After a chat with peter today, it looks like they have another beauty on the way for us.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AIjvognVsU
just a teaser for now, but I'm sure it wont be long before another demo

This is a killer.
Simon performed it for me at Blackpool and he KILLED me with it.
All the best to Simon and Alakazam for this new release.

Hi Titanas,

Simon totally got me with this as well, I think the idea is great!

Well done Simon you've managed to get me doing something new in my act

Peter

Peter or Titanas,

Can you outline the basic routine??

I have developed my own movie star themed routine and I am cusrious what your's plays out like.

Hi,

It's not my routine at all. Directors Cut is a set of Movie cards (thin laminated stock) That you can perform many mind reading effects with. On the DVD Simon Shaw goes over a handful of routines using that cards and there is also a PDF doc on the DVD with covers so much more! I know Richard Osterlind has been using Directors Cut for a while now and his feedback has been great!

These cards are so cool, they pack small but the routines play so BIG. I was working a drinks reception the other evening for a casino in London and performed Directors Cut to every group. I must say the reactions were fantastic.

We are expecting the release date to be mid August (both out UK and U.S site will have these in stock at the same time). Details will soon be on our sites-

http://www.alakazam-usa.com

http://www.alakazam.co.uk

Best Regards

Peter
PS. Before anyone asks for a pre release set Spelmann, Earl & Looch swiped my 3 remaining sample sets ;-(

Put me down for one of these Pete

Thanks Peter,

SOLD!

This is a solid-as-ROCK, hard hitting, clean, commercial effect for performers of all kind. I was lucky enough to have an early hand-made set and I can tell you this is seriously good.

Square and solid thinking on Simon Shaw's part backed with Peter Nardi's quality production means this is a winner. I can't wait for the DVD as I am aching to see what bonus effects and tips have arisen.

You better have a second print run ready Peter!!!

Well done guys!

Thanks Tom,

Simon has some very nice ideas with this set. So glad he chose to release it.

Peter

I'm glad simon's releasing this..i have a copy of those hand made ones like tom...

it's great that this is getting a release, and lots of scope with regards to performance too...

To expand on Peter's response - I see these cards as a means for a multitude of effects that play both big and small. There really is no limit to the effects that would work with the cards. I have been using them for the last two and a half years and have four or five different effects that I use them regularly for. Some for Strolling/close up and some that I use for my stage/parlour performances.

One of the main effects that I use them for is for strolling or table magic where they visualise one of the films and in true mind reading fashion I can start to reveal piece by piece what they are thinking – I usually start with the genre of film, but then it may be scenes from the film, actors, theme tunes etc – it all depends on the film in question.

It also allows for a variety of performance styles – you could be mind reading, or using more Derrenesque psychological methods such as body language etc. One of my favourite effects is a drawing duplication, but other ideas include a muscle reading effect and a prediction.

It’s great fun, and different every time which makes it interesting for the performer and it genuinely does get great reactions (I know everyone says that – but spectators have said they can actually feel me rooting about inside their head).

I hope this helps

Thanks Peter, Tom and IAIN for the positive comments.

This sounds like it will be good... is there anything special about the cards themselves?

I have a routine that uses movie cards, but it's based completely on horror, and it's such a fun thing to perform that the thought of having something put out focused purely on this kind of thing is something that really interests me.
I will be wanting to pick this up, as then I can mix it up and do a wide variety of movie related pieces.

Looking forward to this one.

Think you have a winner on your hands Simon.

Best

John

Bananafish,

Thanks for fleshing this out a bit more...

My effect is a bit limited to what yours seems to offer.

I know most people have some kind of interest (even a love for films), so I'm sure this will be a real winner.

Sounds very commercial & has my early vote

I had the privilege of seeing Simon perform this many times, including to Andy Nyman at our first Tabula Mentis meeting. The effect is wonderfully flexible and packs a wallop! I have now seen the product and the quality is what you can expect from Alakazam...really cool looking and so many presentational ideas...hats off to Simon and Peter for bringing this to the market...this will blow you away.....

Anyword on a release date yet?

I saw this at the IBM/SAM convention. I was a little disappointed that the cards were so small. It's definitely for close-up, which is fine with me, but they're pretty small.

I believe this effect is based on a very old trick called "Mental Pictoria", which is surely based on something even older. Still, a great principle and great mental effect using a packet of nicely produced movie cards.

I'm definitely getting this.
Robert

Hi Guys,

http://www.alakazam-usa.com and http://www.alakazam.co.uk will have Directors cut in stock and ready to ship by the end of the month.

Regards

Peter

Managed to get my hands on a set, I must say the quality of the cards is top notch, nice one Alakazam for the production quality, not watched the DVD yet so can not comment on the routine, I'm sure it will go right into my set!

Will update after I have watched tonight!

Ash

Ok so had chance to sit down and spend some time on this last night -

What you get?

Well you get a set of very nice 'movie' cards all laminated and very nice to handle (about credit card size)

a Dvd with effects explaned and tips also a PDF with scripts.

Now I didn't really know what I was getting based on the blurb that is given, the first thing that struck me was, of course, the presentaion package which has become the norm with Alakazam products. This comes packaged very well indeed (not that important I know but still nice)

The first thing I did before I put the dvd in my player was stare at the cards to see if there was anything 'special' about them, any marking etc - There aren't, these are clean.

So then I looked through the cards, there are some cinematic classics here, maybe 2 that I have not seen but this is all covered in the PDF.

sooooooo on with the DVD

The DVD is well produced and has Simon showing his routines to Peter Nardi then Mark Spellman then some guy I don't know!! (Ps did Mark roll his sleeve up to show that tattoo?? lol)

The routines are very nice indeed and will play really big, you can really let go with your mentalism performance skills here, you not naming a card or devining a number you are 'seeing' the film through there eyes, if you know the film then you are happy days, sit back and relax. They have a FREE choice out of all the 32 cards FREE choice!

to sum up

Wil I be using this - Yes tonight at my reseidency
Will I be creating more routines - Yes already have a few floating around
Am I happy with this - Yes, very

Now this is not something that will do all the work for you it is a tool to help you achieve unreal effects..........it took me a few hours to get down but its now fully down loaded in my head!!

So thanks to simon for creating this and thanks to Alakazam for putting out this very nice set which gives a ver nice break from cards/coins and numbers.

Priced at £24.99 - pick it up and go create.

All the best

Ash Turner