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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
As you're performing a seance type of routine while summoning "the dead" as it may, do this...
Hold everyone's hands around the table... The room lights go out slowly except the one above the table, so all around the room (or stage), it's completely dark... Invoke the "spirits"... When the lights slowly come back on... The table is now surrounded by people... All standing still, saying nothing... (They're supposed to be the "spirits" manifested... Just in case you don't get it...) Talk to them or what have you... (Don't let go of volunteer's hands though...) At the end of the routine, they all vanish (or rather "went back to where they came from"...) Whaddaya think? Anyone ever tried something like this?
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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ChrisZampese Veteran user Hamilton, NZ 341 Posts |
Hmmm, with good costumes and makeup, this could be very very effective.
How about having the lights go off, then everyone feels a hand on their shoulder, the lights flash breifly once or twice so everyone can see this mysterious circle of visitors, then when the lights come back on they are no longer there? Something like this would give me a bit of a stir!!
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are
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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
I know I'd like to see it performed!
Plus, the audience will have that nagging feeling after it's done of "How do we know that wasn't REAL?" Even if you TELL them it was just an illusion, imo they will still feel this way...
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Forgive me, but it sounds very stagey to me. I don't believe the audience will wonder whether it's real; they're more likely to analyze the costume and makeup.
However, I do agree that being surrounded by "ghouls" could be initimidating in the context of a Halloween Haunted House thrill event. I just don't think it has any place within the seriousness of a seance. Instead, have your seance circle feel the presence of spirits around them through the use of suggestion: the things in your sitters' minds are far scarier than anything you could fabricate.
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
I do see the point you're putting forth Necromancer however I humbly disagree...
I can only describe the effect by referring to imagery from horror movies such as "The Sixth Sense" and "The Others"... That imagery brought to life in a less dramatic way than Copperfield's "Haunted House/Spirits" Illusion would be chilling imho... No flashy lighting, no well-timed pyro, no well-timed soundtrack... This presentation would "look" as it would "if it really happened", imho...
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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Tspall Regular user Lumberton, NC 147 Posts |
A variation of this could be to have curtains surrounding the room, along the walls. If a person is standing in a doorway covered by the curtain and shine a small flashlight up under his face, his face willl "appear" from behind the curtain. Doing this for a brief period could startle the guests by having them see "faces" along the walls of the room, especially if it's dark.
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illusioneer Special user NYC 752 Posts |
I agree...this sounds VERY "Sixth Sense". But I like it. Possibly, play with corridors or hallways. Have distant spirits approach the table. (Whilethe performer is obviously oblivious to the happenings.) You could create a PG effect colorwise with blacklights. For the vanish, this allows you to use Black Art since the corridor will be a distance away from the visitors. This way the guests cannot analyze costumes or make up.
Things are about to change........ LIGHTS!!!
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-09-18 10:56, Tspall wrote: That's funny, I was just thinking how nicely one-way mirrors or semi-solid walls or other items requiring heavy construction could make the effect less obvious. Curtains are even better (and far less expensive). But you see why Tspall's idea is working? These are flickering glimpses rather than solid humans (which, while they work in the movies, are perceived differently in real life). Again, subtlety is key.
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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IllusionJack Veteran user Las Vegas, Nevada 376 Posts |
This got me thinking - I think it's a cool idea. To have someone appear, just for a moment, then be gone again. I think a spooky one would be to have a little girl appear standing on the table in the center of the room... just for a flash or two of light, then be gone again...
--Jack |
the levitator Special user Spellbound Productions 546 Posts |
We were practicing different configurations for a Pepper's Ghost for Halloween at our house in late Septamber of last year, and one night when it was set up in our hallway, we did an impromptu spook show for some friends of some friends. Just a simple ghost story with a Ouija Board and some Tarot Cards. Then, cue the spectre for like 5 seconds, and my friends ran out of our front door! Two of them wouldn't even come back in our house. I think the fact that it didn't look like a regular person just standing there, and it was only for like 5 seconds, contributed to the believeability of it. I think it's a good idea, but like Necromancer said, it would be hard to make it as believeable with regluar people standing there, especially for long periods of time.
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ELS Regular user Chicagoland area, IL 191 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-09-15 11:44, Pakar Ilusi wrote: Hmmm - Why turn the lights on again at all, matter of fact shut them off totally. I'm sitting here now with just the computer on and no lights, it's 1 am in the morning, so no sun light either, and I'm looking off into the darkness and I would think a hand placed on my shoulder right now, would stop my heart. Keep it simple. Their mind will create the fear if you feed their minds. Ed
Were the border between the natural and the supernatural will be nothing any more but fuzzy. http://edwardshanahan.com
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Kenn Capman Regular user Southwestern Michigan 196 Posts |
One of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned (i.e. never dawned on me of my own volition) in doing seance work was from reading Eugene Burger's "Spirit Theater."
The same sentiment has been echoed by other respected practicioners of this dark and delicate craft. The real secret is; less is more. Always. Less is more. Don't give the audience a special effect when they've paid to see spirit manifestations and vice-versa. Just my 'anticipating another year of halloween burnout' two cents worth.
"The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents."
- Salvador Dali - |
shrink Inner circle 2609 Posts |
In "Seance" the collection of the seance publication one good idea is to set up many subtle things that happen while you tell your story. For example one of the things you can do is make holes in your candles and pour glue in them. When the candle burns down is fizzes and spurts for a few seconds when it gets to the glue then goes back to normal. Of course you pretend not to notice anything. Setting up a lot of subtle things like this leaves the rest to the imagination of the sitters.
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ELS Regular user Chicagoland area, IL 191 Posts |
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On 2003-10-07 20:23, shrink wrote: Hi Shrink, Neat little effect, use regular white glue? and do you do it from the side and go all the way through the candle? Thanks again Ed
Were the border between the natural and the supernatural will be nothing any more but fuzzy. http://edwardshanahan.com
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ventman Loyal user 281 Posts |
To do the candle effect, you need to use rubber cement I believe. Then you seal the hole with wax so the cement won't dry out.
Coldthorn |
Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
Great replies everyone... Thanks for the thoughts!
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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