Lil' Wayne at the BET awards with Pyrotek effects.LAS VEGAS NV--One could not help but notice Pyrotek Special Effects at the 2007 Bet Hip Hop Awards. Televised from the Civic Center in Atlanta, GA, the effects presented played a significant role in accenting the number of set designs throughout the award show.
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" was one of the more prolific acts which demonstrated the strategic planning of customized 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 customized gas flame effects, which included a microphone stand that was customized to combust in flames. This was cued as Lil Wayne took hold of the mic and proceeded downstage. The complete microphone stand was ignited into flames for the remainder of the performance. The set also included four flaming barrels, two seven foot long dragon tails positioned upstage behind the barrels to create a continuous burning flame wall, and four dragon heads. Both the dragon heads and dragon tails were in sync with specific beats as the flames accentuated precise cues throughout the performance.
Additional acts which included supplementary effects were; Kanye West's opening act "Can't Tell Me Nothin", The host, Katt Williams' opening monologue, Nelly "Shorty What Your Name Is / Go Lil Mama", Hurricane Chris and Lil Boosie "Ay Bay Bay / Wipe Me Down", Wyclef, Alpha Mega and Busta Rhymes "U Know What It Is/ Hurt", Common "Driven Me Wild", and Playaz Circle featuring Ludicras and Lil Wayne "Duffle Bag Boy".
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