Olympic movie goes global filming

Shooting is underway on the 2008 official Olympic Games film. Cameras started rolling Wednesday in Beijing. Production teams are set to capture the Olympic torch relay, games preparations and the participation of athletes from all over the world.

Shooting is underway on the 2008 official Olympic Games film.  Cameras started rolling Wednesday in Beijing.(Photo: CCTV.com)

The tradition of producing a film for each Olympic Games dates back to the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. The film for the 2008 Olympics will be directed and shot by all-Chinese crews. The 2008 chronicle goes beyond its predecessors. Not only will the games themselves be recorded - there will be highlights from the torch relay and preparations by the athletes.

Gu Yun, director, said, "We've assigned ten teams to various corners of the world. For the next phase, all will begin filming exactly at the same time - when the torch relay gets underway in Greece. One team will be in full charge of keeping record of the torch relay in Greece. The rest of the teams, simultaneously will capture moments from the lives of athletes in other countries."

The production teams are scheduled to follow nearly a dozen groups of athletes who will be competing in different sports.

Gu Yun said, "We'll film Liu Xiang and Yao Ming for sure. They are among our best beloved athletes."

The official movie for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics is scheduled for global release at the end of this year. Later, it will become a part of the permanent treasury, at the Olympic Museum, in Switzerland.