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Joe Mauro Inner circle 1133 Posts |
Wizard FX Productions has a clip up that looks wonderful( like a James Bond film ).
http://www.youtube.com/worldmagicshop#p/u/2/T_0JdhCx6ys An underground magician known only as Russell Leeds is hired by a covert organization, 'Wizard FX Productions', to fry spectators with his amazing coin magic. On his journey he will teach YOU his three incredible one coin routines ready for you to add to your own arsenal of killer coin magic. Comes complete with 2 gimmicked coins! CONTRACTOR A half dollar shrinks to the size of a pin head and then suddenly transforms to its full size again. But it doesn't stop there as the coin is seen to morph in mid-air, contracting and expanding in a flurry of magical moments. This eye-catching routine also features Russell's brand new utility move 'Easy Finch Switch'. SNIPER Imagine pushing your finger visibly through a coin with pinpoint accuracy. Now imagine repeating the effect to the spectators total amazement until finally the coin is even penetrated by their own finger! ASSASSIN A multi phase coin through hand routine with the incredible kicker finish of the coin penetrating up through the spectator's own hand. CONTRACTOR comes complete with 2 gimmicked coins and a DVD featuring street and studio performances and in depth explanations with Russell Leeds and Craig Petty.
~Joe
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jerdunn Inner circle 1735 Posts |
I don't mean to be crabby. Really. But the demo for "Contractor" is dismaying.
Most of the demo consists of coin moves "borrowed" from other creators and performers, ranging from David Roth to Apollo Robbins. The few new things added by the guy performing -- if putting your thumb through a Karate Coin instead of a finger can be called an addition to anything -- would make a nice short article in a magic magazine. The guy performing the demo seriously overuses the JW Grip. And many of his recycled moves from Bobo are done at the wrong time or for the wrong reason. I'm sure well-intentioned people can disagree on this. But it still amazes me that guys have the guts to fill a DVD with borrowed and bad magic and sell it to other magicians. I mean all this in the nicest way Jerry |
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MaxfieldsMagic Inner circle Instead of practicing, I made 3009 Posts |
But Jerry, the "Contractor Collector's Edition" reportedly will come in a nice box...
Now appearing nightly in my basement.
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Rafael The Master Hypnotist Elite user South East Asia 498 Posts |
I love to see the creator of this DVD put a Real Demo in front of real group of people on the street.....I don't think the Street Audience will react like the guy in the demo
The BIGEST Room in the world is the Room for Improvement
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Craig Petty V.I.P. UK 2298 Posts |
Hey Joe the trailer looks great doesn’t it? You should have seen people’s faces when they were coming in the car park and we were shooting that! I guess I’m going to have to lose a little more weight before Wizard FX let me play James Bond!
Also thanks to you Jerry for your comments on the DVD, if possible I would like to address a few of your points that you raised. Firstly in the spirit of full disclosure everyone should know that I am very good friends with Russell and was involved with this project for about 6 months. With that being said I feel that I can still comment of the trailer, the DVD and more importantly the points you brought up. I am actually quite surprised Jerry that someone with your standing on the café could be as unprofessional as your post appeared to be. Sure if you don’t like a product it is totally your right to comment but saying things like “Borrowed and Bad Magic” is just hurtful. This DVD is many things but BAD is not one of them. For the record the reason this DVD is coming out now is because the routines in question have been a feature of Russell’s lecture for well over a year. Magicians constantly ask him about where they can learn the routines and obtain the required gimmicks. In addition Russell is entering the Blackpool Close Up Competition in February and these routines will form a core part of his act. He wanted to document the routines as his intellectual property before over 2000 magicians see them. Let me ask you Jerry, if the routines in question are constantly raved about at Russell’s lectures and he himself deems them good enough to include in his competition act how can they be bad? Russell is one of the busiest working professionals in the UK and constructed these routines to be performed in the real world to real people. Unlike a lot of pipe dreams that hit the market these effects are designed to be performed to real people. Also Jerry you cannot teach every single thing that you need to learn in a magazine article. Saying that these effects are better suited to that medium is just insulting. The explanation portion of the DVD went for an hour on just those three routines, Russell wanted to make sure that if people purchased the product they could learn it properly – you could not do that from a magazine. Regarding the overuse of JW grip, I think you are making a judgement on the DVD based on the trailer. Russell and Wizard FX wanted to be totally honest with what you receive by putting all three routines on the trailer in full. I am sure that a magician as experienced as you would understand that the three routines are not meant to be performed one after another, right? The Sniper routine uses JW once and the Contractor routine uses it twice. Both of these are multiphase routines and yet you think he is over using the move? Finally Jerry I must address you comments that all Russell brings to the karate coin is “sticking his thumb through”. Jerry were we watching the same routine because I cannot believe you just said that. For a start Russell has done something I have never seen any other coin magician do and that is give the multiphase karate coin routine an ending. Normally this type of routine goes along the lines of “its on, now its off, now its on again – the end”. There have been attempts to change this. For example Curtis Cam in his excellent ‘Through and Through’ routine added penetrations through the hand and the pocket etc to vary things. What Russell has done is given the routine a brilliant ending by having the coin go on the spectator’s finger. The construction of this phase is great. Watch the routine again. First the spectator feels something happen, then Russell reveals his finger empty which cues the rest of the audience into what has happened and then shows the penetration. Then a second later everything is examinable. There are many other things in this routine alone that are totally original and simply brilliant ideas. But if you are too short sighted to see them I cannot be bothered to point them out. The bottom line is this project is going to be a success Jerry. Russell Leeds is one of the nicest people in magic and it is an honour for me to call him a friend. He is definitely one of the most talented and creative people I know and anyone who has seen Banding Around will know he has a very bright future ahead of him. Everyone knows how great he is with bands and shortly the magic community will know what a brilliant coin magician he is as well. Craig Petty |
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
In all sincerity after watching the promo video I'd have to agree with Jerry. The moves IMO were done poorly and telegraphed, especially the pa****g of the coin as well as the JW grip and others. (Nice take on Garrett Thomas' Ring Thing.)
If a DVD is going to be marketed for purchase and a demo video is put up for all to see, are we NOT allowed to comment on it? I agree the commentary should be respectful and if warranted constructively criticized. I don't think it was Jerry's intention to be hurtful but with that said he could have been a little more sensitive. The comments were made regarding the trailer. "It is what it is." Regardless of your accolades and I assume they are correct, I wouldn't be purchasing the DVD based solely on the trailer. (Speaking the truth with respect) David Paul
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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Joe Mauro Inner circle 1133 Posts |
I liked the trailer. I've only crossed the border from being a layperson and I thought the magic looked good. Maybe laypeople would also.
Also, thanks to Mr. Craig Petty. He always comes and answers questions in a professional manner. He does so at times when perhaps a post is not flattering. That takes gutts and class. JM
~Joe
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baal Regular user 104 Posts |
Is it joke? one of the most horrible coin moves what I ever seen...
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Zhang Special user 515 Posts |
I agree with Jerry.
I think he should stick to his rubber band magic,his coin work is very poor to my eyes. |
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Alan Rorrison V.I.P. 2494 Posts |
Finally Russell has decided to put this effect out. I have been waiting on this since blackpool where Russell gave me a sneak preview and I along with everyone else at the stand where completly blown away. Just a few points to Jerry and the other folks raising concerns.
I'll start by saying I AM NOT a friend of Russell so I'm not on a biased in my opinion but from the the video and from what you have stated I would say that your more than a little wrong. The JW move was far from over used and as I understand this is a multi effect dvd and the move has been used 2/3 times at most in the demo. So over used IS not a phrase I would use. I would not call any of the moves borrowed either. The majority of the moves that I noticed in any of the effects in the trailer were standard coin moves. IF you need to go by this logic you should pull up Jay Sankey also for is revolutionary tapes. So to me this logic is flawed. Finaly to call it bad magic is just idiotic and rude. Russell performed some of these effects for thousands of people at blackpool and from what I could see everyone was fooled and the moves where peformed perfectly. Finally I would say one last thing to you and to every one else on the Café as this is a key point I have noticed come up over and over again " WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE THE PRODUCT BEFORE YOU TRY AND REVIEW IT. IF YOU REVIEW IT OF A SIMPLE DEMO DESIGNED TO SHOW YOU THE BASE EFFECTS YOU CAN WORK FROM YOU ARE A FOOL!" My view is from watching the trailer and watching the routines performers live. I will get this in a heartbeat. Alan Rorrison |
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GarySumpter Special user UK 857 Posts |
Just watched the demo, to summarise, I wont be buying this
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Zhang Special user 515 Posts |
My view is from watching the trailer and watching the routines performers live. I will get this in a heartbeat.
oh yeah,in a heart beat !! |
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Alan Rorrison V.I.P. 2494 Posts |
This post is about this fantastic dvd, Not my typos.
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chriswebbmagic Regular user 140 Posts |
Just want to say guys this is not about whos the best magician so no need for harsh words.
Im not much of a coin guy but just want to say this is one of the best versions of karate coin I have seen in a while and if anything you can all learn some moves from one DVD instead of buying 10 to get each single move? just a thought.... And one last point is that most magic is just a reinvention of other magic tricks. how many times have you had to use a double lift in a routine and the same in another.....loads! so this should not matter and on the DVD cover it states '3 routines' and that means a mix of moves to make a sequence. Just my thoughts all the best guys Chris Webb |
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Paul S Wingham Inner circle 1378 Posts |
I thought the effects looked good but like others thought there was nothing particualrly new. That said; How many magicians sell dvds with their take on the ambitious card on it? Plus how many alternative books/dvd would you need to learn those moves...if you wanted to?
I don't think I would buy this as I have various books which teach me similar ideas. However it looks like a good show peice of what this chap can do and he has clearly got some skill. |
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ricardo carpenter Regular user 107 Posts |
Excellent. It makes me laugh! I contracted my muscles in laughing.
What a good parody it is! Parody of James Bond, parody of magic trailers, parody of parodies, Brilliant and clever. British humour I presume. |
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Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
I think the routines look excellent. Unlike a lot of longer coin routines I've seen, I can actually follow these routines (most longer coin routines are a blur to me). And Russell's presentation was deliberate and entertaining.
That's what this dvd seems to be about ROUTINES. That's personally why I buy magic, to learn cool routines. I couldn't care less about the moves involved. Old moves, fine. New moves, fine. It's irrelevant to me as I only care about the trick itself, not the method. Although I will say that for me, practicality is a must. And these do look practical. Did I know what was going move wise a lot of the time? Sure! But I'm a magician. I don't know Russell but I did meet him very briefly at Blackpool. Didn't show me any coin magic but he did blow my mind with some rubber band stuff. Congrats, Russell. This looks very good indeed. Honestly don't know what people are complaining about... BTW, I have NO AFFILIATION with World Magic Shop at all. Just my opinion.
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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Jumbopenny Loyal user Bay Area, Northern California USA 257 Posts |
I'm not here to side with anyone. I know of several of the people who have already posted, but not personally. I do all kinds of magic, but would consider coin magic my favorite. A "coin guy" as magicians say.
I'd just like to express my opinion of the trailer. I like it alot. One of the hardest things to do as a performer is to put together a "worker." Most amateur magicians do a sleight once and it's over. These are full routines rarely done with these themes. If you watched the trailer and didn't learn ANYTHING new then I want to buy YOUR next dvd. I'm not talking new sleights, but in the context they are used. There were several instances where I never thought of using a sleight for that purpose or context, or in that sequence. Without going at length into the sleights I would like to comment on the JW grip. I personally love using it. it's one of the most practical and visual "palms" you could do at eye level. What else is there? You have the edge grip, but it's just not the same. If you don't like the way or how long Russell holds it then change it to your own preference. There's more to be learned here. As a creative magician who is constantly trying to create or do things in a new way I commend Russell's effort. This is my opinion of the trailer which doesn't make anyone else's wrong. I would think all our opinions are correct in the context of what we know and are seeking. |
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Iain Moran Special user Manchester, England 693 Posts |
I saw Russell do this at Blackpool and I must say I really rather like it actually.
I picked this up at the convention and look forward to watching the DVD and working on the routines. I should also point out that I met Russell for the first time at the convention and also have no connection with World Magic Shop. I'll post some further thoughts when I've had the opportunity to study it. Iain. |
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aitchy Loyal user 222 Posts |
I'd like to hear what Iain has to say on this - I heard good things about his rubber band dvd but I wasn't sold by this trailer after the credits.
(leaving aside the originality aspect discussed above) what worried me was, 1) it looked like stage routing used as close up magic - "real" spectators don't always play ball if your held out like that for so long. And whilst there were very strong moments there were also slow sections. 2) the "spectator" in the trailer works at their shop (I'm 99% sure). At RSVP magic for instance they have a rule of always using real spectators in real working sets for trailers/ DVDs and I respect this greatly. - why fake it. I'm still tempted to get it as it comes with some gimmicks and frankly because I like the folks at that shop. what the final verdict? |
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