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Scott Xavier Inner circle 3672 Posts |
I was just wondering what you thought of David Blaine's stunts? Are they real?
I like Blaine, I really do. His style is killer! He inspired all the Blainiac clones on TV. It works. The editing is superb, but perhaps too much so? Namely- Frozen in Ice: The effect that got a lot of us into magic. Most outlandish anyways. I heard it was a new hallogenerator built for nasa. Vertigo: Standing on a pole so high up? He's a millionaire, did he really do it? Could be a robot. Abs of Steel: Above the beyond featured David getting hit quite hard by a muscle body builder. Could it be a stooge? 44 Days no food: Come on. NO food. Not even a gummy bear? This man has tested every human endurance. Just curious what ya'll think... Viva la Blaine and I heard some where that he has a new special coming out. Can't wait. It's good to stay in the spot light. |
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drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
If these performances have meaning for you, they are real enough. I have been reading Magic and Meaning by Eugene Burger and Robert Neale, so I am thinking hard about cultivating my sense of wonder. I find Blaine's performances iconic. Many people who have seen me perform ask me whether Blaine is real. I say that if someone works very hard at something, they can develop the power to do wonderful things. That's certainly true, isn't it?
By the way, I would also say that about Scott Xavier, a young man who has learned to influence metal with his mind, and who is one of the few psychics to have exhibited his unusual talent in a sideshow. Yours, Paul |
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
The stunts are real.
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thegreatnippulini Inner circle of Hell because I've made 2582 Posts |
Yes, but there is a fine line between these guys who do street magic and the like and cross into real true stuntwork. They mix the two so "seamlessly" that people don't know whats the illusion and whats the truth. Chris Angel does that too. Does the fact that he performs a few true stunts give more validity to the close-up that he works on the streets between segments? Not to me, but if it sells, it sells. Of course Mindfreak would be nothing had it not been for Todd Robbins genius guest appearance one episode.
The Great Nippulini: body piercer, Guinness World Record holder, blacksmith and man with The World's Strongest Nipples! Does the WORLD care? We shall see...
http://www.greatnippulini.com |
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Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Standing in ice got a lot of people into magic? How the heck did it do that?
Steve V <---has nothing against ice but geez |
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FacadeTheStiltBoy Elite user Greensboro NC 474 Posts |
The whole "person frozen in a block of ice" is an old carinval stunt. I gotta look through some books for better information, but it is a neat stunt..... (unless you hate the cold)
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Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Blaine wasn't frozen in a block of ice. He was inside of ice walls. The best angle I saw of him wasn't from any of his shots but from a story coming from the bldg next to it and they shot down into where Blaine stood.
Steve V |
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cardone Special user 860 Posts |
I think some of the stunts that are on the TV show Fear Factor are better and more dramatic than the ones on the magic specials....
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Scott Xavier Inner circle 3672 Posts |
I was just wondering what everyone thought. Any news on his new stunt? I've just bought a set of prosumer cameras and want to film. I got some advice from a tv magician, that made me think.
Frozen in Ice, may have been misleading, but I still dare you to do the same. David's the master of this stuff! He started the personae that now everyone rips off. It's sad. Be yourself not Blaine, people like style and personality. Look at Brown, he stands on his own! Anyways thanks for the help. And thanks Doc for the compliment! |
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
The only thing professionally interesting about the Frozen stunt, was that he stood up the whole time. So his resultant edema was self-inflicted. The rest was standard. But the public didn't know that.
He does deserve credit for bringing TV magic into the current age of editing styles. And BTW, psychics have been part of traditional American sideshow, for a long time. Mind-reading, mitt-reading, psychic reading, and seance have been in it, since the 1850s.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
I thought it was Davids dynamic, sizzling, witty, presentation, which makes him the icon of the day!!!
His repartee, spontaneouse rappor,quick off the tonsil remarks!!! |
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
I'm not sure why, but I thought he''d had his tonsils removed. Maybe it was just his adenoids...
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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Scott Xavier Inner circle 3672 Posts |
Kondini, he's like that way in real life. How can one judge a man on his real personae that,
1. Made him MILLIONS. 2. Sparked Blainiac rip off shows. 3. Made us 1000's off of knock off e-books and videos. 4. Started ellusionist.com 5. Continues to be the name on everyones lips even years after his last special. 6. Who's name in a bar this weekend got me hooked up with 2 girls. I think it is because he's so open and that's really him that we tend to enjoy the show. You have to admit, it is creative editing and the focus is on the people once again. He has no need to have 25 minutes of interviews with his relatives telling you how dangerous each stunt is.... |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
I think his hype is proberly far more suited to the US.
He is considered a **** over here and established himself as a bigger one when he sat in the aquarium by the Thames. He must be very thick skinned to put up with all the stick he received over here and to make money is not to be compared to having talent, De Lorian stock made millions! Of course he will have a following,,,even Jack the Ripper had his fans, but to look at it constructively how far would any of us go, just for the dosh. People can be fooled (Look at Geller) As they say there is a sucker born every minet,,, but to use camera tricks and pretend otherwise is something else. According to the UK press(Who are not always right!!) The very few occassions he performed live were like watching paint dry. Even in a chat show environment he stood out as an idiot (See the UK outtakes re runs, his interview is always featured as a dozzo). Don't forget, this is my own opinion. If you like him and can get something from his efforts,,,great,,,I like Bovril on toast you don't have to. But to come over here and pretend he could levitate in the street on demand!!! Whats next, walking on water. There are far better,cheaper,poorer magicians who have a talent who are ignored, this is sad when air time is so valueable to waste it on a drone. |
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Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Scott, let's see your pal Blaine put up with my wife for 16 freakin' years. It is very simular to standing in an igloo, on a pole, while burried.
Steve V |
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-11-18 10:30, Harley Newman wrote: Shhhh, Harley. The tonsil removal is the big stunt on his next special. Now you've gone and spoiled it all. Posted: Nov 18, 2005 7:36pm --------------------------------------------- It will be interesting to see what Blaine will do on his next special. I don't think there is anything that special about Blaine as a performer and feel that most of his success is owed to the producer of his first special. The people responsible for creating that take on magic were brilliant. That might have come from Blaine himself, as he is sharper than he seems and is very driven, but I would put my money on the behind the scenes folks. I think they were the ones responsible for the packaging. The problem is that he has continued to give the public the same thing repeatedly. I hear that he is working on breaking away from what he has done before, so it will be worth watching to see what it is. I know he has been working with people like Paul Harris, so the results could be something. We will see. Magic in the US in in flux right now. Blaine has faded considerably. Copperfield has not been in the media much, but he is still thought of by the public. People still talk about the Statue of Liberty vanish. Henning has all but been forgotten. Penn & Teller have a nice niche. People recognize the name and have an image of them, though they can't recall much in the way of details of any specific bit of material they have done. The Letterman cockroach bit is still talked about by some, though. Sigfried and Roy were in the public's mind for years, as much for their flamboyance and presumed sexuality as their magic. Now that has been impacted by Roy's accident. I think the gruesomeness of it makes people not want to think of S & R. And then there's Criss Angel. The jury's still out in the public's mind about him. It's too soon to tell what impact he will have. I have always thought that Blaine opened an important door and, because of his limitations as a performer, he would not be able to full capitalize upon what he started. I think someone will walk through that door and make a great deal of noise. It might be Criss. Stay tuned. |
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Scott Xavier Inner circle 3672 Posts |
Kondidni, I understand your issues, but even today as I performed for some people I heard this:
"Wow you're like that david blaine guy, do you know him. He's awesome!" Now I do understand the reservations concerning "Above the Below". 30 seconds of a pigeon? It wasn't Davids fault, it was the director. As I understand it, the special had to be aired as the director wanted it. But seriously "A the B" had the best 30 seconds of video ever. David performing instant replay (By Harris)with 15 naked women and rap music blasting! Now theres performance art! I believe David takes the art to the edge. Sometimes taking a dip over, but definately adds a flare that others on TV can't touch. He is a mystery man. He tries to shock and be mysterious. His magic is simple and direct and works for an american audience. I wanted to shoot myself after watching Derrens Seance, it was stooged and mundane! An oceanic difference Im sure. Steve: Anyone who can call David a friend is lucky! Don't know if I'm at that status yet, but he is a kind and great guy. We should all see David perform before judging him. May 23rd according to his blog, Can't wait!!! |
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Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
I think we've seen Blaine perform, since there is only one rumor of a live performance. Please list the 'Blaniac clones on TV' for I'm interested to see all the names of these clones. I can't think of any.
I have no real comment on Blaine other than the networks screwed up a good thing with these stupid stunts. Steve V |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
I think the perception of Blaine is a personal thing, I am sure he is a wonderful careing fellow, I would not dream of attacking him as a person,,,I don't know him.
I do however know of his performances over here,,,he was a common laughing stock, making any other US magicians appearance over here twice as hard. If you judge success by the number of TV spots you work, this is very wrong (Most of the best entertainers I know and work with steer clear of TV)He has through the obviouse use of camera tricks (Unveiled and exploited by another US magician)Taken away any credance to his own performing status. His belief that the general public are gullible enough to fall for such claptrap is misplaced. I would dearly love to see his live show. If he could hold a crowd in the US good luck to him, he would be tossed off over here, unless of course he levitated into the audience in which case I would become one of his most devout followers. OK in the US he may still be a good bet,,,,I can only judge from a UK standpoint. I cannot imagine what would happen to me if I went up to a group of youths in the St Pauls area of Bristol and said do you wanna see a card trick!!!!! cmon now,,maybe if a camera crew came with me,,,,,well lets say there would be a camera up for grabs in the Bristol area the next morning. I would be in Frenchey Hospital where they would be removing my teeth from my bum. Lets get into the real world,,thats where I live and perform. Ken. |
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Scott Xavier Inner circle 3672 Posts |
LOL.
It works here in the U.S. why? Just don't know. People like magic and want the spot light. It's the original magic reality tv. The Uk stuff was hillarious! That was performance art that made people say, WHAT THE FUDGE? |
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