Every year on the 4th of July,

millions of people in towns and cities across the United States

watch the night sky light up with explosives

in all different patterns and colors.

For many Americans, the fireworks show is a highlight of the summer, a source of wonder

and awe. But the guys in charge of coordinating and launching them are usually more nervous than

excited. It's a lot of pressure on the 4th of July when you're out there. That's JJ Bra.

He's a fireworks choreographer with J&M displays, one of the nation's leading pyrotechnics companies.

It could only be 500 people at a country club, or it could be 50,000 people on the lakeshore.

All those people came out to have a good time. And they came out with

their families and they're expecting something to happen at the end of the night. That pressure

sort of builds as we approach, you know, seven, eight o'clock, eight, thirty, nine o'clock.

You know, you start thinking, I really need to get this thing to go. It's not maybe this will go.

No, this has got to go. And if it

does it, you have a big problem. You push fire, and the first thing you're going to feel is that

thump in your chest, it's a huge relief to see that first spark hit the air. That's Mark

Johnson. He's the company's vice president.

You've got heat, you've got the light, the sound, crackling fire.

Pyrotechnics is just man controlling this ominous force.

I mean, what greater power, godlike, almost.

In a typical year, there are an estimated 16,000 fireworks shows around Independence Day in America.

Cities and towns plan these shows years in advance, and they typically bring in professionals like Bra and Johnson.

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