Celesta’s areas of expertise
Five disciplines, just one house: Celesta.
Fire, special effects, video mapping, sound and light shows, and multimedia productions. Celesta designs, produces and delivers all five in-house, from its bases in Aigremont in the Yvelines and in Normandy.
- Over 500 shows
- Five in-house disciplines
- France and fifteen countries
The principle
Why keep them all? under one roof
A show that combines two disciplines almost always comes up against the same problem: two service providers, two schedules, two production control teams, and no one to mediate when the timing goes awry. Celesta has taken the opposite approach. The five elements are written, produced and performed by the same teams, all following a single timeline.
- A single narrative: the story takes precedence, not the catalogue
- A single time code for lighting, sound and video
- A single point of contact on site, from set-up to the final round of applause
The five areas of expertise
What Celesta knows to design and implement
Each one stands on its own. None have been added simply to make up the number of leaflets.
Pyrotechnic show
The traditional craft. A fireworks display, timed to a specific schedule, carried out by F4-T2-certified salaried pyrotechnicians.
Special effects
Controlled flames, cold sparks, mist and confetti. The action takes place on the floor and at audience level.
Video mapping
The façade becomes the screen. A survey of the building, optical alignment, images created specifically for this wall and no other.
Sound and light show
Light shapes the space; the soundscape sets the tempo. The discipline that sustains the long stretches of time.
Multimedia production
Performers on stage and a written script, in which other art forms serve as a means to an end.
Before you call
Four reference points which will save you a return journey
500 and over
shows devised and performed by our teams
15 countries
as well as France, from Aigremont and Normandy
1 month
authorisation threshold, regardless of the discipline
48 hours
for a statement of intent and a cost estimate
The choice
You choose your discipline after the story, never before
We’re often called in for mapping or drone work. The key question comes earlier: what needs to remain intact the next day, and what does the venue allow? A listed façade, a nearby neighbourhood or a capacity of ten thousand people won’t lead to the same decision, and Celesta makes this clear before providing a quote.
- The venue is closing its doors even before the budget comes into play
- A noise constraint leads to light rather than fire
- A scheduled filming changes the scenography, not just the shot
The plinth
What remains the same from one subject to another
Qualifications
F4-T2-certified pyrotechnicians, who are employees of Celesta and have been specifically named. Drone light flights carried out in accordance with the framework set by the DGAC.
Storage and traceability
A licensed storage facility in its own right. Products are tracked individually, from storage right through to the launch pad, without going via an intermediary supplier.
The regulatory dossier
Celesta puts the application together, submits it to the relevant departments and follows it up, regardless of the discipline featured that evening.
Our latest releases
What Celesta has produced in recent months
All disciplines combined, in the order in which the performances took place.
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Fireworks display for the Grandes Prairies festival in Arras
View the project: Fireworks display for the Grandes Prairies festival in ArrasArras celebrates 15 August with the Grandes Prairies fireworks display On 15 August, Arras celebrates the Fête des Grandes Prairies,…
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International Flyboard Show with Celesta
View the project: International Flyboard Show with CelestaA format found both in France and internationally Celesta incorporates performers from the Flyboard Show team into its own pyrotechnic…
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A spectacular concert at Plessis-Brion Castle
View the project: A spectacular concert at Plessis-Brion CastleA private estate, a much-anticipated event Although less well-known than other major estates, the Château du Plessis-Brion nevertheless attracts a…
Where to start
Tell us about the project, we’ll call it discipline
The venue, the date, the capacity, and what you’d like the event to achieve. Within 48 hours, you’ll receive a proposal outlining one or more activities, along with the corresponding estimate.
- We’ll reply within 48 hours
- Aigremont and Normandy
- No subcontracting
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions the ones that come up most often
Can several disciplines be combined in a single performance?
This is the format we produce most often. The mapping begins, the sound carries the narrative, and the pyrotechnics mark the end: everything is synchronised to a single timing sequence. As the five disciplines are all in-house at Celesta, combining them does not require any additional coordination; in fact, it saves on it.
Are drone shows part of Celesta’s range of services?
Yes, but it is a discipline in its own right, with its own regulatory framework and its own timetable: a minimum of forty-five days is required to authorise a flight. It has its own dedicated page, where the subject is covered in full rather than summarised here.
Does Celesta outsource any of the five disciplines?
None. The writing, production, storage and execution are all handled in-house. That is why a single quote covers the whole process, and why you will never have to choose between two service providers who pass the blame onto each other for a failed launch.
Which sport should you choose when you’re on a tight budget?
It’s rarely what you’d expect. A short, well-written shot makes a greater impact than a drawn-out sequence, and light lasts longer than fire does. We recommend the approach that best serves your story within your budget, not the most expensive one.
How far in advance of the event should we get in touch with you?
The minimum lead time is one month for a pyrotechnic show and forty-five days for a drone flight. The design and production stages, meanwhile, take between three and six months. The longer of the two lead times determines when you should contact us.
Do you operate outside France?
Yes, in around fifteen countries to date. The licensed storage facility supplies production in France, and each project is then adapted to local requirements: licences, customs and product transport. The artistic direction, however, remains unchanged.