Global Special Effects
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Global Special Effects, formally known as Snow Masters Inc., is a special effects company headquartered in Lexington, Alabama. The firm, founded in 1992 by a former magician, specializes in artificial snow, cryo, smoke, bubble and fog machines. The company's products have been used in music videos such as "Back to December" by Taylor Swift and "Mistletoe" by Justin Bieber, film productions such as Harry Potter and Lucky, television shows such as Fear Factor, and at major theme parks around the world.
History
The company was founded in 1992 after a former magician utilized a system for producing artificial snow to use in his magic shows.{{cite news |date=3 November 2005 |title=Inventor of snowmaking machines full of ideas |url=https://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2005-11-03-francisco-the-snowman_x.htm |accessdate=2008-08-14 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=USA Today}}{{dead link|date=June 2025|fix-attempted=yes}} The company developed a 98% water and 2% surfactant solution{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070714.COLDSPA14/TPStory/specialTravel|title=Vegas spa hopes cold therapy is hot|last=Nakashima|first=Ryan|date=14 July 2007|agency=Associated Press|publisher=The Globe and Mail|accessdate=2008-08-14}} which evaporates shortly after touching the ground, known as Evaporative Snow, as well as machines to distribute the substance in various forms. Global Special Effects has subsequently branched into other products, including fog, cryo, confetti, foam, scent, bubbles, smoke, and Flogos machines.
= Federal raid and criminal conviction =
ln September of 2021, federal agents raided Global Special Effects as part of an investigation into money laundering, bribery, and fraud related to government contracts.{{Cite web |last=Thornton|first=William|date=2021-09-22 |title=Federal agents raid north Alabama special effects business |url=https://www.al.com/news/2021/09/federal-agents-raid-north-alabama-special-effects-business.html |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=al |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Kroschel |first=Matt |date=2021-09-24 |title=Shoals business owner faces federal money laundering charges |url=https://www.waaytv.com/news/huntsville/shoals-business-owner-faces-federal-money-laundering-charges/article_60af7f8a-6c6d-595e-b874-a4077ccd6bd3.html |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=WAAY 31 News |language=en}} Company owner Francisco Guerra was indicted and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-19 |title=Northern District of Alabama {{!}} Three Plead Guilty in Conspiracy Scheme Involving Bribery of Government Contracting Officer {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndal/pr/three-plead-guilty-conspiracy-scheme-involving-bribery-government-contracting-officer |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}} In May 2025, Guerra was sentenced to five years in federal prison.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-22 |title=Northern District of Alabama {{!}} Three Individuals Sentenced in Conspiracy Involving Bribery of Government Contracting Officer {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndal/pr/three-individuals-sentenced-conspiracy-involving-bribery-government-contracting |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}
Products
Global Special Effects' main product offering is its proprietary artificial snow, known as Evaporative Snow, and range of snow machines, which sell for $300 to $5,000 each. Subsidiary companies of Global Special Effects include Flogos, whose machines produce floating shapes constructed from helium-filled soap bubbles.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351579,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420190543/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351579,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 20, 2008|title=Company Makes Soap-Bubble Ads That Float in Air|last=Thompson|first=Andrea|date=7 May 2008|work=Fox News|accessdate=2008-08-14}} Flogos has been contracted to produce custom cloud logos for major companies and organizations all over the world.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2116978/Flogos,-the-corporate-icons-in-the-sky.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615054556/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2116978/Flogos,-the-corporate-icons-in-the-sky.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2008|title='Flogos', the corporate icons in the sky|last=Cockcroft|first=Lucy|date=12 June 2008|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2008-08-14}} Another operating company, Foam Masters, manufactures foam machines for use at parties and auditoriums.{{cite web|url=http://www.foammaster.com/aboutUs.php |title=Foam Masters: About us |publisher=Foam Masters |accessdate=2008-08-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723125102/http://www.foammaster.com/aboutUs.php |archivedate=July 23, 2008 }}
See also
References
External links
- {{official|url=http://www.globalspecialeffects.com}}