PK Pencil Illusion or other Pencil illusion

[Guest]

I am working on a small public access TV show. We need a trick with a pencil that plays well on television. Since I am not actually performing but just advising, I was hoping someone could tell me how easy the PK Pencil is to use or another pencil illusion that an actor could easily master.

:help:
Thanks

[M. Sibbernsen]

Under your conditions, I would recommend "The Invisible Hole" by Yoshio Hirose; a wonderful "Pencil Through Bill" illusion. First published in Apocalypse Vol. 8 No 3 March 85. The effect is also found (unfortunately) in Karl Fulves Self Working Coin (and money) Magic under the title "Puncture". Although both effects are the same, the explanation of the gaff in Puncture is not quite optimum.

Michael Sibbernsen

[Guest]

Hi Mike,

Here is a great effect with a borrowed pencil!

"Misled"
David Copperfield got more credit for the 'pencil trick' than going over the Niagara Falls. Shove a borrowed pencil through the center of a bill. Next you yank the pencil out of the bill and show that the bill is completely unharmed. No holes, rips, no errors. Includes gimmick and illustrated instruction booklet

This is on Magic Smiths Website @ www.magicsmith.com

Go to search and type in 'misled'. I believe it sold for $13.50

Good luck!

www.JeffEzellMAGIC.com

[M. Sibbernsen]

Misled is indeed a wonderful effect, but one that requires a good deal of work to "master". A non-magician actor may not want to put in the time required to perform proficiently.

MS

[Bill Mullins]

On the other hand, an actor may practice more than a magician.

[Guest]

Disagreeing with Michael and agreeing with Bill. The actors in the Movie SHADE are a perfect example of practicing more to get it right.

www.JeffEzellMAGIC.com

[M. Sibbernsen]

Let me openly backpedal for a moment...

I have absolutely no doubt that a dedicated actor can and indeed does perform magic extremely well when their role requires it. After-all, many qualities good acting are synonymous with those of a good magical performance.

However, as a magic instructor and director of a public access television program (cedarvalleymagic.com); and also in taking in consideration the original posters parameters; i.e. type of show, and the fact that it is a lay person performing, I stand by my recommendations.

If however, the performer in question has an interest in magic and he and instructor would like to put in the time, Misled would be (and is) a wonderful piece of magic to perform for television.

MS

[Guest]

Gentlemen:

Thank you all for your excellent advice. My actor, while dedicated and earnest, doesn't have much time to practice as he spends most of his free time writing scripts, shooting shows, doing post-production, etc. He'd love to do more, but he still needs to sleep a few hours a night. :)

I will investigate all of these items. Does anyone have a good pencil levitation?

Thanks again.
Mike

[Guest]

Originally posted by Mike Wethington:
Gentlemen:

Thank you all for your excellent advice. My actor, while dedicated and earnest, doesn't have much time to practice as he spends most of his free time writing scripts, shooting shows, doing post-production, etc. He'd love to do more, but he still needs to sleep a few hours a night. :)

I will investigate all of these items. Does anyone have a good pencil levitation?

Thanks again.
Mike

Mike, one CAN do a good pencil LIFT using the ITR. Please don't levitate it, but do something like the rising money effect from Al Baker - Eugene Burger has an excellent version of it in one of his books.

BUT - beware - on higher definition TV's the gimmick can often be seen even if the naked eye in the studio cannot see it.

One effect that no one has mentioned is Mark Genest's No. 2 Pencil. A simple paddle move with some rather fun extras. I used it for a year at the late, lamented Michael Jordan's Restaurant in Chicago and for several years at Medieval Times in Schaumburg, IL. Often, I would just do the effect with one of their souvenier pencils instead of the gaffed one from Genest's set.

One warning on this - it is a bit "knacky" as Jay Sankey would say. There is a bit of a knack that can be mastered by someone who already knows the paddle move in a very short time.

It sent sales of the pencils through the roof, too!

Lee Darrow, C.Ht.
http://www.leedarrow.com

[Guest]

Yeah, watching the video of the No.2 pencil on Penguinmagic it looks like exactly the kind of thing you're after.