Effects designer, Lorenzo Cornacchia collaborated with Jesse Collins (show producer), Brian Stonestreet (production designer), Alana Billingsley (art director) as well as Marc Lucas (executive in charge of production), and John Cossette (executive producer) of Cossette Productions.
The industrial set created by Stonestreet allowed for a number of versatile positions to mount the pyrotechnic equipment. In applying the pyrotechnic effects into the set designs, Pyrotek's Crew Chief; Bob Ross was accompanied by gas specialists and pyrotechnicians, Keith Maxwell, Kevin Hughes, and Gary Bishop in assembling the special effects into each act.
Lil Wayne's performance of Gossip demonstrated the strategic planning of customised gas effects. The opening sequence of the act included a barrage of red tracer comets fired upstage off the upper level railing in an asymmetrical fashion. The opening led into numerous customised gas flame effects.
The design of effects for Souljah Boy's number one single Crank That, commenced with a white flash and bang effect in an asymmetrical fashion. Each chorus held eight major accents in which two of 12 cryo jet heads were fired asymmetrically. The downbeat of each chorus led to an all fire cue from twelve cryo jet heads. Cornacchia explained, "The equipment worked well with the set as it blended in to the industrial set presence." The song concluded with a burst of green mines which fired in various directions off boards positioned upstage.
Upon completion of an awards show jam-packed with effects, Stonestreet commented: "The effects supplied by Pyrotek were amazing on the show this year. I always have liked the stuff they have done, but this show in particular was great. The pyro stood out as well conceived, designed, and integrated into each number, and it actually became a scenic statement."
(Jim Evans)
