As a corollary to the credo that “the music dictates how it ends up looking,” Fireplay’s Kelly Sticksel is careful to make sure his looks aren’t swayed just because a piece of gear is available for use. “I may go into a project thinking I will need X amount of lasers and a wide variety of FX, but I won’t search to find a place to use every laser and effect in the show. I let the place in the show find the cue.” And, he adds, “once we find that place, it becomes a coordination with other elements – lighting, scenic, even musical direction – to ensure the effects are impactful, yet not competing with other elements. It’s always about balance and storytelling.”
-From “Focus on FX” by Nook Schoenfeld, PLSN, Nov. 2019, page 96
