Candid camera
By Liu Wei (Liu Wei)
2009-03-03 09:10
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They also followed, among others, a team of canoeists in Europe, and middle-distance and long-distance runners in Africa.
The focus of her film was not to cover the 16-day spectacle itself but what it has brought to the athletes and their countries. "TV broadcasters have been doing a fantastic job covering the events for many years so I wanted to approach the Games from a different point of view," Gu says.
She had a distinct advantage while making the film. Since 2001 she had already captured some athletes for her previous work Dream Weavers on how the world, including the competitors, were preparing for the Beijing Games.
The filming of Bolt actually started as early as 2003. Then a 17-year-old average runner, he was an outgoing young man, a rock'n'roll lover who liked to playfully do the DJ's job in local bars after training. "It is very precious footage, a record of a young man's rise from common athlete to superstar," Gu says.
She was amazed when Bolt stole the show in Beijing, winning gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m sprint relay races, all in world record times.
"It was like a gift, a big pleasant surprise," she recalls.
Some surprises were not that pleasant, however.
Gu had been following Liu Xiang since 2004, when she was collecting material for Dream Weavers.