|
|
Magic KL Inner circle 2564 Posts |
I am not a reader...well, too lazy to be one. It's so nice for them to release a video version of this effect.
http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/9819 Ad copy: "One of the most powerful tricks you'll ever do with a pack of cards." - Steve Valentine (four-time Magic Castle Award Winner) "Dammit Chris, I love this!" -Gerry Katzman (Magic Castle, Comedy Central, NBC, ABC, FOX...) "Chris is a genius! His book Intimate Mysteries [where a short version of "All Tied Up" was first published] is in my top 5 Magic books. Maybe top 3." -Stephen Eric Young "Pure, to the heart magic." -Daniel Ricks "Wow! I love this!" -Kelli Maroney Ulin "Steve Valentine is right when he says this is one of the strongest effects you can do with a deck of cards. What I like about this piece is the spectators remember it and take something from the experience." - Alex Hinojosa "It's really special. Amazing thing, Chris! So many ways to use this." -Patrick Torres "Do Not Release This! The strongest card trick I perform from one of my favorite books." - Matthew Novak "BRILLIANT! Thank you so much for releasing this!" -Paul Hamilton All Tied Up begins as a psychological game, veers into an emotional exploration of your spectator, reveals itself as a card trick and then, in a powerful finale, becomes an act of empowerment that your spectator will remember for a long, long time. The strength of the effect is all in its script, but Chris Philpott (with Steve Valentine) also go into details about the handling for both an impromptu version and one using a gimmicked deck (which you may already own). All the handlings are easy-to-do, so you can concentrate on performance. Originally printed in Chris’ book Intimate Mysteries (“A must buy!” –Mark Elsdon; “One of the best books I’ve EVER owned!” – Stephen Young; “A major contribution to our art! - Neil Somerville), the effect in this video contains much more details on both handling and presentation. “Of all the effects I’ve come up with, this is the one I do more than any other. I have fried a room full of knowledgeable magicians with it and done it for friends who became very emotional when it was performed for them. If I have time for just one effect, it’s All Tied Up.” –Chris Philpott |
Knarild New user 52 Posts |
Unclear what the effect is.
|
reignofsound Inner circle Glasgow, UK 2199 Posts |
It's a way to perform the In******e D**k
|
cho7 New user France 66 Posts |
Just finished the video. Well. I'm very disappointed. At 14.95$ it is certainly the most expensive instant download of its kind (and I have 149 tricks in my Penguin library), and this is probably the reason I'm disappointed.
As reignofsound told you, the main idea is simply a story, which justifies the use of the In******e D**k... As such, it's hard not being disappointed but it's only my opinion. Then they provide a way to do the trick in a impromptu way, with a regular deck of cards. Will require some interesting utility moves, but also a bit of finger fiddling : not my style at all. To be honest, I bought it because in the trailer we can see that the revelation is placed under the deck's box, and I was curious about how it is done. Well, you'll see by yourself if you buy the video, but personally, I feel scammed. Last but not least, if you want to make your spectator cry, you'll have to be VERY good in your storytelling (but like any of us, I guess ?), and he (or more likely she) will have to be VERY sensitive too. |
Chris Philpott Special user 502 Posts |
Thanks for posting, Magic KL.
Knarild, the power of All Tied Up is primarily in the scripting - the video is meant to give you a flavor of the effect, the twists and turns of the plot (as you might see in a movie trailer) without giving away the store. At its core, this is a card prediction, but that barely begins to describe it. It's the only card trick I can think of which was inspired by a psychological study. It really does make people feel relieved, uplifted and emotional, as three people said in the trailer. It engages people on a deeper level than most magic tricks and consequently moves them in deeper ways. Reignofsound, if you've seen the video you know the method goes much deeper than that. I've fooled a room full of knowledgeable magicians and that's impossible with the gimmick you tipped. You also know I can't go into more detail on this without tipping more and I hope you won't either. Cho7, sorry you didn't like the effect, but really, a "scam"? I don't think that's fair. The add copy was pretty clear: "The strength of the effect is all in its script" and as Steve Valentine says in the video, "It's not about the trick - it's about the experience." I know we magicians aren't really used to that, but that's what this is, that's why it's different and that's why it gets the kind of reactions it does. You knew the price going in, so if it seemed high, you shouldn't have bought it. My effect The 100th Monkey was priced at $80, it sold thousands and I don't recall anyone complaining about the price of that. I come at magic a little differently than many magicians -- I'm an award-winning screenwriter and to me, many magicians undervalue the power of good scripting. In film and TV everyone knows that everything begins with the script. Most of the best magicians also know the centrality of scripting and don't undervalue it -- I'm constantly hired to write for pros for TV and stage (including two sets of AGT finalists). You get one of my best scripts for a tiny fraction of the price I charge pros -- that's a pretty good deal. (There's more on the confluence of my magic and screenwriting in an article in the current issue of Vanish). On a more philosophical level, why do people go to the movies, or watch TV, or listen to music or go to an art gallery? The answer is simple: to feel something. Why do they go to a magic show? It's not to be fooled (though that's as much a part of our job as good acting and lighting is to the movies). As with all the arts and entertainments, they also go to feel something: wonder, mirth, excitement, beauty, awe... This effect takes some previously well-known (but extremely effective) methods, combines them with some more, and adds strong emotional content which elevate it from an amusing puzzle to a deeply affecting mystery. This is why it has gotten the critical reactions it has: as Matthew Novak said, "Please don't release this! The strongest card trick I perform from one of my favorite books." and as Steve Valentine says, "it might be the most powerful trick you'll ever do with a pack of cards." And you really don't have to be "VERY good at storytelling" to get strong reactions with this. I've included 3 of my performances and I just talk -- there is no acting. It's all very conversational with zero theatrics. Some people cry, some don't (only one does in the trailer -- it's hard to get crying when you're shoving a camera in people's faces.) But even the one's who don't are moved by the effect and when we ask how they feel at the end we get answers like "I feel really good. Relieved", "shaky", and "Uplifted". These are not the kind of responses you get to most magic tricks, but they are the kind of answers you might get after people saw an inspiring movie. I wish you'd actually try it out and see the power of the effect for yourself. In any event, I hate dissatisfied customers so if you don't want to give it a shot, pm me and I'll make it right with you. |
cho7 New user France 66 Posts |
Hi Chris, thanks for your response.
Yes, I might be a little to rude, but I'm french, that how we are I guess Sorry about that. The thing is, the video performance is *very* unclear. Knarild also told this, but I think many will come to the same conclusion. At worst they won't buy, at best they will, but might feel disappointed like I was. Mostly because we hook to the tiny clues of what we see in the trailer : a revelation card is placed under the box, the spectator are crying, a melancholic music. In the end, as you said, it's all in the script. I understand you use to charge this a lot more for pros, that they do it on stage, we see this in the video, and it works. But in the Penguin Instant Downloads section, this is clearly a price above the average, compared to tricks that might be not so well scripted, but more focused on the method, which are nevertheless also sometimes genius. Penguin is not only for Pros, and people should simply know more what it is before buying, otherwise many will feel the same that I did when I play the video for the first time. As is, it's simply not my kind of magic. |
Nathan Alexander Inner circle 2021 Posts |
I'm an actor.
Story matters, a lot. Magic happens in the mind of the spectator first, regardless of the toolbox or trick used. When done right, incredible magic happens, and isn't soon forgotten, when perceived with end results in mind (yes, even sponge ball magic) and performed with that purpose. But you don't need to be an actor. Just having the right script (and instruction for its timing and choreography), people can be moved far, far more than by just the strength of a tool or gimmick by itself. As an aside, Chris, you have (in my opinion) one of the coolest and most incredible jobs in the field. All pieces have to work together (actors, directing, editing and more), but script writing makes or breaks any TV, film or other production. I just love what you do, and am completely in awe of your experience. I'd kill to know your thoughts on so much as a writer, but enough gushing. Another aside, but to further my point for others: My first time on a major production many years ago for a national spot taught me just how critical details like a small shadow literally twenty yards away, barely noticeable on set to anyone else, mattered and stood out. It taught me that audiences don't know when all those pieces work well, the directing, acting, lighting or writing, other than they can appreciate "that it's good", while they immediately know a bad show, film or commercial because of what's done wrong and because something is off. In other words, I now have a huge appreciation for the inedible work and detail put into all facets of productions, commercial or otherwise, while most people outside the business don't understand the awesome talent it took from so many departments to get it there because they usually can't put their finger on why or truly appreciate it. Cool stuff. |
Chris Philpott Special user 502 Posts |
Hey Cho7, thanks for your response. The price was set before I took this to Penguin -- they choose which effects to send out to their email list. I'm very pleased they chose All Tied Up. This is not an effect just for pros -- it's very easy to do and I really wish you'd give it a shot. I honestly don't know how I could have conveyed anything more about the effect without giving it all away. Lior Manor faced the same problem with his wonderful Talk to the Screen -- the set up and script is everything. He chose to give away nothing (btw, his effect is $300 and worth every penny).
Thank you, Nathan! I agree with everything you said, but want to amplify one point: when writing for Magic Magazine I got to do extensive interviews with Derek DelGaudio and Frank Oz (who directed Derek in In and Of Itself). Frank is a hugely talented and experienced director who's worked with a number of great actors (Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Steve Martin, Michael Caine, Bill Murray...) and he says his main job directing the play was getting Derek NOT to act. He would say, "You're acting!" whenever Derek started -- he wanted Derek to just talk, be natural, say the lines as himself, not as some character. Doing that can take some practice, but it's incredibly valuable. |
Nathan Alexander Inner circle 2021 Posts |
Quote:
On May 7, 2018, Chris Philpott wrote: I would so kill to take you to lunch and hear your stories. Next time you're in Mpls and bored? Let me buy you dinner. |
Chris Philpott Special user 502 Posts |
Hey Nathan --
That sound like fun! Someone is booking a lecture tour for me soon -- you guys have any venues for that? |
tomd Special user 747 Posts |
So I bought this a while back, directly from Chris. I never posted a review, but I remember sort of liking the idea and then moving on with my life (without ever performing it). Upon reflection I did feel like this was priced $5 too expensive, but I still hadn't performed it..
Fast forward to last night. I was practicing tricks to a girl I always perform for (side note: she's great to test things on because she missunderstands instructions a lot, reacts underwhellingly sometimes, and always interrupts me during my presentations.. real world spectators are easy to deal with in comparison, so great practice). So I decided to try this script out on her, with the impromptu version of the effect. Some key points: 1. I realised very quickly she was engaged in the presentation. No interrupting, no confusion. She was playing along and was clearly having fun. Me too. 2. The dirty work flew past her. I expected this, but later I'll reveal what shocked me*. 3. Once I explained that her answers actually reflected different aspects of her life, she 100% lapped it up (a crude term consideringg the conversation we were having, but "lapped it up" is the best way I could describe it) 4. Her shock when she saw the playing card reversed was great, pure shock, and then she delivered the line: * "How is that even possible, I had the deck in my hands the entire time?" - this is a line she repeated several times, and never corrected herself. She didn't have the deck the entire time, but the script made it seem so. she then said this was the best card trick I'd done. I've come to the conclusion (perhaps a tad to early, but still) that this is possibly the best card trick you can do with a female participant. I didn't buy into any of the script (I'm a guy, and I think most guys would feel the same), but what shocked me was how effective it was to a female who I'd consider to be quite emotionally masculine. I can imagine this playing way stronger with a more "emotionally" feminine female. Also, I was doing the trick with one Watch of the download 3 weeks prior, so if I tidied up the script this thing will be very powerful (maybe even for men?). I'd compare this to a star sign reveal.. I always prefer using women for that, as there's a far higher chance they actually care about star signs. Having said that, this is More powerful, you seemingly reveal more about them, and it's far more commercial and enjoyable than an anagram. I'm going to re-watch the download this week, and actually put in some work towards the presentation, this is clearly stronger than I anticipated. Thanks Chris. Tomas |
Chris Philpott Special user 502 Posts |
Thank you, Tomas!
I've gotten some really great suggestions from people creating some lovely variations of this effect. I think I'm going to set up a Facebook page so people can share them. Details to follow. |
kidnapped1853 New user 62 Posts |
Thanks for the real-world review Tomas!
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Latest and Greatest? » » All Tied Up by Chris Philpott (2 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.08 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 < |