|
|
HiveMind Veteran user 303 Posts |
There was a post that briefly discussed
the Cameron book "Handbook of Horror" aparantly with an effect called Manakin Macabre which is a walking golem. I have been sitting on this post for a while because I figured that I would be able to locate more info but I cannot. I have only seen one site that sells the book and it is located in the UK. My question is, has anyone performed the effect or seen it performed or at least read the section and really thought about the practicality of this effect... I want to know if I should continue searching or just let it go, it seems nearly perfect for something I am looking at doing in the future.
"Free will is an illusion." - B.F. Skinner
|
Marduke Kurios Veteran user Vancouver, Canada 316 Posts |
Hi there,
I have the book you're talking about. I have not performed this effect nor have I tried. It appears to be a scary effect, if you can pull it off. The preparation looks easy, but one needs to justify a drawer box to do it. I suppose you could use it as a coffin for the clay figure. If I witnessed this effect as a layperson, I would probably wet myself and RUN! If you do perform it, I'm coming to your show to watch you scare the pants off the others!
Live well,
Laugh often, Love always. To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world. Without Prejudice, All Rights Reserved. |
niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
In which shop did you find this book? Do they have a website?
And is this book good for a beginner in Bizarre magic? Ivan
Yours,
Ivan |
Marduke Kurios Veteran user Vancouver, Canada 316 Posts |
I bought it on Ebay months ago.
Do I think it is a good book for beginners? Yes, and no. I think as a beginner, one should be a proverbial sponge and absorb everything they can get their hands on. This kind of magick requires some pretty advanced acting skills (BS) If you expect to do it effectively. The bizarre effects I do, (and I'm still a novice at this) require more skills in storytelling and acting than any kind of sleight of hand. Nothing in "bizarre magick" is a trick. If you can tell a good, convincing story (and believe it YOURSELF) then yes, this book is for you. Mr. Cameron's story creations are a testament to a life of possession, madness and sorcery (okay, I'm sleightly kidding here) I actually mean, creative genius in a dark, entertaining way. Really, I think it's a great book, as are all of his books that I have. Good ideas, great scares! Contact Paul Hallas (a member here) and see if he can give you any leads on the book. See [outdated link] Good luck!
Live well,
Laugh often, Love always. To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world. Without Prejudice, All Rights Reserved. |
niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Could you describe the effect(not the method)?
Ivan
Yours,
Ivan |
Caleb Strange Special user Manchester UK 676 Posts |
Ivan, briefly, the magician takes a small lump of modelling clay which he fashions into a human shape. A bit of bizarre 'business' then the figure is dropped into a small box/coffin. When the box is opened and the figure removed, it WALKS over the table. When the figure has stopped, it is ultimately kneaded back into a lump of simple clay which can be examined.
Tony Shiels' 'Thirteen' has a slightly different effect called 'Mandragora'. Here, the eponymous root is examined, dropped into an apothecary jar, where it stands up, twists and rises, and finally collapses. This figure can also be examined at the end of the effect, if you're into that. Hope this helps, Caleb Strange.
-- QCiC --
|
niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Thanks. It sounds great.
Do you think it would me great performed to music? Good music I mean. And is it good for Cabaret and Stage? Ivan
Yours,
Ivan |
Caleb Strange Special user Manchester UK 676 Posts |
Ivan, it would be good for cabaret, can be done surrounded as is, but it might lose some of the intimate terror of a bizarre parlour presentation.
As for stage work, you could work it up using a slightly different method for locomotion. Instead of the small box, but sticking true to Cameron, I'd use a mortuary/morgue drawer. I mean those things you see in tv shows. I think there was an X-Files episode where Scully put a body into the drawer, and when it was removed, it was radically altered. Off the top of my head, why not switch Cameron's presentation around , and put a fresh, whole corpse in the drawer, and pull out a not so fresh one? Dress the effect up with white coats, a fancy set, and an introduction where the body is wheeled in and forms signed. Find a better method, though the drawer has some morgue versimiltude, and it might work. The kicker, of course, would be when the dripping, putresent, and foul smelling corpse got up from its tray, and walked. For a similarly morbid idea, I'll try and post something on the conspiracy theories thread tonight. But speaking of the X-Files, they once had a catscan (or whatever those big magneic full body imagers are called) go BADLY wrong. I mean barbecue! It's a bit near the knuckle, but you could use it as a modern presentation of the 'Cremation' illusion. Regards, Caleb Strange. Here's the morbid idea. Instead of a coffin or a morgue drawer, use a body bag. Slops put in, body comes out. Or body bag asrah, anyone? I'd imagine if a clearly empty, and flat body bag, was placed on the floor, and then a shape started forming within, it would be pretty scary! Like Doug's latex wall idea for the seance room. A foul, writhing thing forming in the bag. Done in a murder house, you could talk about the victims being found in locked rooms and inaccessible places. 'The murderer him/herself (usually him) was shot by police in this very room and carried away in a body bag. His body lay there on the floor'. Bag put down on floor, a pentagram is drawn. Everybody crowds in, and the necromacy begins! Bag writhes, and evil soul cast back down into hell. Or bag writhes, rips open, and evil soul flashes past as a rush of sour, devilish air. Regards, Caleb Strange.
-- QCiC --
|
Magickman Elite user St.Petersburg, Fl. 402 Posts |
If you like that idea look for Minch's
Pickman's Model. It is based on H.P. Love craft's work. In a book entitled "Lovecraften Cermonies" A must have for Bizarrists! Magickman
What man knows he calls Science
What he has yet to learn he calls Magick Both are real! _Tony Andruzzi_ |
Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
Manikin Macabre would probably work better in a semi-close-up cabaret setting than in traditional close-up, as the method strikes me as potentially too 'noisy' (you'll understand if you read the description).
Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
kaytracy Inner circle Central California 1793 Posts |
Ooo, Caleb, you just gave me more things to think about for my body bag. I have been toying with a transformation idea, and perhaps one of the world's larger "Change bags", but now, you have me thinking of other directions for a sealed bag to go in. Bwa ha haaaaa!
I have the body bag, and I am NOT afraid to use it!
Kay and Tory
www.Bizarremagick.com |
nick55204 New user 5 Posts |
Hi, has anyone had luck finding this book, because I've had a hard time?
|
maps Inner circle 1124 Posts |
Nick, you can order the book from Magicbooks By Post.
I did that a couple of days ago and are waiting for it to arrive. FM
the heart is where the magic begins
Visit my website [www.mascotsandpuppets.com] |
MopKrayz Elite user 423 Posts |
Ivan, I have the Handbook of Horror if you're interested to have a look.
OK, I toyed a bit with the effect. This is a very powerful piece of performance art. More ritual than trickery. I came up with an idea. There is no need to switch the original lump of clay. Use quick dry modeling clay around the "you know what" and let it set hard. Then use standard soft clay and wedge pieces around the manakin to make it look like a round blob of clay. When you start to model the manakin just cut off with your hands and remove the extra pieces of soft clay! |
kaytracy Inner circle Central California 1793 Posts |
MopKrayz,
Excellent thinking on that one! Well done!
Kay and Tory
www.Bizarremagick.com |
Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
Has anyone TRIED Manikin Macabre?
There are certain complications in Cameron's method. I'm curious to know if anyone has tested this effect and proven it to be practical. Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
MopKrayz Elite user 423 Posts |
The only complication is taking great care to model clay around the "workings". Around the moving joints you have to apply just a paper-thin layer of clay. I used glue and coloured sand around the moving joints to mask off.
I don't "switch" the ball of clay at the start. |
Midnight333 Veteran user 353 Posts |
Would someone be kind enough to PM me with the method? Or is that not P.C.? I mean I think I can figure, no pun intended, it out from this post.
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The spooky, the mysterious...the bizarre! » » Manakin Macabre (Cameron) (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |