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JohnLamberti Elite user Los Angeles, CA 420 Posts |
I see a lot of people putting down people like Angel and Blaine and the TV shows they put out. But what I don't see a lot of is offering up of alternatives.
So let's pretend you're producing a television show dedicated to magic. You have 13 episodes to produce. What's going to be on your show? Who's going to be on your show. Money is no object. C'mon...take your best shot. |
MrBiddle Loyal user 239 Posts |
Well, without trying to deviate from any magical ethics, perhaps put in a little narrative fiction or a farce in it... but the effects will still be done live nonetheless...
As for the "street" magic trend where the walk-around magic genre has been married with masochistic stunts for finales, well let's not limit ourselves to "close-up" I say, if possible still go OUTDOORS but also some bigger stuff. Remember Champions of Magic? in Monaco? Hans Klok doing illusions onstage OUTSIDE, Brett Daniels making billiard balls appear OUTSIDE. That kind of thing, but outdoors or indoors there's still a naturalistic kind of touch to it. What have I just been babbling about: 1. Get back to being theatrical. 2. Something that's NOT limited to just close-up material. 3. Some narrative fiction with the magic. Let's say a couple with an escapist's mentality having a date in the restaurant... Nope no magician in the restaurant yet. But later CUT TO: A stage, a magician card or ball manipulator doing his magic "cha-cha" or 4 ball, 8 ball tango... he then produces dancers on the stage ... how? (I'm not thinking about boxes, but black art, wedge, or momentary obstruction by a cloth...) and the shot STEADICAMS towards one of the dancers, it's the COUPLE! They're part of the magic! So besides being just a magic show it's got this diegesis to it. I wonder if there's so much bombast in what I've posted here... and if it's NOT-so bad an idea I wonder if it'll be hard to sell the idea to TV viewers that the magic is done live (because it is and has to be, remember the ethics) and is what they would see if they were here... And this post has gone on longer than it should, I guess ;-b
I would, however contest that there is in REALITY very little pportunity to perform what could actually be termed "close-up" magic.
- Guy Hollingworth |
KerryJK Special user Northampton UK 621 Posts |
I'll say before commencing here that the TV magic show that has most influenced me is Simon Drake's "Secret Cabaret", to this day I still consider Simon Drake to be one of the finest artistic minds working in magic today. He's known as a blood and gore magician, but his work has so much more depth than that and he is a master at creating and exploiting an immersive, evocative atmosphere. If I were responsible for putting on a show of this nature, I would pay whatever it took to get him on board as a creative consultant.
The show I'd aim to put on is not going to just be magic. Magic (provided by host and guest magicians of every persuasion) will be at the heart of it and will claim the main billing, but I would also book circus performers, speciality acts, musical guests that fit into the alternative cabaret ethos, performers from the new burlesque scene (which, incidentally, is on the up at the moment, having experienced a boom on the New York alternative scene which is gradually spreading in the UK and elsewhere) and so forth. So what I'd propose is basically a variety show (as many of the classic TV magic shows actually were, up to and including the Secret Cabaret), set in the alt cabaret/burlesque stylings more in the tone of New York rather than Las Vegas, mixing atmospheric timeless stylings with contempary performances. One of the things that has accounted for the surge of interest in burlesque is that it puts the focus back on female performers (and in my case, pseudo-female) as creative artists in their own right, with great names of yesteryear such as Sally Rand, Anna Held, Gypsy Rose Lee, Lydia Thompson and many others being idolised by a new generation of dancers and performers looking to make their mark and express themselves. So I would actively seek to mix quality performers of both genders, to avoid having either a girlie show that would appeal only to young males (in burlesque circles there is definite line drawn between burlesque, which is about tease and creativity, and strip porn) or a macho shock show also aimed to appeal to young males (we've had those for the last fifteen years or so.. it's been fun, but it's time to move on). Basically, I want something in which everybody, male, female, in between and of whatever sexuality can find something to enjoy and want to identify with. |
MrBiddle Loyal user 239 Posts |
Hmmm... A variety show would be a taste of something different - well, one that has magic as the main billing if such a show is compared to what we're getting most of the time.
But I think the acts to be put in should undergo a screening process... which ones have artistic integrity, which ones are overwrought, which ones come off as corny, and single out the really good and exceptional acts.
I would, however contest that there is in REALITY very little pportunity to perform what could actually be termed "close-up" magic.
- Guy Hollingworth |
Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
This may be boring to non-magicians but
I'd like to see a history of performance magic with the performers being in period clothing and settings. Maybe have a young girl or boy travel through time, visit the old greats and watch them perform. Episodes progress through history. Begins with the earliest known tricks like C&B, Indian Rope Trick and such. Middle Ages through the 17th century. The persecutions of these times. Maybe some scams like Monte, Fast & Loose, etc, in historic settings. 19th century magic of Houdin, Herrmann, Hofzinger, etc. Performers of the late 1800s and early 1900's. Houdini, Downs, Blackstone, Dunninger, etc. This century would would be over several episodes and include vaudville acts and society entertainers also. Old film clips could be good. Magician's acts from the mid to late 1900s. TV personalities. Las Vegas acts. 2000 and beyond. What's happening in the 21st century? --------------- I would think that the inclusion of different cultures and genders would be a plus too. |
George Ledo Magic Café Columnist SF Bay Area 3042 Posts |
Hmmm... thirteen episodes and no budget issues. Let's see, it's Saturday morning and I've only had one cup of coffee...
Okay, I'd go with something along the lines of what The History Channel, or maybe Ken Burns, does: put some kind of a historical spin on the series. A couple of years ago I saw a short documentary on Jasper Maskelyne and his work with the British military during WWII. It was fascinating. For the series, I'd probably start by exploring magic in ancient Egypt, go out there, film some stuff, maybe find a couple of local magicians, do a mini-docu on them as people and as performers, and then do a live show at night in front of the Sphinx, with an ancient Egyptian theme. Basically, look at the Egyptian historical context of magic and how it can be used today for entertainment. Then I'd go to places like India, China, Germany, France, England, and so forth. Look at people like Maskelyne and Dunninger (who also supposedly worked w/ the military during the war), certainly at Robert-Houdin, and explore how magic has been used for purposes like theatre and special effects. Each segment ending in a fully-produced act based on the segment's theme. Okay, time for another coffee.
That's our departed buddy Burt, aka The Great Burtini, doing his famous Cups and Mice routine
www.georgefledo.net Latest column: "Sorry about the photos in my posts here" |
George Ledo Magic Café Columnist SF Bay Area 3042 Posts |
Holy smokes... seems like Jaz and I were typing away at the same time! What's that they say about thinking alike?
And no, I don't think it would be boring to non-magicians at all. I think it could be far more interesting than watching trick after trick for thirteen episodes.
That's our departed buddy Burt, aka The Great Burtini, doing his famous Cups and Mice routine
www.georgefledo.net Latest column: "Sorry about the photos in my posts here" |
Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
George.
Four thousand miles apart and we're both getting similar vibes? Heck of a way to start the day. |
kregg Inner circle 1950 Posts |
I would do "Thirteen Days of Halloween."
It would feature a different magician's every night, great story tellers and a live Halloween night finale that can not be Tivo'd. The location shoots would feature "Haunted Houses" from around the world, as legends have it! I would have Rob Zombie, Jimmy Page, Wes Craven and feature Horror film actors as host; telling stories of weird and unexplained things that have happened in their lives. My imagination is just getting started.... Kregg
POOF!
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
How would you arrange it so the thing could not be TiVo'd?
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
I already have written it and submitted for review. It's called Magic Town, USA
Dennis Michael
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kregg Inner circle 1950 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-10-29 14:03, Jonathan Townsend wrote: Encoding. Also, if you can block out events, you can block services offered by distribution services (cable/satellite).
POOF!
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Paul Jester Special user UK 759 Posts |
What about covering the competitions or even holding a competion in a X factor or Strictly come dancing kind of way. Also could you imagine a Magicians Big Brother?
I love the through history and round the world idea. In keeping with current fashion in US, to put a truly skilled cardician and partner (people actually capable of cheating) in a poker game against some well known names and challange them to win would be entertaining for all those poker fans. |
MrBiddle Loyal user 239 Posts |
BUSTED ON THE JOB: Magicians getting caught and how they persevere in the face
of adversity although this has to be "censored" a little bit as to minimize or to avoid exposure ... if there is a way of creating a tv special like this without having unethical exposure of our art...
I would, however contest that there is in REALITY very little pportunity to perform what could actually be termed "close-up" magic.
- Guy Hollingworth |
jimtron Inner circle 2039 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-10-29 11:42, Jaz wrote: I like this. The history of this stuff is fascinating. Maybe on public TV, or cable? |
tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
I would to like see a talent show where each week they get rid of some until they have a winner. The public vote and we could learn from this what the general pulic like and don't like as the case may be. A panel of expert magi could make comment on the performances and we could also learn from that.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
Mark Storms Veteran user Seattle, WA 393 Posts |
Hmmmm. what kind of tv show would I make? I would have to say that Derren Brown's crew has the winning combonation. More involved up close effects with real people. They choose to focus in on the spectators experience rather than the magicians. The "reality show" style that mindfreak offers up puts attention on the magicians experience and not the spectators. No normal person cares what the magician is going through, they just want to see some impossible stuff and people with funny reactions.
Find out what you cannot do.., Then go and do it!
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