful"
On the evening of the 22nd, the well-received opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics held a rehearsal of all elements and the whole process at the National Stadium "Bird's Nest". Gorgeous fireworks lit up the night sky of the "Bird's Nest" that night.
The entire rehearsal was run in accordance with all aspects of the ceremony on the opening day, and the number of participants in the rehearsal was about one-half of the opening day.
Taking "simple, safe and wonderful" as the creative principle
At present, the rehearsal, production and rehearsal of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Winter Olympics are being carried out in an orderly manner.
The opening and closing ceremonies will be based on the creative principles of "simplicity, safety, and excitement", showing the common aspiration of people around the world to pursue a better future.
Taking into account factors such as temperature and epidemic prevention, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics has been adjusted accordingly in terms of length and structure. The opening ceremony lasts about 100 minutes.
Zhang Yimou, who had directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, took on the heavy responsibility and became the chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics.
He said that the opening ceremony integrates theatrical performances and ceremonies. By incorporating the concepts of technological innovation, low-carbon environmental protection and sports health, it presents wonderful effects and presents a romantic, beautiful and warm event to the world, showing the beauty of nature, The beauty of humanities and the beauty of sports.
The opening ceremony happened to be one of the traditional twenty-four solar terms in China - the beginning of spring. This important element will also be fully reflected in the program.
Entered from March last year
production stage
It is reported that the preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies are roughly divided into three stages.
From the establishment of the opening and closing ceremonies work department in 2019 to March 2021, the creative plans for the four performances of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics have been basically determined.
From March 2021 to now, it has entered the stage of performance production. From March to October last year, it mainly carried out the design work of lighting, music, stage art, clothing and other aspects, and further refined and implemented the creative plan. In the Bird's Nest, the intensive rehearsal stage began, and in the last less than a month, it was the stage of combined rehearsal and dress rehearsal.
Ianis Exarks, CEO of the Olympic Broadcasting Service, which is responsible for broadcasting the Winter Olympics, has now arrived in Beijing and watched the opening ceremony rehearsal.
He said that the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics is completely different from the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, but it is equally moving and impressive. "I believe you have no reason to miss this opening ceremony."
Text / reporter Chu Peng
Coordination / Photo courtesy of Wang Haozhou / Xinhua News Agency
behind the scenes
Zhang Yimou: Square dance warms up the opening ceremony
In an interview with reporters, Zhang Yimou, chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics, introduced the latest preparations.
It is reported that the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics will officially start at 8 pm on February 4, and before the start, there will be about 30 minutes of warm-up.
In the rehearsal on the 22nd, the square dance performance in the warm-up stage was performed by the youngest 5-year-old and the oldest in their 70s. They showed their different styles and expressed the expectations of ordinary Chinese people for the Winter Olympics.
Zhang Yimou said that, unlike the previous heats where hosts and stars were invited to perform skewering performances, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics did not have a host, and at the same time emphasized people's nature.
"China is a big country of square dancing. You can see it in any city. People go to dance and sing when they live a happy life, so I think (square dance) is very good." He said.
Earlier, according to Zhang Yimou, considering factors such as frugal hosting of competitions, cold weather, and epidemic prevention and control, the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics lasted about 100 minutes, with about 3,000 actors, and the 2008 4-hour, about 15,000 people. Compared with the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in 2008, it is really different.
Zhang Yimou said that for this performance, they have been preparing for about two and a half years. The main task at this stage is to constantly run in and become proficient, discover small problems and hidden dangers, and constantly overcome them.
"By this time, rehearsals will take place almost every day, 24 hours a day and night. It's not rehearsals with people, or rehearsals with performance devices. Now every second and every minute must be taken care of."
Since the Bird's Nest will not hold events during the Winter Olympics, this gives more space and time to the opening and closing ceremonies teams.
"Because the Bird's Nest only hosted a total of 4 ceremonies for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics and the Winter Paralympics, we were able to enter the venue very early and made certain changes and upgrades to the venue." Zhang Yimou said.
Regarding the new technology in the Bird's Nest, Zhang Yimou said, for example, the actor's trajectory can be captured in real time through the screen on the ground, so as to realize the interaction between the actor and the ground screen.
"We discussed this technology at the opening ceremony in 2008, and it was not possible at the time, but it can be done now."
Text/Xinhua