talkmagic.co.uk

I always thought Criss Angel was a parody act.

I made my point before seeing the video due to it being blocked on youtube, I thought that Criss Angels only complaint was the walking on water effect.

Firstly I still maintain that one thing Criss has the right to claim ownership of is the walking on water effect, It's his effect and if Dynamo didn't get permission he's in the wrong in that case. Although I am going to point out that technically this effect was privately performed by George Harrison in the 70's but the technique used was slightly different.

He could get the lawyers involved behind the scenes but think about Tellers shaky grounds on his ownership of 'Shadow's' despite the fact that he actually copyrighted it. If you think Gerard Dogge was in the wrong in that case then you have to think the same thing with Criss Angels walking on water effect. Whether you like someone or not, or whether they're being a whiny bitch or a class act is immaterial, the same rules should apply to everyone.

However I've finally got to see the video that was blocked on youtube but is available here, and it certainly doesn't make Criss Angel look good. Firstly the dramatic music and serious voice over makes him look really sad, and more importantly claiming that dynamo stole the blindfolded car drive, the hand through glass, the coin penetrating a coke can, the matrix levitation, saw and the thread in skin (that's as far as I got before my shitty internet cut out) implies that Criss Angel created these effects or is the first magician to perform them which not only isn't true but also a really shitty thing to claim. We all know that these are essentially public domain magic tricks and any magician who brought them has the right to perform them.

If Criss angels motivation is to damage Dynamo's reputation then it's going to backfire, because after seeing that video I'm embarrassed I voiced any support for him, and I'm pretty sure anyone who's heard of both Criss Angel and Dynamo will also know enough about magic to see that his claim of theft is (mostly) a blatant lie.

I think the bottom line in all of this is it is extremely hard to claim ownership of a magic trick.

And I'm sure Mr Angel has done some Copperfield-esque effects and Copperfield some illusions that were done by whoever pre-dates him, all the way back to Houdini etc.

So is this going to degenerate into another copyright thread with people saying certain things shouldn't be performed by certain people?

If it is in the public domain i will perform it, regardless of A.N.Other magician performing it too?

If i have bought an effect and the creator has given me permission to perform it on film/publicly etc. then i will perform it!

If something is prohibited, such as Yigal Mesika's "loops" being used on film without prior permission then i shall seek permission and if it is not granted, so be it.

But can anybody honestly claim ownership of these Grand Illusions? regardless of method?

Much love

Aza

Aza wrote:But can anybody honestly claim ownership of these Grand Illusions? regardless of method?

I've highlighted the word that makes so much of this whole thing completely redundant.

Technically people could claim ownership (copyrights/patents..) to tricks/methods/props; but you only need a small variation in any of these to get around infringement laws and then it all comes down to morals and, as you say, honesty.

A: "Hey, you there... stop doing that trick I did on my show..."
B: "ah... but I'm using a different method and performance..."
A: "...oh you!"

Lawrence wrote:

Aza wrote:But can anybody honestly claim ownership of these Grand Illusions? regardless of method?

I've highlighted the word that makes so much of this whole thing completely redundant.

Technically people could claim ownership (copyrights/patents..) to tricks/methods/props; but you only need a small variation in any of these to get around infringement laws and then it all comes down to morals and, as you say, honesty.

A: "Hey, you there... stop doing that trick I did on my show..."
B: "ah... but I'm using a different method and performance..."
A: "...oh you!"

Fair point Lawrence....very good point!

In fact i need to show you my 1CR effect, using a completely different method from yours just kidding!!

Much love

Aza

This seems like as good a place as any to ask (as it's definitely not worth its own topic) am I thinking of Criss Angel when I remember many years ago a goth lad with long braided black hair in full goth outfit and goth make up doing card magic on time square?

Just for the record a few people might consider his look now as goth but I'm sure plenty of you know the "proper goth" look I'm talking about rather than this glam-gangsta-goth-thing he rocks now

mrz0mbie wrote:This seems like as good a place as any to ask (as it's definitely not worth its own topic) am I thinking of Criss Angel when I remember many years ago a goth lad with long braided black hair in full goth outfit and goth make up doing card magic on time square?

Possibly. I saw him in Time Square 10 years ago. As I recall he was a bit more rocky; though I did see him doing stage illusions rather than card tricks.

I also met Al Snow and Head.

Lawrence wrote:I also met Al Snow and Head.

Well jealous. I saw Mick Foley do a stand up comedy a few weeks ago though

mrz0mbie wrote:

Lawrence wrote:I also met Al Snow and Head.

Well jealous. I saw Mick Foley do a stand up comedy a few weeks ago though

I've been on Smackdown!
Partying at WWE New York with the crew of the USS Iwo Jima
BOOM!

mrz0mbie wrote:Well jealous. I saw Mick Foley do a stand up comedy a few weeks ago though

Me too! I saw him on Late 'n' Live where Brendon Burns body slammed a member of the audience on his behalf (Foley is about to have a back operation).

i think criss angels career is down the toilet when is he ever on tv im from britain but stil its only derren and dynamo these days... and ive just noticed why is all good magaicans begin with d?? ___ david copperfield, dynamo, derren brown, david blaine etc.. :S

and don't forget Da Amazing Aza!

I'm adding the Da to appeal to the yoof!!

Much love

Aza

Like "Da Vinci Code?"

Ha!

I think i shall adopt the name Da Aza Codé!!

Put on a sh!tty italian accent and I'm golden!

Much love

Aza

Aza wrote:Ha!

I think i shall adopt the name Da Aza Codé!!

Put on a sh!tty italian accent and I'm golden!

Much love

Aza

Nooooooo. WMS will claim you're copying Jeff McBride!!!!!!!