I had the
opportunity to work with Terry several years ago and
I recall one of the most useful pieces of information
he provided me was a Pyrotechnic Effect List. This
list is the vocabulary used by Pyro experts and the "dumbed-down" version
for laymen. This list helps enable the producer
to effectively communicate their vision with the pyrotechnician
to get the effects they are envisioning for the show.
Terry joins
us for a brief November 2001 Interview, and allows
us to post this great list of Pyro Effect terms as a tool
for game operations producers. This list will
also be available on the Gameops.com Vendor Pages,
in the Pyro and Confetti section.
Gameops.com: You
have an amazing resume of stage shows and your background
is in stage theatre, give us some idea of the work you have
done in sports.
Ritz: While I was with
Advanced Entertainment we worked with the UNLV Running
Rebels basketball program. When
I formed Pyritz one of our first sports clients was the Utah
Jazz. We have been working with them ever since. We
also have done shows with the 76er's, Blazers, Las Vegas
Bandits and Miami Heat.
In hockey we've worked with the Golden Eagles, Florida Panthers,
and Las Vegas Thunder.
Gameops.com: What's new in the world of pyrotechnics
for sports teams?
Ritz: One
innovation that will clearly effect sports
is in aerial's. Santore and Sons
have developed a product that is a smaller
version of large fireworks aerial shows
that are shot from the ground.
These effects are close proximity,
large scale pyrotechnics that are suitable for open air
stadiums and stadiums with retractable roofs. The shells are 1" to 3" and
fully consumable, meaning there is no residuals to worry
about and they can be fired much closer to people. This
will be available in the middle of 2002.
Previously the fallout would prevent you from shooting
shells of this kind.
Also, we are working on some new
colors and styles that will be released in February 2002.
But in a lot of cases "what's
new" isn't really the pyro itself, its how you use them.
The keys are to be both creative and safe. You
can make just about anything happen, it just depends on how much effort and
expense you want to expend to make it happen.
Gameops.com: So when a team is ready to add
pyro elements to their events, what should they be thinking
about?
Ritz: There are six elements that you should
be considering.
- Sound - What will people hear, and how loud should
it be?
- Visual - What are people going to see?
- Budget - What are you willing to spend to make
it happen?
- Scale - How big is the venue, how big is the show
and how long will it last?
- Theme - Is there a bigger theme that the pyro
is a part of?
- Timeline - This is the
presentation of the show. Second
by second of what's happening.
Most any effect is adaptable within
different show sizes and themes. Also producers should
keep in mind that noise effects are not used often on in-arena
shows since fans are so close to the pyro and they can
be overcome by the noise.
Gameops.com: Thanks for the quick outline of show elements and
for allowing us to use the list of effects. It should help in allowing
producers to better communicate their show visions with people like you.
Ritz: You're welcome.
Pyrotechnic Effect Lists
Courtesy of Pyrtiz
Pyrotechnics, Inc
Click
for the printable version of this Pyrotechnics Effects
List
Thanks
to Terry Ritz and the staff at Pyritz for their cooperation
and participation in this month's interview. I
hope you find this list of effects to be as helpful and useful
as I have.
