talkmagic.co.uk

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

Oh geez....I gotta get this one now. I've got a friend who's convinced my house is haunted...and this is just the thing...

of course it's all in good fun. Very nice review. Thank you.

...I was going to ask whether these words/images/cards were really "thought of", or whether they were "predestined". Your description of the extras suggests the latter, which I would expect and is no problem - it just does annoy me a little when people advertise something as "thought of", and actually it's a f****, even if it be a clever mental one.

Just like Sankey's "everything is examinable" 3 Ring Circus... (though I still love it).

great reviesw tom.

how long did it take to come from ordering, i ordered mine on the 2nd?

Mine arrived in about 1 week.

Still waiting... we have another government holiday e.g. no post till Tuesday

Damn you Columbus! You just had to sail the ocean blue in 1492!

Dominick wrote:Damn you Columbus! You just had to sail the ocean blue in 1492!

It's an American tradition to celebrate slavers, mass murders, and all around jerks... hell, look what we put in office

Got mine the other day and i agree with Tom, wow! this is great stuff, love it, simple as that. So go and get one...They're waiting for you

I was kind of disappointed with this, as I'd already come up with the same method about 4 years ago (as usual, another idea which I should have gotten into the fray sooner!).

However, it is a pretty spooky and simple to do thing, so more power to Mayne!

I know EXACTLY what you're talking about Seige... I remember it well! You're an inventive man ahead of his time with not enough hours in the day to be recognised for that good "brain-thinkin"... unfortunately others will catch up!

Ghost Vision (IMvHO) is a good effect though and well presented.

Purchasers have LOADS of oppertunities to fine tune and customise the technique presented in the DVD for their own uses and preferences and the price isn't bad at all.

Tom Lauten wrote:Mine arrived in about 1 week.

just got the call from home a package has arrived from USA

I have to say that the handling of this effect looks really bad on the promotional video. I'm thinking, "if the CREATOR of the effect can't make it look good then what chance have i got ?". The bit where he shows a figure moving looks awful to me..

Please, somebody tell me I'm being too picky and not seeing it like a lay-person. I really want this trick to work but the promo is putting me off..

D.

On the other hand I watched the promo and thought it looked really cool, even if the handling gives something away. This would be awesome for halloween and for the price I think I'll have a piece of the action. Nice review Tom.

not had chance for a proper play of this yet, but i got what i thought i would get. Looks good though with halloween on the way