Reports Book Forum Photos Information Links

L'International des Feux Loto-Québec 2006
Montréal International Fireworks Competition Report

South AfricaOut of Africa July 8th, 2006

Fireworks For Africa - designed by Nick Mitri, FireMaster firing (24 48 cue modules and 133 sequencers)

Montréal, July 6, 2006 ' At 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, Fireworks for Africa will delight Montréal with its very first performance in L'International des Feux Loto-Québec presented by TELUS, with a show called Out of Africa / Terres d'Afrique.

The African company Fireworks for Africa, which has brought together the best pyrotechnicians and craftspeople on the continent, will tell us the story of South Africa, known as the Rainbow Nation. Mr. Nick Mitri, the company's CEO and artistic designer, is very pleased to present a show in Montréal after the team's success in the Casino du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light contest in Hull in 2000, 2001 and 2005 as well as in the Loto-Québec International Fireworks Competition in Québec City in 2000 and 2001. 'We want to present a documentary-style show about Africa and take spectators on a trip from beginning to end,' said Mr. Mitri, who considers himself not only a representative of South Africa, but also of the entire African continent. Since he entered the world of pyrotechnics in 1996, Mr. Mitri has dreamed of participating in Montréal's international fireworks competition, which he considers to be the most prestigious fireworks competition in the world.

The show, which features pyrotechnic pieces ranging from gentle and calm to very dynamic, will play out against very typical African songs as well as more classical cinema music, such as the song 'This Land,' from The Lion King film soundtrack. Star Trek music will also be featured, making reference to the first African in space, Mark Shuttleworth. Special effects and fireworks such as Catherine wheels and flying saucers will be used in the show.

The primary goal for the competition is to create a show with as many colours and effects as possible, so teams generally finalize their musical selections once the fireworks themselves are chosen. According to Mr. Mitri, it is a major challenge to adjust the typically African musical selections to the fireworks because of the particular rhythm of this type of music. Clearly, however, Fireworks for Africa have carried off the challenge successfully in the past; the team's performances are described as being both highly artistic and highly technical.

The Fireworks for Africa team was created in 2004 when South Africa's four best pyrotechnicians'Nick Mitri, Grant Russel, Eddie Mashaba and Peter Mashaba'came together. They share the passion and goal of promoting South Africa by entering the world's biggest fireworks events. The African team has worked tirelessly to stand out not only in its own country but also internationally by participating in shows in countries such as Italy, Belgium and the Philippines. The team will also perform at the upcoming closing ceremony of the World Cup in Germany, which will give a taste of the tremendous show they're preparing for the next World Cup in 2010 in South Africa.

Perfect summer conditions were the backdrop for this anticipated inaugral performance by a company from the only continent (save for Antarctica) yet to compete in Montreal. Winner of several competitions in Canada, we were treated to a display using 100% material from the Spanish company Ricardo Caballer, but set to an African theme.

Part 1 to the music I Found You by Interstate. The display opened with nautical red flares on the lake. Then a line of flares along ramp 3 opened and turned to strobes as crossed red star candles fired. These were followed by candles of glitter comet bombettes as shells of glitter comets with strobe pistils fired above. These were followed by shells of red stars turning to glitter, then shells of blue and green and the same with glitter comets. Next, shells of red stars and a sequence of barrages of farfalles. Suddenly the sky went dark and continued in darkness until the end of the segment.

Part 2 to the music Zoosters Breakout by Hans Zimmer. This segment begans with crossed meteor comet glitter candles and bombettes. Then bombettes candles of kamuros with strobe shells above. These continued with crossed glitter candles below, more bombettes and shells of thicker silver comets above. A return to barrages of glitter comet shells as thick single comets in star mines fired below, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 3 to the music Born Free by Hans Zimmer. A line of wheels started firing on ramp three, save for one which refused to turn. The wheels changed colour and were followed by palm tree bombette candles in pale gold. Then star candles were added into the mix as sequences of mines firing on the notes from horizontal in pairs stepping through to vertical and beyond, with a fast sequence causing the audience to cheers. Next, shells of bright yellow stars and a fan of single comets in mines below, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 4 to the music This Land by Hans Zimmer. A line of fleur-de-lys fountains fired up across ramp 3 and were followed by a line of fountains aiming down onto the water. These were followed by fountains in X shapes across ramp 3. THen shells of kamuros with strobing pistils turning to silver. Next, meteor comet candles and charcoal comet candles in Vs and then star candles in orange and yellow followed by farfalles above with strobing pistils. The music increased in intensity as barrages of silver shells fired with candles of yellow stars below, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 5 to the music Lea Halalela by Khuluiwe Sithole.ellow Candles of glitter comets and crossed violet stars began serenely. Then cones of fantastic rockets bursting into purple stars which transformed into pale yellow strobes. More and more flights of these purple to yellow strobe star rockets followed, creating a very beautiful effect. These were followed by barrages shells of orange stars with embedded silver crossette comets and some with strobing pistils. Suddenly the lake burst into life with barrages of nautical shells in orange yellow and white. The nautical barrages continued, causing me to write WOW in my notes. Then crossed glitter candles followed by crossed bombette candles. These were followed by shells of silver star crossettes and then plain silver stars. As these continued, the lake burst into life again with barrages of nautical shells in purple and silver causing another WOW in my notes. A return to the flights of rockets of purple to yellow strobes and then barrages of shells in green and silver followed by a suddent switch to purple, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 6 to the music African Medley by Ron Brettell. Small mines firing left and right were interleaved with bombette candles in yellow. These were augmented by farfalle shells above. As the candles stopped, the farfalles continued. Then candles of whistling serpents. These were followed by shells of rings of salute-terminated tourbillons and then a return to the candles of whistling serpents. Then huge shells of stars with serpent pistils, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 7 to the music African Dream by Vicky Sampson. Orange meteor comet candles bursting to blue bombettes were augmented by shells of orange with strobing pistils. These were followed by barrages of shells of glitter and strobes. This theme continued and was followed by shells of rings of stars with comet pistils and double concentric ring shells. Shells of farfalles with rings also added into this mix, the segment coming to a close with a barrage of glittering strobe shells.

Part 8 to the music Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen. Charcoal comet Niagara Falls shells opened serenely. This theme continued with more and more of these shells. Larger weeping willow shells then fired above as the Niagara Falls shells continued. Then larger and larger weeping willows turning to silver tips and trailing to the lake to cheers from the audience. Note synchronized crossed charcoal comet with mines fronts were interspersed with shells of glitter comets and blue pistils. Then vertical glitter comets and shells of starfish comets with glitter above. These were followed by pale gold turning to silver kamuros and then barrages of brighter shells as the music increased in volume. These continued and were augmented by shells of glitter comets and blue pistils and then a line of fountains in a five pointed configuration lit up along ramp three, bringing the segment to a very serene close.

Part 9 to the music Star Wars Theme by John Williams. Silver comet shells with strobes were augmented by crossed mine comets below. Then barrages of shells of gold glitter comets turning blue at the tips. More of the crossed comet mines below and then silver comet shells above. The crossed comet mines continued and then a line of yellow flares lit up along ramp three, one to the left strobing definantly! Flights of somewhat underpowered girandolas rose tremulously into the air, some veering at rather steep angles to the left but others managing their double ascension flights. The girandolas continued with flight after flight, the latter ones having rather more strenght. Suddenly, silver serpents flew dramatically across the lake from ramp three across the lake towards the audience and burst into salutes, giving rise to a WOW in my notes as a front of comets rose as well as mines of tourbillons and dramatic barrages of nautical shells. More dramatic salute-terminated serpents hurled towards the audience in a dramatic fashion as comets rose behind and more barrages of nautical shells burst on the lake, with the girandolas persisting in the background, somewhat lost in the action. This exciting theme continued, the segment coming to a close with barrages of huge blue shells with silver strobing pistils to cheers from the audience.

Part 10 to the music O' Fortuna by Carl Orff / Spiritual Project. A line of yellow strobes lit up across ramp three as flights of the purple to yellow strobe rockets rose into the air. This theme continued and was followed by shells of glitter comets and shells of starfish comets with strobes. Barrages of these continued and were augmented by silver comet studatas. Then meteor comet fronts fired left and right with bright coloured tips. Mines of serpents with shells with pistils fired above. As the music increased in pace, shells of glitter and purple fired above, getting more and more and adding more colours into the mix. The barrages became larger and larger as the audience cheered. After the music stopped, a typically Spanish-style barrage of five hundred and thirty salutes brought the display to a close with a standing ovation for the South African team from the audience.

This was a fantastic display from the debutant African team. Excellent use was made of the lake, causing several WOW comments in my notes due to the nautical shells and particularly the dramatic mines of salute-terminated seperents hurled towards the audience. Many excellent products of all types from Ricardo Caballer, especially the purple to yellow strobe rockets, gave warm colours to the African theme. All in all, a superb display which stands, at this point in the competition, every chance of being rewarded with a visit to the winner's podium.

line

Thanks to the public relations people of La Ronde for the official press release material, shown in white.