1. VIRTUAL FINALE 3D FIREWORKS COMPETITION
Questions? Email: dirk@finalefireworks.com
Competition Objective
To create a realistic, emotionally-impactful and inspiring pyromusical display, artfully choreographed to a custom-themed music soundtrack and featuring a broad range of high-quality lifelike pyrotechnic effects.
Prizes
Rank | Finale 3D Pro | Finale Pyro Points | Finale 3D Hobbyist | Finale Pyro Points |
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Grand Prize | $1,000 | +100 | $500 | +100 |
Second Place | $500 | +50 | $250 | +50 |
Third Place | $250 | +25 | $100 | +25 |
All participants will earn +75 Finale Pyro Points for entering the competition. |
How to Participate
- Design a show following the competition rules
- Create a video of your show using Finale 3D
Submitted the following items using wetransfer.com to dirk@finalefireworks.com. Include your name, company name, email address and a description of your show. The Finale team will reply to confirm receipt. Incomplete submissions or entries received after the competition deadline will not eligible for a prize.
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- A video of the show rendered in Finale 3D
- The show (.fin) file
- A budget calculation worksheet (see Virtual Budget section below for details)
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Competition Rules
Timeline
The competition begins on June 15, 2020, all submissions must be received by July 15, 2020.
Show Duration
Shows must have a total length of 5 to 6 minutes.
Firing Positions
There are no restrictions on the number of firing positions.
Models & Scenery
Finale 3D Pro users must use at least 1 model and may also use Google Maps imagery if desired. Models and Google Maps are not supported in Finale 3D Hobbyist and are therefore not required.
Effect Selection
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- Effects must be realistic (i.e. effects must be achievable in the real world)
- There is no limitation to the diversity of effects
- Effects may be created just for the competition or selected from any collection including supplier catalogs, company inventories, ‘my effects’, etc.
- Custom effect simulations are permitted
- The maximum shell size is 10″ (250mm)
- Multi-shot cakes are prohibited
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Music Soundtrack Selection
The total duration of each show must be between 5 and 6 minutes. Shows must include at least 2:15 (2 minutes & 15 seconds) of ‘required music’. The ‘required music’ may consist of one or more songs selected from the list below. Songs may be edited as desired. The final music soundtrack may also include other songs/music chosen by the competitor. The ‘required music’ may be placed anywhere within the final music soundtrack.
Artist | Song Title | YouTube Link |
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Trans-Siberian Orchestra | Wizards in Winter | https://youtu.be/D93HMEcwP20 |
Joe Satriani | Motorcycle Drivers | https://youtu.be/2kpxMJhHoJA |
Snow Patrol | Chasing Cars | https://youtu.be/GemKqzILV4w |
Robby Valentine | No Turning Back | https://youtu.be/JkU6lMC9nZw |
Robby Valentine | Valentine’s Overture | https://youtu.be/3-F8C0C3W2U |
Queensryche | Silent Lucidity | https://youtu.be/jhat-xUQ6dw |
Woodkid | Run Boy Run | https://youtu.be/lmc21V-zBq0 |
Asia | Keyboard Solo (Inc. Video Killed The Radio Star) | https://youtu.be/k5ghlNe6_l8 |
Queen | Don’t Stop Me Now | https://youtu.be/HgzGwKwLmgM |
Lindsey Sterling | Crystallize | https://youtu.be/aHjpOzsQ9YI |
Brand X Music | Expelled | https://youtu.be/Fo9TsQUmZr4 |
James Dooley | Rise from the Underworld (feat. Celldweller) | https://youtu.be/Zp9JlCcDsGY |
Patrick Hawes | Power Trip | https://youtu.be/uoDZXsuaTOs |
Kygo, Whitney Houston | Higher Love | https://youtu.be/dTYOkcRH220 |
Galantis & Dolly Parton | Faith feat. Mr. Probz | https://youtu.be/KA07g2lvgbo |
“Riders of the Sea” by Peter Crowley was recently used in separate competition and therefore may not be used in this competition.
Virtual Budget
Each show will be subject to a maximum virtual budget of 100.000 points. Competitors may elect to use less than the maximum budget. The cost of each effect will be determined by its size. The table below provides examples of some common effects and their respective cost:
Example 1: 25mm (1″) 5 Shot Roman Candle. 25 points per each 25mm (1″) shot X 5 shots = 125 points
Example 2: 50mm (2″) 10 Shot Roman Candle. 50 points per each 50mm (2″) shot X 10 shots = 500 points
Product Description | Size | Price (Virtual Points) |
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Single Shot (Mine or Comet) | 25mm (1″) | 25 |
Single Shot (Mine or Comet) | 50mm (2″) | 50 |
8 Shot Roman Candle | 25mm (1″) | 200 |
8 Shot Roman Candle | 50mm (2″) | 400 |
Shell | 50mm (2″) | 50 |
Shell | 75mm (3″) | 75 |
Shell | 100mm (4″) | 100 |
Shell | 125mm (5″) | 125 |
Shell | 150mm (6″) | 150 |
Shell | 200mm (8″) | 200 |
Shell | 250mm (10″) | 250 |
Flame Shot (all patterns) | – | 5 |
1s Ground Effects (gerbs, strobe (flash) pots) | – | 5 |
30s Ground Effects (gerbs, strobe pots) | – | 30 |
60s Ground Effects (gerbs, strobe pots) | – | 60 |
Additional Rules
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- The effects and overall design of the show must be realistic. In other words, it must be possible to produce the show in the real world.
- Camera animation is permitted but the final video must be rendered in Finale 3D without the use of 3rd party video editing software.
- To preserve the anonymity of each competitor, video watermarks are prohibited.
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Judging Criteria
Category | Description | Percentage |
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Emotion | Was the show interesting to watch? What was the overall impression of the show? Did the show have a recognizable theme? |
50% |
Design / Script | Did the show fit to the location? How was the scenery designed? Did the design include different firing patterns like ( sequences, fans , randomness, roller coaster, half-pipes)? Was the show creative, containing new or innovative elements? |
25% |
Use of products | Did the show contain a variety of high-quality effects? Were the effects realistic? Did the size and volume of effects fit the music soundtrack? How was the use of colors? |
15% |
Music score | Did the soundtrack follow a red line or theme or was it just a sequence of music tracks How was the editing of tracks technically done? Smooth or hard cuts? Did the complete must soundtrack cover different aspects of music like slow/fast, calm/energetic? |
10% |
Judging Panel
Shows will be judged by the following independent jury of fireworks experts. The identities of competitors will not shared with the judging panel to promote impartiality during the judging process.
Name | Qualifications |
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Christophe Byl, Belgium | Christophe is a very successful show designer.. He already won two times the international fireworks festival in Shanghai |
Georg Alef, Germany | Georg Alef is the Chef-Pyrotechnician of WECO Feuerwerk in Germany. He won 2000 and 2004 in Montreal and is responsible every year for big shows in Europe like the “Kölner Lichter”. For many years he is also a judge at the fireworks competition in Hannover |
Jose Luis Gimenez Clemente, Spain | Jose is the CEO of Pirotechnia Vulcano, a spain company that takes part regulary at international fireworks festivals |
Markus Klatt, Germany | Markus is a licensed pyrotechnician in Germany and owner of FEUERWERK.net – the largest internet forum about fireworks in Europe. For many years he is participating as a jury member in several internationally known fireworks competitions in Europe and Shanghai. And because of his experience he is often booked by companies to film their fireworks shows all over the world. |
Paul Marriott, Canada | Paul is a well-known and respected connoisseur of the Montreal International Fireworks Competition who has attended and reviewed almost every display for more than 20 years. |
Will Harvey, United States | Will is the founder and CEO of Finale Fireworks. |
Rights
By participating in the competition, entrants agree to allow Finale Fireworks to use submitted content, in whole or in part, for training, demonstration, marketing and other purposes.