Tassilo Baur is an independent special effects supervisor, primarily in the motion picture and television industry but his work has included some pioneering effects on stage, where he created the world’s largest controlled indoor fire for the Seattle Opera’s production of Wagner’s “Ring”. He hails from Tacoma, Washington and has been in the Industry since 1979.

Tassilo has been a licensed pyrotechnician since 1980. Currently, he holds a California state first class pyrotechnician's license, a Washington State blasting license, a certificate of eligibility from the California Department of Justice and a federal explosives license.

Tassilo majored in Cinema Production at USC Film School. He strongly believes in continuing education and keeping up with current trends. He has sought out and successfully completed continuing education courses offered by the top experts and safety trainers/organizations in the explosives and pyrotechnics fields, including Dr. James Stuart, Franklin Institute of Applied Physics, Dr. John Conkling of Washington College, the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC) at New Mexico Tech, the Transportation Safety Institute of the US Department of Transportation, and the Highway Watch transportation security program of the US Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

He is a founding member of the Association of Special Effects and Pyrotechnic Operators (ASEPO). His duties for ASEPO include acting as liaison with the stunt community, interacting with a diverse range of federal, state and local government and public safety agencies as the chair of the ASEPO Compliance Committee, and active participation in the ASEPO Safety Committee, as well as writing articles and information bulletins for the newsletter.

A notable success in the field of government affairs by the Compliance Committee was the passage by the California legislature of SB1781, an ASEPO sponsored bill regarding the regulation of flamethrowing devices, which was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger.

Tassilo has participated in many technical committees and workgroups, including the California State Fire Marshal’s Special Effects Advisory Committee and Flamethrowing Devices Workgroup, the Proximate Pyrotechnics Committee of the American Pyrotechnics Association, the Safety Advisory for Fire & FX in Entertainment (SAFFE) Committee and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Special Effects Committee.

From 1992 to 2009, he was a consultant and vice president of research and development for the leading manufacturer of special effects explosive devices and premier shipper of hazardous materials for the motion picture and television industry worldwide.

During that time, a development of his was “FX Dirt”, an non-combustible alternative to walnut shell flour with no detectable level of the carcinogens commonly found in fuller's earth.

Tassilo is a long-time member of the International Society of Explosive Engineers, and author of the paper “The Use of Explosives In The Entertainment Industry” presented at the ISEE’s Eighteenth Annual Conference on Explosives.

What led you to pursue a career in explosives engineering?

I had an interest in STEM, especially regarding the chemistry of energetic materials, starting in junior high school chemistry class, but also total serendipity: fixing a local filmmaker's projector at a screening with my Swiss Army knife is what actually launched my career.

What aspects of explosives engineering are you most passionate about?

Safety, creative use and manufacturing in the entertainment industry, especially for the movie biz.

How has being a member of ISEE benefited your professional development individually and as a team?

Being part of the world-wide network of colleagues. Wherever my travels for the movies have taken me, there have been ISEE members who are helpful, like-minded and often very fun people too!

Can you share a memorable ISEE experience that stands out for you?

There are so many good memories, but if I have to pick one, it would be getting my 30 year pin, which totally snuck up on me.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to individuals considering a career in explosives?

Always do the best you can, not the least you can get away with, especially when it comes to health and safety!