I met with Jon Webb, director of Merlin fireworks and Pierre-Yves Angoujard, chief designer, to talk about their first participation in the Montreal International Fireworks Competition.
Merlin was formed in 1998 following Jon’s wedding fireworks, fired by now co-director Andrew Goodwin. Jon told me they have not taken part in many competitions, save for the World Fireworks Championship in Oman in 2010 where they also acted as the competition crew and coordinators. Jon told me they fire around 100 displays per year of all sizes. Pierre-Yves joined in 2005 after having worked in France for Féérie as well as Groupe F. He told me he had dreamed of competing in Montreal for at least 15 years and was grateful that Jon had given him carte blanche to produce their competition entry this year.
Pierre-Yves started the conception of the display back in December, basically as soon as they knew they had been invited to Montreal. The actual design of the show was quite a few weeks of “fun” according to Pierre-Yves and represents the largest number of cues in a single display by Merlin.
On the technical side, they are using Pyromate firing systems, with sixty 45-cue modules and fifty one 32-cue units, for a total cue count of around 4000. Half of these are in one-shots on ramps three and four. Ramp three has nine firing positions and has been extended at the sides by rafts from ramp five, though they are not using an actual ramp five. Ramp two also has nine positions – five sites of four inch shells and four sites of three inchers. For the design, they used the SmartShow software that is supplied by Pyromate, as well as Finale Fireworks for visualization. Produces are sourced from Zaragozana (Spain) for candles and shells, as well as some Vincente Caballer (Spain) and some cakes from Yung Feng. They are also using some UK supplies such as MLE, Celtic and Kimbolton. No special set pieces or structures are being used as Merlin are also following a keep it simple philosophy for their debut participation. For enthusiasts of large calibre shells, there will be six 12″, fifteen 10″ and around fifty 8″ as well as a lot of Spanish 7″. This is relatively new calibre as it falls under UN 1.3g rather than UN 1.1g for transport as is the case for shells 8″ and up. Jon told me this size of Spanish shell is very impressive and might appear as large as a 10″ of a few years ago.
The display theme itself basically tells a love story. In the beginning, a man and woman meet and there is a spark. They get married, have a child, but then troubles come to the relationship, leading us into a melancholic section. But then there is renewal and the display ends on a joyous note. My co-interview Mylène Salvas goes into more detail of these aspects of the displays on her blog. Pierre-Yves told me the beginning of the display would be very powerful and uplifting, no starting with a few flares. He’s particularly looking forward to seeing the Zaragozana pink strobes in the Coldplay Paradise segment, as well as to giving the feeling of salsa dancing during Aranca. He also told me he was happy to incorporate some Adele into the soundtrack and to expect many one-shots during Prince’s Purple Rain. It is the longest show they’ve ever designed and said this was very challenging. Jon noted that the full-time pyrotechnic crew at La Ronde has exceeded their expectations and has been really helpful. He said this was a huge relief and a good surprise.
The only doubt, now, is the weather, which is rainy and unseasonably cool, though maybe this will make the British team feel at home!
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