Distress flares are too bright for watching! Better to look for something intended for use in the entertainment industry. Small gerbs are available trade.
I agree. 15,000 candela is a bit harsh on the old retina. Have you ever tried wire wool? You can make it last long enough for what you want and it's very dramatic when done properly. A lot of fire spinners use a wire mesh cage to stuff the wool in and then dip it in paraffin. Experiment with different grades of wool from fine to medium. Coarse is a wast of time on it's own but mixed up with some fine it will burn but, it throws globules of molten iron unlike the finer particles of higher grades. Try it first without mesh cage. I tend to think the cage inhibits the effect a bit but in some cases it's favored for reducing the burn rate. How much you compact the wool will determine the burn rate too. Left airy and fluffy and you get a short lived but spectacular show. Compact will give a slower, more controllable effect. The best part is you can ignight the stuff with a small square 9v battery.
Stay away from Brillo Pads though!
Here are some vids I made using one poi chain:
And one of a guy using the cage and paraffin method:
