Hamish Hamilton Pulls Off FIFA's First 11-Minute World Cup Final Halftime Show
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 21
Hamish Hamilton Pulls Off FIFA's First 11-Minute World Cup Final Halftime Show
1 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 21
Summary
Hamilton said directing Sunday’s first World Cup final halftime show was harder than the 12-plus Super Bowls, Olympics and Oscars he has previously handled.
An 11-minute window, strong daylight and a grass field at MetLife Stadium complicated everything from camera plans to stage design while Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and others had to cycle through without technical snags.
The production also faced outside pressure because many soccer fans opposed adding a concert to a match where halftime is usually 15 minutes, fearing disruption to the game and damage to the pitch.
Hamilton, a lifelong Arsenal fan, said that resistance was strongest outside the U.S., where sport and music are less intertwined, but he hopes the smooth debut helps justify doing another World Cup final halftime show.