L'International des Feux Loto-Québec 2007
Montréal International Fireworks Competition Report

Canada Olympian Zeus July 18^th, 2007

Fireworks Spectaculars Canada - designed by Brad Dezotell Pyrodigital firing; Visual Show Director choreography; 220 FM-16 modules, ~3600 cues

MONTREAL, July 18 /CNW Telbec/ - Starting at 10 p.m. this evening at La Ronde, Canadian firm Fireworks Spectacular Canada will pay homage to Zeus, the Greek god of the sky and lightning, in a performance entitled Olympian Zeus, part of L'International des Feux Loto-Québec presented by TELUS. With Greek mythology its framework, this vibrant tribute to the supreme Greek god and epic personage at the origin of the Olympic tradition will transport spectators from the summit of Mount Olympus to Hera's Temple and feature a rousing soundtrack conveying all the energy of the Olympic Games. The performance will include a brief narration explaining the Olympic tradition, along with musical pieces selected for the Olympics, such as Dragon's Breath and The Olympic Spirit from the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, Alberta.

Fireworks Spectaculars Canada will present a combination of multiple effects created using the pyrotechnic pieces of seven different firms, one of which offers its products in no fewer than 16 colours. The special effects will include a tracing of the route traveled by the Olympic flame, the powerful fire symbol linking the Games of Antiquity with those of the modern era.

Founded in 2001, Fireworks Spectaculars Canada has participated in many major pyrotechnic competitions, including Les Grands Feux TELUS at Lac des Nations in Sherbrooke, where it won first prize in 2001, 2003 and 2006, the year that competition featured all the winners from previous years. The firm is also proud to have presented 11 pyromusical shows in 11 days at the 2007 Calgary Stampede.

Three days of better-than-forecast weather gave the Canadian team pretty much ideal conditions for their debut display. The threat of thunderstorms was present, with lightning seen in the west a few minutes before 10pm - which may account for the late start of around 3 minutes. Highly anticipated, the Canadian team appeared to have a very large display setup and the Olympic theme sounded very appealing.

Part 1 to the music Fanfare by Various Artists. The display began almost three minutes late with sequences of comets from ramp four and barrage of large shells above, but with rather less drama than the music implied. Then bright yellow flares lit up at the back of ramp 2 and a rather long introductory narration, the flares burning out before the end.

Part 2 to the music Standing in Motion by Yanni. Sequenced comets from the top of ramp four seemed like they were missing support from ramp three as the dramatic music didn't have corresponding fireworks. Then large glitter shells fired above and a return to the ramp 4 comet sequence. Still nothing from ramp 3 (surprising as I had witnessed first hand the large amount of product set up there). Then a couple of comet candles fired stars which bounced over the lake and were eventually supported by shells of the same above. The music continued dramatically with little in the way of supporting fireworks until the music suddenly stopped. Shells of glitter with pistils fired above for a few seconds and then an announcement was made that there were technical problems that would be fixed shortly. This turned into an unprecedented pause of around 22 minutes - pyrotechnicians with flashlights could be seen inside the control building that is underneath ramp 4. At around 10:25pm the display suddenly came to life without warning and all the missing shots from ramp three reappeared. Huge strobe mines fired on ramp three and then sequences of glitter comets and small bright mines. These were followed by mines of stars and salutes, runs of comets and a huge fan of meteor comets from the centre. Another huge comet fan and then candle at the extreme left and right of ramp three fired comets over the lake while two platforms of ramp 5 fired cakes of fans of silver comets. The comets continued bouncing across the lake and then were followed by mines on ramp three and acrcing comets from left and right. This theme continued and was augmented by more mines and comet fronts. A return to crossing glitter comet candles with shells of the same above with pistils and filling the sky fully left to right. Barrage after barrage of glitter shells filled the sky to cheers from the audience, happy that the display seemed to be firing properly now, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 3 to the music Dragon's Breath by David Arkenstone. Gerb shots from ramp five fired to the Celtic-sounding music as nautical strobes lit up on the lake. The gerb shots continued and were augmented by bright flame effects also on ramp five. This serene theme continued as the gerb shots fired left and right, in pairs and in fans. Then very bright flames lit up on ramp 3 as the gerb shots continued. Intersecting comet shots fired from the left and right of ramp three and up from ramp 5 as more bright flames lit up, the brightness causing exclamations from the audience. Falling leaf shells fired above and shells of glitter comets, the segment coming to a serene close.

Part 4 to the music The Olympic Spirit by John Williams. Mines of gold glitter comets with shells of the same above were followed by bright yellow flares on ramp 2 as another narration began, explaining in detail how the Olympic flame had been transported in the past. The narration continued its languorous progress, the only other fireworks being bright gerb hits on ramp five (when it was mentioned that, in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the flame was transported electronically) and candles shooting comets across the water. Finally, the setpice in the shape of the Olympic Flame lit up in green fire as shells of stars with glitter pistils fired above, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 5 to the music Olympic Fanfare and Theme by John Williams. A line of fountains lit up across ramp three as a large suspended waterfall (in the shape of a mountain) slowly lit up in front of ramp 2. Unfortunately, only part of the second half of it lit. Shells of horsetails in the form of strobes fired above as meteor comets arced left and right. Then shells of aqua stars with gold glitter pistils as the arcing comets continued below as the waterfall started to burn out. More of the horsetail strobe shells and shells of skymines of aqua stars with salute-terminated serpents. Above these, Niagara falls shells and then bright fans of mines on ramp four as shells of rings started to fill the sky. A return to Niagara falls shells and then back to rings with mines below. More Niagara falls shells and then interesting bombettes at a lower level that burst into kaleidoscopes of clusters of strobes. Barrages of these were fired with rings above and large bright kamuros at an even higher level. Bright colour shells were then added into the mix, the segment coming to a close with large kamuros and some embedded titanium salutes.

Part 6 to the music Ode to Zeus by Mikis Theodorakis. Fast sequences of bright stars moved simultaneously from right and left across ramp three and back as shells of silver comets and vivid blue stars burst above. Then shells of silver comets that burned, went dark and then appeared again as silver comets at the end, as the star sequences continued. The blue shells continued above and were followed by huge shells with pistils and more of the "comet-dark-comet" shells. Then cakes of bright silver crossette comets as shells of electric comets with crackling pistils fired above and more large shells with pistils. This theme continued and was followed by shells of serpents and farfalles. More huge pistil shells and double ring farfalles with loud bombettes below and followed by kamuros above, filling the sky to cheers from the audience. These transitioned into crackling comet shells, again filling the sky, trailing to the lake and bringing the segment to a close.

Part 7 to the music Winter Games by David Foster. Dramatic star and mine shots from ramp five filled the display area to this music familiar to everyone who attends the displays at La Ronde. The wide star and mine shots continued, perfectly synchronized, and then as the music moved to its second theme, a wide rainbow-effect in bright star candles fired across ramp 3. Above these, shells of mixed colour stars, continuing at the same time as the candles. Then bright willow mines turning to stars followed by perfectly note-synchronized fans of meteor comets on ramp 5, also forming a rainbow. Then the same but sequenced much faster again in a rainbow effect. These were followed by fronts of meteor comets with shells of strobes above, appropriate for a Winter Olympics theme piece. The meteor shots and strobes continued, synchronized to the hits in the music, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 8 to the music Adiemus by Adiemus. A line flares and then triple wheels / fountains (probably some of the wheels not spinning) opened up across ramp 3. Angled mines fired with comets firing out from ramp 4. Above these, shells of farfalles and shells of willow comets with inner rings of farfalles. Crossing silver comet candles then fired below with shells of the same above. These were followed by falling leaves shells and large mines on ramp 4. This theme continued with fans of mines on ramp three with shells above. These were followed by large shells of tourbillons with strobe bombettes below. This theme continued with the segment coming to a close with huge kamuro shells.

Part 9 to the music Call of the Champions by John Williams. Large mines burst from ramp four with comet shots left and right on ramp 3. Above these, shells of go-getters which transfored into strobes. These continued and were followed by sequences of fast comets on ramp three and then large studata shells. Next, mine and comet sequences on ramps 3 and four with shells of salute-terminated tourbillons above. Several flights of double-ascension glittering girandolas then rose into the air to cheers from the audience and were followed by more of the salute-terminated tourbillon shells as mines of stars fired on ramp 3. This theme continued with big colour shells and fans of comets on ramp 3 and large mines on ramp 4. Another flight of double-ascension gold glittering girandolas. These were followed by huge colour shells and then huge fans of comets on ramp 5, causing me to write illegibly as the segment came to a close!

Part 10 to the music Because we Believe by Andre Bocelli. Fans of fast star cakes opened up across ramp 2 as willow horsetail shells burst above. This theme continued and was followed by shells of falling leaves horsetails and then the same but in silver comets. A move to kamuro comet shells and then a transition to large mines of silver on ramp 4 with the same in shells above. This theme continued and then a move to huge shells with pistils and back to kamuros, filling the sky and trailing to the lake, which suddendly burst with massive nautical kamuro shells, to cheers from the audience. The nautical kamuros continued and then a line of silver rain candles lit up across ramp three and were augmented by silver rain comet shells above, filling the sky. As these continued, mine sequences move across ramp three as more and more silver rain shells filled the sky, bringing the segment to a close.

Part 11 to the music Standing in Motion by Yanni. After several intense segments, the audience wondered if the finale would be in proportion to the rest of the display. My notes became difficult to read because of the achievement of this! The final segment began with sequences of comets fired round the top of ramp 4 and a ring of suspended strobe lances which lit up around the structure. Then shells of bright coloured photoflash started to burst above - not quite as loud as salutes but not far off. Mines of the same were followed by comet and mine sequences. The pace increased and my notes are unreadable so the rest of this may not be in quite the correct order. At one point, huge cakes of crossettes started to fire with the same in shells above. The colour of these transitioned from colour to colour, filling the sky and leaving people to wonder if this was the end of the display. No, it wasn't. Huge mine and comet sequences dazzled from ramp 5. Then a transition to cakes of crackling stars with huge shells of crackle above - again causing us to wonder if this was the end? No, it wasn't. Then a dramatic pause and a fabulous sequence of deafening Masceleta salutes started firing round the top of ramp 4, in perfect synchronization to the music. These got faster and then literally ripped around the top of ramp 4 in a circle, to gasps from your author. Still the finale was keeping going. Massive barrages of salute mines and mines of salute-terminate tourbillions started to fire. Above these, huge shells of dazzling stars with salutes. The salutes became very rhythmical with front after front of salute mines ripping into the air. The shells contined above and more salutes were added into the mix from mines and candles. The colours of the shells followed a sequence which, someone pointed out afterwards, corresponded to the Olymipic Ring colours. The pace became more intense, the music was completely submerged by the sound of shells and salute. Suddently. brilliant white dazzling star mines burst forth seemingly everywhere as well as the same in shells, all embedde with massive amounts of huge salutes, bringing the display to an ear-ringing conclusion to cheers from a stunned audience.

Despite the false start and technical difficulties, this turned out to be an excellent display from the debutante Canadian team. Possibly the widest display in terms of use of the sky we've seen in a long time, it made use of beautiful high quality product with rich colours and enjoyable effects. Great use of the lake was made and some of the sequences were extremely well done, with a good balance between the firing ramps, particularly the floating pontoons forming ramp 5. The music was enjoyable, but some of the transitions were not as clean as they might have been with the music simply fading out rather than coming to an actual end. The biggest criticism was the use of narration. The first part was long enough with really no fireworks in support (but this was during the first part with the technical problems). The second narrative section really didn't add anything and, again, had little support from any fireworks (though there were some pieces that were used to highlight portions of the text). The finale was extremely well done and built up in a very effective way, particularly through the transition of effects (e.g. crossettes and crackle) and of colours. The use of salutes lead me to wonder if Brad has some Italian blood! We haven't seen such a grand finale in a number of years and the audience obviously enjoyed it. Hopefully the technical problems won't affect the judges, but with a 22 minute break, there's bound to be some impact. Fortunately the display seems to have gone off without a hitch once the problems were fixed. There are now three displays that are clearly in the top 3: England, USA and Canada. Of the three, it is my personal opinion that England had the best overall storeyboard, but wasn't perfect and the final finale (so to speak) was smaller than the faux finale. The US display was excellent but again suffered from a small finale. Canada's display was excellent, but the overall storeboard wasn't as well executed as the UK, but made up by having a brilliant and well developed finale, though was let down by the narrative sections and some of the music edits. With two strong competitors left, it's going to be tough for the judges this year!

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