Chapter 14. Pyrotechnics: Heat, Fire, Explosions

Pyrotechnics: Heat, Fire, Explosions
 

My nature is to be on set, blowing things up.

 
 --Ken Ralston (winner of five Academy Awards for visual effects)

It may not be a majority, but many people first become interested in a visual effects career as borderline pyromaniacs or even gun nuts. You have to follow your passion in life, I suppose. Creating a conflagration on the computer isn’t quite as much fun as simply blowing stuff up, but it keeps these people off of our streets.

The serious truth is that many types of explosions are still best done through a combination of practical and virtual simulations. There are, however, many cases in ...

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