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Jonathan Inner circle Oklahoma 1223 Posts |
I'm a mentalist and close-up magician with fairly little stage experience. I'm no stranger to it but don't perform that genre of magic.
I am doing a michael jackson routine for the college and it's going to be a huge deal. There's quite a few people working in the routine and we need an illusion in the end for the climax/ending. Preferably one where the "smooth criminal" (MJ) disappears. Something pretty straight forward but can be done to music is what we need. Can anyone help direct me to the right place or give me some direction? I'm skilled enough to do just about whatever but anyone else working would be pretty new to it. I was thinking a simple metamorphasis with no back to the crate and just an open-ended sack in it. I know that would be tough but I could do it. Whether or not the other guy could...I'm not sure. The problem with that is it's kind of anti-climatic and mj appears instead of disappearing. It doesn't have to fool magicians or anything, people won't know it's an illusion even until the climax so there doesn't need to be much proof (hence just the open-ended crate which doesn't need to be turned around to show all sides), just something that surprises and looks good and is worthy to end a knock-out michael jackson performance. I really appreciate your help!!! I know of the fairly inexpensive book on doing some stage illusions using only cardboard boxes etc. Would that have anything of use here? Thanks again, your help is greatly appreciated!!! Jonathan GRant |
RangeCowboy Regular user Long Beach 198 Posts |
Mylar tinsel background, a harness and a simple wire suspension on a pulley.
You do the MJ dance routine and do MoonWalker or something like that. Dont do the levitation right away but wait for the chorus and do a Moon Leap then a simple dance step or two turn and MoonLeap back again. Just a simple pair of slo-motion leaps will be enough and if you don't go too high or anything silly it will be understated but noticeable. |
makeupguy Inner circle 1411 Posts |
Normally, in a routine like that, many of the dancers are in identical costumes.. Have MJ in the same costume with a contrasting jacket...
Build a cabinet with a door in the back, have the other dancers gather around the cabinet or dance in a circle around it and have him head off with the other perfomers.. as long as it's 6 or more background dancers, no one will notice the extra person |
Corey K Special user Rhode Island 502 Posts |
Smooth Criminal huh? See if you can still get "The Lean". If you're doing it to that music, you can get the same effect that Michael does in the video where he leans really far forward.
Actually, I've been trying to find a contact to get one made and if anyone has the information, PLEASE let me know. Thanks! -Corey
Corey King
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Jonathan Inner circle Oklahoma 1223 Posts |
I'm aware of the special effects lean used in the music video. I don't know if that's possible though.
I do have a question. I've thought about the idea of dressing like the background dancers. Here's the problem, they will be dressed in the same type clothing except in brown and/or black with me being in an all white suit with hat. Any suggestions on how that could be done? Also I was thinking about having some kind of transluscent cover so the audience could "see" me dancing via shadow but it really be a projection of some kind while I slip out the back dressed. Where would the clothes that I change into be hidden and where would the clothes I leave behind be hidden? How would I climax this? I'm not sure about the use of pyrotechnics. We have flash pots ready to go but I don't think they will let us use them. Ideally I would want whatever I disappear from to explode or fall apart or something big while I immediatly appear at the back of the stage or something. This would require a little time to run to the back and also I'd have to change back which means I have to sneak off with the original jacket, hat, and tie (assuming that's what I change where the "cops" are wearing white pants and same shirt but with a blue hat and no tie so I change jackets, change hats, and rip off the clip-on tie...) and have time to change back! I don't know if the projection thing is possible due to the synchronization of the music, I don't know what all it entails to get a recorded projection and show it on screen so that may not be possible. What else could I use to accomplish this? I'll have to be gone for a minute or so so it needs to look like there's proof I'm still in there. Also, what should this thing I disappear from look like? It should fit the setting and the story (if you've ever seen the smooth criminal music video you know both). Thank you for ALL your help! JOnathan Grant |
Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
You might wish to consider some black art techniques if the stage will allow it.
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
Jonathan Inner circle Oklahoma 1223 Posts |
black art? I assume you mean black color backgrounds where things made black look invisible and not devil arts!
I don't know if that's possible. I can almost guarentee you it isn't. What did you have in mind? JOnathan Grant |
Thomas Wayne Inner circle Alaska 1977 Posts |
Consider this:
The Smooth Criminal character is avoiding capture from the other guys (police, other gang, whatever...). Near one wing (not TOO close, however) there are several "wooden" crates - sort of a loading dock set - and MJ slips between a couple of the taller crates to apparently hide among/behind them. It finally occurs to the pursuers to look among the crates; as they do, they grab them and turn and spin them around and away from the side area and from each other. Mj is nowhere to be found, and of course the audience is led to believe that he is hiding in one of the crates. Lo' and behold, the only crates large enough to hold MJ suddenly spring open (all four sides drop) and an accompanying bang/flash/puff-o'-smoke signals the occurance of magic. Mj concludes by popping up somewhere unexpected (or not). PM me if you want details. Regards, Thomas Wayne
MOST magicians: "Here's a quarter, it's gone, you're an idiot, it's back, you're a jerk, show's over." Jerry Seinfeld
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Magical Dimensions Inner circle 5001 Posts |
"The Lean" is a old trick or gag. I have an old magic magazine with someone back in the 30's doing it. In the mag they tell all there is to making your own.
The gag is easy enough to make. The only bad thing is if you are over 6ft tall and/or over 170lb. then it becomes very hard to do. Any taller or heavier will put undo stress on your lower back. Blackstone jr. really wanted to do it, but he couldn't because of his size. |
Jonathan Inner circle Oklahoma 1223 Posts |
Any more ideas on an ending?
Jonathan Grant |
Manipulix Regular user Germany 174 Posts |
Hi Jonathan,
I`m new here, but I`m interested in your problem. When will happen your event? Magically yours Manipulix
What is life without a little bit of magic?
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Jonathan Inner circle Oklahoma 1223 Posts |
The event happens in a little less than a year, like next february or march. The exact date hasn't been determined but it will be after January. Do you think you could help me come up with something? I would really appreciate it!
Jonathan Grant |
Missing_Link Elite user 442 Posts |
I'm interested in The Lean - anyone have any easily accessible references to recommend?
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DanielSteep Inner circle 1409 Posts |
For an ending??? how about burned alive?? Cane cabinet .. blade box???buzz saw?
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The Mac Inner circle 1982 Posts |
Okay..
okay on the stage is a box/crate and a stool. I'm assuming your stage has a black background. They capture Michael and put him into the box which is on the stool. A person walks behind the the box while it is on the stool to show that you can see thru the legs of the stool to the back. As the person does this they trigger the black art on the stool. so that Michael can escape_thru the back panel of the box (back panel is a swivel panel- like a revolving door) and they chain the box perhaps set it on fire ( all this time Michael is making his way to the back of the arena.. where a spot light suddenly shines on him. Then you can High 5 your way back to the stage.. |
NFox Inner circle I Do Mentalism Now?! 1101 Posts |
I'm sure Jonathan appreciates your help, guys, but it would seem that this performance would have gone off a little less than three years ago (February/March 2003). That being said: Jonathan did everything work out? How did the show go?
Nick Fox |
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