9 replies to this topic

[Pyro85]

I have devoted myself to the idea of entering this wonderful career for a long time now. But despite all my research and questions, I still have little clue as to what I need to do in order to get into it.
I thought this would be a great place to turn to for advise.

So:
What would be the best way to get into this career?
Are their any specific qualifications needed for the job?
I am currently 17, are there any age restrictions for shadowing pyrotechnicians or working with them?

I need general info on what it is like and how to best get into the career.

(Btw, mods/admins, I apologize if this is in the wrong place. I'm new to forums haha)

[digger]

Hi Pyro85

What exactly do you want to do in relation to pyrotechnics?

Do you want to work on proffessional fireworks displays?
Do you want to work on stage pyro?
Do you want to work special effects for film / reenactments?
Do you want to work in HE for civil engineering / demolition / oil prospecting projects
Do you want to work with HE for military projects?
Do you want to work in manufacturing?

It all depends on where you want to aim yourself, so give us a bit more of a clue.

D

[Pyro85]

I was hoping to get into the film pyrotechnics, like setting up, preparing and setting them off on film sets.
Thanks for the help btw

Edited by Pyro85, 10 March 2011 - 09:52 PM.

[Arthur Brown]

You really need to find an effects company who will give you some experience as a gofer then let your career grow from there. Your employer will give you some experience and put you through the industry accredited training and grading systems. You will find that you you need to di a lit of gofering before people let you move up the ranks.

[Pyro85]

Cool, where would I find the companies? are there any that are recommended?

[Arthur Brown]

As you don't tell us where you are (even the country!) you will have to look near the centres of the film and TV industries in your country.

In the UK you will need to be 18 to have control or possession of any explosive article or substance.

While you are 17 you should perhaps look close to home for some relevant employment. Remember that pyro based SFX are NOT the only SFX and you will need skill with other forms of SFX, strings and wires, animatronics, puppetry, CGI, and other forms not yet invented.

Added;
Pyro later will need that you are free of convictions now, so keep yourself very clean now.

Edited by Arthur Brown, 11 March 2011 - 07:37 AM.

[Pyro85]

Sorry, keep forgetting to put that im from london, so I need experience with other SFX too then?
I found a backstage college where I can take courses on some of these things, so should i do more than one, just to get as much experience as possible?

[Arthur Brown]

IIRC there is a degree course for Special Effects, probably only the one, and as ever it's funding dependant, It may be in Manchester????

This course is about 50% CGI some puppetry and mechanics and I think they did two weeks pyro in three years! This is probably a reasonable viewpoint on the industry.

For this your first port of call is your school's careers advisor. However a degree is only one starting point, getting some real work done is possibly a better start.

[crystal palace fireworks]

Pyro85,

Arthur has pretty much said it all, To give yourself the best chance of a foot-in in the SFX industries, your best bet to start off is to offer your services for free in amature productions at your local theatre,....this is what my nephew did many years ago - he started off at the Queens Theatre (hornchurch) and then ended up at the Kenneth More Theatre (Ilford) doing the lighting & sound controls + SFX stuff, he eventually became one of the paid production assistants putting on shows for professional touring companies.

The bottom line is, Don`t limit yourself just to SFX, eventually if you put the effort in over a prolonged period, you will get the rewards.

Edited by crystal palace fireworks, 11 March 2011 - 09:59 PM.

[Arthur Brown]

For Film and TV look at KFTV.com down the homepage is a clickable list of media disciplines, and pyro is listed under "other" it's a small part of the industry

http://www.kftv.com/product-5740.html
Is a list of some of the companies that do pyro sfx inc some all over the world, read it!