Pyro Tech Talks

After the Shutter Clicks



Tom Calderwood goes over his process of what happens after he takes a fireworks picture. Recommended to see the Pyrotography seminar first.

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Collecting Firecrackers and Vintage Fireworks



Preserving the history of vintage crackers and fireworks through collecting. Tom and Rob will share their passion for collecting vintage fireworks.

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The Evolution of Pyrotechnic Digital Scripting, Firing and 3D Simulation



“Visual Show Director” is a the first computer software program intended for scripting with 3D simulation of professional fireworks displays and . . . pyrotechnic effects in real time. The software originally allowed the user to capture and record time cues to create a script where the effects descriptions are inserted in order to program the Pyrodigital firing system or others, and later integrated and introduced 3D visualization giving the user the option to add it to the pyro design experience. This seminar will go over the development of such a system over the last few decades.

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Torpedo Canes



Innovation in a technological, economic, and social milieu. Warren will discuss the history of a pyrotechnic device from a bygone era. Implications . . . for both history buffs and the fireworks industry are discussed in addition to the technical problems associated with these devices.

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Builders Showcase >> Virtual Winter Blast



30 minutes of the best fireworks made by members of the WPA and other outstanding fireworks builders in the USA. Each device or set of devices are . . . shown in detail for construction and then shot showing their spectacular performance.

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Shoot Fire Like a Girl >> Virtual Winter Blast



Four members of the Flaming Lotus Girls discuss the combustible fuels we know and love, and the colorants and chemistry behind their prettiest . . . effects. They cover their philosophy around buttons and crowd interaction, the anatomy of a poofer, how our control systems work, and how we incorporate our extremely popular blowdown shooters into our shows. Then they talk about how we design overall show flow, and incorporate special features like fireworks… plus, how do we get away with this insanity, and why do we even do this? The answer is rooted in the importance of inclusion, which is core to our mission and our very existence.

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Round Ball Shells from Zero to Hero >> Virtual Winter Blast



Round ball shells are a staple of American display fireworks and a point of rich pride and tradition in Japan. With perfectly spherical breaks, the . . . basic shape of a flower is created. Adding additional stars and effects give multiple petals, and even elaborate color changes as the display unfolds in the sky. This seminar takes the participant on a journey from simple single petal designs through ever larger and far more elaborate effects. We begin with the basic anatomy of a round ball shell, and work up from there. We discuss star rolling using the Toro method, star sizing, how to make burst charge and calculations for lift / timing. We use traditional Japanese construction techniques including total isolation of components with tissue paper, and the use of forms to create a negative cavity directly inside the burst charge for more even and symmetrical breaks. This is not a demo, but rather a series of visuals while we discuss construction technique, design philosophy, and walk you through our decision making process as we plan and execute a project. By the end of this seminar, the participant should have a solid understanding of Japanese round shell construction and be able to make effective decisions around lift, burst and timing.

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Finale 3D Live Choreography Showdown >> Virtual Winter Blast



This seminar features both an informative Finale 3D demo and the live choreography showdown. To kick things off, we’ll begin with an overview of the . . . scenery features in Finale 3D Pro. Watch as a virtual shoot site is transformed through the use of background images, 3D models and landscape features. To set the stage for our main event, we’ll take it a step farther by showing how to work with music and arrange firing positions. Finally, we’ll unleash our guest designers, putting their skills to the test in a head to head live pyromusical design showdown!

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Bullets And Blood: Thaine R. Morris Presents The Hit Kit >> Virtual Winter Blast



Join master pyrotechnician and Academy Award winner Thaine R. Morris for a fascinating discussion about the evolution of his forty-plus-year career in . . . special effects, the development of his Hit Kit bullet hit system, and a demo of the Hit Kit, followed by a Q&A. Thaine R. Morris is a legend in the effects industry. From his early days in stage and theatre to his ground-breaking work in major motion pictures like The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ghostbusters, and Die Hard, Thaine’s forty plus years of experience make him one of the industry’s foremost experts in the field. Now mostly retired from filmmaking, Thaine is owner of Roger George Special Effects, a family-run effects company that provides practical effects supplies to film, television and stage productions all over the world., as well as president and co-owner of MP Associates Inc., a world-wide supplier of pyrotechnics. Get to know this Academy Award winner here.

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Saturday Night Displays >> Virtual Winter Blast



Garry Hansen Memorial Pyrofoor de Amsterdam – Defqon in the time of Covid Big Sky – Galaxis Demo Pyrodigital – Holiday Show in the time of Covid Pyro . . . Spec – Pyro Party

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Set Pieces and Lance Work >> Virtual Winter Blast



Lanceworks consist of a series of small, quick matched colored flares (lances) arranged to form images and designs or to spell out messages. They . . . reached an elaborate form in the mid – 19th century in Great Britain where some lanceworks were as long as 200 feet and 60 feet high and produced fire pictures for example of Queen Victoria and her generals. Today, lance works continue to be used around the world to advertise fireworks display sponsors and to deliver messages to the spectators. This presentation will briefly consider the mechanics and techniques used in creating lanceworks and importantly, provide a series of lancework ideas – some tried, and some untried by the author. Lanceworks can and should generally be inspirational, humorous, sometimes mysterious but always entertaining. They are especially effective when they have moving parts, are motorized, or tell a “story”. They can include various pyrotechnic ornamentations including fountains and gerbs, waterfalls, whistles, salutes, wheels, saxons, strobes and roman candles and many other kinds of pyrotechnics. They can be accompanied by music and appropriate (or inappropriate) sound effects. They may include political caricatures, current events, and likenesses of famous (or infamous) people. They can feature changing images such as a frowning face becoming a smiling face, moving eyes, and a surprised face after a loud salute. Elaborate transformation pieces can be designed using color changing lances and dark fire lances in which a green pastoral scene transforms into a bustling city, or a green garden into a colorful flower bed. Hair can suddenly grow from a bald head, a big white mother duck lays an egg and the egg cracks open to release a moving yellow duckling, faces can transform from sleepy to surprised or from angry to happy, a long green caterpillar changes into an elaborately spotted winged butterfly, or a giant figure on stilts walks mysteriously through a forest. Multiple lancework frames can be ignited by a series of line rockets. Lancework frames can be ignited when lying flat on the ground and then pulled upright on hinges to become fully visible – this can be designed to be especially “mysterious”. Creativity and imagination have few limitations!

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Introduction to Making Girandolas >> Virtual Winter Blast



This seminar provides an overview of how girandolas are built and how they function. Topics include girandola performance aesthetics, basic girandola . . . designs, stability considerations, drivers for lifting and spinning girandolas, girandola frames and common construction methods, driver ignition sequencing, fusing techniques, rising garnishments, ending effects, and launch considerations. If you’re considering making your first girandola and want to know what you would be getting into, or you are simply curious about what all goes into making the ones you’ve seen, this seminar will provide that insight and demystify these fascinating items!

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