Troy Magician

[Nay_Sayer]

I got a chance to see an episode of his TV series and sadly it's the same kid of magic Cyril and Dynamo present, Stooged up, Camera trick/cut heavy and not at all exciting to watch.


I remember how much I enjoyed David Blaine's 1st TV special, The vast majority of the tricks were done as is legit and you can feel how real the reactions are, I wonder when TV magic will return to simpler roots.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I got a chance to see an episode of his TV series and sadly it's the same kid of magic Cyril and Dynamo present, Stooged up, Camera trick/cut heavy and not at all exciting to watch.


I remember how much I enjoyed David Blaine's 1st TV special, The vast majority of the tricks were done as is legit and you can feel how real the reactions are, I wonder when TV magic will return to simpler roots.

I just caught an episode of this show while channel surfing last night and my one word summary is "lame".

So much filler and so few (cheesy) tricks.

 

[alfaniner]

I watched one episode and started to suspect he was going the David Blaine route. Haven't seen any since.

 

[Jango]

I liked it when Blaine did this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nUamNmeQpI

Smoothini is entertaining and does some cool tricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTy3qG_qInU#t=185

 

[Garrette]

I liked it when Blaine did this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nUamNmeQpI

That one baffles me.

Smoothini is entertaining and does some cool tricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTy3qG_qInU#t=185

Not baffling but certainly impressive.

 

[marplots]

That one baffles me.

Check a freeze frame at 1:07 and remember Geller's key bending move using an optical illusion. At least, that's how I'd do it.

 

[Garrette]

Check a freeze frame at 1:07 and remember Geller's key bending move using an optical illusion. At least, that's how I'd do it.

That was my first thought, but I could not and still can't work out the mechanics of actually making it work unless I admit there are some bad angles, and I control which part of my audience stands there.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

That one baffles me.

He's strong?

 

[Garrette]

He's strong?

Actually, I have little doubt that he is quite strong, but I have less doubt that strength is the method employed here.

 

[marplots]

That was my first thought, but I could not and still can't work out the mechanics of actually making it work unless I admit there are some bad angles, and I control which part of my audience stands there.

Only really bad angle would be blocked by the bars on the sides. For me the tough part is getting a locking mechanism at the top and bottom. Of course, you could do it another way - like the modern metallurgy used in some "automatic" fork work. Cold bars anyone? That actually seems like the easiest route, now that I've thought about it.

The bent bars being thinner is an oversight though.

 

[Garrette]

I'll just have to admit that this one might be within reach as a concept but out of reach regarding practicalities.

Sigh..... I always said I'd never be as expert as those who actually perform.

 

[alfaniner]

I have to say that is the least intimidating prison guard I've ever seen.

 

[Dan O.]

It's a simple application of leverage. You watch the last scene of the prisoner that imitates how he thought the bars were bent and he is applying muscle against an inverted leaver arm which greatly reduces the applied force. Blane instead has his arms straight and twists the upper body using the stronger back and leg muscles. It's much like the mechanical advantage of a pair of vice grip pliers. The bars simply bend like they were made of soft metal.

 

[Senex]

I have to say that is the least intimidating prison guard I've ever seen.

The prisoners weren't wearing uniforms either.



I used to perform bending effects in college. Once I went to the location of a party the day before when no one was around and used a tire iron and leverage to bend a railing a little bit. It wasn't enough to notice if no one turned your attention toward it. I walked over to it during the party - covered the bend with my hands before anyone had time to notice the bend - and then took credit for bending the railing which couldn't be done with bare hands.

Sound familiar?

 

[Senex]

That wasn't a rhetorical question? Where did everyone go? I feel like I ruined the party.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

That wasn't a rhetorical question? Where did everyone go? I feel like I ruined the party.

OK. Yes.

It sounds very familiar.

I has also been said the Houdini used to secrete a key or lockpick or two in the jail cell he was to be chained up in the next day, as he was "inspecting" it for its suitability the day before.

The party is still on. I just went out for another two-four. (vide: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Canadian+two-four )

 

[Senex]

OK. Yes.

It sounds very familiar.

I has also been said the Houdini used to secrete a key or lockpick or two in the jail cell he was to be chained up in the next day, as he was "inspecting" it for its suitability the day before.

The party is still on. I just went out for another two-four. (vide: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Canadian+two-four )

The smiley face on the right is hilarious when after falling on his two dimensional ass doesn't stop him from having another sip.

I wasn't above stealing a piece of cutlery from someone who was soon to have a party. When your audience doesn't change your methods have to.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

The smiley face on the right is hilarious when after falling on his two dimensional ass doesn't stop him from having another sip.

I do think he is a Canadian. And being Canadian and two dimensional and drinking and falling down while drinking Canadian is a Canadian thing.

I wasn't above stealing a piece of cutlery from someone who was soon to have a party. When your audience doesn't change your methods have to.

Ah. Misdirection. Look over there >>>

 

[Azrael 5]

Actually, I have little doubt that he is quite strong, but I have less doubt that strength is the method employed here.

More like gimmicked bars set up prior or pre-bent which amounts to same thing

 

[Garrette]

Ayup.

 

[Dan O.]

So, why hasn't anyone analized the video to check the straightness of the bars before they are "bent"? It should even be possible to simulate what the bent bar would have look like in the preeceeding shots.

 

[marplots]

So, why hasn't anyone analized the video to check the straightness of the bars before they are "bent"? It should even be possible to simulate what the bent bar would have look like in the preeceeding shots.

This: | and this: ) can be the same bar, depending on viewing angle. Control the angle and you control the perception. If those parts of the gate rotate, you can even control the relative viewing angle on the fly.

 

[Dan O.]

This: | and this: ) can be the same bar, depending on viewing angle. Control the angle and you control the perception. If those parts of the gate rotate, you can even control the relative viewing angle on the fly.

The camera isn't moving at the time of the apparent bending. I did notice that the area in front of the gate is poorly illuminated and staging prisoners in front of the side door reduces the light that can come through from there. This means that the bars will be mostly backlit so no references can be viewed to show rotation of the bars.

 

[marplots]

The camera isn't moving at the time of the apparent bending. I did notice that the area in front of the gate is poorly illuminated and staging prisoners in front of the side door reduces the light that can come through from there. This means that the bars will be mostly backlit so no references can be viewed to show rotation of the bars.

To be honest, that's just one way it could be done. The bars that have been bent do look thinner to my eye, but there are other modifications that would produce the same effect. (See upthread.)

 

[Senex]

So, why hasn't anyone analized the video to check the straightness of the bars before they are "bent"? It should even be possible to simulate what the bent bar would have look like in the preeceeding shots.

While I recognize that analizing video is a young man's game I will say a car's jack and a couple of minutes is all the set up I believe was needed.

 

[barehl]

That one baffles me.

I could tell you how it was done but the mods get mad when I do that. I guess I could give you a hint though. Houdini did the same thing in one of his tricks.