Dollah and I took the van and went straight to the north-west corner of the Tienanmen Square. A huge crowd has already gathered along the road. The traffic police and the volunteers had a tough time at controlling the excited public. Dollah had to climb on top of a flower pot to get a vantage shot. After three Olympics, the journey of the Olympic torch has never failed to amaze me. Today, we managed to catch up and follow a part of the torch relay.
The media has picked their spots. Some were ready to just run along side. With our accreditation pass, we slowly make our way to the middle of a junction. It was tough, trying to get the message across to the traffic police. Finally, somebody from BOB gave them the thumbs-up for allowing us in. I could feel the glare of the public. How many can live to tell the tale that they get to stand in the middle of the junction at Tienanmen Square?Even the police themselves were taking photo. To them, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance for them to see the Olympic Torch Relay.
When the big moment arrived, the crowd cheered the runners on and just outside the Tienanmen Square, Zhang Yi Mou took over as the torch bearer for a moment. And there is our moment with the famous film director. But just as I turned my head, I realised Dollah was separated from Dollah. He ran with the torch relay until the officials blocked him, and I could not catch up. Walking towards where the torch relay had went, I still could not see him anyway.Carrying the tripod, I walked back to the point where we started, where Dollah had climbed onto a flower pot, I tried calling him to no avail. Making a decision there and then, I crossed the HUGE road and got back to where the driver had left us. Taking out my phone, I realized I got four missed calls from Dollah. Calling back, I finally get to him and asked him to come back to where the driver first dropped us. Then we asked the driver to take us to the Hutong, where the commoners stayed. Taking shots for the colour story, old and new Beijing.
Dollah left me alone to handle the stuff. He went to the cafeteria upstairs for lunch. Dominic was already at the IBC when we reached, and Alvin wants me to attend briefing and press conference of Zhang Yimou, and to get a one-on-one interview with the renowned director. Err... A bit out of the question. I just need to get into the press conf. So many things to settle, only I one person.I tried editing part of the Sights and Sound story with the CTO around, asking me why Mediacorp only has such a small booth. He phrased the question in three ways, but each time got the same answer from me. It's real that MediaCorp didn't want to pay for a bigger booth. He has been living at the bottom of a well for too long.
I couldn't get into the Press Conf by myself. MediaCorp isn't in the list. I could only get in with John Burton. I ended up getting nothing from the Press Conf - material required by Studio about the Opening Ceremony - and had to rely on Jusri on getting a photocopied lineup from Surasak as the Thais had the Press Release folder. And the CTO kept asking me why MediaCorp couldn't get in without John Barton! God! HELP!!
Editing the first half of the IBC story was a disaster. Shot by shot, duration by duration. This is the first time in my life that I had to tell editor how much duration I want for each shot. God! Is this a signs of the nightmares to follow in the days to come? Do I have to become producer cum editor here? God!
Dinner, however, provided me and the rest, the best way to destress. We had fun taking pictures of the menu, laughing at the English translation. One of my favourite was "The Wild Mushroom Cooks the Stupid Chicken". Here's what Jason wrote in his blog.
"Ok - we've been eating out here from time to time - and the menu is just awesome! You can't find these dishes anywhere else... I think this one has family photos in it, or is it ABOUT a "family photo pot" (a pot for photos I guess) that leaves home, or is it...?
I don't know... Either this one is a dish with a yellow fish CALLED "Burns" or the cook is admitting to burning this dish every time. 
"German Morley" is my favourite chef - he cooks the live fish really well !! 
I think this one is a question: "Does the pot rip the chicken?" ... fair enough... well does it? 
And this is when vegetables get their revenge on meat...
