Paris is well worth a documentary. For more than a year, Manuel Herrero has followed with cameras all the preparations for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games. “It’s a colossal project, a first in history since until now the ceremonies have all taken place inside stadiums. It's important to show how the Seine was transformed into a giant stadium, which poses very complex questions in terms of art but also logistics, security, etc. » explains the director, son of rugby player Daniel Herrero, finalist in the 1971 French Championship with the Toulon Rugby club.
Manuel Herrero acknowledges having had “quite exceptional access” to all those preparing for this evening since December 2022. “What interests me above all is to follow these people who are experiencing an extraordinary thing: designing and delivering this completely crazy project that has never been done,” he insists. Three men will therefore figure at the heart of his story: the director Thomas Jolly, who oversees the entire artistic direction, Thierry Reboul, the executive director of Paris 2024 and of course Tony Estanguet, the president of the organizing committee.
The director is one of the few people in the know about a lot of the details of this ceremony, but categorically refuses to reveal the slightest secret, due to confidentiality clause. “I know there are a lot of expectations, but we have to keep the mystery,” he eludes.
The documentary will be offered in two versions
His documentary was commissioned by OBS, the IOC subsidiary responsible for filming each Olympic Games. It will be offered in two versions. “The first, divided into two 45-minute episodes, will be ready a few days before kick-off. The second, 90 minutes, is a more official film, which will be completed after the ceremony,” explains Manuel Herrero. As the official broadcaster of the Games, France 2 will obviously be in demand and could broadcast either version. But to date, nothing has yet been done, indicates the public channel.
Manuel Herrero has two passions: television and sport, which he fell into when he was very young. Companion of the actress Karin Viard, brother of Fanny Herrero (the creator of the series “Dix pour cent”), the director-producer has signed numerous documentaries: “Play” in 2012, “Coach” in 2016 or “Les Présidents et le sport” in 2017.
He participated for several seasons in the “Les Nouveaux Explorateurs” collection on Canal +. In recent years, he has collaborated on several occasions with the Prime Video platform. It was he who was at the helm of the series “PSG Ô Ville Lumière, 50 years of legend” in 2020 then “Roland-Garros Building the legend” in 2021.