Think Beijing's opening ceremony on Friday was too good to be true? Well, it was ... sort of. Richard Spencer of The Telegraph discovered (via a leak in the Chinese press) those "footprint" fireworks near the beginning of the spectacle weren't actually captured as a part of the live show: they were CGI graphics inserted into the broadcast.
Gao Xiaolong, head of the visual effects team for the ceremony, said it had taken almost a year to create the 55-second sequence. Meticulous efforts were made to ensure the sequence was as unnoticeable as possible: they sought advice from the Beijing meteorological office as to how to recreate the hazy effects of Beijing's smog at night, and inserted a slight camera shake effect to simulate the idea that it was filmed from a helicopter.Chinese organizers claim it was a safety concern, though the quotes Spencer includes point more toward wanting it to look as good as possible, something CGI can improve over real-time, smoggy performance. Just consider the Ceremony a summer movie -- which it basically was -- and it's all water under the bridge.
However, if it comes out Yao Ming and his little friend were really holograms, in order to get Yao some rest ahead of his match against the Americans ... well, then I'd be disenchanted with the whole thing.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-11-2008 @ 10:37AM
Andy said...
If you listened to NBC's commentary at the very beginning of the ceremonies, they clearly said that the footprint fireworks were being done by a process similar to CGI. Still an amazing feat as were the entire ceremonies.
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8-11-2008 @ 10:47AM
DOUG BRAUN said...
TO THE IOC-YOU B PEOPLE ARE TERRIBLE. CHINA IS ALLOWED TO DO ANYTHINY. IF THE U.S.A. USED ANY CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 16, WE WOULD BE BANNED FROM THE OLYMPICS. THE ENTIRE FEMALE CHINESE GYM. TEAM LOOKS LUIKE THEY ARE BETWEEN 10-12. BUT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TOLD YOU THEY WILL BE 16. I WANT TO SEE THESE CHILDREN'S BIRTH CERTIFICATES BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO COMPETE FOR THE GOLD MEDAL. THESE OLYMPICS ARE LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE 1936 "NAZI" OLYMPICS WHEN THE GERMANS WER ALLOWED TO DO ANYTHING THEY WANTED. SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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8-11-2008 @ 12:10PM
hootie_69 said...
The US team has a couple members who are 15. Try being a little less ignorant before you hit caps lock and let your fingers fly.
8-11-2008 @ 1:49PM
hula girl said...
Asians age well, caucasians don't. That's a fact. Most Caucasian High school girls look like they are in their twenties. Asians never look their age. There is no great need for plastic surgeons in China like there is a need for them in California. Get a grip!!!!
8-11-2008 @ 10:52AM
Matt said...
Hey Doug, how about trying decaf tomorrow morning?
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8-11-2008 @ 1:39PM
Robert said...
The Chinese government assigned one of their country's best film directors to plan the opening ceremony.
Now we know why....
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8-11-2008 @ 2:14PM
Betsy Kiehl said...
It is obvious that maybe 2 or 3 the female Chinese Gymnasts are at least 12 years old. I think if they were 15, going to be 16 this year, it would be acceptable. China wants to win gold at all costs....everyone does. But not enough to put in 12 year olds.
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8-12-2008 @ 5:10AM
kevin said...
Yes the USA has a couple of 15 yr old but as long as they turn 16 this year, we are within the rules.
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8-11-2008 @ 3:24PM
Chaz P said...
To put the pressure of the Olympics on a 12 or 13 year old little girl just shows the rest of the world how much china admires us! They will do anything to prove that they can beat Americans! In the end Americans will shine through like we always do! Its just sad that china cant except that and actually commend us like we would for them!
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8-13-2008 @ 9:27AM
bblackjr said...
Hula Girl- let me guess.... you're asian? Have you looked at a sixty yr old chineese women lately?
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8-11-2008 @ 5:43PM
audrey h said...
I have....my mom is sixty five years old and no one believes that she is over 45. She didn't even take extra care of herself and let herself age naturally...I guess it is just genetic. I am 30 years old and got carded for going into a Canadian casino ( age limit is 19).
I am Chinese by the way.
8-12-2008 @ 12:14PM
Johnes said...
Hula Girl is a racist!
8-11-2008 @ 5:07PM
S. Y. Yoon said...
Tom, you sound like you've just discovered the earth is round and it ain't fun to live on the round earth than it's on the flat earth. I admire you for your remarkable discovery!
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8-11-2008 @ 5:41PM
Lutz Brehmer said...
Who cares! Most everything coming out of Hollywood is
fake and is celebrated . I think people are just jealous of
this fantastic display. Suck it up !
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8-11-2008 @ 7:18PM
EL said...
Chaz P: One must agree, Americans do always "shine through", especially in their literacy skills. I suggest you find out the meaning of the word "except" before using it in a sentence again. I believe the word you are looking for is "accept". Meanwhile... just as Lutz Brehmer said, special effects and computer imaging saturate everything that comes out of Hollywood, so America is sounding a little bit hypocritical if you ask me. (that means two-faced Chaz P). Now whether Beijing should have been accepted to host the games at all... that's another story...
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8-12-2008 @ 11:13AM
Joe said...
There is a 14 year old British kid diving right now. The 16 year old limit must only apply to gymnastics.
Andy, I remember the announcers saying that as well. So, no secret.
The opening ceremonies were wonderful.
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9-02-2008 @ 1:15AM
tom watson said...
I wish they would show the opening ceremonies again, please give the time and date and I and I bet others will be tuned in! PLEASE!
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8-17-2008 @ 1:53AM
tom watson said...
I wish they would show the opening ceremonies again, please give the time and date and I and I bet others will be tuned in! PLEASE. So get off the way it was done. It was great.
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8-11-2008 @ 10:23PM
Enrique said...
I am 58 going on 70
And I have Mexican indian blood
Of course, I smoke, drink, fool around, and seldon sleep.
What is the point?
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8-11-2008 @ 11:15PM
Patti said...
NBC did say that the footprints were graphic effects and I think that it was a great idea...just shows that they can use technology just as the west can. I was amazed that the printing press blocks were actually people and not computer operated. The whole opening ceremony was amazing. And to put my 2 cents worth in about the age of the Chinese gymnasts, my daughter is 23 and looks 14 so you really can not tell their age by looking. But their level of maturity under such intense pressure makes me feel that they are older than they look.
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