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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Has anyone ever tried hiding the Super X gimmick using black art? In other words, having nothing hiding the support but relying totally on the BA to make it invisible? If so, what was your success with that?
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Magic Monkichi Elite user Ontario, Canada 401 Posts |
When we used to perform a Super X Style suspension we used BA, but did not totally rely on it. We used it mainly in case I was not standing properly or moved a little too far during the performance.
Relying strictly on BA is going to require proper lighting and a stage which may not always be possible. Matt |
calimagician Regular user 143 Posts |
Starrpower--
Years ago I shot a small segment for a Russian televison special. I perfomed (in a cabaret situation) a Super-X style suspension that used BA to mask the gimmick. To add to the deception, the board on which the assistant floated was trimmed (around the edge) with lights. Idea thanks to Lee Grabiel. As well we used "exposed" (round globe shaped) footlights and shot the segment slightly lower than usual, with the footlights forming the bottom edge of the frame. The audience in the nightclub were "laymen" and were completely fooled. As were the cameras and the audience at home. In fact the segment was highly praised by the Russian network execs. So, I would recommend your usual BA for masking, but advise strongly that care should be taken in lighting for ultimate deception. Good luck, Michael |
John Bundy Regular user USA 193 Posts |
On several shows I hid the upright with strips of mylar curtain from the backdrop.
The more light the better. |
Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Now John Bundy is a guy I'm ready to listen to! I spend hours just looking at the promo shots on his website.
So, John, can we assume the gimmick was very close to the backdrop, as to fool the viewers' depth perception? Obviously, this is going 180 degrees away from BA; I'd like to hear more. My thinking was more along the lines of Michael's technique. I was considering bordering the "resting" board with a neon tube to act as a dazzler light, and perhaps one on the edge of the base, as well. I work a lot of resorts, and one in particular is in an old-fashioned l00-year-old lodge, complete with full tree-trunk rafters 30 feet above, and dead animals on the walls. Very poor lighting to start with (and NO formal stage lighting), and I think the chances of anyone seeing the gimmick are slim. |
Frank Simpson Special user SW Montana 883 Posts |
Years ago I did it with BA occasionally. It was always in a theatre and carefully lit. I played it fairly deep on the stage, as I would first perform the floating ball with the girl. At the end I would use the ball to "hypnotize" her while simultaneously the eyelash drop would fly out revelaing the suspension.
I would light it with an ellipsoidal focused straight down and cut it right to the upstage edge of the board. I would color it blue usually (to match the theme of the act). I criss-crossed two narrow beam lights from mid-stage on either side to the downstage corners. These were left clear and functioned as a "dazzler" but in a much subtler fashion. Doing it in this manner allowed me complete freedom of movement, and the only time I crossed behind the lady was for the hoop-pass. It always played extremely well for me this way. |
John Bundy Regular user USA 193 Posts |
Starrpower:
Check out http://www.glowire.com/ It is battery opperated neon-like trim. This with some black velvet might be a lot of fun. As for the hide in plain sight with the mylar curtain....as long as the sight lines audience left and right still see the back curtain, you can be a foot or so away. I works best when the stage is above the audience. If the audience is looking down it will not work. The more light reflecting off the curtain the less the audience sees. John |
rocky clements Regular user 110 Posts |
I performed a Flying Carpet with black art many years ago. It can be a strong effect if presented well. As with all black art, it can be very difficult to get right if you perform in a number of venues all with different lighting set ups. One thing to be careful of (in my opinion) is to be careful not to make it obvious that black art is being used. Although a lay audience may not know the term "black art", if you use extremely dim stage lighting, have a completely black background, and shine really bright lights in their faces, they may not see the gimmick, but they will probably have a pretty good idea of what is going on. Black art is a wonderful tool if used in a way that draws no suspicion, but is often performed in a way that makes it rather obvious.
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