In Contention

Tag: Hamish Hamilton

  • Boyle and Daldry get Olympic gig

    If you can tear your thoughts away from the World Cup for a second, cast your mind back to the opening ceremony of the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing. Pretty spectacular, wasn’t it? You might recall that that mammoth production was steered by Zhang Yimou, a one-time rebel filmmaker now safely enfolded into the system.

    Organizers of London’s 2012 Olympic effort have clearly filched the Chinese memo, as they’ve secured their own now-cuddly auteur as artistic director of their opening ceremony — one Mr. Danny Boyle. Not content with that, they have decided to double up on the movie names, tapping Stephen Daldry as one of four executive producers of the Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies.

    (Clearly, in a complicated tribute to the last Olympic year, they’re just running through the 2008 Oscar slate: I expect David Fincher is in charge of catering or something.)

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  • Oscarcast puts a little English on it

    When I heard that accomplished, slightly quirky and very British events director Hamish Hamilton had been tapped to direct next March’s Academy Awards ceremony, my first thought was that first-time producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic had made yet another spot-on decision.

    Apparently, however, not everyone in Hollywood agrees.

    Hamilton, who will also mastermind February’s Super Bowl half-time extravaganza, is an experienced and imaginative concert man, having directed slick shows and specials for the likes of U2, Christina Aguilera, Jay-Z and Neil Diamond.

    More relevant to the Oscars however, he’s had immense success helming various editions of the MTV Video Music Awards and some particularly enjoyable Brit Award (the British Grammy) ceremonies.

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