An explosion from The Avengers, which filmed its scenes set on the streets of New York in Cleveland. Source: Storify With the rise of superhero movies and post-9/11 thrillers, explosions in action films are getting bigger and fancier. For issues of safety and control, such scenes are probably best filmed in studios. But what happens when your scene requires a city backdrop (as they so often do)? In certain parts of the country, strict guidelines exist when pyrotechnics are involved (and with good reason). The state of California, which obviously plays a large role in the entertainment industry, actually designates a full time Deputy State Fire Marshal to cover film production. According to the California Film Commission, the Fire Marshal is to be on-site for all scenes involving pyrotechnics and other special effects. Furthermore, one of his/her many other responsibilities is to lead “pyrotechnics training seminars” for the engineers and technicians involved with… Read More