How Olympics opening ceremony artistic director Thomas Jolly is capturing the essence of France

Sgt.Dyketekike
Published on Jul 28, 2024
(20 Jul 2024)
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Paris - 19 July 2024
1. Various of Paris skyline
2. Various of workers installing barriers along Seine river
3. Various of building site at Notre Dame
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Thomas Jolly, artistic director of Paris 2024 opening ceremony:
"France is like a long story - a story that keeps expanding and re-writing itself and is very much alive. That's why there's this restlessness, with polemics. We're known for the protests we hold, the strikes and this constant questioning (of our identity)."
5. Various of police checkpoint near river banks
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Thomas Jolly, artistic director of Paris 2024 opening ceremony:
"When we watch (American TV show) 'Emily in Paris' here in France, we know that it's not exactly the Paris that we know. Amelie, the movie, also generated an imagery of France and Paris. Also, all of these stereotypes, these clichés, these symbols, of course we're going to play with them and turn them on their heads to say, yes, of course, that's the magic of Paris and we're going to welcome the world and say 'enchanté' to everyone but look, Paris is also a lot of other things. Paris is about its spirited young people, the different forms of art that meet here, the different schools of thought. It's a city that never ceases to re-imagine itself. It has been influenced by many and has influenced the world. Paris is alive. Paris is a party. Paris is here, happy and beautiful and we'll show this."
7. Various of Sacre Coeur, or Sacred Heart, basilica
8. Eiffel Tower
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Thomas Jolly, artistic director of Paris 2024 opening ceremony:
"How do you write a show in which everybody, at one point, feels represented and a part this bigger thing, this bigger 'us'? For an artist, it's a beautiful responsibility to have. It's ambitious but also complex because one has to broaden one's own imagery, one's own outlook and include everyone, understand everyone so that no one feels left behind."
10. Wide of La Defense business district
11. Wide of bridge over Seine river
12. SOUNDBITE (French) Thomas Jolly, artistic director of Paris 2024 opening ceremony:
"Alterity is a beautiful thing. Diversity is a beautiful thing. France celebrates this rich diversity, in its history too. Paris is a daily celebration of this. On the evening of the opening ceremony, I think this feeling of bringing this diversity together is our goal. It's also the objective of the Olympic Games. It's a form of utopia that becomes real. The entire world meets and comes together in the same place every four years."
13. Mid of police boat on Seine river
14. Wide of Paris skyline and Seine river
15. Various of Olympic rings statue
STORYLINE:
In a luxurious hotel room on the 16th floor, overlooking the heart of Paris and the iconic Seine River, Thomas Jolly prepares for the grand spectacle that will inaugurate the Paris 2024 Olympics.

More than a billion people are expected to watch the July 26 opening ceremony.

But Jolly, 42, is no stranger to outsized projects in France, producing a 24-hour-long Shakespearean tetralogy in 2022 and reviving the favourite musical “Starmania.” He has earned three Molière prizes, France’s highest theatre award.

Now, he is tasked with sharing France with the rest of the world in a parade that’s expected to last nearly four hours.

“"France is like a long story - a story that keeps expanding and re-writing itself and is very much alive,” Jolly passionately explained.

Last year, France hosted the Rugby World Cup.

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