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Lillehammer '94 Opening


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Rewatched the Lillehammer Opening (because I was preparing tapes for someone) and I had these reflections:

1. There was a flyover w/ 2 skydivers escorting a giant Norwegian flag. However, leading up to that point, there were some CG tricks so that that colors on the flag somehow magically appeared. Of course, I don't remember hearing any complaints about that bit of 'cheating' vs. the fireworks flap in Beijing. (It's too bad they didn't have the flag land in the stadium; somehow that stunt felt incomplete.)

2. The Lighting of the cauldron. At first it seemed like they 'cheated' again and the cauldron ignited BEFORE the Crown Prince touched the flame to the gas. However, on a 2nd viewing, it seemed they purposely had the flame in the cauldron ignite away from the C.P. (as opposed to close to him) for safety's reason. At least, I am giving them the benefit of the doubt. ;)

Has the world become a world of 'complainers' or is everyone just more eagle-eyed? :wacko:

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Interesting thought. Here's my take..

I think with the CG question it's more a case of changing tastes. We know everything can be done with CG now, and made to look very real as well. Back in the mid-to-late '90s we had a glut of new sci-fi films using CG and it was all very new and shiny. By early this century it had become old hat and CG for the sake of CG was a no-no. Fast forward to 2008 and CG is so cheap to do (relatively) and so ubiquitous that it feels like someone's cheating you out of a moment by resorting to it.

It doesn't amaze anyone anymore that these things can be done and if anything, it puts people off when it's used in the wrong places.

Of course, Beijing's show was a much bigger deal and, what with the internet and global communications, was seen and disected by more people than would have been possible back in '94. That's probably also got something to do with it.

Have you got any YouTube clips of the Lillehammer stunt?

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I do remember at the time watching the Lillehammer OC, it was the first time I'd watched obvious video and CGI inserted into what was supposedly a "live" ceremony and I felt a bit, well, cheated. The rest of the ceremony more than made up for it, though, still one of my faves. In those days, of course, I didn't bitch about such things over the net with a few dozen international Olympic fan correspondents, so don't know and can't remember if it was much of an issue at the time.

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So my pseudo-analysis was a load of old b*llocks. Fair enough. :lol:

Having said above they can make things very real these days, I did think at the time the fireworks in Beijing looked a bit fake. I mean, it was good CG, but there was a quality to it which made it look a bit suspect.

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It turns out cinema or TV verite fans felt cheated that those 'footprint fireworks' (except for the last last ones in the stadium, I guess) were CG and not real. These were the same nitpickers who cried foul over the little girl who lip-synched the national anthem. I mean these 'purists' could not go along for a little screen magic; they all thought it was another big Commie plot!! :lol:

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Baron, re the CG effects on the sky divers coming down with the Norwegian flag, I think what tips this into the acceptable basket is that it was (a) purely an introductory sequence and not an integral part of the physical ceremony (B) it is obvious CG at a time when such tech was rarer, hence not as manipulative and © it's not exactly part of a huge nationalistic propaganda stunt that Beijing 2008's ceremony was.

I'd stick my footage of this up on YouTube but the IOC video fascists would probably yank it down quicker than a newly married bride's undies...

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I guess the Lillehammer thing could be put in the same catagory as the opening of the Vancouver Games. The snowboarder coming down the mountain, and that perfect red outline of the maple leaf. Surely a fair bit of artistic license was used for that sequence too.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I guess the Lillehammer thing could be put in the same catagory as the opening of the Vancouver Games. The snowboarder coming down the mountain, and that perfect red outline of the maple leaf. Surely a fair bit of artistic license was used for that sequence too.

But that was a video on the big screen.

If only David Atkins put in a CG fourth leg on that cauldron... :lol:;)

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