Chinese film director Zhang Yimou, who is masterminding the 2008
Olympic opening and closing ceremonies, plans to collect 10,000
children's smiles for the opening ceremony.
"We will collect the smiles of children of different regions,
colors and races all over the world," Zhang told Xinhua News
Agency.
"We will display these smiles at the opening ceremony, after our
artistic processing, to complement the theme of the games: One
World, One Dream," he said.
Games organizers are currently discussing the plan in detail and
it is expected to be formally launched very soon, according to
Zhang.
According to a senior official of the Organizing Committee for
the Beijing Olympic Games (BOCOG), rehearsals for the opening
ceremony will begin in September.
BOCOG has invited Zhang to act as director for the Games'
opening and closing ceremonies, Hollywood director Steven
Spielberg, Australian Ric Birch and Frenchman Yves Pepin will serve
as artistic consultants.
Zhang, one of China's most respected directors, is best known
for his films Raise the Red Lantern, Hero and
House of Flying Daggers. He has won the Jury Grand Prize
at the Cannes Film Festival, and has twice taken the Golden Lion
award at the Venice Film Festival.
(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2007)