Reports Book Forum Photos Information Links

L'International des Feux Loto-Québec 2009
Montréal International Fireworks Competition Report

Hong Kong - China Feng Shui Melody July 11th, 2008

Pyromagic Productions Ltd. [Bronze Jupiter 2003] - designed by Wilson Mao Pyrodigital firing; Show Director choreography; 260 FM-16 modules, 70 special 32-cue modules, ~6500 cues

Hong Kong redefines "skywriting" for spectators at La Ronde!

Montreal, Thursday, July 9, 2009 - On Saturday, Hong Kong will showcase a novel form of skywriting with fireworks that spell out Feng Shui inspired words in French in the skies above Montreal. And the stands at La Ronde are the best place to catch sight and fully appreciate this stunning and innovative display at L’International des Feux Loto-Québec présenté par TELUS by Pyromagic Productions, the winner of Bronze Jupiter in 2003.

"MÉTAL" (metal), "FEU" (fire), "EAU" (water), "BOIS" (wood) and "TERRE" (earth) - these words, which will brighten the sky as part of "A Feng Shui Melody," refer to the five elements of this thousand-year Taoist art of placement whose goal is to achieve harmony in a living environment to foster health, well-being, and prosperity.

Saturday’s fireworks is sure to produce a sense of well-being among spectators at La Ronde who will see as many as 49 platforms on lac des Dauphins! The Director of Pyromagic Productions, Wilson Mao, admits that he drew inspiration from the fireworks display at the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games to create this show, which will also feature a "domino effect" such as the one that dazzled billions of television viewers worldwide.

This firm from China, which is one of the largest contributors to fireworks events in Asia, has produced large-scale pyrotechnic displays in celebration of the New Year, both for Times Square and Hong Kong Harbour – it certainly knows how to put on a great show!

Wilson Mao told me they could fire in any conditions except a Typhoon. Despite reasonable weather for the setup period, torrential downpours dampened enthusiasm on Saturday afternoon. By early evening, the skies had cleared and everything looked like it would be OK. Then, at 9:00pm, the heavens opened again - the rain being so hard that the normal proceedings could not be performed on the stage. Due to the severe storms in the area, the display start time was advanced by five minutes to try and get as much good weather as possible. It still managed to pour at times during the display, the pyrotechnics being augmented by nature's fireworks. Despite the dreadful conditions, the grandstands at La Ronde were pretty much full for this anticipated display with its innovative use of a 7x7 grid of pontoons for ramp 5.

Part 1 to the music Handel’s Music for Royal Fireworks by 12 Girls Band. Barrages of shells of strobes opened the display as the rain started to pour and a short narration introduced the display. Shells of gold broccade in the background and pastel stars in the foreground then formed the main opening theme to the music. Note-synchronized mines ran back and forth across ramp 3 and were followed by a return to the gold broccade shells, with shaped-burst shells of stars in symbolic patterns in the foreground. Then back to the gold broccade with shells of pastel stars with pistils followed by very fast mine runs down the "columns" of ramp 5 from ramp 3 to the audience, column by column and making me shout WOW! The gold broccade shells continued and were followed by increasing fronts of note-synchronized mines on ramp 3 followed by shells of titanium salute-terminated stars and shells forming cube shaped patterns together with large double-ringed farfalles in the centre. A front of bombette mines in red brought the segment to a close to cheers from the audience.

Part 2 to the music Kung Fu by Hans Zimmer Cakes of bees fired during the introductory narration explaining about tai chi and its male and female aspect. Barrages of shells bursting into the male and female symbols then followed as the cakes of silver bees continued. By now, it was raining very hard. Candles of whistling serpents rose into the air as large shells of crackle burst in the centre with shells of go-getters on each side - representing the sperm and the egg. Wiggling serpents flew up from candles below as the shells continued in the same theme above and shells of strobes burst as another narration explained more about tai chi.

Part 3 to the music Dragon Rider by Jay Chow Shells bursting into the ying/yang symbol were augmented by crossette candles below. These were followed by colour changing shells and fronts of Z-cake fans of bombettes below turning to falling leaves. Above these, shells of rings of comets followed by large shells of crossettes and more of the bombette fans of falling leaves below, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 4 to the music Love Repayment by Jane Cheung A narration then explained the five elements of Feng Shui: metal, fire, water, wood and earth as fans of different crossette stars and comets played out on each element in the narration. The letter project mines then fired up across ramp three spelling out M E T A L - not perfectly formed, but clear enough. Barrages of shells of comets ending in twinkles then followed with crossed gold glitter mines below. Then diadem comet shells, shells of silver comets and crossed mines of gold crackle below. The mines continued with shells of pastel go-getters above, then shells of silver comets and crossed silver mines below together with interesting shells of two crackling halves together with shells of stars ending in crackling bunches. This theme continued and was followed by broad fans of crossette stars from ramp 4 in different colours. A return to the crossed crackling glitter mines with a volley of double ring farfalles above and then shells of stars and shells of crossette comets with crackling pistils. This theme continued and then was replaced by silver crossed mines interspersed with the crackling mines as the shell sequences of farfalles and crackling pistil crossette comets continued. Then shells of go-getters and shells of stars turning to comets forming a new theme. All positions on ramp 5 then lit up with gold fountains as gold serpent candles fired on ramp 3 and a return to the comet changing to twinkling shells above as lightning lit up the sky. Large star shells with crackling pistils added to the theme as the fountains continued to burn and Z-fans of bombettes of strobes fired across ramp 3, the segment coming to a close with a front of Z-fans of bombettes of silver crackle, to cheers from the audience.

Part 5 to the music Magic Fireworks by Nicolas Hooper A line of triple-fountain wheels lit up across ramp 3, some only partially because of the rain. Shells of strobes then began to fire above at low and medium levels. This theme continued and was augmented by fans of bombettes of falling leaves. As this theme continued, lightning added to the effect too. Silver horsetail shells then began to gently burst in the air as crossed gold glitter candles fired below and a return to shells of strobes above. Barrages of large shells of strobing comets were followed by fans of comet candles below with more shells of strobes above as well as fans of falling leaf bombettes with a return to the strobing comet shells. Heart shaped shells were then added into the mix as the music reached its climax as more strobe shells fired and shells in the shape of hearts with an arrow through! Intensely coloured flares than lit up in all positions on ramp 5 causing me to exclaim due to their brilliant colours The next element, FEU, was introduced by narration and the letter projector mines. Large shells burst above with crackling pistils and stars turning to bunches of crackle. These volleys continued as the flares continued to burn below and crackling comet runs ran across ramp 3. The crackling comet runs continued and were followed by large saturn shells above, some with crackling rings or crackling pistils. The saturn barrages continued, the segment coming to close to a front of fans of crackling comet crossettes bringing the segment to a close

Part 6 to the music Beyond the River by Taro Iwashiro The next element, EAU, was introduced by narration and letter project mines. Fountains then lit up on the ramp 5 pontoons. Large shells of gold broccade with twinkling pistils burst above. These were followed by shells of strobes as falling leaf comets played across ramp 3 as the fountains burned out on ramp 5. Spider comet shells bursting to clusters of stars fired above, as fans of gold glitter bursting to blue bombettes fired below on ramp 3. A line of fountains then lit up across ramp 3, some missing due to the rain, as note synchronized blue mines moved across with shells of willow above. Then sequences of gold glitter mines turning to strobes with more willow shells above. Crossed mines then fired below as large blue shells fired above. Lightning rippled across the sky as large shells of deep colour stars with rings around fired above. A return to the gold comet with twinkling pistil shells as more lightnig lit up the sky. The shells continued and were followed by fast mine sequences on ramp 3 and then barrages of huge gold shells. Sequences of dense gold mines followed and then a return to the diadem shells turning to clusters of stars. Fast sequences of silver comets ran around ramp 4 and then very fast sequences of dense gold mines rippled towards the audience across the depth of ramp 5 to great effect as huge gold shells with rings fired above, barrages of these bringing the segment to a close with a front of bombettes.

Part 7 to the music With an Orchid by Yanni The forth element, BOIS, was introduced by narration and letter projection mine. Cakes of "wheat" - gold bombettes bursting into what look like sheaves were augmented by blue tipped gold horsetail shells above. These were followed by bombettes of strobes and shells of strobes above. Next, farfalles and then volleys of crossing star shells alternating with crackle shells and more farfalles with waving comet pistils as lightning added its part too. Crossed tourbillon candles then added to the scene as large shells of gold star-tipped comets turning to crossettes fired above. This theme continued with a return to the horsetail shells and then the large star shells turning to crackle. Then more horsetail shells and fans of gold glitter comets below. Waves of silver strobe comets then fired from right to left across the columns of ramp 5 arching left and then the same thing arching right. Then a right to left sequence of fast shots of falling leaves in waves in left arches and then the same in right arches. These falling leaf waves continued, appropriate for a "wood" theme. A return to fans of gold on ramp 3 and crackling saturn shells above as more lightning lit up the sky and huge shells fired in the middle. Huge lightning then appeared to crackle through the crackle shells as they turned to strobes and a front of falling leaf mines brought the segment to a close.

Part 8 to the music Butterfly Lovers by Arve Tellefsen / National Symphony Orchestra Sequenced lines of gerb hits fired across ramp 5 and then very fast columns of bright white mines, with crossed tourbillons on ramp 3 and a mix of crossing star and crossette shells above with farfalles in the middle. This theme continued and then comets sequenced outwards forming shapes reminiscent of string pictures as large gold comet shells fired above. Then stars sequenced inwards forming a rising peak in the middle of ramp 3 as more large gold comet shells with twinkling pistils burst above. These sequences, brilliantly timed to the music, continued, sometimes with shells of comets turning to crackle of crossettes. Fronts of comets with shells of whistling comets fired above as strobe lines lit up in parts of ramp 3. This theme continued and as the music livened up crossed silver crossette candles fired with shells of kaleidoscopes above as well as hearts with arrows and shells with pistils. This more intense theme continued and was followed by very fast mine runs across the columns of ramp 5 - the rapid firing making a very interesting sound. These rapid sequences ran from left to right and left to right, front to back at the same time, ending with the string picture comet sequences on ramp 3. Barrages of butterfly shaped comet shells fired above, some with rings and some with star-tipped comets. Then shells of comets terminated in titanium salutes, bringing the segment to a close with a volley of titanium salutes below to cheers from the audience.

Part 9 to the music Grand Canyon (Live) by 12 Girls Band. The final element, TERRE, was introduced by narration and letter project mines as lightning flickered in the distance. Pattern shells fired above, but it was hard to discern what they were due to the heavy rain. Flights of whistling gold glittering girandolas then rose into the air. Very dense broad fans of gold mines fired across ramp 3 followed by Z-cakes of crossettes. Fast sequences of mines ran across ramp 3 as shells of bright silver falling leaves burst above. These were then augmented by bright fans of strobing silver comets and shells of salute terminated comets above. A huge volley of bright bees filled the mid level of the display area causing exclamations from the audience. Then the dense gold mines on ramp 3 followed by screaming serpent candles and shells of dimmer bees above. Fronts of crossette cakes fired up with shells of go-getters above. Then farfalles and shells of salute terminated comets and more general barrages of shells of salutes as whistles added into the mix as well as shells with crackling pistils and large flashes of lightning! The pace increased with volleys of shells and whistles, increasing and increasing and filling the sky, the display coming to a close with a thunderous volley of salutes and a massive volley of the bright bees shells, to great cheers from the audience.

This was an excellent display, despite the terrible weather conditions. The use of the space in all dimensions was fabulous and the ramp 5 "grid" was particularly effective. Lots of great product with good colours, the dazzling flares being particularly memorable. The Spanish shells and candles integrated well into the display and made for a very high quality spectacle. The letter projectors were interesting, but not as effective as they may have been, each word being only fired once. The wet conditions had also affected the clarity of the shapes unfortunately. The music was very enjoyable and did not sink into the sterotypical "Asian" music that we have had at times in the past. I found that the fireworks used reinforced each element of the them quite well. A good range of dynamics was evident and the synchronization was particularly well done - especially the "string picture" comet sequences and many of the sequences on ramp 5. The sodden audience gave the team a well deserved standing ovation. Definitely a contender for a Jupiter at this stage of the competition.

line

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