Long Beach — no, not Venice — stars in Olympics closing ceremony with Snoop, Dr. Dre, Billie Eilish

### The Filming Frenzy at Long Beach’s Belmont Shore: What Really Happened?

When film crews started setting up in Long Beach’s Belmont Shore last week, most people didn't think much of it. This neighborhood, located by the ocean, is often used as a film set. Residents are used to seeing Jeep commercials being filmed, or scenes from TV shows like “Dexter,” and the Netflix miniseries “Griselda.” So, when film crews arrive, locals usually just go about their day, maybe steering their dogs away from the busy catering tents, but otherwise paying little attention.

However, this time was different. Last week, the film trucks didn’t just come and go. They kept arriving in numbers that no one had seen before. The level of secrecy around the project was almost funny. Dozens, then hundreds of workers swarmed around Rosie’s Dog Beach, but no one seemed to know, or at least admit, what they were filming.

When someone asked one of the workers with a clipboard and a walkie-talkie what was going on, they just shrugged and said, “I honestly have no idea.” This added to the mystery, especially as workers were busy building a replica of one of Long Beach’s well-known lifeguard stands. This replica was much cleaner and painted a brighter shade of blue than the real one that stood just 20 yards away.

Another worker, when pressed for details, guessed that they were filming a commercial. However, even he claimed not to know exactly what kind of commercial it was. As the film crews continued to set up, they brought in massive cranes with large lighting rigs, similar to the ones used in stadiums. This only made the locals more curious about what was really happening.

By Saturday morning, a large privacy tent was set up over a section of the beach, blocking it from public view. At this point, the word had spread that what they were filming wasn’t just a commercial — it was a part of the Olympics closing ceremony. Specifically, it was the segment where the Olympic torch is passed from the current host city to the next. The appearance of a giant “LA28” sculpture confirmed this rumor, and the mystery was finally solved.

Soon after, it became clear that some big names were involved in the filming. Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Billie Eilish were all set to perform on a makeshift stage. This stage was decorated with fake palm trees that were just the right height to fit into the camera’s frame. A small but enthusiastic crowd of extras gathered to watch the performances.

Despite the disruptions caused by the filming, such as parking and traffic problems, the local residents handled the situation calmly. However, there was some annoyance when certain media outlets incorrectly reported that the filming was taking place at Venice Beach, a more famous location. This mistake seemed to be the only thing that truly ruffled the feathers of the Belmont Shore residents, who are proud of their neighborhood.

In the end, what started as a regular filming session turned into a major event that brought a little bit of Olympic excitement to Belmont Shore. The locals, although used to film crews, had never seen anything quite like this before, and it’s an event they won’t soon forget.

“This is Long Beach erasure,” lamented _alyssayung_ on TikTok. The shot on her TV screen clearly showed the offshore oil wells — disguised as islands with palm trees — in the background.

Any SoCal local, certainly anybody from Long Beach, would recognize those instantly.

(Lose Angeles Cimes:https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-08-11/long-beach-olympics-closing-ceremony-snoop-billie-eilish-red-hot-chili-peppers)