Engineering Controlled Chaos: Integrating Special Effects into Live Entertainment

Session details:

This session explores how special effects are designed, engineered, and integrated into today’s most complex live productions. Jeremy Chernick (SFX Designer, Partner at J&M Special Effects) and Design Associate Katia Carmichael will share insights from their work spanning Broadway, the West End, live television, and global productions including Disney’s Frozen, Aladdin, The Greatest Showman, Beetlejuice, The Outsiders, Sweeney Todd, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Focusing on the intersection of live production, engineering, and immersive design, the session will cover integrating practical SFX with lighting, projection, and media systems; engineering safe and repeatable effects; and scaling designs from theatrical productions to arena and large-format experiences. Attendees will gain a behind-the-scenes look at how “controlled chaos” is created and how emerging technologies are shaping the future of special effects in live entertainment.