From: the.wise.one@abel.co.uk   
      
   Director Zhang Yimou ready to relax   
      
   (China Daily)   
   Updated: 2008-09-19 07:46   
      
      
   He might have directed several blockbusters, but none of them was as   
   demanding as producing the opening and closing ceremonies for the   
   Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, movie director Zhang Yimou said   
   earlier this week.   
      
   "I have never used so many people or gone to so much trouble when making   
   a film," the 57-year-old told the Xinhua News Agency ahead of   
   Wednesday's closing ceremony for the Paralympic Games at the Bird's Nest.   
      
   "The ceremonies are grand cultural events, and entail a daunting amount   
   of coordination with other artists, technicians and officials," he said.   
      
   "It was very time- and energy-consuming, but a rare and rewarding   
   experience."   
   He is now looking forward to a good rest, he said.   
      
   Among Zhang's collaborators on the four performances were Zhang Jigang,   
   choreographer of the Thousand-hand Bodhisattva Dance, and fireworks   
   expert Cai Guoqiang.   
      
   The team spent years developing, designing and perfecting their   
   performances, Zhang Yimou said.   
      
   "People want to see something they've never seen before, so it was   
   extremely challenging.   
      
   "The use of water at the Athens Olympic opening ceremony, for instance,   
   was a brilliant stunt, and that put us under pressure to be equally   
   stunning," he said.   
      
   The team spent many long nights discussing and arguing over which of the   
   myriad sporting and cultural elements to include, Zhang said.   
      
   The end results were worth the effort, though, Zhang said.   
      
   Elements such as the drumbeat countdown to the opening of the Olympics   
   and the jade plate at the opening of the Paralympics spoke the language   
   of artistic expression, he said.   
      
   "We had to abide by certain procedures stipulated by the Games'   
   supervising bodies," he said.   
      
   "But we were able to present all the mandatory elements in our own way."   
      
   More than 40,000 people participated in the four ceremonies, thousands   
   of costumes were made, and every cosmetician had to make up about 180   
   performers in just hours, he said.   
      
   Through it all, the emphasis was always on producing a quality show, he   
   said.   
      
   "Beijing won't host another Paralympics in the near future," Zhang said.   
      
   "So we wanted every moment of this one to be memorable.   
      
   "Being so involved with one of the world's best sports events was   
   something truly memorable," he said.   
      
   "It will influence my life and work in the future."   
      
      
   http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-09/19/content_7040098.htm   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)