Did you see the Closing Ceremonies and wonder how the crowd experienced it?

Well I’m gonna take you behind the scenes of the Closing Ceremonies pre-show and gives you an inside peek at all the pre-show activities including, learning the ins and outs of moose antler props, gettin’ groovy with the “Sochi Snowglobe” wave, packin’ on pounds with the hospital poncho and the good and bad of blinky, flashy buttons.

iPhone snap.

The video was shot with two 5DMKIIs & a Canon PowerShot 980 IS (for the reverse angles during the show). I was shooting with a 16-35mm f/2.8 & the LensBaby Composer (at the end) & my friend, Scott was shooting with a 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6. Niiiice piece of glass.

One of the most uplifting nighttime highlights at the 2010 Olympics is Robson Square’s impressive light and laser show, Ignite the Dream. Situated right in the heart of the downtown buzz, this amazing light show captivates thousands of eager on-lookers everyday.

There are two nightly shows starting at 9:30pm and 11pm. Arrive 30 minute early to secure a decent spot and to avoid the drunken rowdies, who, in their own way add a whole new dimension to the Olympic experience.

Today I had the opportunity to get a sneak peak at the 2010 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Pre-show held at BC Place Stadium in downtown Vancouver.

Ticket I got last minute to attend the pre-show.

Security tents are set-up behind me.

When I arrived at BC Place, there was a medium sized crowd bustling in front of the security tents. After about 10 minutes, we were directed towards the security check points. People with bags had to form separate lines from those without bags who were able to go through “Express Security”.

Crowd is directed towards security tents.

Happy that I get to go in the Express line.

I only had my iPhone and some chewy cinnamon hearts stuck in the inside of my pocket, which I regretted eating later, so I got through the Express line pretty quickly. It was very much like going through airport security except more smiley with less interrogation. Although my security lady was sporting a vicious gang of embroidered cats on her handbag, so I kept my eyes forward at all times.

i can haz catz purrrs.

Metal detector!

Once in the stadium, it was clear that this was a dress rehearsal, not only for the performers, but all the staff working at the venue. Each food and merchandise stand had at least 10 people standing around looking confused and somewhat bored. I was starving, so I went on a hunt for food. My options, as it turned out, were not the most, how shall I say this nicely? I’ll just let the food speak for itself in this picture.

The BBQ chicken sub was so yummy someone ate it right off of the display!

I opted for some delicious $7 “spicy potato wedges”. They tasted like an overcooked Wendy’s baked potato with a slight hint of that red spice that doesn’t really taste like anything.  Yes. Exactly like that.

Freedom Fry?

Moments after taking this picture I actually said, “Ohh I feel a snarky blog post coming on”. This is how cynical I am now. I was ready to dismiss the Opening Ceremonies based on one soggy potato. Tisk. Tisk. But once I walked into the stadium and saw the Olympic rings, I felt a flush of, dare I say, emotion, pink up my cheeks.

I walked to the very top of the stadium and walked around the entire loop and took it all in. I was predictably taken with all the technical details and gear, including masses of electrical cables, enormous spotlights, speakers and tv cameras.

TVs for the broadcast

I snooped around the stadium and took some iPhone snaps until I got asked to return to my seat politely several times, and then once with a bit more gusto, so politely returned to my seat eventually. I am Canadian after-all! And then the show began with a bang!

Since this was a closed event, there were only about ten thousand people in the audience (full capacity = 55, 000). All ticket holders were asked to stay hush-hush about the performance they were about to see. Security was insane during the performance. Anyone taking pictures or video was ushered away by the police in a matter of minutes. Even if you were seen taking your cell phone out of your pocket an Olympic officer would politely remind you that there is no photography allowed.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to spoil any of the well-kept secrets of the Opening Ceremonies, though I will say that the themes, lighting, fxs and performances by some of Canada’s best performers were breathtaking, and even someone as cynical as myself felt truly moved and may have even shed a few tears watching the Canadian flag raised into the air during the National anthem. I felt a rush of pride for my country and remembered the true meaning of the Olympic games.

With my Olympic doubts washed away by this moving ceremony, I am ready to experience our hometown Olympics as they should be, “with glowing hearts” and “open wallets”, because official 2010 events ain’t cheap!

Sunday was a pretty normal day. I woke up at the Beverly Hilton, ordered 3 small pancakes for $20, stole a muffin from Jessica Alba at a Press Junket, got my hair and makeup done, put on a dress (!), jumped in a pimpin’ limo with Kevin Rose, David Karp, my boyfriend Pete Cashmore. I drank champagne, got yelled at for taking photos of the Red Carpet & nearly got harpooned by Lady Gaga’s diamonte headpiece.

Then, I waved at Weird Al, heard the Pants-on-the-Ground guy sing “Pants on the Ground” not once, but five times sequentially down the Red Carpet, watched the GRAMMYs live IRL, ate a super greasy pastrami sandwich in my satin gown, hugged Imogen Heap, celebrated in a private cabana at Diddy’s party, learned about the intricacies of tea from KRose & toasted with @Ev over Jay-Z’s Ace of Spade Champagne. *yawns*

Here are some snaps from the big night.

Lisa & Pete going to the GRAMMYs!

David & Rachel looking super cute.

David, Pete & Kevin ready for the Red Carpet.

Cheers to salad in the sweet limo!

Pete & Lisa enjoy their pre-Grammy champagne toast :)

Shira Lazar & I.

The Ladies.

Pete & YouTube founder Chad Hurley entertain themselves during the show.

Kevin & Pete go totally nuts at the After Party. #partyanimals

@Ev & @mashable at the Diddy party.

It was definitely surreal going from my socially reclusive, wifi-addicted lifestyle to hob nobbing with celebs at the Beverly Hilton. Now I’m just back to eating packaged hob nobs and watching ordinary people from my apartment window. Ohh someone just crossed the road and got into a taxi, now a bus is pulling up… where are my binoculars?

I can honestly say I really enjoyed the So You Think You Can Dance Canada performance at GM Place. I know. Shocking. The cast of male and female dancers had talent and were not afraid to flaunt their taut little bodies in a plethora of barely-there outfits that were quite pleasing to the eyes of the decked-out middle-aged Mommies, their 15 year-old daughters, and the 3 dudes in the audience. And oh boy did they love it. I’m still mostly deaf from their ear-piercing screams, “We Love You NICO!“ 

What I liked most about this show was that the dancers seemed so genuinely happy to be there. They demonstrated the power of passion in everything they did. I can image that for most dancers, performing in front of a stadium full of screaming fans would be a heavenly experience. For these 10 dancers, touring in one of the biggest dance acts in Canada must be enough to make their little hearts explode.

And for my jaded and cynical self, a moment of seeing actual talent, instead of cherry chapstick’d gunk, gave me a little hope. Maybe Britney won’t be so bad after all. Maybe Not.

How are your dance moves?

I’m glad I brought ear plugs to the Katy Perry concert at the Commodore, as the singing was not so stellar. I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer about her whole performance, but when performers rise to a certain level of fame you just expect more than glorified karaoke.

That’s not to say Miss Perry didn’t rock it, because in my own opinion she rocked the Commodore like nobody’s business. She was dressed to perfection as a modern day Betty Boop with a short bob, sequined top, teeny tiny skirt, a black fishnets that accentuated her.. ahem… personality.

I don’t fault Katy for shakin’ what her mama gave her, that’s what this pop star business is all about. But once you strip away the glossy lips and the wardrobe, the million dollar marketting, and the pitch correction software, what’s left? A girl who’s just really passionate about making music? Or someone desperately seeking fame and fortune? With Katy I think it’s the former. She’s been in the biz since 2001, when her released her first Christian-pop album hit the shelves. She’s paid her dues for a long time, demonstrating that at the very least, she has tenacity.

I feel minority bad for raining on Katy Perry love in tonight. People in the crowd were cucckoo for Cocoa Puffs over her and I actually do enjoy her singles quite a bit. She is a vibrant, compelling performer, I just think she needs some time to mature and gain experience. And if during her maturing years, she took some singing lessons, it wouldn’t be a horrible thing. I’m just saying.

Maybe I’ve reached a new level of cynical. I personally blame the giant flaming crappiness that was Madonna’s Sweet n’ Sticky performance that I witnessed a few months ago. I shudder to think what I’ll be like after Britney Spears slinks through town at the end of April.

What do you think about Katy Perry, Pop Stars, or Pop-Tarts (if you have no opinion on the other 2)? Do they actually have talent or are they all just an army of fembots controlled by Simon Cowell?

The new season of Lost is premiering tonight at 8/7c or whenever it hits the torrents. I’m literally on pins and needles as to how the Oceanic Six will get back to the island, considering it moved and stuff, and what exactly happened to those left behind. Only JJ knows for sure.

Are you going to watch Lost tonight?

PS. Who’s your favourite Lost character?

Revenge is bitter sweet for Bond. In the latest 007 flick Quantum of Solace, Bond is heartbroken and haggard, as he tirelessly pursues the evil villain who killed his recent lover, Vesper Lynd. 

Instead of dealing with these complex emotions in therapy, Bond blows off some steam by chasing down evil villains in cars, boats, planes, motorbikes, and on foot, all the while maintaining an unflappable charm that makes the ladies swoon. But this time Bond isn’t interested in romance. Well, maybe a quickie just for good measure, but love is not in the cards this time out. Even the smoldering Russian-Bolivian temptress, Camille, might have a tricky time peeling Bond out of those skintight, dirty, bloodstained white slacks. Poor fashion choice Bond. If you know you’re going to get in a bloody battle, wear something darker, a deep mahogany perhaps.

Alas, Bond has less time for such sartorial considerations in this dark and gritty installment to the series. Not even a sixth martini at the bar is able to dispel the dark clouds gathered over our favourite super-spy, and that’s saying something. The Big Bad, a mysterious organization known as Quantum, is causing major problems for MI6, and at the heart of it is Dominic Greene, an evil rich guy posing as a philanthropic environmentalist. Let’s just say that Dr. Greene is the type of guy who might take his social responsibility to an extreme – actively recycling paper, plastics, and people parts on a daily basis.

Like Bond’s various nemeses throughout the history of the franchise, Greene takes his plot cues from the top headlines of today. This time, the global threat of peak oil takes centre stage over previous Bondian concerns such as Communist-controlled nuclear missiles, terrorist plots, the dealing of weapons/diamonds/drugs, or weapons that shoot diamonds with drugs in them. Okay, maybe they haven’t made a movie about that last one (yet), but this time the villain is an evil tree-hugger that is green-thumbing his nose at all things good and true with a plot that would leave the whole world at his mercy.

Any outing with 007 is sure to provide thrills, and this film doesn’t waste any time in packing a major punch of adrenalin. The action is fast, furious, and fantastic. Anything a person could drive and blow up was driven and then blown up at some point by our hero. Vroom, vroom, kaboom.

This is definitely the best movie I have seen all year. For my tastes it had a perfect balance of 90% action and 10% showing-off of sleek, fancy gadgets. Also, Daniel Craig is stunning in this movie and his unique physicality, brutish and elegant in turns, makes him the best Bond yet.

What do you think? Who is your favourite Bond?

PS. I still don’t know why they didn’t cast me as evil Bond Girl Irina Secsibuti. What a mystery. I mean they even had a Canadian Bond Girl in Quantum of Solace. I bet her nun-chuck skills are rubbish.

Mostly Lisa’s behind-the-scenes video diary of Madonna’s first appearance in Vancouver at BC Place for her “Sticky & Sweet” tour.

*Video Warning: Excessive aerobicizing and self-inflicted embarrassment. Do not try this in public*

Happy Halloween! Guess what my costume is? It’s tricky, but I know you can do it!

If there’s any ever-present, consistent force in the spectacular, often jaw-dropping 25-year career of the Queen of Pop, it’s the lack of pants.

For Madonna, laced under-things and nude fishnets trump all pants. I’d be genuinely shocked if there was a 3 to 1 ratio of leotards to pants in Madonna’s wardrobe. And hey, who can blame her, the woman could give Olympic gymnastic gold medalist, Nastia Liukin, a run for her money in Spandex’s “World’s Tightest Limbs Competition”.

If you’ve got it flaunt it. And that’s just what she’s done. For better or worse, Madonna has stayed in the harsh glow that is super stardom for over a quarter-century. And she’s done it without ever shaving her head, entering rehab, or attacking anyone with an umbrella. And that’s saying something since she’s lived in Soggy Ol’ Britain for 8 years.

I’ll skip the recent details of her personal life because as you know from my previous Perez Hilton bashing article, I’m not a fan of celebrity gossip. But in this case, I’ll allow one cheesy phrase and say that no ‘pants’ will ever get in the way of Madonna’s superstardom.

I am on pins-and-needles to see what kind of hip-thrusts and alternative disco/pilates moves Madonna pulls out at her sold out show at BC Place Stadium tomorrow night. To be sure, they will be both “Sticky & Sweet”!