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michaelmystic2003 Inner circle 3062 Posts |
Because this isn't just a DVD of effects... it's a DVD focusing heavily on a newly explored concept.
Learn more about my upcoming book of close up magic and theory SYNTHESIS & SECRETS: A Magic Book in Four Acts: https://www.michaelkrasworks.com/synthesis-secrets
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tester2006 Loyal user 210 Posts |
I think your opinion will vary. To me its more of a marketing scheme and pretentious name for a trick. I received my package yesterday so I'm basing my opinion on the actual content itself. You wouldn't go up to a spectator and say I'm going to perform a "bend" for you or did I just bend your real? In the spectator's eyes you have just performed a trick. These effects aren't going to "blow their reality" more than any other trick or effect. Obviously some folks have bought in to the "bending" philosophy before even getting the DVD so please provide your feedback after you've viewed it. There is more detail on the "Bending" concept in the preview videos posted on Jay's youtube channel than on the actual DVD itself. The DVD comes in at 1 hour and 14 minutes and contains 25 tricks which averages about 3 minutes per performance/explanation for each effect. The visual effects used are just plain annoying. Its all filmed in a strange Sepia tone which tends to show everything black and white except colored gimmicks and clothing. This to me was done to make the DVD look cool but it failed miserably. Paper Crane or Theory 11 can make their DVD's look awesome and still make the routines CLEARLY visible at the same time. This failed on both counts. For the short intermissions from the actors with their "bend snippets" I can tolerate the strange visual effects but for the actual explanations themselves I could have done without it. I have attached a screen cap from the video itself so you can see what I mean.
Several effects (I refuse to call them bends) are included from previous released material such as Vanishink, Hijacked and Zero Gravity. These are nice although since I own all these effects separately it basically negated my previous purchases. A couple of the effect are pranks which I even consider mean spirited and wouldn't perform for an enemy much less a friend. I think my friend would be horrified if I broke or pretended to break their car window. I think if this DVD was billed as a collection of Sankey's signature fun effects with a few of Sankey's former released material as a Bonus it would feel like a more worthwhile purchase. But as far as the revolutionary concept and hype that was sold here for $35 I can't buy into it. Click here to view attached image. |
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michaelmystic2003 Inner circle 3062 Posts |
I understand your point about the whole bend/trick thing. Technically speaking, there's not much difference between a bend and a magic effect from what I see... it all depends on CONTEXT and SETTING. By design, they are magic effects, but it all depends on when, how, and why you use them. They're designed to adapt to your surroundings and be done with the objects you find in many common day-to-day places. I've done Reality Break at Starbucks multiple times when I go with friends, and it catches people completely off guard.
Really, I shouldn't be talking until I get my DVD, but this is the concept as I understand it.
Learn more about my upcoming book of close up magic and theory SYNTHESIS & SECRETS: A Magic Book in Four Acts: https://www.michaelkrasworks.com/synthesis-secrets
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tester2006 Loyal user 210 Posts |
Hi Mike, I respect your optimism. You sound like my mentality before I got the DVD! The concept stuff really is not on the DVD its on the bending the real youtube channel. Honestly I was glad because I can only handle so much of it. It really is a collection of 25 tricks almost none of them with cards (I think Hijacked is the only one). With 25 tricks and 74 minutes of video it is fairly fast paced, but not overly so. If a magician performs the same effect at a restaurant, on the street, and at a party is 1 a bend and the others are effects? Nothing revolutionary is here except for the marketing and the word "bend." By the way, I have almost all of Jay's stuff and think he is a great teacher so I'm not biased against him. Just unimpressed with this release.
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mayniac Special user 616 Posts |
So what is the difference between this whole "bending the real" concept and the frame of mind that Paul Harris stated YEARS ago in his Art of Astonishment books? The basic points seem to be almost the same, except that Jay decides to call his tricks "bends." Paul Harris preferred to call them "pieces of strange," although he did not insist that we use the same terminology. Remember the Counterfeit Spectator effect, anybody?
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puggo Inner circle 2022 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-04-29 06:50, Michaelmystic2003 wrote: Considering all the negativity about (on many subjects), I admire your optomism! As for 'newly explored concept' - I haven't seen anything in the trailers / youtube vids that is out and out 'new' beyond the name. I would agree with the reference to Paul Harris a few posts up. What about Calen Morelli's 365 days of magic? are some of those 'bends'? I have a huge respect for Sankey, but have not ordered this and doubt I will. I am looking forward to your review; and I am open to having my mind changed...! Charlie |
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
I am currently unemployed, so I have to watch every dollar. I'm also doing bankruptcy, so every dollar counts. Not a whole lot of money to go around these days for magic purchases. So whatever I purchase has to be good. In the past I purchased every Sankey release without batting an eye, but with my new financial condition, I look at everything with a more critical eye before plopping down the bucks.
Since I first heard of Bending The Real, the one thought that dominated my thinking was this "What is the difference between bending and just good old fashioned impromptu magic?" I kind of felt it was a fancy word for the same thing. A "new" concept that is not really new. I had a sinking feeling about purchasing this, so I have not done so, yet.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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mantel Special user 922 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-04-29 15:47, mayniac wrote: None that I could see. I was actually thinking about posting this. But you beat me to it. |
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
OK, Lets stop and analyze this. If you really think about it, to truly bend someones concept of reality, what you show them is going to have to be so powerfully astonishing that there is no possible explanation left in their mind. The moment they realize "Oh. It was a magic trick. " Then reality is no longer bent for them. They realize that there was no miracle, which is what we purport to do as magicians.
After all what is true bending? It's changing people's concepts of what is really possible in this physical world. It's what our old friend Doug Henning strived for with his "sense of wonder." that he tried to instill in people. Let's say you're in a room full of people and you decide to "levitate" You ascend two or three inches at the most, and then you land. Balduci, Elevator, King Rising, or whatever you decide to employ as your modus operandi. They might be astonished for a few moments. But after it's over, they come down from the moment of astonishment, and they begin to rationalize. "Well, he probably had something mechanical on the bottom of his shoe that allowed him to rise up." (The "bend" is now over as they realize there was no real miracle or defying of the laws of gravity.) But let's say you're in a room full of people at a party, and somehow, you rise two inches, then three, then a foot, and you keep going up and up until you're floating above everybody's head and they are now looking UP at the bottom of your shoes! You dare them, you DEFY them to find any visible means of levitation, because in reality this levitation is accomplished with sheer will power, the power of your mind. That's the secret. (Real magic!) You can TRULY levitate. You can even fly like Superman, if you wish. In fact they are waving their hands under your shoes to see that there is no support. You're floating freely in all your glory above the crowd, and you can move from one end of the room to the next. And when you finally land, you allow them to wave their hands above your head to see that their are no wires or harnesses. Their jaws are dropped to the floor, and they are all in total adoration of your godlike power. They are in a a true "We're not worthy!" state. Yes, that's a crazy, exaggerated example, but it gets the point across. If you could do this, you could truly bend, even WARP their sense of what is possible and force them to believe in real magic. When all explanations are taken away, real magic remains the only explanation. Now apply that to close up magic. Even if you temporarily bend their concept of reality with small objects, sooner or later, it's going to dawn on them that they witnessed a simple magic trick, and the bubble is burst. (At least with the truly intelligent, thinking spectator.) Even Paul Harris admitted, as I recall, that the astonishment only lasts for a few brief seconds. So then, I think "Bending" is a false word that was used for marketing purposes, although in reality, what you will learn on this DVD will amount to more magic effects that in the end can be rationalized by the average spectator as such. It may sell DVDs, but I'm not so sure it will teach us how to do anything above what we as magicians have been doing for centuries. Personally, I think I'm more leaning toward purchasing Jays previous DVD which he released prior to this one. It has some cool looking tricks on it, but they are not marketed as anything more than effects, I think that's a lot more honest and above board. Always remember for an hour or so, David Blaine "bent" a lot of minds as his first TV special aired. But quite rapidly, the mystery dissipated as it became obvious that he was a magician in new garb doing magic tricks, not a Shaman, and Youtube and such became populated with explanations and pseudo explanations for anybody who can type on a keyboard. The "Bending" quickly went south. Just my two cents.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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jprace Inner circle 2209 Posts |
The visual effect used on the ENTIRE disc was more than annoying.
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Tom Cutts Staff Northern CA 5925 Posts |
Quote: Is this the same Jay Sankey who said, when shown that in a flash had already, exactly, been released years prior, "I have so many ideas I don't have time to research the past."? When I read that I dropped Sankey like a hot potato. He may indeed have changed, but he will have to go out of his way to display that before I consider another Sankey product.
On 2011-04-29 00:44, Michaelmystic2003 wrote: |
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michaelmystic2003 Inner circle 3062 Posts |
Can someone prove what Mr. Cutts is referencing?
Learn more about my upcoming book of close up magic and theory SYNTHESIS & SECRETS: A Magic Book in Four Acts: https://www.michaelkrasworks.com/synthesis-secrets
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jprace Inner circle 2209 Posts |
"Killer Key" was originally a Roy Baker effect released in the 70s, I believe. Other similar tricks, still before Sankey, include "Ultimate Coin Ta Key" and a Presley Guitar item.
From my understanding, "In a Flash" contained principles used in "Journey to the Center of the Deck," by David Ben, Bob Farmer and Andrew McCarthy published in the September 1983 issue of The Linking Ring. It may have also been published by David Ben's book under the name "Wonder Coin." |
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Paul S Wingham Inner circle 1378 Posts |
It makes sense that this is not great. Jay Sankeys last DVD was good so based on my experience we are due another 9 bits of mediocrity before we get something good again.
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
You mean "Hardcore"? Hardcore was great? Thanks. That's the one I've had my eyes focused on.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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KirkG Inner circle 1391 Posts |
So If I say Jay Sankey is a hack and his work all sucks, does that negate my opinion?
OR If I say Jay Sankey is a god and his work is all great, does that may my opinion any less accurate? Bottom line, hype, poor production quality, re-released material, lame practical jokes on this release makes it a no brainier. Pass. |
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Andi Peters Inner circle 1330 Posts |
Maybe Sankey should rename the project "Bending The Truth".
Guffaw! |
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
And I am really starting to believe that "The Truth" is that the term "bending" is a word that was coined for this project, to cause us to think there was a new concept in magic, when in reality, bending is just another word for impromptu magic.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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puggo Inner circle 2022 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-04-29 17:18, daffydoug wrote: Hey Daffydoug Good luck, I hope your financial situation change for the better. Charlie |
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todd fritz New user 12 Posts |
I went against my better judgment and pre-ordered this. (I usually wait for feedback or to actually see the product) Now, I'm a little nervous.
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