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Chris Stolz Inner circle Mississauga, Ontario 1958 Posts |
I completely agree with the balance issue. Without the mirror, it's just too much table for that little box. It would look far too big once the box had been folded. The mirror adds a SERIOUS element of balance to the effect. You really need that tall mirror to contrast with the thin table to make it look as deceptive as it does.
I personally like the shattering glass idea. I think it ads another layer to the presentation. Now, would I restore the mirror? Probably not. I think it would add a nice visual touch just to let it sit there broken. The broken mirror leave the audience with the sense of something having actually happened. I think restoring it would be like working backwards. Leave them with the damage in sight and they will appreciate it that much more. What I would love to see is the assistant make a costume change and come out with her clothes all ripped up. That would certainly tie the glass right into the whole effect. Just my two cents Canadian....which is probably a penny and a half in USD.
Chris Stolz
BLACK ART BOOK: Hiding In The Shadows. |
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Townsend1 Regular user 106 Posts |
Thanks for all of the input. Greg's version is certainly original and I admire his creativity. I personally love the beauty and almost perfect design and balance of Jim Steinmeyer's original version. I think it is possible to reach a peak and then additions sometimes distract rather than enhance the overall effect.
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Chezaday Inner circle Naperville, IL 1673 Posts |
The mirror is there to diminsh the size of the box when it's folded up. I"ve actually played with the broken mirror version .. and it's cool and all .. but the shards of plexi are very flimsy. I was actually considering the Frewin version .. but I wanted it to be as practical as possible in any situation. I went with Wellingtons original version .. and I couldn't be happier with it.
Steve |
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Crispy Loyal user Louisville, KY 207 Posts |
If you watch Copperfield's presentation, he starts with the table without the mirror, which does allow the back of the table to be shown. Placing the mirror onto the back of the table is what...um.. makes it work, and allows the whole illusion to be rotated once the swords are in the folded illusion.
I've always thought that Origami is one of the most ingenious illusions in the way it combines several different principles to conceal the big secret. Very elegent in it's working. If any person other than Steinmeyer had designed this illusion, they would probably have not even used the mirror and placed the box on a big bulky base! Speaking of which, I saw the Majestix perform their version of the origami in this the box is removed from the base entirely. I was not impressed. It took away from the ingenuity of "multiple principles" concealing the "larger secret." Cris |
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Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
Similar to Chezaday, we also looked at the broken mirror version, but decided to go with the original. We happened to go with Gaughan versus Wellington and have been very pleased with Steinmeyer's creation, Gaughan's workmanship and the overall presentation it has turned out to be in our show.
Kevin & Kristen
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
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Alexandermagic New user Las Vegas, NV 22 Posts |
I, too, do the original (Gaughan), and the reaction is always strong. I once asked Jim Steinmeyer if things like removing the box from the table really add anything to the effect? His thought was that at the end of the day the audience will say, "he put a girl in a box and folded it up."
Alexander
www.alexandermagic.com |
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Paul Hughes Regular user UK 123 Posts |
"he put a girl in a box and folded it up."
Amen to that. Origami is just genius, pure genius. I remember seeing the Pendragons perform it for the first time in the UK during the filming of "The Best of Magic" and was just blown away by it. If you've ever seen the countless knock off Origamis you'll truly appreciate the combined genius of Steinmeyer and Gaughan. They provide you with a miracle, the other "dealers" provide you with a big fat wedge base. |
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Chezaday Inner circle Naperville, IL 1673 Posts |
Let's not forget Wellington Enterprises, this too is an official version of the Origami Illusion. Bill was very easy to work with and the prop is of the highest standards.
Steve |
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Star_magic Regular user 109 Posts |
Just following up on what Paul said... YES there's a lot of crap out there... For example at:
http://www.dominikmagic.com/language_english.htm Just scroll down on the page, and you are offered a "Origami" for $2750 ... Wouldn't dare to lay my hands on that one.... |
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Star_magic Regular user 109 Posts |
Hell, you even get an Interlude for $2388 ... Who said worthless pieces of rip-off sh..?
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Paul Hughes Regular user UK 123 Posts |
...my apologies you are correct Wellington is the other officially sanctioned Origami manufacturer, and VERY nice it is too.
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Johnnie Blaze Loyal user 204 Posts |
As far as the Origami goes, judging by the reviews here, the Shattered is well liked but, yet more peeps are tending to go for the traditional, so I would probably go for the Shattered only because of the fact not as many are doing it. Just my 2 cents.
John |
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Star_magic Regular user 109 Posts |
Does the licensed builders put in a "tag" or something, so that you know whether it's a licensed version, or just a rip-off version? Or wouldn't you doubt when using it?
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collective foundry Inner circle 1404 Posts |
Many of Illusion Entertainment's Props have a laser etched or engraved license tag on them, and riveted or welded to a location under or inside the prop, with a serial# and owner / builder and date of fab - User's that DO NOT have this typically didn’t pay for a license and are considered non IEI approved or "rip off" versions. In some situations we'd granted temporary license for effects - But permanent licenses always have license plate on the prop somewhere. We're fairly lucky as our props are built in low numbers to reduce saturation so our illusions are typically easy to trace/ track down. For us, potential buyers or performers whom question an IEI piece is easy as one phone call - we can match the prop with the approved performer or company .
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Chezaday Inner circle Naperville, IL 1673 Posts |
I've been around these illusions long enough ... I could tell you from the audience who built a particular prop. Each builder does a little something different and, in this case, it's only Gaughan and Wellington that can build this illusion. Any copies are easily spotted by the trained eye.
Steve |
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Paul Hughes Regular user UK 123 Posts |
Very true - you can spot a Gaughan/Wellington Origami a mile away - most of the knock offs have totally missed the subtleties of "clipping the mirror on the back" (I'm being intentionally vague here!) and thus just one look at the "size" of the prop tells you who built it.
I once saw a knock off of Steinmeyer's Walking Through a Mirror - except the builder couldn't figure out one key part and so the mirror is put in with the BACK of the mirror facing the audience! I nearly wet my pants! |
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Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
A well known performer and I were sitting in the audience at Magi Fest one year. We both cringed when we saw the performer bring out his Origami. It was an obvious knock off and pretty bad looking from our seats. This was not in the competition, but during one of the headliner shows...so it wasnt some misguided youth, but a full time seasoned professional, that made the decision to go that route.
Such is life I guess. Kevin
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
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Crispy Loyal user Louisville, KY 207 Posts |
Not to be a tattletale, but a builder named Jeff Davis used to build an unauthorized Origami. Just a word of warning.
Cris |
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brianmayo New user 90 Posts |
I was there, as well, Kevin. It was definitely lacking in the area of "deception." I was just sure he was going to produce 7 or 8 girls out of that Origami.
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Magic Patrick Inner circle Minnesota 1591 Posts |
If you ask me all illusions are rip offs. I agree with Valentino and how he tried to bring down the cost of big illusions. Stage illusionists aren't anything special without a high-priced illusion that, in most cases, the assistant does all the work. The only thing different between the average run of the mill illusionist and David Copperfield is the price tag. Just my two cents.
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