The last few months have been action packed for the team at Event Engineering, with plenty of engineering challenges to keep them busy. They’ve had a ball supporting their clients across projects including film, television and theatre productions, public artworks, and events.

They have been thrilled to be back on set in 2024, with so many exciting productions underway. They are excited to share some reflections on their time collaborating with the industry.

What is your favourite aspect of working on film, television and theatre projects?

The collaborative nature of these projects, that embeds all heads of department to resolve and get the best potential outcomes for behind and in front of the camera. It’s great having plans B and C on standby – knowing change and adaption is imminent – and at the same time not dwelling, wormholing or being frozen to the horizon of what if’s.
– Jeremy Sparks, Director

Working with amazing creative people and thinking outside of the box.
– Tatiana Bolshakova, Senior Structural Engineer

Working on major projects using various engineering solutions and having the opportunity to transform thoughts and ideas into a reality.
– Sameed Mahmood, Undergraduate Engineer

What is a favourite/particularly challenging project that you’ve worked on?

The nature of the work means that each project is different and brings its own challenges. The more difficult and rewarding projects have been the portcullis gate in Furiosa and a large spaceship for the fall guy.

Both projects involved overcoming geotechnical challenges and withstanding high wind speeds due to the exposed location. Our involvement included specifications on footings for the set pieces, structural armatures to withstand vehicle impacts, and members to support dynamic special effects loading. Each aspect of the work brought its own challenges due to the scale of the projects.
– Damian Ferrari, Structural Engineer

So many projects have been equally amazing, right from my first paid film job in 1982. I was 14, which would not happen today, captaining a 40ft Halvorsen Cruiser on a documentary for art director Dee Molinauex. Over two weeks we journeyed up the Hawskebury river from Pittwater to Windsor, filming first nation carving and painting sites and stories. Cut to a few years later and I’m still wide eyed, and excited about the action!

 I’d say “challenging” and “favourite” are too many to name, the crew and relationships are constantly outstanding. This is something I reflect on and appreciate greatly.
– Jeremy Sparks, Director

How does you work evolve over the course of a production and between departments?

Our work covers support to several departments. We’re often involved in the early planning stages with HOD’s to discuss the suitability of locations to satisfy each department’s requirements.

Day to day work varies significantly from designing structures to support lighting or blue screens, structural analysis for special effects gimbals, and design for rigging to secure stunt performers to the top of buildings.

We work closely with art departments, production designers and construction teams to find cost effective, fast and safe construction approaches while maintaining the art departments vision and direction.
– Damian Ferrari, Structural Engineer

Event Engineering is an APDG Principal Partner.