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Mind Guerrilla Inner circle Queens, NY 2670 Posts |
I'm guessing the "abyss" of the title refers to the hole left in a piece of paper after the middle has been ripped out. Wink. Wink.
On Into The Abyss, Oz Pearlman demonstrates and explains three effects: 1)"Listen to my Words"- The mentalist plays a recording correctly predicting a name thought of by the spectator. 2)"Ultimate Vacation"- The mentalist produces an envelope stapled on all four sides which contains details of a vacation the spectator took. 3)"What's in a Name?"- The mentalist provides details of a person the spectator is thinking of and that person's name is revealed to be contained in a sealed prediction held by another spectator. "Listen to my Words" presents a nice change of pace on a reveal. "Ultimate Vacation" is my favorite effect on the DVD as it seems impossible for the spectator's info to be contained in an envelope stapled on all four sides. "What's in a Name?" is the second strongest effect and incorporates some mild cold reading. The prediction can be revealed from a wallet or from removing a paper clip which has been holding it closed throughout. The effects themselves owe a lot to Richard Osterlind's PCT. Mr. Pearlman says you can use any favorite method for obtaining secret info but this is the only one he uses on the disc. He does not go into detail, referring the viewer to Richard Osterlind's Mind Mysteries or PCT book. The alternative reveal for "What's in a Name" comes from Jay Sankey's Paperclipped. The menu system on this DVD is awkward. You cannot hit "Play All" and watch every performance and explanation (at least not on my DVD player). You must select the effect you wish to view and then choose whether you want to watch the performance or explanation. Once you make this choice there are often sub-choices to be made. A "Play All" feature would have been more convenient especially if one would like to re-watch the disc listening to the commentary track which is provided for each segment. There is a section called "Special Notes" in which Mr. Pearlman basically thanks everyone he forgot to thank elsewhere on the disc. As this segment fades out you may wish to watch how the expression on Mr. Pearlman's face abruptly changes. I thought this was hysterical. Then again, I'm weird. The disc costs $35. Quote:
On 2007-11-24 17:15, Mind Guerilla wrote:"Listen to my Words" presents a nice change of pace on a reveal. At the risk of being presumptuous, I had a thought on how to possibly improve this reveal. I'm new to the Café so I'm not sure whether the DVD review thread is the appropriate place to talk about this. If it's not, mea culpa. My thought was that instead of removing the tape recorder from his pocket, the mentalist could remove only the tape. This would depend on the machine used and how easy it is to surreptitiously remove the tape. The performer could then ask if anyone present has a tape player (I would avoid using the word "recorder"). Of course, this request would only make sense in certain settings, for example a corporate boardroom. If a spectator indeed has a tape machine, the mentalist might say something like, "I don't want you to think I'm using some tricky player." This will make it look like the performer has had no access to recording equipment. If no one has a machine, the mentalist could remove one from another pocket or make a big show of walking all the way across the room and getting one from his/her case. |
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Oz uses these effects in his paid shows ( he's a talented and busy Magician. I think he's from Michigan but lives in New York City now )
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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THEGUY26 (Will Swanson) Inner circle Minnesota, USA 2379 Posts |
I heard he was actually born in Israel.
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jordanjohnson Special user Hiding in the Shadows 593 Posts |
Hmm Im a little disappointed! I thought it was a new innovative method
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Well, hold on. Folks are just receiveing this. Let's see what other reviews are like. People few things differently. Oz doesn't release things every ten minutes. He's slow to release and only what he uses in paid shows.
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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Mind Guerrilla Inner circle Queens, NY 2670 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-11-24 23:15, jordanjohnson wrote: Those ads do get our hopes up, don't they? I was actually relieved that the method didn't involve confederates. With the right presentation these are all strong effects. |
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Ozer4 Veteran user NYC 329 Posts |
Hello,
Thanks for the review. If you're looking for a wild and innovative new method to obtain secret information, this is not going to satisfy you. These are worker routines that are tried and tested over thousands of performances. Literally, THOUSANDS of times by me over the past 4 years and change. Trust me, I would not still be doing these routines if they did not get huge reactions. They are devastating to lay audiences, and very direct. Most mentalism takes awhile to "get to the point", whereas these are designed specifically to do just that. The routines on INTO THE ABYSS aren't as likely to fool fast company, such as fellow magicians and mentalists. If that's your main intent, you will really enjoy Perfection (will fool magicians and lay audiences alike). -Oz |
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junkdz New user 67 Posts |
Unfortunately, the advertising for this product was quite misleading. What you get on the DVD are three routines, well explained. However, the real work for the handling used in the performances is not explained. Rather we are referred to purchase another person's DVD for that. A much weaker alternate handling is described briefly, but is not used in any of the performances, and the effect would be much less powerful if it was. Quite simply, this is over-hyped and under-delivering 99% crap.
Montgomeryville Magician http://www.dzmagic.com Philadelphia Magician
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snm Special user 550 Posts |
How well would these effects work in a restaurant environment?
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Mind Guerrilla Inner circle Queens, NY 2670 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-11-25 09:40, junkdz wrote: Misleading advertising? I'm shocked! "Let the buyer beware." I'm not sure the ads for this product were any more misleading than your typical magic trick ads which tout a seemingly impossible miracle. I was concerned that the effects on Into The Abyss would require the use of a confederate. I was relieved they don't. I certainly didn't expect the disc to teach me how to actually read minds. I do have a problem with ads with outright lie. I recently purchased the MONA LISA 2 puzzle effect, for example. The ads claimed it utilized a unique method. It turns out that the method is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Ads for magic effects have to walk the tightrope of a)creating interest in the product and b)not giving away the method. If Into The Abyss had been advertised as "Three Exciting New Reveals for a Mentalism Classic" would more or less people be interested in purchasing it? I don't know the answer to this question. If Mr. Pearlman did not receive permission to explain the PCT then his hands were tied. The question then becomes would this material have been better suited for a less expensive booklet instead of a DVD? I think your "99% crap" assessment is way harsh. This DVD gives three powerful presentations for about 10 bucks each. If the disc had been more expensive, like Max Maven's Nothing, for example, or if it had been marketed as an intro to mentalism, I might be leaning more toward your opinion. Quote:
On 2007-11-25 10:51, snm wrote: In the performance sections of the disc, Mr. Pearlman demonstrates the effects in a pub setting for what appears to be legitimate lay spectators (as opposed to something like an L&L audience). Quote:
On 2007-11-25 11:15, Mind Guerilla wrote: I just listened to the commentary track and Mr. Pearlman describes this as a corporate happy hour setting. He refers to the situation as more of a standup than strolling routine. He is also shown performing to visitors in New York's Central Park. |
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junkdz New user 67 Posts |
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On 2007-11-25 11:11, Mind Guerilla wrote: That's the whole problem ... without teaching the PCT, which is used in each of the routines, this DVD does not in fact teach anything. Without that, its just a set of ideas and presentation advice. If permission wasn't forthcoming, then the disk should never have been released.
Montgomeryville Magician http://www.dzmagic.com Philadelphia Magician
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Devilix Veteran user 372 Posts |
Junkdz
I fully understand your idea and agree with you that a form of CT should have been explained. However, I can tell you that's its not a first. I have many DVD and can tell you that often, performer don't explain all in their DVD. I think its a mistake but this DVD is not the first one to do this. Devilix |
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phase27 Loyal user Tx 228 Posts |
If I already know and use a CT, would you recommend these DVDs? I really like the idea of each effect and how straight forward and direct they seem. I remember seeing Oz perform "Ultimate Vacation" back in March 2006 and blew me away. This was the one effect my family remembers the most out of everything performed that night.
Matt
"Life is only as good as the memories we make..." -K.Roe
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Mind Guerrilla Inner circle Queens, NY 2670 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-11-25 17:32, Devilix wrote: Mr. Pearlman does explain the classic CT on this disc but concedes that the technique is not useful for any of the effects because it can't be used to view the information immediately. Quote:
On 2007-11-25 18:29, phase27 wrote: It's sometimes difficult to recommend something because "One man's meat is another man's poison." I have described the DVD as containing three strong presentations. I was also tickled by "Ultimate Vacation." I can only hope that my review will assist in determining whether or not this disc is worth purchasing. If, for example someone is looking for a complete mentalism routine, this disc is not for them. Someone in your position, however, may think it's the best thing since sliced bread. Hmm...why do I keep talking about food? |
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paisa23 Inner circle 7293 Posts |
I was never fond of Sliced Bread, but Hoagies..... OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH YEAH!!! I was looking for a little mentalism in my arsenal, I know a thing or too but cant say its my strong point. Like OZ is this good for me?
June 22 2012 9:02 AM baby Usnavi was born!
http://twitter.com/paisa233 http://www.facebook.com/people/Wilder-J-Rua/505202382 http://www.myspace.com/wildrua |
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Mind Guerrilla Inner circle Queens, NY 2670 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-11-25 19:31, paisa23 wrote: You will need to know one of Richard Osterlind's techniques to use INTO THE ABYSS effectively. It can be found on Volume 1 of his MIND MYSTERIES DVDs. |
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paisa23 Inner circle 7293 Posts |
Have all of those and love the watch routine. But to be honest if its the CT then I'm a little iffy with it, could I use Acidus Novus or the Outlaw wallet or anything like that? I honestly havent even seen a demo since I'm at work and cant view Windows Media, just going by this site.
June 22 2012 9:02 AM baby Usnavi was born!
http://twitter.com/paisa233 http://www.facebook.com/people/Wilder-J-Rua/505202382 http://www.myspace.com/wildrua |
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jordanjohnson Special user Hiding in the Shadows 593 Posts |
Yes does it have to be CT or could it be any kind of peek because Im also not a big fan of CT
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Tivoli Loyal user Paris (France) 252 Posts |
Is it a CT for "Ultimate Vacation"?
Arthur |
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actorscotty Veteran user wilmington nc 397 Posts |
Like the Ultimate Vacation reveal as a signed card to impossible location, as for the CT, I use Osterlind's and the newer one with a handle, those who know will understand.
Paisa 23, yes you could use Acidus Novas to gain the info, in fact I tried it that way and was pleased with the result. In presentation, I had the lady print a name on a blank card, fold it, print her own name on the outside, took it for a second to see if I could read her name, handed it back still folded told her to show others as I turned around, and went on with the routine. Still prefer PCT as cleaner. |
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