I have seen a few scattered comments and such that tap this, I'd like some opinions on what you folks think about what is valid to keep out of a TV presentation to make an effects secret safe, or is it disingenuous to not show the full presentation or set up. Most notably was the Blaine "Bladucci Levitation and obvious multiple cuts to get best reactions then a totally rigged effect that wasn't what he did for the other people. Now more and more we seem to see effects that must not be giving the whole story.
Maybe Copperfield and other TV magicians did this but in MO it seems up until Blaine what you saw was what you got. Now it seems less clear.
So my question to all of you, is this fair or foul?

I always insist with my directors that shots be continuous, otherwise it ain't magic even if it is, but a camera trick. Is it valid to duck under the camera, probably yes, but to cut, change angle, change camera, look away and back, merely introduces the possibility of doubt for the audience. Re giving stuff away - ask J. Chen, if they are filming you, anything that gets shot will sooner or later be seen, it's fun for people to disclose! When I did a Soul Food episode, even the camera operator, sound department, crew members and director said "how did you do that, where did the bird go?"


Posted: May 18, 2006 4:37pm
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I should have include the warning that the ability to freeze frame and slow-mo action make it really important to be selective on how and which effects to do.

I have to say.this is a DIFFICULT and complex issue...the source of much heated debate. The bottom line of it all is this: When do we cross the line between what is "fair" deception, and what is "unfair" deception, or cheating, as some call it.

Do we as magicians draw the line,or do we lt the disgruntled public draw it for us? If they view the Blaine effect that you mentioned, and they are amazed, only later to find out the REAL method, and they get p***ed off because they feel they were duped, they may just sour on all magic. In that case, they, as an individual or corporately may be determining our income, or lack of it, as the case may be.

On the other hand, technicaly isn't EVERYTHING we do to accomplish our effects CHEATING? We magicians really don't do any of the miracles we seem to. If we are succesful, the spectator has just been duped, (in a sense). (of course, only for their entertainment). Shoot, some effects involve swindles and little cons to accomlish our ends! (magicians choice, for ex.) So then what makes a camera edit unfair or wrong? Is it wrong because it calls for little real skill on the performer's part? Some guys seem to think so. They look down their nse at Blaine, because they think he shows no skill and relies on the camera to work his magic. Well then, throw out a lot of effects, because every self worker you perform requires little or no skill. A layman could easily learn some of those self working effects.

So then what's right and whats wrong?? Who makes the rules?

God only knows!

Personally, my gut feeling is that camera tricks should be avoided, but that is just a preference.

Here is the paramount point. Before Blaine (and now Angel) no magician used TV for what it is. We all have heard "The camera will not cut away at any point!".

Blaine and Angel do their stuff out on the street in front of "real people". "How could they be camera tricks" asks the puzzled TV viewing audience. They have been perfectly conditioned to begin using the medium to its fullest.

Never before have we failed to use a technology to the fullest extent we could. Why not TV? People believe too much of what they see? I think the magicians that use the power of that box are merely following in the footsteps of the father of modern magic Robert Houdin.

Maybe some are jealous and think it takes no skill to do what they do- I disagree it takes just as much if not more to pull off this kind of deception.

Bravo to both of them.

True. But sometimes they don't "pull it off". Oh, for a while, maybe, but then they are found out, and that's where the trouble begins.

We can thank the masked nincompoop for that.