Veverka Brothers' New Documentary PASSFIRE Records World's Most Amazing Fireworks

Related: PASSFIRE

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Two award-winning filmmakers are ready to dig in to the international passion for fireworks with their forthcoming film PASSFIRE. This documentary about the world's most amazing fireworks, the passionate people who make them and the cultures behind them is sure to explode on the big screen.

The Veverka Brothers, the duo behind the film, have already raised seed money with the help of the National Fireworks Association, Skylighter Fireworks, and independent producers. The filmmakers have launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign [http://kck.st/VAxGS0 to raise at least $38,000 to finance the next phase of the production, which will take them around Asia and back to the United States in time for Independence Day.

Brothers Jesse and Jeremy Veverka have spent more than six months planning the latest production, which aims to document the rich, yet rapidly changing fireworks traditions that exist around the world and make them accessible to both fireworks enthusiasts as well as the broader public.

The Veverka Bros. aim to record the biggest blasts, along with traditional manufacturing methods and cultural affairs with fireworks. Having already been to Japan and China for filming, the filmmakers' latest footage can be seen in their Kickstarter video. It takes an exclusive look at the legendary 36-inch san-jaku shell in Japan, which takes six months to craft, weighs about 400 pounds and costs almost as much as a new car. Also in Japan, "Passfire" shows how a master shellmaker assembles a 12-inch shell, known as an "ichi-shaku." Stars (round balls) are sandwiched between layers of bursting charge to create a beautiful burst-within-a-burst affect that is nearly perfectly symmetrical. The Kickstarter video tours massive Chinese fireworks factories, where viewers can meet some of the main characters in the film, as well.

"Ever since I was a boy, I would always look forward to fireworks shows on the 4th of July - a fascination I still haven't outgrown," said director of photography Jeremy Veverka, 31. "I realized that there are many other adults who haven't outgrown it either. People have based their entire livelihoods on fireworks, not for the money but for the love of making things go boom."

The brothers were inspired to pursue a long-term film project on the topic after Jesse, 34, wrote an article for CNN Travel entitled "Liuyang: Where the World's Fireworks Are Born." His profile of Liuyang, China - the world's de facto capital of fireworks - sparked interest from Harry Gilliam, president of Skylighter Fireworks, who signed on as an executive producer for "Passfire."

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