Detailed judging criteria, a newly renovated area and five new entrants
Pyrotechnicians from around the world and firework fanatics will come to Montreal in the forthcoming weeks as the 2008 edition of
L'International des feux Loto-Québec, the Montreal International Firework Competition, begins on Saturday, June 21th. Contestants from nine countries will each display 30-minute pyromusical extravaganzas in an effort to win one of three Jupiter prize.
The popular jury, made up of 19 firework enthusiasts selected in the past weeks, will use a new performance evaluation grid. "Since a couple of years, we have felt need to be more specific about our criteria in order to help the jury and to draw attention to some aspects of a firework show" the director of the event Martyne Gagnon says to PyroPlanet.
Thus, two new judging criteria have been introduced. First, technical design is added to determine how well contestants use the available area, including the lake. Firework density and consistency are also important.
"Firework denseness must be sustained throughout the show. Of course, slower segments are required, but we don't want a display made of weak segments and just ending with a great finale" Gagnon explains.
A second new criterion is about the soundtrack, that is, the choice of music and most importantly, linking from one segment to the next. "During the jury training, we emphasized the fact that soundtrack criterion is not about the kind of music one likes or dislikes. We have to be able to value the pyrotechnic concept which surrounds the soundtrack."
The last remaining judging criterias within the evaluation grid are: pyrotechnic pieces (variety, quality and colours), pyromusical design (originality of products or originality of the way products are used, and rhythmic dynamics, including relationships between firework design, music, and theme) and synchronization.
Among other changes, the La Ronde site has been transformed around the lake. Some terraces were dismantled and new ones assembled above the former amusement park main midway. Now there are 7368 seats available. (There were around 7500 in the past.) This figure includes twelve VIP grandstands added at the top of the new terraces where the newly built control room is located.
Other changes include a new go-kart track close to the left side (from audience viewpoint) of the third firing ramp, made of floating platforms. Owing to safety rules about the distance to keep between the new ride and pyrotechnic area, the ramp width is slightly reduced. "The go-kart encroachment on the firing area is six meters or so" specifies Paul Csukassy, technical director. "In order to preserve symmetry in relation to the centre of the stage, we also cut the same length on the other side, that is, a total of 10-12 meters out of 150 meters." New low safety walls have been built.
The 2008 line-up includes five new entrants:
Prestatech-Artifices (France),
Pirotecnica Morsani (Italy),
Garden City Display Fireworks (Canada),
Pyrovision GmbH (Austria), and
Pyrotecnico (United States).
However, being a new entrant doesn't always mean that these pyrotechnicians will work for the first time in Montreal: cross-fertilization may occurs between companies. For instance, the Canadian Michael Bohonos (Garden City) worked at La Ronde with Royal Pyrotechnie in 2003 and Pyromagic (Hong Kong) in 2007.
Other contestants are:
Hanwha (South Korea),
Grupo Luso Pirotecnia (Portugal),
Howard and Sons (Australia), and
Sunny (China).
Panzera will produce the traditional off-competition closing show on August 6th.
In addition to PyroPlanet coverage, Paul Marriott's website, montreal-fireworks.com, will provide comprehensive reports of each display and hosts a forum allowing 'pyrofannatics' an opportunity to share their comments.
The soundtrack of each firework display will be broadcasted live on the local radio station 105,7 FM. Click here to listen the music on the web and select "Radio en direct" on the firework nights at 10:00pm Eastern Time.
Story : Frédérick Bastien
