The Angel of the North will feature alongside a multitude of Ukrainian locations on filmed “postcards” used to introduce each act to the Eurovision stage.
The short clips, where commentators introduce and highlight the competing country and its entrant have been captured using drone technology and 360-degree cameras. They will each feature a Ukrainian location alongside an equivalent in the UK and the participating country.
In each postcard, the three locations will be connected by the same theme, including parks, castles, street art, ports, colourful buildings, beaches, rivers and lakes. In total, 111 locations will be featured across the 37 postcards, with the Gateshead landmark alongside the likes of Kyiv’s 61-metre Independence Monument.
Each postcard will be set to music by Dmytro Shurov, a Ukrainian musician and composer based in Kyiv who has been a judge on the Eastern European country’s version of the X Factor. Rachel Ashdown, BBC lead commissioner for Eurovision, said: “The creative concept for the postcards is much anticipated by fans every year.
“They are the perfect way to introduce each act to the combined 160 million people watching across the globe, and I can’t wait for audiences to see this year’s offering when they air in the semi finals and grand final. As well as the UK, Ukraine and participating countries being ‘united by music’, viewers will be surprised to see what else unites us too.”
Sarah Cherniavskyi, executive producer for 23/32 Films, said: “We are pleased to participate in this project and to show that shooting of every difficulty level is still possible in Ukraine. This year’s Eurovision, despite not happening in Ukraine due to Russian aggression, will have our country in its heart.”
All 37 countries have chosen their acts to compete in Eurovision 2023, with the UK being represented by Mae Muller’s I wrote a song and Ukraine by Tvorchi’s heart of steel. Eurovision will be held at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool, with the semi-finals taking place on May 9 and 1 1 before the grand final airs live on BBC one on May 13.
Source: Newcastle Chronicle