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THE OMEGA MUTATION, CAMERON FRANCIS (BIGBLINDMEDIA) available for Instant Download at Talkmagic TV - click here for details

The Omega Mutation, with Cameron Francis
By BigBlindMedia

Release date: March 10th

Cost: £49.99 from http://www.bigblindmedia.com/


Overview, and obligatory 'manufacturer blurb'
THE OMEGA MUTATION – is a 3 disc set of supreme close-up magic. Running for nearly FIVE hours, you get some of the best material put on DVD in years.

It’s easy.

It’s commercial.

It almost all resets quickly (if not instantly).

It’s full of engaging and intelligent plots.

Think a hybrid of Jay Sankey’s personable style and Paul Harris’ incredible thinking. It’s THAT good!

Across the three discs you get a number of card routines, some bill switch work, a couple of utility moves, some shenanigans with sharpies, business cards, coins and lighters AND awesome tuition in all the necessary moves, sleights and misdirection.

AND there is a fantastic story that runs throughout the 3 discs, that makes watching this set a total joy!


What I personally say...
Well, Cameron Francis is nuts. A total fruitcake. But then again, so is Owen Packard—mastermind and director of the vids.

Cameron's worked with the cool names of the industry such as Richard Sanders and Dave Forrest, plus dignitaries like Aldo Columbini.

What you actually get here is absolute mind-warping, weird fuzziness oddness personified. From the initial (fantastic) opening titles and humming bass notes (yeah, once again, I had to crank the surround sound subwoofer to 'low' to save the ornaments dropping off the shelves) you get an idea of what is coming... something big... something strange...

Something organic...

I won't spoil the underlying storyline for you, but I'll disclose that the whole shebang—much like all BBM stuff—has a 'setting' and a 'theme'. And this time, there's character acting and storyline too.

Basically, we start with Mr Francis being ushered directly from the UK airport by men in suits... HAZMAT suits. For the rest of the time, Cameron is housed in a small quarantine tent, held captive and isolated for what must have been a lifetime, as he DID look frazzled by the end of it.

He's accompanied on and off by various suited and masked characters—who must have got very hot, sticky and sweaty inside the suits (OOOO ERRRR MISSSUS), and then we see Mr Owen Packard taking notes of how it was all achieved as Cameron takes time out of his captivity to show the workings and secrets behind the effects.

This set spans 3 DVDs and 5 hours of non-stop craziness. Some of the effects are fantastic, some are middle-of-the-road, and some are obviously fillers. But at no point did I feel that there was 'more of the same', as a lot of the ideas were fresh, new and had a comedic twist.

And there we have another point... this whole production—again, akin to it's BBM brothers—is dowsed with a does of humour which you will either love or hate. Personally, I like it... it's corny, it's over-acted, and at times it is almost slapstick... but hey, most magic vids are stone-cold sober, and it's always a delight to have a bit of character in there!

Production quality is great. Fantastic camera work, great scene dressing, good props and fab direction. Plus Dave Forrest's design skills shine as usual in the general feel of the titles, editing and theme.

Oh, and worth mentioning is the music... Owen and Co. use some seriously cool musicians for their soundtracks... check out the credits on the DVD.

All the effects are within the realms of humans, and almost all are commercially workable. There are hardly any gaffs or gimmicks required that aren't part of a good magician's arsenal, and yes... this is a card-centric production, so cardies rejoice.

The effects—per-disk

Disk 1 -- Alpha
*********************
Vivid – The torn corner of one selection mysteriously appears taped to a second selection. In the blink of an eye the first selction restores itself.
I love the simplicity of this one. It does what it says on the tin, and the super-visual restoration of the card literally happens in a blink. And yes... it's examinable.


Insecure Restoration – A new twist on David Williamson's “Torn and Restored Transpo”.
Possibly one of my favourite effects on the DVD set, which really will leave a gulp.

Cagey – A stunning transposition with an ending that will slay your spectators. This is a beautifully constructed routine,that engages as much as it amazes.

Everywhere – A signed selection multiplies, disappears and reappears under impossible conditions.

Dime-A-Cap – A new twist on the coin to pen cap. Indeed, with just a pen and a coin you can have a really beautiful moment of magic. This is a Sankey inspired effect for sure, and it is a great little filler.

Triumph Transpo – The name says it all... a really cool triumph routine with a twist.

Signed & Assembled – Three signed cards to card box. Super clean and super easy to do... this one baffled me completely!

Back In 10 – A freely selected coin (yeah, right!), disappears and ends up taped to the back of a signed business card. You could give that away you know. Like some kind of souvenir / advertising ploy. Genius.

Hard Knocks – A completely impromptu signature transposition like no other. You'll like it, a lot. I can't really see how it gets cleaner than this.



Disc 2 – Mem
**********************
Assembled Reset – Four jokers assemble and then instantly backfire into their original positions. Highly effective and the handling is a breeze. Fast, simple and really baffling.

Card-A-Que – A selection is charred with a lighter and restored in an insanely visual fashion. This is the kind of magic that people talk about for months after the event. And it’s EASY! If it sounds familiar then yes, it's got a few borrowed themes, but this is dead simple, and is something you will keep in your pocket.

Appearing Sharpie – A ‘no sleeves required’ miracle. One second you are holding a pen lid, the next it’s the pen has appeared in the lid. Hence ‘Appearing Sharpie’. Obviously. This is a really cool filler.

Bill Switch – The $100 Bill Switch explained in detail. Great for those who need a refresher, as Cameron's teaching is VERY slick.

Cheque This – A three phase routine created with the table hopper in mind. A borrowed bill turns into an IOU cheque. Then a selected card is shown to have been predicted on the cheque. And then, to cap it all, the bill reappears inside a card case that has been on display the entire time. Totally baffling, and pretty simple to do.

Last Laugh – Four jokers capture a selection. The selection then becomes a joker and the four jokers become the selection and its mates. Bang – your spectators are on the floor. You’re laughing manically because this is easy-peasy! And not only that, you can get into and out of this with no worries at all.

Yours & Yours – Words on a piece of paper disappear. Where did they go? Let’s check these two selections. Oh look – those ‘vanishing words’ have appeared on the back of the selections. Weird.

Separation Anxiety – Oil and water with a twist. Like Gin ‘N Tonic with lime juice. Except without the alcohol. Or the Gin. Or the tonic.

Stuffed – Two kings capture two selections under impossible conditions. Sandwiches all round. Mine's currently stilton with onion chutney, and I'm trying to eat it with one hand while I type... perhaps a quick break...



Disc 3 - Omega
**********************
Ring Flight – A reel-less ring flight that's big on impact and easy on sleights. You’ll be using this one folks. Believe us! No gaffs, just guts! And get this... it makes use of items that you would naturally have on you at a close-up performance. Great!

Jumpy Collectors – Three jacks collect three selections one at a time in an increasingly impossible manner. What's ridiculous about this is that the handling is VERY simple.

CF Switch – A utility card switch with loads of possibilities. Cameron's showpiece switch, which is as quick and simple as the village idiot with his breeches on fire.

Visiting Hour – An amazing “Visitor” effect that is perfect for table hoppers. Again, a pocket-rocket of an effect.

Connections – A super clean Do-As-I-Do effect with an incredible climax. Oooooh yeah, do-as-I-do are great for restoring life in a dull audience. And this one is pretty darned weird.

Hofzinser Takes A Dive – The Hofzinser Ace Problem turned on its head. Now here's one for your repertoire, or my name isn't Seige MacDonald (who had a farm)

Space Available – A blank faced card takes on the image of a signed selection under incredibly fair conditions... imagine Presto Printo with a signed selection...

Dupes – An amazing small packet effect with loads of magic and an instant reset. This one is a gem. And another one you'll pack with you!

International Cards Of Mystery – You write a prediction on a bank note. Then you allow your spectator to chose from a packet of cards – each of which has a different city on the reverse. Their freely selected city is found to be on the reverse of the same card you predicted on the bank note. But wait – you can’t spend that bank note in that city. Solution – you visibly change the currency to match the city!
LOADS of different mechanics applied to this puzzle... makes it sound complex, but it's really not at all.



Bottom line
If you like other BBM material, and you can tolerate Sankey or Sanders, then this is a good set. £50 sounds steep, but you're getting a lot of bang for your buck. There are five solid hours of magic—albeit intertwined with the storyline—but you seriously can't tell me that from the description above that there's not something in there for you!

I give this a solid 8.5 out of 10. Mainly because I'm stingy, and don't like over-rating things.

The only things I can find wrong with this is that the themed element may get on one's nerves after a while. I watched this whole thing 3 times over before reviewing, and Mrs Seige wondered what on earth I was watching... her initial comment was "Are all magicians lunatics, or do you all just do drugs?". Well, although the latter isn't true, I can confirm that it helps to be a little crazy.

Cameron's influences are clear. See if you can spot them. He's a crazy kind of fella that reminds me of the lovechild of 'Face' from the A-team, Richard Sanders, and Jay Sankey.
Although he may never win an oscar for his acting skills, he's a really entertaining magician. And this production is intertwined with BBM blood and shows what could possibly be the defining step in taking magic tuitional DVDs to a new level of entertainment.

The first time I watched it, I was laughing. The second run-through I was studying. The third watching I was taking it all in.

There's a lot of stuff packed in there, and although as I said I can't disclose the 'plot' and underlying story, it was all a bit surreal and odd... but added to the entertainment value for me personally.

UNFORTUNATELY I see there being huge room for flaming on this production... people ARE going to moan... not so much about the effects, but how they're wrapped up. And when they do, it proves that we're all different in our tastes. I personally happen to love the BBM sense of humour, I find it refreshing.

All in all, I'd say that although it may have made more sense to split these into 3 separately available volumes, £50 isn't that scary a price to pay for so much material.

The range of experience required ranges from rank-amateur to a little knowledge and dexterity... but really, there's nothing here that would scare off a competent magician.

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Hey, Seige, thanks so much for the review! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the magic!

BTW, as I am an actor, I wouldn't consider what I did in the Omega Mutation to be "acting". It was more along the lines of "hamming-it-up-with-tongue- planted-firmly-in-cheek."

The shoot was a BLAST and we all had a lot of fun. I'm just glad the magic stands out on its own.

Thanks, again!

THE OMEGA MUTATION, CAMERON FRANCIS (BIGBLINDMEDIA) available for Instant Download at Talkmagic TV - click here for details

Nice review just one point, I can't see why it maybe classed as expensive, I count 26 routines and my quick calculations make that £1.93 ish a routine, If all these where Split individually and sold with a deck of cards Gaff or not what are we looking at per trick £8-£20 maybe?

I am going to sort out all my 1ps in my jar and get these I think then take a look and tell every one if they where worth £1.93 a routine.

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I agree... I think personally it's great value for money. But I can hear cries of "50 squid for a 3 DVD set? I've never even heard of this guy" etc.

Just to say, there are 3 routines on here which would retail commercially at £15 a pop. That's £45 right there. A lot of this stuff, as I said, is VERY commercial, and there *are* fillers. But even the fillers are great.

And Cameron... I know you're a great actor... who else in their right mind could still smile whilst working with Owen ...

THE OMEGA MUTATION, CAMERON FRANCIS (BIGBLINDMEDIA) available for Instant Download at Talkmagic TV - click here for details

This seems very cheap to me. Great review.

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seige wrote:...I can hear cries of "50 squid for a 3 DVD set? I've never even heard of this guy" etc...

Which is why reviews of this calibre are absolutely indispensable. (Anyway, I would expect nothing less from BBM).

THE OMEGA MUTATION, CAMERON FRANCIS (BIGBLINDMEDIA) available for Instant Download at Talkmagic TV - click here for details

Guys, thanks so much for the support. I know most of you don't know me all that well at the moment but I do have a few other products out on the market and there is more stuff (that I am VERY excited about) coming out later this year.

But that's neither here nor there. What matters is the opinions of guys like you who plunk down your hard earned cash and take a chance on this set. I get so frustrated when I buy a dvd and there are maybe one or two good things on it and the rest is just blah. I mean, don't get me wrong, one or two tricks, if they're good enough, could make an entire dvd. But I love it when I buy something and the majority of the material is really good and workable. Then I feel like I really got my money's worth. Hopefully, most of you who purchase this will feel that way.

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Nice review seige!!

I was kinda hoping this wasn't gonna be a great release but I also knew that BBM wouldn't slap a £50 price on this if it wasn't good material. I've also heard some good reports about Cameron before.

I suppose one good thing about the £50 price is that it may put of a lot of the youtube generation and hopefully they will spend their pocket money on a £20 one trick pony.

THE OMEGA MUTATION, CAMERON FRANCIS (BIGBLINDMEDIA) available for Instant Download at Talkmagic TV - click here for details

Sorry to disappoint you, Wills

Kidding, man. BBM are great. Owen's goal seems to be to make BBM the benchmark in modern magic dvds in terms of production and content. I think he's quickly reaching that goal! Although I must say, I certainly don't rank myself up there with some of the other incredible artists BBM has produced!

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Cameron... don't be modest. It's a great DVD, and for me, you made it what it was. What was nice is that your patter largely had some hints and pointers for people—there were some nice 'stories'.

This pretty much gives people a chance to emulate—which is NOT a good thing... (I'm thinking Kras/Sankey ) BUT... what it DOES do is show people that magic doesn't have to be played totally straight... and this DVD proves that magic is certainly only as entertaining as the performer.

I'm not saying that other magic doesn't give that impression. But this DVD, along with other BBM DVDs, has shown me that perhaps we're getting some material finally which demonstrates that tuition from books lacks something... which to me is 'proof of personality'.

You see, there's a great stigma attached to being a magician. It's the same for being a web designer, or someone in IT. And that is, people THINK we are geeks. And to some extent, there's a truth there... but what shines about BBM material and especially this one is that in reality, magician's are just regular folk who prefer to practices and think about magic.

God forbid that anyone would call a football fan a geek, just because they know the names of all the current team players, and can recite the winning scores of all cup games going back to the sixties... !!!

THE OMEGA MUTATION, CAMERON FRANCIS (BIGBLINDMEDIA) available for Instant Download at Talkmagic TV - click here for details

Well I have counted all my 1p's and I was 2 short so I sold my Mother-in-law. So the DVD's are on there way to me.

I will add to the review from a SH point of view and my sons point of view who is learning Magic.

Take care all

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Hi guys
I received my DVD’s less than 24 hours after ordering with free post as well. I have been through each DVD once and I am shattered. My brain feels like a sponge my hands want to get the cards out and work on the routines. Below is a copy of the e-mail I have sent to BBM I think it says it all.


The Omega Mutation should be kept under lock and key, theses DVD’s are the work of a master who will infect you with the knowledge to do Magic beyond your own realm of logical thinking. Each and every trick can be made your own also just when you think you know how it works there is a twist, methods you may never have thought of.

These DVD’s are for all Magicians not matter what your level of experience, before you know it you will be doing your own routines and maybe inventing a few tricks this is a tool box of knowledge.

The production is fantastic perfect on picture sound and lighting. Oh and just one more thing, Cameron we know what you do when the lights are out. ...

Take care all

THE OMEGA MUTATION, CAMERON FRANCIS (BIGBLINDMEDIA) available for Instant Download at Talkmagic TV - click here for details

Hey, guys, thanks for all the great feedback on the dvds. I am thrilled that so many people are enjoying these.

Here's a crediting goof I discovered: In the effect "Signed and Assembled", the Hamman Count variation is actually a J.K. Hartman Block Switch. Didn't realize that before.

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Great review Siege.... you persuaded me to beg, borrow and mostly steal the money for this.

It's just arrived, I've got 4 days leave... so I'm closing the curtains, cranking up the dvd and not coming out till Monday!!

"Personally I think reviews should only be posted at the very beginning of each month so I don't have to make the choice between eating and buying a 3 dvd set!!" (only joking)

THE OMEGA MUTATION, CAMERON FRANCIS (BIGBLINDMEDIA) available for Instant Download at Talkmagic TV - click here for details

"Personally I think reviews should only be posted at the very beginning of each month so I don't have to make the choice between eating and buying a 3 dvd set!!" (only joking)

You Eat real food? WOW...

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