There's something breathtaking about staring into the night sky and seeing it light up with a symphony of colour. The dazzle of pyrotechnics fills you with mixed emotions. In fireworks, blooming beauty and a sense of lurking danger combine into a potent mix.
As part of the Lunar New Year celebrations, PyroMagic Productions will light up Victoria Harbour on Friday at 8pm for precisely 23 minutes and 23 seconds. 'We're using 6,000 kilograms [of explosives],' said Wilson Mao (right), the company's CEO who is the chief organiser of the pyrotechnics display. 'It's in line with the biggest shows we've done. We've done 6,000 kilograms before - in 2009, for Chinese New Year and for National Day. I'm using the same amount again this year,' he added.
Sponsored by The Hong Kong Hainan Commercial Association, the expected budget for the show, including marketing and reception arrangements, will be about HK$6.8 million. PyroMagic won the contract to put on the display.
Staging such a spectacular show is no child's play. The show has to be fine-tuned down to its smallest detail. This includes the appropriate music, which will influence choreography.
Mao said he had spent about a month deciding what pieces of music to use. Finally he settled on eight songs. Sometimes his clients have their own wishes, but Mao says he's usually allowed more creative freedom for a Lunar New Year show.
'It's a happy holiday, and people are expecting a festival, so I'm free to use a wider range of colours and music,' he said.
'But when it comes to National Day, the songs need to have some kind of national heritage or national theme. So a lot of times we have to use patriotic songs for such an occasion. I'm fine with that. I just have to be diplomatic about it,' he added.