|
|
Swann101 Special user 558 Posts |
Hi all,
Who can a person contact to get a profesional script written for a cups & balls routine. Looking for a mythical story or something along the lines of Ricky Jay. English is my second language and will prefer to get a profesional script writer, rather than try it myself. Thanks Roy. |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Do you already have a routine worked out, that is, do you have the mechanics of the routine?
Do you have any idea of what you want to happen with the routine?
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
mcharisse Inner circle York. PA 1226 Posts |
Bill's questions make an important point: That the story should grow organically from the action. Eash sentence should be timed to the moves of the routine and further it along. In this way, the words you use are more than adornment -- they shape the pacing of the routine, provide misdirection move the magic to its logical conclusion. The story, then is more than adornment, it is part and parcel of the magic itself. As a professional writer (and passionate amateur magician) I find the best way to write scripts is to address the problems in the effect itself -- need a bit of misdirecton at a certain point? Then that's just the place for a scripted line. Have to go to the pocket? Find a reason integral to the story: "The giant reached into his pocket and took out three small stones" that sort of thing. In this way, the story enahnces the magic and makes it stronger. In fact, my best ideas have come from the problems inherent in any effect. Necessity really is the mother of invention.
So I'd write the script in your native language and then if you want to deliver it in English, hire someone to translate it for you. Marc Charisse |
dcjames Special user 577 Posts |
Bill's questions are not only appropriate but crucial to the success of any script. To paraphrase Marc's well stated post, a routine should 'write' the script rather than taking an impersonal script and working to build a routine around it.
A writer can come up with any number of stories or events leaving you to figure out a way to make your actions and the effects match the writer's imagination. This approach may be very difficult to navigate because the writer may not have a clue as to what you want to convey, your abilities, or what is even possible within the workings of the effect. As Marc suggested, once you have the storyline, you can then hire a translator to phrase it in English if that is your goal. Good luck with your routine!
“Magic is very easy to do - poorly.”
Tommy Wonder The Books of Wonder Volume 2 |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Let me suggest a DVD at this point. Rafael Benatar's Elegant Cups and Balls DVD has his routine on it. He was performing his version of the Dai Vernon routine at a computer show and suddenly he realized that he was bored silly with his patter. So he changed it to a routine about e-mail.
Rafael's native language is Spanish, but he worked this out in English for himself. I think Roy's knowledge of English is sufficient for him to give a good writer a direction. I'm assuming from Roy's web site that his first language might be Afrikaans. It won't be difficult to find someone in his area who is a native bilingual speaker of both languages, but it might be difficult to find someone who understands how to write a story. If this is the case, an editor would be of great use. He could take the rough draft of the translation and smooth it out.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Swann101 Special user 558 Posts |
Bill you are spot on, my firt language is Afrikaans but English is also one of the main languages in South Africa, so I speak English fluently without an accent, but when it comes to writing, I am not that comfortable.
I have tried do do a script in Afrikaans and then translate in to English, but the problem with that kind of thing is that translating from one language to another sometimes looses important parts, like a poem that might sound nice in one language, but when translated to another language might sound stupid as some elements get missing in the translation process. Anyway I don't want to change the topic. Thanks for the pm Bill, I will try and get my routine to you, I have outlined a basic scrit (that needs a lot of work) that I will send along... Thanks again for all the great advice! What a great place of knowledge this is! |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I do that quite a bit with German. I realize that there is a great similarity between German and Afrikaans, but I can't read Afrikaans with any degree of skill at all. Of course, there is an even greater similarity between Afrikaans and Dutch.
The biggest problem with translation is what the Germans call "falsche Freunde" which means "false friends." These are words that look alike in the two languages, but have different meanings. A simple example is the word Fotograf. The first time I saw Fotograf, I thought it meant photograph. It doesn't. It means photographer. When I realized the translation didn't make any sense, I went to the dictionary and looked up the word. There are also little signs that will tell me when a German doesn't really have a strong working knowledge of English. For example, Germans use the word "Infos" or "Informationen" which are plural. Sometimes they translate this into "informations", which is not generally used in English. In conversation, these small errors are generally not noticed too much, but when they reach the printed page, there they are in all their GLORY!.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Contact the folks at the College of Maqic in South Africa.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
|
Lawrence O Inner circle French Riviera 6811 Posts |
Ask Jeff McBride or Robert Neale and be prepared to pay for what you request for it's more difficult to obtain than accessing interesting or unusual sleights and sequences.
However your approach is the way to end up with a unique routine (just before learning how to "act" such a routine). It's more important in my opinion than benefiting from beautiful Sherwood (or Buccellati) cups.
Magic is the art of emotionally sharing live impossible situations
|
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I would definitely agree with the idea of bringing in someone like Jeff McBride or Robert Neale. In fact, if you catch Burger at the right time, he might also be willing to help. Whatever you do, figure out how to make it your own.
There are other possibilities, of course. If you can find a good director who has no magical prejudices, but who is willing to work within whatever parameters you set up for him, he might do you as much good as anyone else. In fact, if there is a television screenwriter that you can access, he might also be of great use. There are some really good magicians in South Africa who might be able to help. I know of one retired illusionist whose skills might benefit you.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Swann101 Special user 558 Posts |
Hi Bill, are you talking about Mark Rose-Chritie? If so, he is a good friend and told me that he knew you and said you are a walking encyclopedia and most likely one of the best sources on these kind of things.
I have though about a tv director, but would prefer someone with historical knowledge about the subject too, as I would like to bring some history into the presentaion. Maybe I am leaning to close to the Ricky Jay kind of storyline with this, but his routine is defenately sticking in my head, I love his storyline, word play and the touch of history, but would prefer to add some mystical touches. I am getting carried away again. |
HerbLarry Special user Poof! 731 Posts |
Quote:
I am getting carried away again. You say that like it's a bad thing. I'm of the mind that it's a great stepping off point.
You know why don't act naive.
|
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-11-30 14:39, Swann101 wrote: Yep! If you see Mark, please tell him hello for me.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Ever so sleightly » » Cups & balls script (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 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 < |