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Le Mondial SAQ 2003
Montréal International Fireworks Competition Report

England A Night at the Movies July 26th, 2003

Kimbolton Fireworks Limited. Designed by Darryl Fleming; FireOne firing, ScriptMaker choreography.

Very present on the international scene, Kimbolton Fireworks Limited has received a number of distinctions over the years for the excellence of its work. In addition to having earned a Special Jupiter in Montréal in 1993, these English fireworks masters won a silver Vestale at the prestigious Cannes International Festival of Pyrotechnical Art in 2001, which allowed them to compete and win a gold Vestale at the same festival in 2002. This year, Kimbolton Fireworks presents A Night at the Movies, a sensational pyromusical epic that pays hommage to the greatest successes of the seventh art. From Star Wars and the Titanic to Mission Impossible and Moulin Rouge, this major show will take you on a trip that explores space, romanticism, love and the great classics.

Click here for the official press release from the public relations team at La Ronde.

Weather became the dominant issue for this display. The team lost half a day of setup due to heavy thunderstorms. Then it was hot for a day, then grey and humid. The weather threatened to do its worst but it appeared everything would be OK. Suddenly, at 9:30pm, very strong wind came out of nowhere. So strong that it was difficult to hear the announcements for a while. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing directly at the audience. Then the thought that the unthinkable could happen: cancellation. As the time inched towards 10pm, the wind didn't diminish. Everyone waited nervously. Then an announcement that the display would be delayed by 25 minutes until the wind, as confirmed by the meteorologists at Dorval airport, would subside enough to allow the display to be fired safely. Just after 10pm, the wind died down a lot. Darryl Fleming came to see me at 10:20 and commented that I would have something interesting to write here! Then the wind increased and once again diminished. Finally, an announcement that the display would start. Expectantly people awaited the countdown from 10. But nothing, just silence. Then a slow handclap from the audience. A minute passed. Would it be canceled? The wind seemed to be picking up again. But finally, the countdown took place and the display started at 10:27. At around 10:40, heavy rain started, frustratingly because the period from 10:00 until 10:30 was completely dry. I put a small umbrella over my notebook and battled on regardless, trying to write even though I couldn't see, both because the notebook was covered, and my eyes got ash and rain in them. But after about 10 minute, the rain more or less stopped and it didn't detract from the display too much. What a way to celebrate my 100th display!

Introduction to the music Fanfare by Alfred Newman. The classic 20th Century Fox movie fanfare, but no fireworks!

Part 1 to the music Star Wars by John Williams. A barrage of large shells with pistils opened the show with comet candles below, followed be shells of falling crackling comets and bombette candles. Then brocade shells above with purple and green candles below followed by shells of rings and then shells with half in one colour and the other half in another. These were followed by double concentric ring shells, shells in the shape of spirals and then shells of silver kamuro comets with pistils as the music moved seamlessly into

Part 2 to the music E.T. by John Williams. More multi ring shells and shells of pistils with rings, like planets, followed by candles of thick white comets and then high silver kamuros followed by bombette candles. These were followed by more shells of rings with pistils as the bombettes continued below. Next shells of charcoal comets turning to colour and then shells of white dahlia comets and then candle of silver kamuro bombettes. As these continued, dahlia shells of crackling white comets and then charcoal to silver shells, trailing to the ground to cheers from the crowd.

Part 3 to the music Sandstorm by Darude. Cakes of crossette comets were followed by followed by shells of tourbillons above and shells of rings of tourbillons (farfalle). Shells of rings of salutes (siatene) and more farfalle shells were followed by shells of go-getters and big fronts of mines ending in salutes and then fans of comets below with more go-getter shells above. These were followed by shells of crossette crackling comets and then big silver comet crossette shells. A theme of silver shells was followed by huge shells of colour star crossettes, filling the sky, with the segment coming to a close with a front of mines and a huge crossette star shell, filling the sky as the audience cheered.

Part 4 to the music Titanic by James Horner. Much more serene music now as blue star candles fired at the left and right and then gold glitter shells fired above. These were augmented by charcoal comet bombette candles and then shells of slow falling blue stars and comets. Next, shells of gold glitter with blue stars and candles below in blue stars and gold comets. These were followed by large shells of green turning to blue and then a massive shell of multi clusters of blue stars, bringing the segment to a close as the music moved to

Part 5 to the music Riverdance by Bill Whelan. A line of really big fountains (with, unfortunately, a couple not firing) lit up and then fast sequenced ("Z cakes") of crackling comet fans. These were followed by bombette candles and shells of rings of tourbillons with stars (farfalle). Next, shells of orange stars in clusters with white star candles below and then crackling bombettes and salvos of salutes. These were followed by candles of pastel headed meteor gold comets with shells of six rays of clustered charcoal comets at a high level and shells of small stars at a medium level. Next, candles of salutes and crossette stars and then a note sequence of stars in rainbow colours with shells of fast moving go-getters above. These were augmented by shells of salutes and thick comet fans on ramp 4, then fans of colour stars on ramp 4 followed by a return to the farfalle shells and crossette candles. Above these, salutes and shells of crossette stars and then crossette comet shells and shells with 8 rays of clusters of comets. The pace was increasing with barrages of massive shells of crackling electric crossette comets, filling the sky with more and more, bringing the segment to a close to cheers from the crowd.

Part 6 to the music Elevation by U2. Fans of crackling charcoal comets were followed by mines of charcoal comets and then shells above these. These were followed by mines or cakes of tourbillons with large shells above and then candles of tourbillons. Above these, kamuro shells and then shells of serpents and colour stars and then shells of comets with pistils. These were followed by silver kamuro shells followed by shells of blue with strobing pistils as candles of glitter comets fired below. Then really large shells of half one colour, half another, the segment coming to a close with a barrage of large shells ending in gold brocade.

Part 7 to the music Eye of the Tiger by Survivor. Great note-synchronized mines to the left, right then in the centre-up. Then the same thing in comets, also in perfect synchronization. Then fronts of mines, again on the notes followed by crossed candles of glitter comets with shells of wiggly comets above. This theme continued and then the segment was brought to a close with shells of bees and "lazy" go-getters.

Part 8 to the music The Good, The Bad & The Ugly by Ennio Morricone. The well-known theme was played without the whistling - except the whistle was provided by screaming comet candles with tourbillons, to great effect. Then shells with pistils followed by shells of pastel coloured dahlia comets and more whistling comets below, as the rain started and my ability to take note diminished.

Part 9 to the music Mission Impossible by Hans Zimmer. Flame projectors opened up in a line with deep blue bombettes and the same in shells above. This theme continued alternating between bombettes and shells and then something unreadable followed by bombette candles of fast strobes with strobe shells and then nautic flares lit up on the lake. The strobe shells continued above and then the nautic flares started to strobe. These were followed by candles of strobing charcoal comets with shells of small stars above and then shells of crackling electric comets above, the segment coming to a close with a barrage of shells of strobing charcoal comets.

Part 10 to the music James Bond by Propeller Heads. A barrage of titanium salutes were followed by volleys of large crackling shells above.Then shells of go-getters with crackling candles below. This theme continued and developed, as the rain continued and made it difficult to write, let alone see. Barrages of huge shells ending in crackle were followed by large kamuros, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 11 to the music Lady Marmalade by Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim, Maya & Pink. Crossed clusters of bombettes in electric crackling comets were followed by barrages of large dahlia comet shells above and then shells of comets with star pistils and shells of rings of tourbillons. These were followed by shells of go-getters with pistils of crackling stars, the segment coming to a close with a barrage of popping brocade cluster shells.

Part 12 to the music Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend by Nicole Kidman. Shells of rings and shaped-burst shells in the shape of diamonds, sometimes coincident forming the pattern of a diamond ring were the opening theme in this segment. Below these, bombette candles and then shells of crackling electric comets. The bombette candles continued with more shells of concentric rings above and diamond patterns and were augmented by candles of strobe comets. The segment came to a close with waterfall comet shells ending in strobes.

Part 13 to the music Your Song by Ewan McGregor & Allessandro Safina. A line of triple and X-pattern white fountains lit up as nautic fountains burst to life in the lake. Then a front of mines followed by barrages of huge nautic shells with shells barrages above. The nautic shell barrages continued and were augmented by bombette candles and then shells in half one colour, half another with pistils in the opposite colours. Candles of bombettes continued as barrages of shells of pistils and comets fired above followed by shells of kamuro comets with strobing pistil. These were followed by candles of multi colour clusters of stars with barrage of massive shells above and shells of stars and starfish comets, the segment coming to a close with massive shells of glittering crackling kamuro comets.

Part 14 to the music Love Medley by Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor. A line of tripe and X-pattern gold fountains lit up with bombette candles behind and then shells of comets with pistils, followed by fans of comets below. These were followed by more of the half one colour half another shells and then tourbillon candles and shells of tourbillons with barrages of shells of charcoal turning to colour. As the tourbillon candles continued, barrage of shells of 6 ray clusters of charcoal comets turning to red followed by massive shells of star red star crossettes and then shells of popping clusters of stars. Below these, candles of clusters of stars and then a repeating theme of large kamuro shells, trailing to the lake and ending in strobes, to cheers from the crowd, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 15 to the music Flower of Scotland by Scottish Moods. A line of flares lit up, then star candles filling in from the left and right one by one until they met at the centre and filled ramp 3. These were then augmented by a line of V firing fast blue star cakes and then thick comet fans. Above these, silver brocade shells as bombette candles were added below. Then shells of tourbillons and farfalle shells followed by shells of 6 ray clusters of comets. Then shells of stars and slow falling comets more more shells of rings of tourbillons. Next, big blue shells with bombettes below, the segment coming to a close with huge brocade shells ending in popping clusters of brocade comets, filling the sky.

Part 16 to the music Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli & Sara Brightman. Fans of bright star cluster candles were followed by shells of strobes above with glitter comets. Then shells of meteor headed pastel comets, with bombette candles below and then gold meteor comet shells. Gold meteor comet candles were augmented by kamuro shells above and then a repeating theme of blue shells with gold strobing pistils and shells of comets with star pistils. These were followed by half one colour half another shells and then barrages of weeping willow shells. Below these weeping willows, charcoal comet fans as the weeping willows were replaced by kamuros and then crackling comet kamuros. Then back to huge barrages of weeping willow shells (with and out of place half one colour half another shell in the middle), the segment coming to a close with the sky filled with weeping willow shells.

Part 17 to the music Overture from William Tell by Ljubljana Symphony. Big shells of blue pistils and red stars were followed by sequenced comets with more barrage of big shells above. Then shells of comets and stars and shells of half one colour, half another with the pistils in the reverse. A moving sequence of stars from to right, then in mines and augmented by bombettes. A barrage of large shells, then the music became more serene and so fans of candles of clusters of bright stars reflected this. Them as the music began to build, shells of red and blue pistils above, shells of half one colour half another. Then comets firing to the left, comets firing to the right with crossette crackling shells above and barrages of nautic shells. Then mines on the notes from three positions, then five, then seven and then nine, increasing with the music followed by volleys of shells above. Then fronts of mines in silver with red stars, back to a note-sequence of stars then mines. Four-break Maltese shells fire left and right and as the music built, so the levels of the display built with huge shells above, barrages of salutes and tourbillons, filling the sky with massive shells, a final barrage of salutes, leaving massive kamuros trailing to the lake with cheers from the crowd and a big WOW in my notes.

This was a great display to end the competition with. Good use of the different levels of the display, from the low to the high and a nice use of the lake. Some clever effects too, like the use of pyrotechnic whistles in "The Good, the Bad, the Ugly". Good choice of music in my opinion and a great finale which really built well with the music. A couple of technical difficulties were apparent and the team had bad weather during the setup which cost them time. Very good quality material used throughout, especially the candles which were very well timed so that it was difficult to determine sometimes if they were one shot or multi-shot. A bit of criticism is due, since the display was so good. There were a couple of spots where the wrong shells were mixed in, for example, colour shells in willow sequences and sometimes the synchronization wasn't as well demonstrated as at other times. My notes were quite difficult to read due to the rain through the middle of the display and this distracted from the display itself unfortunately which meant I probably lost some of the emotional feel. Would probably be in with the winners, but I suspect the bad weather and late start may have an impact on the final result, especially with the level of the competition so exceptionally high this year.

Darryl later explained to me that the initial silence after the first announcement of the commencement of the display was because the firing computer and the audio track timecode were not started in the right order. So the system had to be rebooted so the firing computer was ready before the timecode started. He said it was like a roller-coaster ride for everyone in the control room.

Somehow it seemed appropriate that my 100th display would have something unusual happen, and doubly appropriate that it was by England and affected by rain and bad weather!

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