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Special Events
We Go to Rio: Entertainment Experts Weigh in on Olympics Opening Ceremony
Special Events Staff Aug 09, 2016

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New approach
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro is the site of the Opening Ceremonies.

"We tried to change some paradigms of the Olympic Ceremonies,” Balich says. "In the spirit of 'gambiarra,' we replaced the high-tech approach with an analog inventiveness. We have done a big party, with 4,000 volunteers, to promote world peace as the basis of the Olympic spirit."

 

 

Creative team
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

The creative team included Abel Gomes, Andrucha Waddington, Daniela Thomas and Fernando Mereilles.

Making the most of the budget
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

The Brazilian flag is saluted.

"For a country in such political upheaval I thought they were very lucky to pull off this opening production at the level they did," notes Doug Johnson, head of Los Angeles-basesd E Plus Productions.

"Budget is the driving force for creativity at this level, and they seemed to be smart with how they used every dollar," he adds. "The story they told was surprising, and as uncomfortable as it was, they were honest with their heritage when dealing with the slave trade."

The history of Brazil
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

The ceremony traced the history of Brazil. Here, native peoples in the vast forest.

Paul Creighton, CSEP, executive vice president with Orlando, Fla.-based T. Skorman Productions, says the production values were "spot on."

"It would have been wholly inappropriate for a country that was having trouble providing basic services to their own citizens to put on an extravaganza to rival the $40 million that England spent, or the $100 million that China spent," he explains.

 

 

Arrival of the Portuguese
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

The arrival of the Portuguese, circa 1500.

Johnson dubs the rocking ships "a visual home run."

Good lighting makes the difference
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

For Michael Manzanet, producer with Los Angeles-based WonderWorld, not only were visual effects, lighting and laser use strong, "The performances were excellent, and the use of props creative, since they were made of cardboard boxes and tin."

He adds, "Good lighting made it look like the props were expensive. Even the costumes were from thrift shops and charity shops."

Praise for the multi-level stage
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

The rise of Brazil's major cities.

"Another 'wow' was the multi-level stage at the end of the stadium," Creighton says. "It was visual appealing, and allowed the producers to do a lot of different entertainment--much of it small groups--but still feel big."

Celebrating beauty with Brazilian supermodel Gisele
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen walks to the 1960s bossa nova hit "The Girl from Ipanema."

"My biggest goal is that no matter what the client spends, make sure that what you deliver is clean and well presented," Creighton says. "So, for me, the biggest wow was the 90 seconds they cleared the entire stadium floor and let Giselle Bundchen walk across the field to the sounds of 'Girl From Ipanema.' The simplicity of that moment was brilliant.  For a country that celebrates beauty, it was perfect."

 

Dancers take the stage
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

Dancers take the stage. 

Michael Cerbelli, CEO and president of New York-based Cerbelli Creative, praises the colorful show and lively multimedia. "The media had us believing that Rio was in incredibly bad shape walking into this Olympics," he notes. But, "I think the story of Brazil/Rio was amazing." 

He adds that throughout the ceremonies, "The passion and heart were always there."

Saving the planet
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

A large segment of the production warned of the destruction of the rain forest and need to safeguard the environment. 

"I think the opening has a lot to say about you get for what you pay for," says Sam Trego, president of San Diego-based Imagine Entertainment. "Yes, this had a much smaller budget the other opening ceremonies, no doubt. The entire world noticed the lack of production compared to past opening ceremonies. However, I personally loved the human message that we have got to act now to keep from destroying our planet."

Long view of the stadium
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

A long view of the stadium.

"I really enjoyed the cityscape and parkour performers," notes Mark Howell, president of Mark Joseph Creative, with offices in Los Angeles and San Diego.

"I also loved the simplicity of the cords/wires that were suspended fom the center and used in various patterns."

Bicyclist ushers in athletes
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

A bicyclist ushers in a nation's athletes.

Brazil's athletes are welcomed
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

Brazil's athletes are welcomed.

Long view
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

A long view.

Replacing the rain forest
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

The performers tackle the theme of the vanishing rain forest.

Plea for reforestation
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

A plea for reforestation.

Dancers cavort
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

Dancers cavort.

Many entertainment experts praise the 2008 Opening Ceremonies in Beijing a the high-water mark for Olympics productions.

Colorful samba performers
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

Colorful samba performers.

Stunning use of color
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

Stunning use of color.

The Olympic cauldron is lit
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

And the grand finale--the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

Cerbelli notes that his most poignant Olympics Opening Ceremony was 1996, when Muhammad Ali lit the cauldron.

Cauldron close-up
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

A close-up on the cauldron.

Executive producer Marco Balich in the control room
Luca Parisse/Veronica Lanza courtesy Balich Worldwide Shows

Rio Opening Ceremonies executive producer Marco Balich in the control room.

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