i think i know what paul is talking about. Here is an example, in the first song: your red strobes (not sure if these are cakes or just single shot shells) can be timed to the part where in the singer says "Stay with me awhile" (1:08) Then next red strobes shells can be timed at (1:15.50) not sure what he says there xD then next ones at (1:23). Then at the very beginning, you could have timed the fans right after the music starts. Then at (00:34) the red peonies are a bit out of place. Anyway those are the examples, i think it's better to over do it then reduce rather than having no fireworks

Vander

The strobes were placed to simulate leaves on the ground, therefore they are timed to the end of the burn of each volley of falling leaves. I might have pushed the metaphor too much on that one

At the beginning, I started the fan cake (with shells) before the music started so the first burst is timed with the start of the music. I took inspiration from the International, when aerial shells are fired during the countdown so that they explode at the very beginning of the display.

If I have to explain what I meant, this just means that I'll have to work harder the next time ! I already see progress in my technique when I compare to previous shows I made (you may check As Seen on TV for my second attempt at scripting a pyromusical with a mixed soundtrack - in my opinion, The Four Seasons is a clear evolution).

Unfortunately, I can't modify this show, as I've submitted it to the contest organizers already. I'll use the points you suggested me to improve for my next shows (hopefully they will start new contests soon !)

STL, you mention (on the Finale page) that you're going to put up a show for Jean Baptiste ... have you completed that yet?

My comments about the sync are more detailed than just when certain pieces start - it's the actual beats in each bar where you tie the effects to that seem to move around rather than following the lead of the music. I'll try and find the exact times of some examples later.

Paul.

I'll upload the St-Jean Baptiste show later today (or tomorrow). It's around 6-7 minutes in length. I would have liked it to be around 10 or even 15 minutes instead, but the Dominator contest took all my time. In fact, we had 3 weeks from the start of the contest to the end (all entries must be sent before June 27th 00:01).

Just to tease you a bit, here's the soundtrack:

[Tentative intro, not done yet] Gilles Vigneault - Gens du Pays
Malajube - Les Collemboles
Jean Leloup - Printemps Été
Daniel Bélanger - Jamais content
Robert Charlebois - Je reviendrai à Montréal

I would have liked to add Ginette (Beau Dommage) and La Petite Vie theme, but like I said, I didn't have much time with the contest.

Note that even though I criticize kamuro finales, I did just that with Je reviendrai à Montréal

Keep in mind that this show is a more a creative exercise, as I would not fire a show on such songs for a more "family-oriented" display (the Jean Leloup song is slightly vulgar and Malajube is not known for being family friendly).

I'll keep you updated when done.

Thank you for providing the file download, STL. I just viewed the display and I must say that it was well done, especially considering that everything was squeezed into a 10-minute timeframe. The choice of colors was excellent from one segment to the next as were the effects. Transitions in pace were apparent and I personally liked the way slower pieces gave way to the more active parts. The sky was nicely occupied from low to high level (nice lower level support with the cakes) and symmetry was never lost. The music selection was appropriate, but one or two tracks highlighting some of the natural elements (with lyrics) of a couple of seasons would have been neat (such as Rains Down in Africa heh) in between. The effects were also, as I had stated previously, excellent, but I personally found that the cakes were a little too common throughout the display.

Other than that, nicely done! I sincerely hope to see a full 30-minute performance dedicated to this sort of theme in Montreal one of these fine years!

Trav.

Trav, glad you liked it !

My St-Jean display is online : Bonne St-Jean

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to add Gens du Pays at the beginning.

The show is not really as good as I would have liked. Keep in mind that it was done before The Four Seasons.

STL

I WON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Fine print : finally, they'll use only the "Winter" segment, as they "are aiming at nothing short of a world class display that will make a mark on the industry", so they called their own team to fill in with their ideas and make a complete show.

Yet, having one of my segments on such a "world-class display" is quite an honor in itself !

I compare this to Mélanie Cagnon's segment in "And the winner is..." (Portugal 2008) - my name (and concept) will be associated with one of the most prestigious events in the pyrotechnic world (the International in her case, the PGI convention in mine), even though the show will be principally made by more experienced people. That's still quite good, for someone who still has an apprentice level !

As this segment was my personal favorite, I'm really glad that they chose it !


Keeping you posted !

STL

Hi STL,

Congratulations on your achievement, my friend. I'm very glad to hear that your display was a success, and I'm equally most delighted that the honor was awarded to a seasonally-oriented approach. Once again, I am anxiously awaiting a Montreal-style display dedicating its general design to this sort of thematic premise.

"And the winner is..." (Portugal 2008)"

Always a pity that this display was not awarded with a Jupiter.

Trav.

As this segment was my personal favorite, I'm really glad that they chose it !

Wow, congratulations indeed! Are you going to go to the PGI convention to watch it in real life? I haven't been to one yet but would love to go some day - I hear it's quite the experience!

Cheers,

Paul

Are you going to go to the PGI convention to watch it in real life?

I'm going to Appleton, but my level of participation now depends on the Dominator team.

In fact, I'm on my own for the travel and the expenses, including the whopping 170 $US to subscribe to the convention (required for firing ramps access).

The Dominator guy told me he'd see what he can do to help me with that (like getting me a discount or something), because I'm really going there for a single day and I won't attend the conferences and workshops. I just want to help setting up the show I designed (or part of it, that is).

As the show is almost exclusively composed of consumer products, I'd be legally allowed to help them, but I need to have a valid PGI convention subscription to even get on the firing ramps.

Let's see how it turns out !

STL

The Dominator guy told me he'd see what he can do to help me with that (like getting me a discount or something), because I'm really going there for a single day and I won't attend the conferences and workshops. I just want to help setting up the show I designed (or part of it, that is).

If you're going to the PGI Convention, you better stay for the whole week. There's pyros who would love to go who can't (myself included) for various reasons. Enjoy the whole experience. Join one of the shell building workshops and make and shoot one of your own shells. Watch some of the fabulous displays they have there. Hang out with the rocket guys. Simply, have a blast. If you're going all that way, stay for more than a day. Take lots of photos and report back for those who'd love to be there!

Paul.

If you're going to the PGI Convention, you better stay for the whole week. There's pyros who would love to go who can't (myself included) for various reasons. Enjoy the whole experience. Join one of the shell building workshops and make and shoot one of your own shells. Watch some of the fabulous displays they have there. Hang out with the rocket guys. Simply, have a blast. If you're going all that way, stay for more than a day. Take lots of photos and report back for those who'd love to be there!

I'd like to, really, but I have both budget and time constraints that prevent me from going there a full week this time.

Just going there two days will cost me more than 1000 $ (which I don't quite have, but that's another story); I guess that staying the full week and participate to a lot of activities would incur a higher cost than that, which I cannot afford at all right now.

I will really go for the whole week some day, that is when I'll graduate and have a job.

My short trip will be a teaser for the PGI convention experience, which is better than nothing ! I'll of course take pictures and a movie of my show, and write a report.

I know that PGI must be a very nice experience and I understand that you'd like to go, but you've been at various Pyro Symphosiums yourself, so I guess that was still something quite nice to witness ! I for one would have liked to see that 24" shell being launched too !

STL

Just an update to this - the final show simulation is available here: http://www.usfireworks.biz/Contest/uploads/Ed_12345_PGI5.9mp4.mp4

and there's a discussion thread about it on the pyrouniverse forums here: http://www.pyrouniverse.com/forum/showthread.php?28514-Dominator-Final e-PGI-Choreography-contest-launches!&highlight=STL+dominator

Hopefully STL will send us a report about his experience at the PGI convention next week!

Paul.

Hey, I wasn't even aware that this contest (and associated forum thread) was posted to PyroUniverse ! I've only been aware of Dominator's post on Finale website.

As for the amazing story he refers to, I don't quite know in what context he means it. We'll see for sure next week !

I'm quite curious to see how the whole display will turn out with 'real' products ! There is a 30% risk of t-storm for Appleton on Wednesday, though. Maybe can Travis prepare a special forecast for the occasion ?

Hopefully STL will send us a report about his experience at the PGI convention next week!


Of course I'll post a detailed report of my experience You'll have to read it in French for the bulk of it, though, but I'll provide a detailed summary here nonetheless.

I'll just have to fit this between my next display review, my 2010 season wrap-up, my Grand Feu Bleu 2010 technical report and evaluation (the display is Sunday), a surprise interview with a professional pyrotechnician (I'll keep his name secret for now, as I have yet to conduct the interview in the next couple of days), the 2010 Winners and closing display review though !

Let the Fireworks Week begin !

Maybe can Travis prepare a special forecast for the occasion ?

It would be my pleasure. Just let me know which specific location you require.

Trav.