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Pyrotek Special Effects Heat Up the Detroit Red Wings Run in the Playoffs.

Detroit Red Wings Heat Up in Playoffs
Toronto, ON, May 15, 2008

Since their last Stanley Cup victory in 2001-02, the Detroit Red Wings have been playing immaculately and are arguably one of the strongest team in contention for the chance to be 2007-08 Stanley Cup champions. Just recently Detroit's historical tradition, (where their Zamboni driver swings an octopus over his head), was prohibited by the NHL who have set a fine for every ensuing act. This restriction created huge hype in the Motor City, as the traditional octopus rally has been a ritual since Detroit's run to the cup in 1951-52. In adjustment to the new rules; the Red Wing crew members collect the octopuses off the ice and bringing them to the Zamboni room. Here the driver then waves them over his head, and the video footage is fed to the score clock. Pyrotek was happy to add some new atmospherics to further ignite the home crowds at Motor Cities, Joe Louis Arena.

Sheldon Nueman, (Director of Broadcasting for the Detroit Red Wings/Olympia Entertainment) worked with Lorenzo Cornacchia (Vice President of Pyrotek Special Effects) who prepared a design to implement Dragon flame units into the score clock. After a number of safety tests and precautions, head pyrotechnician Renato Sulmona, along with his team of technicians including, Garry Bishop and Joe Lucier, were involved with the installation. The request to proceed with the implementation of the design came once Detroit entered the semi-finals; knocking off the Nashville Predators and beating the Colorado Avalanche in four straight games to sweep the series. In describing the install, Lucier commented "It looks like we are burning up the entire PA system and everything else nearby". A total of four double-headed Dragons were installed into the score clock which feed to eight separate heads. Each unit was symmetrically positioned on the top of the score clock, two units on each side, positioned around the outside. Running off of four 200-pound accumulator units, the flames shoot to lengths of 20-25 feet. The flame effects are programmed to ignite in all-fire cues, and chase sequences. Utilized for the Detroit home game introductions, the Dragon flame effects are also tied in with the video screen which is situated in the score-clock. The flames are cued to tie into highlight videos, and star player focuses. Additionally, to the introduction, the Dragons are also triggered live via DMX to extenuate the celebration for each goal scored by the Red Wings. "The Pyrotechnics really add that extra punctuation signifying the

Photographer: Dave Reginek DRW/NHLI via Getty Images

importance of each game as well as the importance of each goal. It's been a great opportunity to be involved with such a historical team. You can really feel the energy and we're excited to be a part of it." Cornacchia commented.

Pyrotek Special Effects Serve It Up At The Rogers Cup

Rogers Cup: August 20th, 2007

With a comprehensive roster of sporting events such as the Super Bowl, NHL, NBA, CFL and a variety of wrestling entertainment and martial arts events, Pyrotek Special Effects Inc. was thrilled to once again add an extra level of excitement to one of tennis's top international tournaments; The Rogers Cup. The tournament which is recognized as one of 10 Tier I tournaments on the WTA Tour, offers US $1.325 million in prize money and attracted the stars and fans of tennis worldwide. Pyrotek Special Effects, Doug Adams explained " It's great to have such a well known international event in your own backyard and we look forward to embracing and adding to the spectacle of the sport every year" . This year at the Rexall Centre in Toronto Canada, today's top women's tennis players showcased their skills on the Canadian courts. The tournament alternates the men's and women's competition annually between Toronto and Montreal. Wimbledon and the U.S. Open are the only two tournaments that have longer histories than the major Canadian stop.

The nine day event showcased three prime time matches in which Pyrotek provided an outdoor fireworks display celebrating the match successor. The effects consisted of;

• (102) Red comets with tail chase
• (27) Multi-shot comet boards
• (54) Silver comets with tails

Pyrotek Special Effects Blowup the Candles in Celebration of
TNA' s Pay Per View " Slamiversary "

June 29th, 2007

As TNA celebrated its 5th year benchmark of success in the wrestling entertainment industry, Pyrotek Special Effects and sister company Laser Design Productions were on hand to provided a mixture of effects. Fans gathered to TNA’s city of origin, Nashville Tennessee, to witness the Pay Per View held event; " Slamiversary ". The introduction display, which lasted for approximately 20 seconds, consisted of 146 pyrotechnic effects and shattered eardrums while illuminated the venue. The design objective was to sequentially present an organized look of destruction. The opening effect consisted of a barrage of airbursts (25), a total of (33) 25 ft silver gerbs creating a chase effect, (15) concussions that produced a loud bang and a violent jarring shock for a dramatic effect, a total of 41 assorted colored mines and comets with tails, (13) fireballs, and (19) white flashes with bang. An additional (111) effects were used with the introductions of wrestlers throughout the show.

With wrestling matches spilling outside the ring and into a variety of settings throughout the Nashville Coliseum crowds were able to get up close to the action. However, this posed a challenge as considerations of logistics needed to be analyzed. The storyline had a particular match allocate to the top of the 30 foot stage trussing where wrestlers Abyss, and Tomko battled amongst the parcans, and pyro boards to fall to the floor crashing onto a set prop. Vice President, Lorenzo Cornacchia collaborated with Greg Horne (TNA Scenic Director), Steve Small (TNA On-site Director), Jeff Bornstein (TNA LD) to situate the effects. Jeff Jarett (Wrestling Director) was on hand and excited to be back in his home town, but did not take part in the action due to is recent hardships with the passing away of his wife. In providing a safe and entertaining show, Cornacchia depends on his team, which included Bob Ross (Crew Chief, & Gas Specialist), Keith Hellebrand (Master Pyrotechnician, and Shooter), Keith Maxwell (Gas Specialist, & Pyrotechnician), Jason McEachern (Laser Operator), and Ken Schmidt (Laser Technician).

The laser design consisted of two 40-watt Green YAG high-powered lasers positioned downstage right and left of the main ramp, and two micro YAGS positioned upstage and projected effects through the entrance tunnel. Over 50 bounce mirrors were utilized in the design effects. Thirty were positioned on the down stage truss (over the center of the main ramp). An additional twenty bounce mirrors were placed on a pipe directly opposite of the main cameras. Ten floor-supported mirrors were positioned on the main stage, and an additional eight flat mirrors were placed on the main ramp. The direct location of the 40-watt high power YAG lasers (right and left of the main ramp) created spectacular scans, diffractions, beam and machida looks over the main stage and ramp. At times, the wrestlers' were completely submerged in the Laser effects.

TNA will return to its home set in Orlando Florida' s Universal Studios. After another successful event, both parties are looking forward to the next opportunity to deliver pyrotechnic mayhem at the next Pay Per View event " Victory Road ".

TNA - LOCKDOWN

May 22nd, 2007

It is evidently clear Lorenzo Cornacchia gets a charge out of blowing things up. As Vice President of Pyrotek Special Effects Inc., he is called upon to design and create on stage pandemonium for Total Non Stop Action (TNA Wrestling). TNA "LOCKDOWN" Pay Per View at the Family Arena in St. Louis, Missouri was the most recent stomping ground for the TNA roster and Pyrotechnics mayhem.

I flew in with my crew on April 13th 2007. My crew consisted of a total of six members; Bob Ross (Crew Chief, & Gas Specialist), Keith Hellabrand (Master Pyrotechnician, and Shooter), Keith Maxwell/ (Gas Specialist, & Pyrotechnician), Jason McEachern (Laser Operator), and Ken Schmidt (Laser Technician).

The Design I created for the opening of LOCKDOWN consisted of a barrage of 30 ft crackle mines and comets, quick shot silver gerbs, airbursts, flashes with bang, fireballs, and concussions. The entire opening consisted of a total of 150 effects in chase, and all fire combinations lasting over a 12 second period.

The conference calls between Greg Horne (Scenic Director), Steve Small (On-site Director), Jeff Bornstein (TNA LD) and myself gave me the direction TNA wanted to take this show. David Sahadi (TNA Director), Kieth Mitchell (TNA Producer), and Jeff Jarett (Wrestling Director) stated "We want the opening to look and sound like a complete and utter destruction!"

As Don West (Announcer) and Mike Tenay (Announcer) bring the event to live TV the main camera moves to a wide angle on the stage which cues the pyrotechnics barrage. The sequence starts with a concussion firing with a gerb chase up the main ramp coupled with a comet and mine chase from off stage to onstage. As the chase finishes on stage center, quick shot silver gerbs, mines, and comets fire asymmetrically from scaffold structures and varied angles across the stage (vertically and horizontally), simulating "Pyrotechnics Mayhem". The final barrage of rapid-fire concussions (13), coupled with flash airburst (12), flashes with bang (12), led into the finale all fire cue of large fireballs (12) with concussion. This final hit of fireballs with concussion created a semblance of a massive destruction scene.

The laser design consisted of two 40-watt Green Yag high-powered lasers positioned downstage right and left of the main ramp, and two micro Yags positioned upstage right and left of the main stage. Over 50 bounce mirrors were utilized in the design effects. 30 were positioned on the down stage truss (over the center of the main ramp). An additional 20 bounce mirrors were placed on a pipe directly opposite of the main cameras. Ten floor-supported mirrors were positioned on the main stage, and an additional eight flat mirrors were placed on the main ramp. The direct location of the 40-watt high power Yag lasers (right and left of the main ramp) created spectacular scans, diffractions, beam and machida looks over the main stage and ramp. At times, the wrestlers looked as if they were completely submerged in the Laser effects.

TNA was a successful event drawing a sellout crowd and a great viewing audience numbers on the Nielsen ratings. They will continue with another Pay Per View Match June 17th in Nashville Tennessee, where Lorenzo and his Pyrotechnics crew will continue their large scale special effect designs.

For further information contact:
Jim Schorer Marketing Manager
Pyrotek Special Effects Inc.
P: +1 (905)-479-9991
F: +1 (905)-479-3515
jims@pyrotekfx.com