It was June 2, 2001. Defying the scorching sunlight and high temperature of about 38 degrees celsius, director Zhang Yimou began the shooting of a new film in downtown Beijing's Chaoyang Park.
The film is not expected to be a box office smash - it's actually a series of short films specially made to promote Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games.
But it's being made by one of China's best directors - Zhang's many award-winning films include "Raise the Red Lantern" (1991), "Ju Dou" (1990) and "Qiuju Goes to Court" (1992).
And a well-known American sports documentary "guru", Bud Greenspan, has been working with the Chinese director. It's hoped the two of them together will make an unforgettable film.
Invited by the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee, Zhang and his crew began working on the film project last October. That early June Saturday was only one of many hardworking days for Zhang and his team. Already they have made scores of films for different phases of Beijing's bid campaign.
Although the most recent film was supposed to be shorter in length compared to the other ones, Zhang shot it just as carefully.
"Everything we do here is to justify Beijing's bid for the games," he said. "We will present a new Beijing and great Olympics," he added, citing the city's bidding logo.
From 7 am on the first day of shooting, Zhang kept himself busy giving orders to hundreds of actors for the shooting of a spectacular scene in the park.
Part of a presentation film for the final bid campaign, the scene, as well as the whole film, will not be revealed until July 13 when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) finally picks the country which will host the 2008 Olympic Games. When local reporters flocked to the park and tried to speak to Zhang, he would only say that he expected to take his movie fans by surprise with the Olympic films.
"It will be a new experience for them. These films are quite different from my previous ones," said Zhang. Officials from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee also remained discreet about the film.
"What I can say about the film at this time is that it is based on co-operation between the best Chinese film director and a world-famous sports documentary guru," said Zhao Wei, the publicity official in charge of the film production team.
Not until then did the reporters notice a female foreign producer among the production crew, who sat quietly in front of the monitor beside Zhang.
Nancy Beffa, executive vice-president of Cappy Productions, Inc, a sports film production company founded by Bud Greenspan from the United States, has come to China for the film project to work with Zhang and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee.
Greenspan's Cappy Productions is famous throughout the Olympic world. A veteran sports historian and master sports documentary filmmaker, Greenspan has for a long time been labeled the "poet laureate of the Olympics, and the official keeper of the Olympic flame."
In December last year, he was invited by the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee to the city for a special trip. It was decided then that he and Zhang would work together to make the best use of the two creative minds well known in their respective fields.
Zhang Yimou described the co-operation as "happy times." He added: "I have known of Greenspan for a long time and admired his expertise in chronicling the glory of the Olympic movement. It is a happy time working with Greenspan's people for the good of Beijing's Olympic Bid." "We feel that the 2008 Olympic Games should go to Beijing, the capital of a nation with a rich historical legacy as well as a modern vigour. We believe Beijing is capable of hosting the Games," said Greenspan.
Beffa was also exuberant about the co-operation. "Zhang Yimou is a great film director. Working with him to help Beijing's 2008 Olympic Games Bid will be the most memorable time in my life," said Beffa.
Film-making experts from the two sides have co-written the scene and co-produced it in China. The film's rough-cuts were sent to Greenspan's New York-based film studios for post production, such as editing, sound mixing, narration and special effects, with joint efforts from both Chinese and American filmmakers.
The first fruit of the co-operation proved to be a success in February this year.
On February 23, the Olympic inspection team visiting Beijing warmly applauded the screening of a promotion film, shown as part of Beijing's bid presentations at the Conference Hall of the Beijing Grand Hotel. "We were greatly encouraged by the inspection team's response. But of course there is still much left to do until July 13 ," said Zhang Yimou.
Members of the production crew have already shuttled by plane several times between Beijing and New York to make sure the final film is made properly.
At the same time, they have also been able to produce a documentary reflecting China's changes seen through Greenspan's eyes.
"We first came to Beijing in 1992," recalled Greenspan. This time around, he found the city has changed fundamentally.
"The natural environment is improving. And Beijing has kept its promise to improve its transport and communications systems," said Greenspan. He was deeply impressed by Beijing's new international airport, new expressways, high-rise buildings, star-ranked hotels with better services and the bustling commercial centers.
"Staying in Beijing is both convenient and comfortable," added Beffa.
"We have found that Beijing people have maintained their enthusiasm for the Olympic Games Bid," said Greenspan.
It's been reported that up to 95 per cent of Beijing residents support the bid.
To show the level of his support for Beijing, Greenspan is scheduled to attend the premiere the official film on Sydney Olympic Games, authorized by the IOC and completed recently in Beijing.
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Bid Committee has also signed agreements to work with Oscar- winning composer Tan Dun and American musician Emilio Estefan to compose a theme song for the presentation film and related music videos for the final stages of Beijing's Olympic Bid campaign.
(China Daily 06/13/2001)
