talkmagic.co.uk

Magic Review: Alan Rorrison’s SIGILLUM DIABOLI| www.bigblindmedia.com

Well everyone remembers the original “card warp effect” by Roy Walton and it is one that will stay in magic for a very long time. There have been many versions of the “card Warp” over the years, some successful and some not. I have in fact grabbed hold of most versions of the effect. From the original Roy Walton Classic at Davenports magic shop, to David Jenkins’s “Warp one”. Then came along a Wee Scotsman, Alan Rorrison vs. Owen Packard’s Big Blind Media Production. With Alan’s witty personality and BBM’s classy Production, I knew I had to get it.

So let’s get into the nitty and gritty. Firstly, as an owner of so many of Alan effects, I have to say honestly, this is got to be one of the best DVD’s of his I own. At first glance many will look at the performance video and believe they know how it’s done. I can tell you after watching the DVD, there is sooo much more then you could ever imagine. The workings of this are in fact so marvellously thought out; it makes it a pure joy to perform. Alan begins by taking us in depth into the set up of the effect. He shows a couple of different handling to get into the set up and leads us on our way toward the beginning of the trick. Again, he shows everything so in depth. I actually asked Alan why he had done the DVD so incredibly in depth when in fact, he could have given us a lot let information and we would still have what we needed to which his reply was, “I would prefer to give you too much information then to give you to little”. This is Alan Through and through and really shines a light behind his effects and him as a magic creator.

Throughout the DVD, Alan and BBM have made sure to give full credits to all those other versions of the card warp out there and also to any moves or ideas. The teaching on the DVD (as with all BBM products) is fantastically filmed, edited and overall quality is just staggering. They always go to that extra mile to make sure the DVD is top quality for us to watch. Everything is very in depth and well taught. When we get into the trick, we are shown everything slowly. Although one or two parts of the trick are a little bit nacky, Alan makes sure we can make it as easy as possible and has fully realised our needs. He addresses any problems we may have very openly (which are nearly none) and tells us how to easily solve them. The visualness of this versions is just amazing! It exceeds any of its predecessors in every way. It is never covers, the method is incredibly clever and the reactions from your audience are pure shock. Alan also supplies a few ideas for patter but the one he teaches with is just fantastic. Using a story about the sign of the Devil and how the “mark of the devil” will alter the state of something that is hidden and evil can rear its ugly head at any time. There are so many possibilities to suit your own working style.

What I also love about this is that you’re practically set up automatically for the next performance, set up takes about 5-10 seconds and all happens while you’re addressing your audience. Everything has been fantastically put together and every aspect of the effect has been thought about and addressed. I mentioned at the beginning of the review that I own most versions of Card Warp. As of now they have taken pride in my working routine. But now, as of the moment I fell in love with Alan’s version, Sigillum Diaboli has taken pride of place in my routine and it will amaze my audience forever more.

It doesn’t just stop there. You know there is always going to be some hidden fun when it comes to BBM. Alan has also included a fantastic transposition effect. It’s basically a copper/silver routine but with cards and completely visual. Using the Sigillum Diaboli technique to create a stunning piece by piece transposition. This is just another fantastic use for the trick and one I think, in the right setting, will blow people away. I’m actually very tempted to turn this into a parlour routine because I genuinely think it can play to a large audience and still be a winner for everyone.

Lastly, were given a great little money trick. This is just fantastic. So original in story and method. The idea’s of making money is everywhere. So how about next time your spectators say “So can’t you just make money out of thin air?” you can pull this little gem out of your wallet and show them a literal way to make money. Just a genius effect and a fantastic way of thinking.

Again, everything in this DVD is stunningly put together. The content is the best as usually from Alan Rorrison and lastly it’s something everyone will use. The handling is just superb. This one is a real winner and one that can go into any working act.

Another great product from Alan Rorrison and Big Blind Media!

Available at www.bigblindmedia.com

Jamie Daws

I've performed Card Warp for nearly 20yrs, I bought Warp 1 and found nothing to improve on the original. I think I'll stick with the original. Sometimes, I think improving on the original doesn't work.

I tried effects from Warp 1 on Joe Public but no results were as good as Card Warp.

I normally like BBM stuff but for some reason the demo of this is a bit "ho-hum" or "meh" or "whatever". Maybe the evil "Autograph" from big E has jaded me. I say get Twister Continuum instead!

I honestly thought the same. I've always used the origional version of Card warp. Even tryied things like the Hyper Card Project and Warp one. Nothing came close to the origional, however, once i began using alans versions and using it along with the origional versions, The reactions grew 10 times the amount. This is one killer effect when mixed in with the origional.

Jamie

Personally, I don't go much for single trick videos, but I got this one in a BOGOF offer and it's, well....OK.

Like all BBM product the production is first class, but the content is little better than adequate. As for Rorrison's presentation, one man's 'in depth' is another man's 'shamelessly padded'. A better communicator would have got through it in five minutes flat; but that hardly fills a DVD though, does it?

The effect itself, like most versions of card warp is a crowd pleaser; fast-moving and visual. I've used it for the paying punter with very pleasing results.Rorrison's '666' and 'Mark of the Devil' patter would absolutely derail it, but it's simple enough to come up with a better presentation. The advantages of this handling are its simplicity and ease of reset and I'll be keeping it in as a regular.

The tranposition version is a bit pointless - the gimmick can't be handed out for examination and, as you wouldn't use what is clearly the same method twice in an evening, I'd stick with the main effect & forget the transposition version.

The obligatory bonus effect - Mint - is quite fun and very simple to do; I've done it for mates & my teenage daughter's friends, but it isn't really strong enough for the real world.

In summary, the basic effect is very good and worth learning, and I'm glad I got it for free. It's hardly worth a DVD to itself though.