On the 2nd of February I took a 14-hour flight to South Korea – and my first Olympic experience.
I don’t normally talk about my television work on this blog.
I post a great deal about my theatrical passion projects, performing comedy onstage – but making TV is what I do to pay the bills. It’s fun. But it’s basically comfy factory work.
However, my latest TV gig is a real adventure. So, I’ll try my best to share what I can about my experience in PyeongChang for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
I’m here as part of small crew tasked with crafting a short documentary on 20 years of Olympic Snowboarding. It’ll air before the closing ceremony. I’m used to writing and producing documentaries – but being a tiny part of the vast Olympic media machine is a whole difference scene.
The venue where we’re doing our work is called Phoenix Park. It’s where the extreme sports are happening: snowboarding, moguls, freestyle skiing – the stuff that’s really nuts!
I’ll be following the mad snowboard action in halfpipe, slopestyle, snowboard cross – and this new, truly crazy event called Big Air.
At the moment, the athletes haven’t started their practice runs yet, so the Phoenix Park compound resembles a hastily assembled military installation. Large vehicles parked side by side, folks in uniform bustling around from mobile unit to pre-fab trailer, passing thru security checkpoints, flashing IDs, and talking in a jargon that’s sometimes even harder to understand than Korean.
The nerve center of the International Broadcast Center. I think they need a few more monitors.
Point of information: When my father was in Korea in the early 1950’s — he really was in a military installation. If that’s what you’d call the front lines of the Korean War. Lucky for me, North and South aren’t trading artillery volleys like they were in my dad’s day. In fact, I watched the North and South Korean unified Olympic women’s hockey team play on TV this morning. It was a great thing to see.
Unlike my G.I. dad, who spent his time dodging mortar rounds and freezing his butt off in a tent pitched in what is now the DMZ — I retire each day to the White Hotel, a comfortable, if entirely antiseptic lodging just a short walk from Phoenix Park. Each night the hotel hosts a beer garden in the lobby. Koreans are big on beer. Chardonnay not so much. In fact, I’m still in search of a good Chardonnay. (Okay, so my father’s wartime hardships were worse — but then again, he was never a white wine guy.)
In a couple days, the snowboard events get underway.
In the meantime, I’m trying to figure out how our little documentary unit fits into this whole operation.
Soon enough, the real Olympic adventure will begin.
Stay tuned.
And now a Korean word from Dr. Suess…
Paul's Voyage of Discovery & Etc. 
really glad to read about this gig, and how you see things there. stay warm.
I am so happy you are posting from South Korea. Keep ‘em coming.
Your avid reader,
Bea
Sent from my iPhone
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I expect you step in and hit the Big Air ramp Pablo. We need the real inside scoop!
Don’t encourage him, for heavens sake!
Love this!!! Will follow closely!!
That’s Ron
Why would Ron try to post anonymously? What the hell is he planning?
I’m going to follow this blog closely — and the more pictures, the better!
Sounds like an interesting project. Nice comment about your dad. Looking forward to hearing more.
My dad was there during the Korean War as well; on an aircraft carrier: the U.S.S. Tarawa… a holdover from WWI with a wooden flight deck. No beer, or Chardonnay on board. But he played a hell of lot of pinochle, and drank his weight in coffee, keeping the Commies at bay.
I love that you’re posting from South Korea! More more more!! How’s the food? xoxoxo
Flim a load of clams!
What a fun and interesting experience, Paul. Thanks for filling us in. Though I’ve never tried it, I understand that if you mix a little kimchi with beer, it turns into chardonnay.
Love it. Yes, keep em coming!
How exciting!!! I’ll be following along. Looking forward to reading about your experience.
I’ve always wanted to work at an Olympics (aside from volunteering in 84), so I’m very envious! Have you been scouring historical footage prior to your departure? Do you have the two weeks to write and edit? Get your own bay? I’m so curious how that all gets scheduled!
Congrats! You never cease to amaze me.
You have to let us know when you documentary will be shown. Meanwhile, have fun and enjoy the adventure.
Can’t wait to hear more. Fascinating…
So cool to be “up close and personal “on your Olympic journey. Breath deeply of that Big AIr, Paul!