Is it morally wrong to watch a video of a magican doing a special and continuessly go slow mo through it and work out every nook and cranny of the effect until you can do.

I'm asking this because, to learn a trick your supposed to buy it, so by studying it is it really unethical or is it the performers help for not being smooth enough, even though its under super slow mo and precise watch

Personally,I feel you would learn better if you buy the effect. The reason is the performer is going to have a lot of information that you will not see or understand in just a performance. Plus with out permision to use the effect it is best to stay away from it. Now with that said I feel you can learn a lot from watching a performer do his thing. You can learn a lot about staging, lighting, and body movement. Now I am not saying copy the performer but learn with some ethics. If you learn from a slo mo video you are basically stealing with out permision and yes I think it is wrong. But that doesn't meen you can't learn something from the performance. Also if you really want to learn the effect do some research even contact the performer and ask if it is his and go from there.

tpdmagic

Interesting response tpdmagic. I'm glad someone brought up the idea of looking at the performance as well and stage direction in gerneral. Well noted and I will carry on with your ideas in mind.

I would say that it is ethically wrong to watch a performance video/DVD in slow motionion in order to learn and perform an effect. I agree with murcielago1687 that you are supposed to buy the effect not "steal" it. The manufacturer and the owner of the effect lose money.

But I ask if you buy the effect and want to watch on slo-mo is that ethically okay?

Just my 2% of $1.00

Ron

Funny line jwebyra, yeah I suppose that the creators would lose out, but if you watch a friend who just bought a trick then showed you ten minutes later. You would easily know how it is done then. Would you still have to buy the trick yourself. The point I'm trying to make is that I think it is up to the performer to make a solid effect that cant be seen, if they can do this then the price they charge will be a lot higher and subsequently the people buying the trick would also be of a greater calliber

Mr. Whitney,
I see your point, but if your friend wants to expose a trick (s)he just bought to you, (this a very grey ethical area) then in order to perform it legally then yes you would have to buy it. But let ask you this good sir. Have you ever been in a magic shop and the salesperson showed you how the trick worked without buying it? How would this affect your decision to purchase the trick? Also note that you did not ask about the workings it was volunteered by the salesperson.
In terms of the performce of the magician to prevent any hint of giving away the secrets then yes they do have a responsibility plus you have the position of the cameras, lighting, and etc. If the magician has control over these aspects then this helps but if (s)he doesn't then you have to hope the director also makes sure the magician doesn't give anything away.
Thank you for your time.

Ron

Please do and see what kinds of questions you have... and ask them your questions.