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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The September 2002 entrée: David Regal » » Writing and magic » » TOPIC IS LOCKED

Steve Brooks

Manager
Northern California - United States
4208 Posts

Posted: Sep 10, 2002 4:39am

Most everyone knows that in addition to your magical ventures and bookwriting, you also are involved in writing stories/scripts for various television projects.

That said, when creating magic presentations, do you use the same approach that you take with your scripts, or something entirely different?

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David Regal

V.I.P.

638 Posts

Posted: Sep 10, 2002 11:21am

When writing a script for an effect, there is no "right way" - the most important thing to do is to write SOMETHING, based on an expectation - a desire - and try it out. Too many perfomers don't even go that far.

Sometimes the script really is little more than a clarification of the premise, which is okay, but sometimes other things occur that are different and a pleasant departure. In my Cups & Balls routine, I recall a true memory, and in one of my favorite newer effects, "The Very Last Card" the script creates a multiple of levels, so as funny as the routine is (hopefully), it is involving to the audience in different ways: there is an impossible effect taking place, I'm sharing a "memory", a chronological story is being recounted, and the audience realizes I'm completely deluded regarding my recollections.

So to answer your question, the one common thing that all script writing has is intent. We say something for a reason. We may succeed or fail, but unless we have an expectation, a reason, there is no way to evaluate the work we've done.

www.regalmagic.com

Chris A.

Inner circle
AKA Chris A.
1124 Posts

Posted: Sep 10, 2002 1:31pm

I really appreciate the clarity of your writing in "constant fooling".

Whose magical "writing style" would you say primarily inspired you?

Kudos to your wife for the spectacularly clear and easy to follow photos in the new books.

AKA Chris A.
Keepin' the Funk Alive

David Regal

V.I.P.

638 Posts

Posted: Sep 10, 2002 1:38pm

Flip -

I was won over by "Close-Up Card Magic" by Harry Lorayne, like so many other people. I have a friend who described some of the hardcover books of the 80's as "magic is serious business" books. The love of card magic that Harry communicated did as much to further the art and inspire as did the effects contained within.

www.regalmagic.com

Chris A.

Inner circle
AKA Chris A.
1124 Posts

Posted: Sep 10, 2002 1:47pm

Ah, what a great book "Close-Up Card Magic" is. Inexpensive also!

I do admit to being a little thrown by Harry's style when I first read it.

I had been conditioned to expect a description of the effect for the explanation.

But I soon learned to love it! And especially appreciate the fact that he's not one of those people who will send you elsewhere for a necessary sleight or handling. You know, that "Please reference magician X's book where you can learn this sleight on page 67".

AKA Chris A.
Keepin' the Funk Alive

Stephen Long

Inner circle

1479 Posts

Posted: Sep 10, 2002 3:00pm

In continuing with the writing theme, I am interested to hear how you became a professional writer, David, as I am interested in doing the same.

How did you personally get into the writing business and do you have any advice you might pass on to aspiring writers?

Any information you would care to share would be gratefully received.
Many thanks,
Stephen

Hello.

Steven Steele

Chief of Staff
Hesperia, California USA
1859 Posts

Posted: Sep 10, 2002 4:06pm

David,
I too am interested in your approach to writing. I have read several books on writing comedy and they all seem to point to using formulas and stuff. I recently came across a publication that threw it all away and said they were just tools.

What is your approach and when did you know it was right for you?

A little off topic...think you can have them tone down Debra a little on Everybody Loves Raymond...that woman has PMS every Monday. I have to admit...I stopped watching because I couldn't stand her anymore, she drove me nuts!

Coram Deo

The Magic of Steven Steele

David Regal

V.I.P.

638 Posts

Posted: Sep 10, 2002 4:24pm

[quote]
On 2002-09-10 15:00, Stephen Long wrote:

How did you personally get into the writing business and do you have any advice you might pass on to aspiring writers?

I've found it to be a jungle out here, so whenever people ask for advice, or to buy me a meal to "pick my brain" I don't let them pay, because I just depress them.

I got started due to the fact I spent six years with a comedy group in New York that did pretty well. I then became an executive for an interactive TV company for a few years (my "missing" years) and when that got as not fun as a job can be, I snuck out to LA to try and pitch shows - not sitcoms, reality/comedy shows.

I placed a show with Tribune, a BIG but slow-moving company based in Chicago. No money in optioning a show, you have to sell it to a broadcaster. We developed it for awhile, then they said I'd have to move to LA to bring it to fruition. I sold my house, moved my family to LA with a year's worth of money.

Well, Tribune took a year to cast and develop the show. I was out of money, the pilot was green-lit on a Monday (for which I was due $5,000). On Wednesday, everyone I knew at Tribune was fired. No pilot. My manager at the time thought it would be ungentlemanly to ask for my $5000, so I was between a rock and a hard place.

A friend based in Florida said I should look up a showrunner (guy who heads TV shows) who I didn't know, but who knew me from seeing me on stage, and was a fan. He asked me to write a script for him. I did, and I got an entry-level writing job on a network show for the first time. All was great. Then the show tanked, my agency stabbed me in the back, and I had no job, no prospects, and no agency. I bit clawed and scratched, working my way up in animation over a course of years, then managed to get back onto a sitcom.

Then things took a turn for the ugly.

I won't go into the insanity that followed. Suffice it to say, I'm still here, I'm currently employed, and but for the grace of God go I.

www.regalmagic.com

David Regal

V.I.P.

638 Posts

Posted: Sep 10, 2002 4:28pm

Quote:

On 2002-09-10 16:06, Steven Steele wrote:
David,
I too am interested in your approach to writing. I have read several books on writing comedy and they all seem to point to using formulas and stuff.

What is your approach and when did you know it was right for you?>>

<<A little off topic... think you can have them tone down Debra a little on Everybody Loves Raymond... that woman has PMS every Monday. I have to admit... I stopped watching because I couldn't stand her anymore, she drove me nuts!

>>

When you're on a TV show, your job is to help realize the vision of the head writer (showrunner) so one must do the job at hand, a job that will surely be different with each job.

The best way to understand a particular show is to get your hands on produced scripts from the show (Script City sells them) and seeing how the show was generally executed. There are vast differences between shows. A 22-minute Seinfeld script may contan 63 pages. A 22-minute Everybody Loves Raymond script may contain 32 pages. Hard to believe, no?

I'm not on staff at Raymond, I've sold them two scripts, the second of which shoots next week. I love them - I'll accept no harsh words!

www.regalmagic.com

Steven Steele

Chief of Staff
Hesperia, California USA
1859 Posts

Posted: Sep 10, 2002 6:03pm

I feel for you David. Years ago, right after college, I thought the movies & TV would be fun (special effects, prop building). I just couldn't take the politics and goofiness. So I became a magician..go figure.

I admire your work as it seems to work for TV (in writing) and in magic. I'm looking forward to getting as much info as I can to make me a better patter writer. Thanks for all your contributions.

Coram Deo

The Magic of Steven Steele

Mya Angel