THE latest crop of special effects requires a minimum of specialized skill to effect maximum impact. Using such user-friendly technologies as LED lighting and DMX controls, these effects are peerless for turning even the most ho-hum hall into a...

The sights! The sounds! The thrill of it all! Pyrotechnic and special effects experts offer exciting new innovations and advice on using them to best effect...

YOUR event might have stunning decor, great entertainment and a dynamic speaker. But if the proper technical support isn't in place, attendees will miss out on the full effect of these elements, as you struggle with dim lighting, wimpy sound and...

TIP: When space is sparse, small fireworks can make a big impression...

ANY film student knows that lighting is lan integral part of setting a scene. So when FilmL.A., the recently reformed nonprofit that promotes Los Angeles as a location for filmmaking, wanted to dazzle guests including politicos and Hollywood...

IT was only fitting that the lighting at the Nobel Prize awards banquet should shine, considering the luminaries in attendance. The 1,400 guests at the December ceremony included members of the Swedish royal family, international politicians and...

SO badly did Andy DiRaddo want to get into the sound scene 30 years ago, he was willing to make major sacrifices. The young upstart with a love of music — but, he admits, no musical talent — signed up for one of the only college-based programs in...

DEALING with snow queens, witches and mermaids is not part of many job descriptions, but for Bettina Buckley, chief effects orchestrator at Clermont, Fla.-based Wow!Works, working with these characters became a full-time affair. Early this year...

FROM a snow-covered winter wonderland to a sky exploding with fireworks, special effects continue to captivate guests thanks to seasoned professionals, who ensure eye-catching — and safe — effects...