Ghost Vision
Available from Most well stocked magic retailers and direct from
http://www.shockmagic.com ($16.95 incl. Airmail delivery!)
Price: £12.99 - ish
Bizarre magical illusion
Difficulty: 2 out of 5
They say:
Andrew Mayne, creator of Gut Buster and ghostbills, presents a 21st century paranormal effect. Using an unprepared borrowed camera phone the magician reveals spectral images of ghosts and premonitions from beyond.
Your spectators watch the display as a dark silhouette crosses the room in real time
A thought of word, image or card appears in a photograph of a spectator's hand
A haunted face appears in the shadows
GHOST VISION is a spine-tingling effect that allows you to use a borrowed portable electronics device to create a digital seance that can be saved as photo or movie. It's easy to perform and works with most camera phones.
24 minute widescreen DVD including an extra bonus effect: The Haunted Keys
Comes with everything needed to perform (cell phone not included).
I say:
Well...it works! Simple as that.
This isn't a super high-tech procedure, in fact it is as old as the hills...and that's why it works.
You receive a standard DVD case with a little "summit" extra inside to get you underway with this genuinely creepy looking effect.
The DVD is better produced than most. The people who made it clearly have heard of editing, lighting, occasionally repositioning the camera and generally paying attention to the basics of filmmaking! HOORRAY! Very stylish it is too. A couple of tiny audio imbalances but that's quibbling.
Andrew presents the DVD and does a fine job (OK, OK...he goes a
bit "Entertainment Tonight" on occasion but we'll overlook this! LOL!). He gets to the point and moves on. His explainations are full and concise. He offers step-by-step guidance from preparation through to "cleaning up" both in explainations and in a 5-step re-cap. It is very easy to watch and understand and doesn't leave you wishing it would just simply end as sooooo many "epic productions" with far less to say often do.
The visual effect that
Ghost Vision shows you how to create is very convincing, more so in stills than on moving images but that's not to say moving images can't be done well...you just will have to experiment a bit more to get a REALLY convincing effect on moving video. You will need to practice the handling no matter what to get things down
really smooth but this isn't knuckle busting stuff...just handling. Practice and a convincing presentation style will sell this effect "big style".
This effect is also a great way of revealing any number of bits of info, chosen cards, thought of designs, answers to book tests...endless really.
You also get some nicely produced "extras" with the DVD including ways to f**** cards and words and a nice little PK key effect.
Overall:
I really like this effect. It uses a
BORROWED common, everyday thing...a cell phone (or digital camera or game system with photo capability) to create a creepy and chilling looking image as the revelation to another effect or as a bizarre effect in and of itself.
The DVD is well made...very well made and gets to the point. You get gimmicks that actually work and the price is very fair indeed.
This is a rare product in terms of all those things. In the hands of a talented, convincing and creative performer Ghost Vision could be launched it into the realms of supernatural miracle in the right setting and with the right audience.
Rating:
Effect 10/10 , ease of use 8/10, value for money 10/10
A
BIG 9/10 from me