How Ben Winston Kept His ‘Fun Secret Project’ Under Wraps to Deliver a Memorable Olympic Moment and Start the Countdown for 2028

As a fervent admirer of the art of television production, I find myself utterly captivated by the enigmatic figure that is Ben Winston. His life experience, a rich tapestry woven with the threads of live TV spectacle and Emmy-winning productions, has culminated in an extraordinary achievement: transforming the mundane handoff from Paris to Los Angeles during the 2024 Summer Games Closing Ceremony into an exhilarating transcontinental live TV stunt.

In November 2021, producer Ben Winston showcased Los Angeles in an attractive light during the “Adele: One Night Only” concert special on CBS. Given his impressive work, it was only natural that he was selected to oversee the Paris-to-L.A. transition for the closing ceremony of Sunday’s Summer Games.

Normally, the transition from one host city to another takes place at the same location as the Closing Ceremony. However, Winston, a 12-time Emmy award winner known for his talent in live television and grand spectacles, had more ambitious ideas after receiving the call from LA28 leaders in January 2022. Instead of confining it to Paris, he saw an opportunity to turn this event into a transcontinental live TV spectacular that would span from the City of Light all the way to the City of Angels, given the moment’s immense potential for such a spectacle.

In roughly five minutes during his initial discussion with LA28 representatives, Winston conceived a plan for utilizing 12 minutes of globally viewed TV time. The main hurdle wasn’t finding participants, but instead maintaining secrecy about the entire project.

“It’s been a fun secret project for the last year and a half,” Winston told EbMaster.

As a cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that I, being the producer with a history of orchestrating the last two Grammy Awards shows and the recently closed “Late Late Show with James Corden,” have managed to secure my top picks for talent. From the silver screen icon Tom Cruise, to the music sensation Billie Eilish, the energetic Red Hot Chili Peppers, the legendary Snoop Dogg, and having H.E.R. perform a powerful rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” in Paris’ stadium – it’s going to be one unforgettable show!

Winston acknowledges Cruise for taking his motorcycle-and-parachute stunt idea to new heights, as he rode a bike out of Paris with the Olympic flag, then suddenly jumped out and parachuted onto the Hollywood hills near the famous sign.

RELATED CONTENT: Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony: All the Highlights

“Winston mentioned that his initial encounter with Tom Cruise took place about a year and a half back. Remarkably, they were able to maintain secrecy surrounding our meeting until the media caught wind of it after a rehearsal we had at the Stade de France,” he explained.

As a die-hard movie buff, I was thrilled when I learned that Tom Cruise wanted me to be the mystery rider on that motorcycle speeding through Paris. However, I didn’t realize this meant a much more extensive time investment than initially anticipated. Yet, our history of collaborating on skits for “The Late Late Show” over the years made us feel like old pals, easing the process. Surprisingly, Tom managed to swiftly transition from his London set for “Mission: Impossible” earlier this year, making time for one of our shoots.

Winston reminisced, “He said, ‘No, no. If we’re going to do it, let’s do it. I’ll do it live.’ I replied, ‘Alright,’ reflecting his bold and dynamic nature.” This encapsulates Tom, who has a knack for enhancing ideas, magnifying them, and infusing them with excitement. I believe there isn’t a more inspiring collaborator to work with. He elevates every project just a notch higher.”

From the beginning, Winston was certain that the stunning California coastline should feature in the special moment. However, locating the perfect spot on the beach to capture some quick musical performances, without attracting a massive audience, proved to be quite challenging.

Winston managed to secure a permit from L.A. city officials, but he was instructed to maintain strict secrecy about the details – revealing them would lead to chaos with both police and producers struggling to manage crowds. Therefore, EbMaster consented to keep the performance location confidential, even as we broke the news on August 8 that Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and Red Hot Chili Peppers were set to perform.

At the very end, the venue was switched unexpectedly. Winston didn’t provide details, but astute Angelenos noticed the surroundings suggested the concerts were happening in Long Beach. Some parts of the music performances had been prerecorded, yet every vocal performance was done live on stage.

Winston attributed the segment’s success to a powerful team of producers and associates who excelled at creating exceptional TV scenes. The team consisted of producers Raj Kapoor and Dave Piendak, director Hamish Hamilton, former “Late Late Show” writer-director Glenn Clements, and production designer Misty Buckley.

Winston mentioned that he had the opportunity to choose the top performers in their respective fields, much like how team members are selected in the “Avengers” movie.

Despite the fact that many parts were pre-recorded, Winston ended up working almost an entire 24-hour day for the Closing Ceremony. It wasn’t until he had slept for 14 hours that he started reviewing the public’s response to the event in the afternoon of the following day (Monday).

“Winston remarked that the day in question was, undeniably, the most challenging of his career, by far. With a global superstar performing a live stunt, coordinating a concert featuring some of the top artists, managing security and technical aspects – every aspect of it was demanding.”

(Pictured: Ben Winston and Tom Cruise at the Hollywood sign)

2024-08-14 21:22

How Ben Winston Kept His ‘Fun Secret Project’ Under Wraps to Deliver a Memorable Olympic Moment and Start the Countdown for 2028

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