Bound And Gagged!

.:224/365: Laser Cut:.

What is pretty much one of the most bizarre illusions you will ever watch, David Copperfield plays his role to the hilt here in a manner that can only be classified as “smarmy”. With laser lights seemingly cutting through Copperfield, he begins walking around all over the stage as if he were truly split into two pieces. The very eye-catching illusion was certainly an impressive feat back in the day, especially since it was performed live in Las Vegas, with viewing audiences completely stumped as to how it was pulled off.

Throughout this performance, what you will observe about Copperfield is how underrated his aptitude for comedy actually is. The fact that he gets to elicit chuckles without even uttering a word at key moments in the illusion only cement how amazing Copperfield really is when it comes to being a total package.

This illusion is actually not one of his best ones, but the way he packaged it certainly makes for a very interesting and entertaining routine altogether, and something worthy of performing as a Vegas main eventer. The day I ever end up performing in Vegas would be the day I believe I have made it as a performer, and here’s one of those amazing individuals doing it for years, and winning almost universal praise for his work.

Having said all that, I think it should be obvious what my final topic on stage magic will be on the last day of the month…

.:225/365: David Copperfield:.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the most influential name in the magic industry of the last generation, bar none.

Many new magicians might claim allegiance to David Blaine and scoff at David Copperfield’s overly choreographed performances in favour of Blaine’s “gritty” style, but has anyone bothered asking Blaine if Copperfield ever influenced him? Has anyone ever bothered asking every street magician out there if they ever wanted to perform anything as awe-inspiring as walking through the Great Wall of China, or making the Statue of Liberty Disappear, or flying over the Grand Canyon, as opposed to, well, holding your breath for a long time underwater?

David Copperfield, in my eyes, is a man who defines “legendary” in every sense of the word. As the most commercially successful magician in history, Copperfield is the man practically all David Blaine wannabes inwardly aspire for. The man is graceful, funny, brilliant, and let’s face it, richer than pretty much any other magician has ever been.

I don’t think I need to sing the man’s praises so extensively for anyone to understand the kind of influence he has exerted on the magic industry, having raised the bar for performances to the point that anyone who is considered good at it will only hear one of two comparisons: you’re the next David Blaine, or you’re the next David Copperfield. Either statement is a huge compliment to any person, and I can tell you without any doubt that I would be deeply honoured to have people compare me to even a single percent of Copperfield’s skill and prowess as a performer.

Born David Kotkin to Jewish parents, Copperfield took on the name as a teenager because of the book of the same name. He started performing professionally very early, at around 10 years or so, and even became a lecturer about magic as early as 16 years old. He made a name for himself throughout his performances, earning accolades not just because he was a good magician but simply because everything about his performing persona screamed “magic”. In 1977, he had his first TV special called “The Magic of CBS”, and this gave birth to Copperfield’s “The Magic Of David Copperfield”, various magic shows on television, comprising almost three decades of great and captivating television.

When asked about his influences, it’s actually unsurprising to hear Copperfield say that it wasn’t a particular magician. He looked at the likes of Fred Astaire and other similarly influential people, and thought, “Hey, I want to do that for magic!”

And he did.

With a unique style and a kind of elegance that only he can elicit, Copperfield was in a league of his own. He was the total package: he was mysterious, he was elegant, and he was deceptively hilarious. While undeniably elegant, it took decades for someone like Lance Burton to hit his stride in the humor department, whereas Copperfield was exhibiting it from day 1. Penn and Teller are hilarious, but they were certainly anything but elegant. David Blaine is mysterious, but certainly not funny or elegant. Criss Angel… Criss Angel sucks and doesn’t hold a candle to Blaine, Penn and Teller, Burton, and certainly not to David Copperfield.

It’s what Copperfield has achieved that makes me marvel at him altogether. He’s done it all, to say the least, and nobody can deny how much impact he has had on the world of magic, bringing it to the mainstream consciousness long before David Blaine gave magic yet another resurgence, albeit by taking it back to its grittiest. Copperfield dressed everything up, polished it, and made everything he did larger than life. And really now, name me a single magician who doesn’t want to be regarded as larger than life, no matter how “gritty” they may project themselves to be?

Mr. Copperfield, thank you for your unique brand of magic. You are truly a once-in-a-lifetime performer, and we may well never encounter another one quite like you again for at least another decade.

Project 365 magic, magikel, personal heroes, project 365 2010

.:222/365: The Niagara Falls Challenge:.

This is one time where I won’t lavish praise on a Copperfield illusion, and I think it should be obvious why: while the Niagara Falls escape was a pretty good escape, for starters, the script was way too complicated for it to matter. It seemed that nobody really understood what was going on, so it lessened the impact, and it’s not even because the actual scripting of the routine was too complicated to explain, but the way the entire performance was framed made it seem that way, which was devastating to the overall impact of the performance.

Anyways, just watch it to find out. Ultimately, this was still a good performance, but could’ve used a lot more work to simplify the script to preserve the immediate impact of what was being done.

.:223/365: The Vanishing Camera:.

A total classic from Paul Daniels, this illusion is performed by making a video camera disappear while in a crate, all the while transmitting what the camera sees before Paul Daniels makes the camera disappear in a very stylish and impressive manner.

To be honest, it’s hard to top what Daniels did here when it comes to television magic: it was as clean as can be, and it practically left next to no holes in logic as to how he could’ve possibly pulled it off. Overall, it was impressive and stupefying, and I must say, Impressive altogether.

I really must apologize for my shorter posts as of late. I’ve been increasingly busy at work lately, which explains why I’ve been finding it difficult to write at length the way I try my best to.

Project 365 backblogging, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:220/365: Hiding The Elephant:.

“Hiding The Elephant” is another book you should be reading if you’re interested in the history of magic, as it is Jim Steinmeyer’s very handy historical guide to magical illusions, from their origins to other aspects about them, and surprisingly, has never once raised the furor of other magicians, despite actually exposing certain secrets of the art form. The fact that Mr. Steinmeyer is actually not only an esteemed writer but more so one of the chief designers of magical illusions of his time tends to give the man a pass.

Interestingly enough, the title is based on the illusion that is performed by one Harry Houdini, who, despite his natural appeal in the realm of escapology, still felt compelled to perform classic magical acts, managed to actually do this amazing bit of magic in a circus tent. It was pretty much a disappearing elephant illusion, and it boggles the mind how something this amazing does not get a second look when people consider the illustrious career and times of Mr. Houdini.

Anyways, since I have a very big meeting coming up on Tuesday, let this two-for-one post suffice for the time being, as I wholeheartedly recommend both books, as I’ve actually read both of them already.

Speaking of these books, I borrowed them from my good friend, Elbert Or, who just so happens to have had his school blessing recently, as he opened an art school in Katipunan. Pretty awesome, and it was good to catch up with him and spend time after the blessing, just hearing how he’s doing and what’s up.

.:221/365: Carter Beats The Devil:.

“Carter Beats Devil” is the name of a very entertaining book written by Glen David Gold, that is a fictionalized depiction of a very key moment in magician Charles Joseph Carter’s magical career, where he performed an apparently death-defying bit of magic with US President Harding, where the president seemed to have been dismembered, killed, and even fed to a lion, then restored to full health afterwards.

Unfortunately, shortly after this, the president mysteriously died, and this results in a very awkward situation for Carter, who is now faced with the implication that he himself may have caused such a tragedy to happen.

Overall, this is a great book, and you really should check it out. I don’t want to spoil much of the book, and admittedly, Project 365 has been very difficult for me to maintain lately, but I really want to see it through and finish this whole thing, as I go and anticipate Filipino Magic Month in August, where I would talk about the luminaries in our humble industry.

Project 365 books, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:217/365: Shadows:.

This has got to be one of the most interesting illusions ever, and it’s just a coincidence that Teller happens to be performing it.

“Shadows” is a very visual performance of cutting a flower into pieces by taking a knife to its shadows, rather than to the flower itself. The effect is stunning, impressive, and definitely is a sight to behold, as Teller, in all his silent glory, performs one of the most elegant pieces of magic you will ever watch in a long time.

I don’t think I need to say anything else. This is one of those bits of magic that requires you to just shaddup and watch.

.:218/365: Howard Thurston:.

Howard Thurston, known as “The man who fooled Herrmann” and “The king of cards,” was a classic vaudevillian performer of magic, who was also known for having the largest travelling magic show in his day, using eight entire train cars to take his props across the nation.

As an archetypal performer, few people could find fault with Thurston’s range and his skill, having demonstrated his ability to impress a relative of the man considered the king of magic in his time, Alexander Herrmann. Of course, dropping the first name to connote that he actually fooled Alexander himself was a bit sneaky, but hey, it did wonders for his career.

When it comes to historical movers and shakers in the magic industry, Thurston’s contributions are less in the realm of inventing illusions, and more in his advancements for card magic. He was called “the king of cards” mainly because of his amazing skill with cards, having popularized the rising card trick, and emphasizing to everyone who cared to watch that indeed, cards, no matter how small they can be, do have a place on a stage show.

I know this short piece on the man doesn’t do nearly enough justice to his lengthy body of work, but I guess I cannot help but express an immense amount of respect for Thurston’s tenacity, and his passion for the magic arts. Nothing short of a stroke kept the man from working, and I could only think of Paul Potassy at this point as a man who could rival Thurston’s work ethic.

.:219/365: Walking On Water!:.

As you learn magic more and more, you discover at some point that there is truly nothing impossible when you have camera tricks and paid actors on your side.

So says the book of the Mindfreak.

::rolls eyes some more::

Project 365 magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:216/365: 3 Ropes And A Baby:.

Falling more in line with parlor magic than stage magic, the 3 Ropes and a Baby routine is a very elegant rope routine that plays tricks with your eyes. While more people are currently familiar with Richard Sander’s jazzed up version, Fiber Optics, this version of the routine emphasizes smooth, deliberate moves over the flashy flourishes Fiber Optics has come to be known for.

It’s a simple premise, really: 3 ropes of varying lengths, they slowly change and become of equal length right before your eyes, and with one less rope from the equation, the two remaining ropes become one rope, loses its ends, loses it s middle, become two ropes again, and at the end of the routine, all three ropes can be passed on for examination. In fact, all three ropes can also be passed for examination at the beginning of the routine.

I like rope routines because ropes are easily examinable to show that there’s nothing funky about them. It’s hard to disbelieve magic happening with ropes simply because it’s pretty apparent what’s going on when you do some thing or some other with the ropes, thereby casually implying to whoever is watching that you are achieving the impossible through pure skill or genuine magic. Either way, people are significantly less on guard for “tricks” when they are presented with a rope that they can examine to their hearts content to prove nothing is up.

While I do like Richard Sanders’s take on this, what with Fiber Optics being a part of my routine for about half a year until I stuck with Michael Finney’s Lady and the Rope, I wanted to show a routine that emphasized very solid technical skill over flashiness. The flashy stuff will come with practice, rest assured. For most beginners, it’s best to get a handle on the fundamentals first, so that when you start going to more advanced material, you don’t develop nasty habits or shortcuts you wouldn’t have developed if you started your magical education properly.

Project 365 magic, magikel, project 365 2010

Oh-kay. So today’s guesting on Unang Hirit was… less than optimal. Meh. I’d put them on blast for it, but I’m more inclined to stay my hand instead.

Nonetheless, congratulations to Carlos for being Nuffnang’s new country manager! Yeba! Pa-burger ka naman!

.:Project 365 (215/365): Paul Potassy:.

Still actively performing at the tender age of 90++ years old, Paul Potassy is considered a living legend in the industry, standing out as a master of a single set of routines that he has strung together so well and so effectively for himself.

As a professional, nobody can possibly contest how good Potassy is as a performer, but what sets him apart is how smart and practical he actually is, having developed a killer set that he has never deviated from for decades, and emphasizing a character that allows him to get away with just about anything and everything, thanks to the very comforting note that he considers the best magic trick he has ever done to be wooing his Filipina wife, which means that many Filipino magicians have seen and heard from Paul Potassy himself over the decades.

There is no question that Mr. Potassy is skilled in sleight of hand and the fact that he uses real razor blades for his act instead of gimmicked razors is, altogether pretty amazing, too. It’s the way he managed to string all these routines together and the utter simplicity of his working scripts that makes him impressive. With minimal props, he achieves the kind of traction people gain with massive stage shows with grand production values and elaborate set designs, and he achieves it with little over one bag and maybe a table or two.

As an inspiration for the adage that simplicity need not always be a bad thing for magic, Paul Potassy represents this school of thought very handily. His routines are smooth as silk, and his old age has certainly taken away a lot of the flamboyance in his routine, but his ability to speak six different languages allows him a chance to show off his brains and personality while doing what has to be one of the simplest silk tie magic routines one will ever witness, especially once you figure the method out.

I cannot think of a single person more appropriate to watch and learn from when it comes to getting the hang of getting started on parlor and stage magic. His entire routine doesn’t need any expensive props whatsoever, and the results he can achieve with them are just astounding for the rate of investment. While I wouldn’t advise you to copy his set effect for effect, I would suggest one look at the way he strung these effects together, the simple nature of each effect, and the overall results these things combined can deliver.

Project 365 magic, magikel, project 365 2010

Lest we forget, I’m guesting tomorrow, gais! Channel 7, Unang Hirit.

.:Project 365 (214/365): The Transported Man:.

This magic routine of fictional origin (That has since been duplicated several times over.)is visually stunning and has achieved a lot of infamy in the non-magic world, all the way down to the term “The Prestige”, which, in reality, is not even a term that is actually used by magicians, to begin with.

In its fictional history, the act was originally performed by Borden as played by Christian Bale, wherein through two doors, he tosses a red ball that bounces and then gets caught by himself through the other end of the stage. It was an illusion that defied logic and baffled people everywhere, more so in an age where sawing a lady in the half was still an impossibility.

As his rival, Angier, as played by Hugh Jackman (Yes, Batman vs. Wolverine.), found himself frustrated with discovering the secret, he figured out his own way of duplicating the illusion, and in doing so, he found an unsavory solution that seemed lacking in elegance to him: he would use a double to carry out the illusion, and never once be able to bask in the applause of the illusion as he falls through a trapdoor set up in the stage.

At some point, this plan is upset when Borden manages to expose the fact that Angier uses a double, and in doing so, infuriates Angier even more. At this point, the story takes another dark turn, and Angier ends up discovering another method to the Transported Man: a cloning machine. Unfortunately, he also has taken to murdering each of his clones upon each performance to prevent an overpopulation of Angier clones.

In the end, the reveal comes that Borden actually had a twin brother, thereby allowing the only living twin a chance to finally commit the crime he was sentenced to die for: murdering Angier, who actually merely set up one of his clones to be drowned in the presence of Borden.

A chilling illusion with a chilling history, but believe you me, the secrets of magic were guarded so well in the past that people did have to resort to blackmail and theft just to get what they wanted.

Thankfully, though, this illusion has had creative performances at present, and even at our show, “Bound and Gagged”, I did a sort of similar thing, where I ended up at the balcony after being locked up in a trunk. Went pretty well, actually.

Project 365 film, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:Unang Hirit Again!:.

Hi, guys! I’m guesting this Wednesday on Channel 7 for Unang Hirit. I’ll be talking about mentalism, so you know it’s going to be a very interesting time for everyone involved.

.:209/365: Broom Suspension:.

Whether or not you know how this is done, I personally consider this to be one of the most visually astounding illusions in stage magic, as it simply looks possible yet impossible, as opposed to a straight-up levitation, which just looks flat-out impossible, period.

There are many versions of this routine out there already, but even the basic mechanics of the routine are well-thought out enough to stand scrutiny. This illusion has a fairly storied history, although I’m very partial to the feathered boa version.

Overall, I do believe that this is one of those few illusions that still really baffles people, despite the fact that it looks less impossible than a flat-out levitation. The fact that it seems even remotely possible seems to make the illusion even stronger than it already is.

Project 365 magic, magikel, project 365 2010, television

.:210/365: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice:.

Originally a poem turned into a musical score turned into an animated short in 1940’s Fantasia, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is now a film that stars Nicholas Cage and Jay Baruchel as the sorcerer Balthazar Blake and his apprentice, respectively.

As the magician for the promotions of the film, I actually felt obliged to catch the movie last Wednesday night, and it was definitely a good thing I did, as I met Sharon Yu for the first time in about a year or two since she was last on Campus 99.5. It was a fun movie, and since me and my colleague, Judd, went to catch the film after a battery of meetings for work, it was definitely a good thing that we found the time to see this film.

In terms of story, this was your standard kid’s fare, particularly with all the references to Merlin, and Morgana Le Faye. The revisions made in the story to fit in Balthazar Blake and give Dave Stutler the opportunity to become the Prime Merlinian, the man who will follow in Merlin’s lineage, has certainly been an interesting turn of events, and the way they pieced the story together of a young boy who discovers how he could be a sorcerer, only to be completely sidetracked by what was perceived to be a nervous breakdown, lent to a solid character with issues that could be overcome with the right amount of work.

Would this film fall under stage magic, per se? Well, to an extent, since one of the supporting cast played the role of a magician ala Criss Angel, it did remind me a lot of stage magic. The Magic: The Gathering posters were a nice touch, as well, as I was amused at the cameo of my favorite card game in the film, as well.

I don’t really want to spoil much in this storyline, but I really found this film to be a good one, not just because it pertained to magic, but it had a love story that had the right amount of maturity (And by maturity, I don’t mean sexual content, but a mature, sensible way of handling relationships.) that I rarely see in romantic angles for films. One of the scenes I liked the most was the line where the leading lady commented “Do you think one botched date would make me hate you forever?” Life isn’t always about never making mistakes or else. Sometimes, if you really believe in someone, a few honest slip-ups here and there are not the end of the world.

I also liked the homage to the old Fantasia short, though, when Dave decided to use his magic to aid him in cleaning his laboratory up. That was pretty fun to catch, and overall, this film was just such a fun romp from beginning to end.

Do catch it, if you like magic interspersed with some pseudo-science (As a bit of trivia, it’s actually a myth when they say humans only use 10% of their brain at any given time.), and witty comedy, plus a sensible love story, all against a nice, fantastical, geeky, nerdy background. I think it works out pretty well as a movie, and hey, the film did advance my stage magic career quite a bit, seeing as I have more shows to do this weekend for the film’s promotions.

.:211/365: Pulling A Rabbit From Out Of A Hat:.

I can’t think of a single routine that has not been associated with magic more than the act of a magician pulling a live rabbit from out of his hat.

Supposedly first performed by Louis Comte in 1814, this venerable illusion has got to be one of the most impressive magic routines children will ever see, but what makes this even better in my eyes is the sheer potential it possesses to actually do even more over time. Many hat routines performed at present never stop at the classic performance, and usually proceed to more mind-boggling effects such as producing an endless supply of stuff from the hat, or a comedic twist like the video you see above.

Classics are always classics for a reason, so don’t knock ‘em, guys. The rabbit from the hat is still a crowd pleaser, even in its pure, unadulterated form. I can assure you most of the people who say “pull a rabbit out of a hat” have never seen that particular bit of magic done in front of them their entire lives.

.:212/365: Lance Burton:.

Elegance without the demureness. Flair without the flamboyance. Lance Burton is, without a doubt, one of the most debonair magicians on earth, and one of the routines we often take for granted, dove productions, has been attributed to this man and his genius at coming up with routines that not only baffle the viewers, but are performed smoother than silk.

In my mind, I cannot think of a single magician who is more suave than Lance Burton in his prime. Not even David Copperfield came close.

Like most magicians who really made it big in the industry, Lance started young, at the age of five. His interest in magic began when he was a volunteer for Harry Collins, who performed the classic “Miser’s Dream” by pulling coins out from thin air and Lance’s ears. As he mastered magic at a pace faster than one would expect of someone his age, Collins himself took notice and took the young magician under his wing.

Over the years, Burton has earned many distinctions in magic, having been the youngest ever winner of FISM, as well as having cemented his name in the history of magic for two very amazing performances: dove productions, which led to him being featured in a movie just for the sake of performing the illusion, and the Roller Coaster escape I mentioned him doing in March. Throughout his time, this man has been a Las Vegas staple, and if you ever go to the United States this year, make sure to catch his last few shows in Monte Carlo, as his contract expires this September 4.

I cannot express enough my admiration for Burton’s style and finesse onstage. There’s something about his presence that just commands respect, and he exudes a mystique that nobody can quite duplicate. As he grew older, he learned to incorporate even more elements into his character, whether it be his amazing ability to ad lib in reaction to hecklers and other commenters during his shows, or his playful sense of humor that comes into play in some of his routines, such as the disappearing handkerchief.

Lance Burton is definitely one of the first few names that I would mention whenever anyone would ask me which stage magicians I admire the most.

Project 365 film review, magic, magikel, project 365 2010

.:208/365: Zig-Zag Lady:.

Conjuring images of the more iconic “Sawing The Lady In Half” illusion, the Zig-Zag Lady is an illusion wherein the magician apparently divides his assistant into three parts, then by pushing the boxes that have been divided into three pieces apart, demonstrates the sheer impossibility of the lady’s precarious position.

The Zig-Zag Lady illusion is brilliant and one of the most eye-popping illusions in the history of stage magic. Invented in the 1960’s by stage magician Roger Harbin, this relatively young illusion has gained a wide measure of renown already, for the sheer ingenuity involved in making it work.

Every single time I see this illusion, I really can’t help but be amazed. Even if I know the method behind it, there’s something so brilliant, so clever about the way the whole routine was pieced together that I am sufficiently impressed by seeing the performance right before my very eyes. Look out for local magician Wanlu’s two-piece version of this, as in my opinion, that illusion in particular looks even more impressive than the three-piece variation that has become the norm in the industry.

Project 365 magic, magikel, project 365 2010