So ... during the last few weeks I've seen several of these "Street Magic/Illusions" shows on TV. That one that ended with the hangman trick, and last night I was watching a Cris Angel episode.
Here's what's pissing me off: I enjoy watching magic, and used to be able to make some reasonable conjecture as to how they pulled off the illusion. Or at least reasonable enough to convince myself.
Lately, these illusions are simply so good that I generally cannot come up with any explanation, other than that the "audience" (i.e. the supposed strangers on the street) are in on the trick. Without that, I can't see how anyone can do some of these tricks; unless I am to start believing in actual magic.
Two examples from last night's Cris Angel show:
1) He goes into a book shop (trailed by a camera crew), and enlists 2 women (we presume strangers) for the trick. He tells them he is going to walk to the other side of the room. They are to choose *any* book they want to, open it to any page, and pick a random work off that page. After acting all-psychic, he guesses they word. How?
2) He has a crowd of supposed strangers on a city sidewalk put a large upside-down trash can over him. During this he is talking over a walkie-talkie with another volunteer. Five seconds after they cover him, he tells them (via walkie-talkie) to lift the can. Off course he is gone, and on a nearby roof. This a) clearly looked like a sidewalk, b) clearly looked like a single-shot, unedited video.
I like being amazed/impressed with the illusions, but not when I believe the illusions are a scam, and not an illusion.
What is going on here?
Originally posted by RookRAKIt's magic! 😉
So ... during the last few weeks I've seen several of these "Street Magic/Illusions" shows on TV. That one that ended with the hangman trick, and last night I was watching a Cris Angel episode.
Here's what's pissing me off: I enjoy watching magic, and used to be able to make some reasonable conjecture as to how they pulled off the illusion. Or at l ...[text shortened]... when I believe the illusions are a scam, and not an illusion.
What is going on here?
Originally posted by RookRAKMost of the illussions are edited some if they are on video. I learnt alot of street magic through a David Blaine school and once you know the trick, its easy to see why you didnt see it, I'll give you a couple examples.
So ... during the last few weeks I've seen several of these "Street Magic/Illusions" shows on TV. That one that ended with the hangman trick, and last night I was watching a Cris Angel episode.
Here's what's pissing me off: I enjoy watching magic, and used to be able to make some reasonable conjecture as to how they pulled off the illusion. Or at l when I believe the illusions are a scam, and not an illusion.
What is going on here?
David Blaine goes to a stranger and tells him he can resurect a fly, so he walks to a car looking for a fly on a windsheild, cant find one so he goes to a different car, finally finds a dead fly, starts rubbing it, and the fly soon wakes up and flys away, What it is is that the fly was frozen and put on the car by his camerman.
David Blaine I know edits his videos, when he levitates off the ground hes only going up 6 inches, yet on the movie they edited it to about 16 inches.
Im not sure how the guy guesses what word is in the book, there are several methods, and I didnt see it.
About the guy dissapearing in the trash can, I betcha he was using mirrors to reflect the image of him, what they can do with mirrors is amazing. I have never seen that being done on a street though, always done on a stage, but then again its on a film, so I guess it dont matter
Originally posted by darvlayThat was using mirrors that reflect the image, thats one of the first thing you learn if you go magic school, go through walls, people, cutting people in half etc.
Or the one where he showed up at his friend's magic show to perform a trick on-stage with him and he simple dove through him. Completely laughable yet unexplainable.
The levitaion over the building is using a special ring and rope that is unseeable
Originally posted by flyUnityAgain though, the premise of the "street magic" is that the people on the street are supposed to be an audience. Sure, if they are all paid actors you can do anything on a video. So mirrors could have fooled the camera, but not the dozen people standing right next to him as the trash can was put over him.
About the guy dissapearing in the trash can, I betcha he was using mirrors to reflect the image of him, what they can do with mirrors is amazing. I have never seen that being done on a street though, always done on a stage, but then again its on a film, so I guess it dont matter
I guess I want it to be a complex illusion, rather than just a group of actors pretending to be strangers.
Originally posted by RookRAKYea, I never seen or heard of anyone disapear with street magic. Im gonna ask someone and find out what hes doing and post back
Again though, the premise of the "street magic" is that the people on the street are supposed to be an audience. Sure, if they are all paid actors you can do anything on a video. So mirrors could have fooled the camera, but not the dozen people standing right next to him as the trash can was put over him.
I guess I want it to be a complex illusion, rather than just a group of actors pretending to be strangers.
