Job Role: D3 Programmer / Projectionist

Job Role: D3 Programmer / Projectionist

Client: Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks

Production Company: Pixel Artworks

Technical Company: QED Productions

Venue: Embankment Pier, London - 2025

For the first time, QED Productions was invited by Pixel Artworks to deliver projection for London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks, a globally recognised event broadcast live on the BBC and streamed worldwide. The annual celebration attracts thousands along the Thames and millions of viewers, combining fireworks, lighting, music, and broadcast spectacle to mark the year past and welcome the year ahead.

The projection element was woven into the 5-minute show sequence, complementing the bold light design and synchronised pyrotechnics. Toby McManus and Harry Richardo led the projection mapping of a large-scale screen on Embankment Pier, working in close integration with the BBC broadcast team, lighting designers, and pyrotechnics crew to ensure every frame landed in perfect sync with the live event.

As D3 Programmer and Projectionist, Toby developed and operated the disguise workflow, aligning timecoded media with fireworks triggers and camera cues, while ensuring reliability under the unique pressures of a live global broadcast.

A key challenge came from the projection environment: the projector was housed in a self-contained, light-tight enclosure, which meant brightness levels had to be reduced to under 30% to avoid clipping on camera. The projected image needed to be colour-matched precisely to the televised broadcast, so that it appeared seamless against the fireworks and lighting when viewed live and on TV. In addition, Toby collaborated closely with the camera crew to align content to the BBC’s ‘hero camera’ angle, matching the London Eye and skyline composition exactly, rather than relying on in-person viewing.

Behind the Scenes:

Image & Video Credits: BBC & Pixel Artworks