Technical aspects 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony
at technical rehearsal of opening ceremony technical director piers shepperd masterminded complex change rural industrial during pandemonium . 7 inflatable chimneys made airworks, , varied in height (three 22-metre (72 ft), 2 23-metre (75 ft) , 2 30-metre (98 ft) high). made of soft fabric, outer layer of printed brick pattern. each contained 4 industrial fans @ base inflate them, , smoke machine near top, , hoisted air overhead rigs. life-size beam engines constructed onstage teams of stage hands , members of volunteer staging team. @ climax of pandemonium , in olympic ring forging scene, amber lights lit in sequence created illusion of 30-metre (98 ft) molten steel river, pyrotechnic smoke , dry ice steam. original grass floor surface had been removed reveal giant stylised map of london. working alongside professional crew on 800 volunteers; production arts students british drama schools. many had been working on olympic , paralympic ceremonies since 2012 @ 3 mil...