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Visitor Comments Directing a film or video is exhilarating. Creating sets, lighting and composing still fashion and portrait shoots gave me a great understanding of composition and creating mood with light. In film and video I apply those standards because each move of a film camera is a different composition and mood must be driven from each image the camera sees... Brian |
Help Us Locate These Missing Children
Michigan.gov website contains information about, and when available, pictures of Michigan Children who have been reported to law enforcement as runaways or potential abductions. This information is being provided by the State because it is believed the children are at risk, and it is in the best interest of these children that they be located.
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This site was completely designed by Brian Heath
photography by Brian Heath
all rights reserved 2004
1998 - 2004
copyright 2004 |
| | | La Maitre PYRO used at these events |  | | Nelly Tour Nov 03 | | .jpg) Despite a rush to get the UK shows underway, Nellly's November dates were superb. His flight was delayed so there were no rehearsals at the NEC on the Tuesday and Wednesday as planned. The first rehearsal was at Manchester MEN on the Friday which was also show night.
The show opened with a stage blackout and musical intro whilst the crowd screamed hysterically for Nelly. He came on stage with the opening number Nellyville and a simultaneous hit of Arena Amber Flash's and Arena Concussions. This was followed up with Air Force 1's, Country Grammar and Ride With Me. At the end of Ride With Me there was an impressive hit of 1 x 20 Stage Gerbs.
Later in the show, the intro to Cold as Ice accompanied the raising of the Derrty Ent. sign, during which time there was the first cue of a burst of machine-gun fire using Microdets and Stage Mines, then another cue of the same, then as the bass drop hits, another cue of Mines but this time with Concussions for maximum impact.
The next track, EI, opened with another Concussion cue.
3 tracks later, a pair of Arena Amber Flashes hit during Shake Ya Tail Feather. 3 songs later during the track Number 1 a chase of 1 x 25 Stage Gerbs was fired from stage right to left.
When Nelly and the St. Lunatics performed Hot in Hurr, when they all say the word "Hot", a pair of Giant Goldstars was fired at the front of the stage on four cues. The final "Hot" was marked with a final pair of Giant Goldstars.
Nelly's encore included Justin Timberlake's "Girlfriend" and the show ended with Dilemma and a fantastic 20-second Waterfall.
| | | | | | The Falls of Shin | | .jpg)
The Scottish tourist attraction joined forces with Harrods last year, and scheduled a big celebration for November 9th. The visitor centre and salmon leap is situated in an area of natural beauty in the Highlands just north of Inverness.
Following the amazing firework display Le Maitre fired from the roof of Harrods last year, they were contracted to design a 5 minute long display from the banks of the river, accompanied by a full 20 piece Highland band.
Le Maitre sent 4 technicians up to the Falls of Shin to create the display for around 10,000 spectators. People from miles around attended the event which was opened by the Harrods chairman Mohamed Al Fayed.
Le Maitre's designer Mark Thomas created an intense display using a range of material sourced from around the world. The whole event was hailed as a huge success and looks set to be repeated next year.
| | | | | | Metallica World Tour 2003 | | .jpg) Le Maitre worked in conjunction with Pyrotek on Metallica's European Tour last month.
Metallica played Reading and Leeds Festivals in August as well as dates in Germany and Ireland.
As Metallica fans have come to expect, the pyro was a spectacular feature of their perfomance, reaching a dramatic finale.
Effects on the tour included Comets, Fireballs, the Dragons, and Arena and the very loud Stadium Concussions.
| | | | | | Shania Twain | |  Shania Twain performed dates in Ireland and London in July.
Le Maitre covered the shows and rehearsal dates for Pyrotek Special Effects and John Arrowsmith who fired the shows.
The first show date was at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny on Saturday 5th July, following 2 rehearsal days and an earlier gruelling 5 day rehearsal week with pyro at The Point. The Hyde Park show was on Saturday 12th July, after 2 more days of rehearsal.
Le Maitre's Tim Haddon was on hand throughout to oversee health and safety and the many cue changes made during rehearsals. Shania Twain worked very closely with the pyrotechnicians to maximise the effects for each song.
Effects included silver, gold and coloured mines, and Le Maitre's 1x35 and 10x20 Stage Gerbs and Stadium Concussions. | | | | | | Polyphonic Spree | | .jpg) The Polyphonic Spree did a one night only gig at London's Brixton Academy on July 4th.
TRC Management Ltd asked Le Maitre to fire a huge confetti hit at the climax of the show. The effect was achieved using 12 x CO2 Cannons filled with Silver Glitter.
| | | | | | WWE - World Wrestling Entertainment | |  WWE came to the Telewest Arena for one massive spectacular on 7th June.
The effects list for the show was vast; ranging from mines of all colours to flames, airbursts and Le Maitre's 15x15, 1/4x25, and 10x20 Stage Gerbs.
The show started with a big hit of multicloured mines and concussions, and as each wrestler entered the ring they were introduced by a different pyro display. For Kane and Chris Jericho Flames and Concussions were used. The Dudley Boyz were greeted by Line Rockets and Mines, and for Diesel a selection of Stage Gerbs were inverted over the ring and from the ringposts. | | | Justin Timberlake | | .jpg) Le Maitre worked with Pyrotek Special Effects Inc for Justin Timberlake's UK tour, promoted by Mean Fiddler. The tour ran from the 7th to the 20th of May in England and then over to Dublin's The Point for 2 more dates.
Effects on the sell-out tour included 20x20 Silver Gerbs, Stadium and Arena Concussions, Mines, Airbursts and in Sheffield and the NEC, Pyrotek's gas Dragon effect. | | | | | | Tidy Weekender 3 | | .jpg) The Tidy Weekender 3 was held from the 4th to the 6th April at Pontins in Prestatyn which was turned into a clubbing city for the weekend.
Organisers Music Factory Entertainment Group asked Le Maitre to supply a pyro hit for the introduction of each DJ throughout the 3 day event, and climax the show with the Dragon gas system on the Sunday night.
Le Maitre's Mark Thomas used a selection of Red Flame Projectors, Theatrical Flashes, 15ft Gerbs, 20ft Stage Mines and Waterfalls to create some spectacular effects. | | | | | | Jay-Z | | .jpg) Jay-Z requested a range of Prostage II effects for the 3 tour dates at the end of January/beginnning of February.
The tour started in Amsterdam at the Heineken Music Hall on Thursday 30th Jan, moved to Wembley Arena for Friday 31st Jan and then up to Manchester's Evening News Arena the next day.
The effects on the show included 15 x 15 Stage Gerbs, Waterfalls, Concussions and 24 Red Stage Mines. The spectacular gas flame Dragon effects (which can produce a powerful flame up to 50 ft high) were also featured at the Wembley gig.
| | | | | | Ministry of Sound's New Years Eve at The Dome | | .jpg) A huge New Year's Eve party filled the Millennium Dome to see in 2003, courtesy of the Ministry of Sound. Le Maitre provided spectacular pyro for each of the 3 stages on the countdown to midnight. The displays took 4 pyrotechnicians and 3 days to rig, but just minutes to fire.
The main stage saw the biggest event with a 30 second Waterfall effect ignited at midnight at the back of the stage whilst hits of Flames, 1x25 Stage Gerbs, Comets and 50ft Stage Mines. 2 Venturi Cannons covered the audience in White Chinese Confetti.
On the smaller Smooth and World Dance stages 20ft Stage Mines in Red and Green were used with 10x12 Gerbs and Red and Green Flames. | | | | | | Die Another Day Premiere | | .jpg) Le Maitre was at the star studded Royal Premiere of the new James Bond movie "Die Another Day" which took place at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 18th November.
A dramatic chase of 1 x 35 Stage Gerbs down the 150 metre red carpet outside the Royal Albert Hall signalled the arrival of the film's star Pierce Brosnan to the awaiting crowd | | | | | | Harrods Christmas Lights Switch On 2002 | |  Le Maitre staged a spectacular pyrotechnics display from the roof of Harrods to mark the switching on of the store’s Christmas Lights on 3 November.
The event coincided with a proposed 48-hour nationwide fire strike planned to start on November 2. To address the issue, Le Maitre’s events director Karen Haddon employed private fire crews to cover the event and arranged for Harrods’ own fire officers to be stationed on the roof itself. In the event, the strike was called off at the last minute, but these arrangements were kept in place for added security.
The display, designed by Le Maitre's Mark Thomas, ran for just under 15 minutes and was choreographed to the James Bond theme tune. The show was fired by the Pyrodigital controller (the same system that fired the Eiffel Tower and Sydney Harbour Bridge Millennium displays).
Beginning with chase sequences of stage pyro across the front of the roof, using flames, gerbs and candles, it then progressed to large-scale fireworks including mines, comets and a dramatic finale of multi-shot cakes and 3" shells.
Mark Thomas explained that the main difficulty of designing a show like this is the location of the building. Harrods is a very famous London landmark, and as the department store is in Knightsbridge it is surrounded on all sides by public roads. This meant that the effects could not drop any debris because of the crowds below. Le Maitre's safety officer recommended that only low calibre material was used in the design and that it had to be sited well back from the front of the building.
Planning and preparations for the display took many weeks, including an entire week for a team of tehcnicians to fuse and waterproof every single effect. Safety regulations meant that the fireworks could only be brought onto the roof of the building on the day of the display, which meant a battle against the clock for Mark and his team of pyrotechnicians.
After all the extensive preparations and after all the difficulties had been overcome, the show was a huge success. It drew crowds from all over London to marvel at the fantastic effects lighting up the sky for many miles around, and which for many marks the start of the festive season. | | | | | | Heartthrobs | |  Heartthrobs is a huge all singing, all dancing, live Bollywood spectacular featuring the superstar Hrithik Roshan. The UK arena tour played at Manchester, London and Birmingham on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd June.
Le Maitre were contracted to design the pyrotechnics and special effects, with a team of Le Maitre pyrotechnicians on tour with the show.
The show was massive and a hugely complicated event and the variety and complexity of effects reflected this. There was an enormous cast, with countless costume changes and exits and entrances. Each entrance required a different pyro effect so the Le Maitre boys had their work cut out ! Although a chaotic and exhausting weekend, the show was a breathtaking extravangza for its packed audiences.
The effects list included 20x20, 10x12, 15x15, 6x12 and 8x8 Stage Gerbs, Silver Airbursts, Small Green Mines, Large Flames, 20x20 Waterfalls, Theatrical Flash, Hand Held Confetti Cannons and Multi Chinese Confetti.
| | | | | | Usher | |  Le Maitre have completed the European leg of Usher's Evolution 8701 Tour and are currently in the middle of a 2 and a half month run of the USA. The European tour visited 10 countries in Europe as well as Manchester, Wembley and Birmingham in the UK. The USA tour is even more hectic...
The pyrotechnics are one of the main features of Usher's show and are keeping us extremely busy with a technician in the States and regular large shipments of pyro.
The show list includes Large Red Flame Projectors, 1 x 25 Stage Gerbs, Stadium Flash Reports, White Sparkle Airbursts, Waterfalls and the new Prostage II Flashes. | | | | | | Slipknot | |  Slipknot's European Tour from 2001 to Feb 2002 used effects from Le Maitre's Prostage II range to dramatic effect.
Rows of Large Flame Projectors, 25ft Stage Gerbs and some very loud Arena size Flash Reports were combined with lots of smoke.
NME.COM describes the Glasgow date as "a spectacular pyrotechnics-filled show".
It quotes audience reactions
"...it was a completely religious experience. I could feel the heat of the flames....",
"..it was just awesome.." | | | | | | Bon Jovi | |  In September 2001, Le Maitre worked with Pyrotek on Bon Jovi's One Wild Night Tour.
The 17 venue European stadiums tour was an excellent opportunity to show off the new Prostage II 40ft White Crackle Mines. | | | | | | Robbie Williams | |  Le Maitre have worked on Robbie Williams' 2000 and 2001 tours, supplying technical crew and spectacular professional pyrotechnics and fireworks.
The 2000 UK Tour used PSII Stage Gerbs, Waterfalls, Mines and Airbursts as well as Electric Air Cannons.
The Robbie Williams 2001 stadium tour of the UK and Germany covered 7 venues and used line rockets and a 1 minute aerial hit of fireworks for the dramatic finale of each show. | |
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