Seeeeguimos con el repaso del concurso de escena, DIA 3, de parte de nuestro senor anónimo del themagiccafe! (Borja actualízanos!, que nos tienes abandonados!! (que una de dos, o no tienes wifi, o lo estás pasando demasiado bien...
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/view ... 6&forum=31FISM – DAY 3 – WED 8 JULY
FISM fatigue is fast setting in ... with minimal hours of sleep, getting oneself to the contest by 8:30 am is a Herculean feat. The schedule is brutal with literally no down time … but we wouldn't change it for the world ( ok, maybe some extra sleep ) Have had an amazing time meeting up with so many friends from around the globe. This is what truly makes FISM so special.
Speaking of brutal, though, as if Gay Ljungberg and his backstage crew don’t face enough difficulties – the curtain system has now packed up completely meaning all act transitions are now going to be done in the dark with a screen being wheeled on and off to hide the setup. Less than ideal!
On to the contest ...
Alexis Arts – Italy – Illusions
Fun, novel and surprisingly enjoyable. Prison theme with smoke, cages, glass penetration, SWAT team, chair appearance and an electric chair execution. How can you not like an act that wants to electrocute the magician ?
Nefesch – El Salvador – Mentalism
This category has surely been introduced to test me. A white masked performer to the cheesy strains of Memories from Cats ending with the revelation of a dog on his tshirt. And no – he didn’t see the irony.
Katayama Yukihiro – Japan – Manipulation
Obviously also a subscriber to the intensity school of magic … doves have now been replaced with card fans with thread loops attached for new instant productions. We really are all trying too hard.
Trigg Watson – USA – General Magic
A few magician friendly highlights with dancing slinky and vanishing silk in hat … but still suffers from that magic contest look. No more glass bubbles at FISM please. We managed to get rid of the fans in 2015 – but bubbles and matrixes are still haunting me.
Walter Maffei – Italy – Comedy
Adopting a somewhat exuberant ‘gay’ character who has a fetish for confetti we were treated to pin through balloon accompanied by orgasmic sounds. The Italians must enjoy this ?
Song da Min – Korea – General Magic
A very, very traditional ‘Asian’ act ( sorry Max ) … rose petals, flowers, fans ( just when I thought it was safe ), masks, zombie masks, floating butterflies, and just what every FISM needs – a snowstorm! I’m curious whether some performers feel it compulsory that they present “stereotypical” / cultural acts when they come to FISM ?
David Hung – China – Manipulation
Manipulation with bow ties ? Really ? Appearing bow ties. Color Changing bow ties. Some card manipulation. More dramatic hand gestures. A blue card. A yellow card. Another colored card. And then I shall throw them on the floor.
Franz Koffer – Hungary – General Magic
Accompanied by a piano – this was music to fall asleep to. Note to contestants – your audience have watched over 100 acts by now - feel for us. Don’t do card manipulation if you have nothing to bring to the party. Bird cage appearance. reversing silk, slow billiard balls, a touch of juggling … and a levitating case.
Luca Volpe – England – Mentalism
Dreams – fantasy – and drawn out routine of finding a motivational quote and unlocking a combination. Lacked excitement.
Seiya – Japan – General Magic
A golf themed act. Silk to golf ball. Ball in bottle. Shrinking club. Some ball manipulation … little build up and in need of a dose of energy.
Caio – Brazil – Manipulation
Incredible manipulation of round lit candles that added a whole new dimension to the routine. Add in some dexterous jumbo card manipulation and we had an impressive skilled act. Only let down by the somewhat predictable card fountain at the end.
Christian and Katalina – USA – Mentalism
My favourite category returns. An object lesson on how NOT to perform mentalism. Complexity and confusion does not equal wonder or amazement. Mentalism needs to be clean, direct and impactful. I have never seen such a complicated and ridiculous setup … 3 envelopes in front of 3 places. we’ll switch this, we’ll change that, this color matches that, which equals the game you chose before, and inside each envelope is poker chip, and inside this book is a page … who can possibly follow this convoluted mess? Stunned stupor from the audience … followed by pity applause. It is beyond painful. The auto pilot scripting and hammed reactions make it even worse.
Mago Sebak – Argentina – Manipulation
A talented youngster who unfortunately is currently out of his depth. Homemade table and cardboard stereo – along with every manipulation under the sun. He should not have been put through - but I look forward to seeing him in future years. An engaging stage presence that puts so many adult performers to shame.
PJ Wen – China – Illusions
Another box pusher with dramatic poses and ridiculous hand gestures – along with a pesky rose that keeps on appearing inside all his boxes.
Matus – Argentina – General Magic
All very confusing with uninspired card manipulation, floating table and ridiculous vanish of a candelabra.
Michael Dardant – USA – Comedy Magic
Tragically sad. May go down well in New Orleans – but certainly not at FISM. The debate has been had before – but we need to re-evaluate where there should be a separate category for comedy at all ?
Christian Bischof – Switzerland – Mentalism
A swami gimmick at FISM ? And it’s somewhat self-evident to any audience that your sign reads differently depending on how you hold it. That’s not magic – it’s common sense.
Timothy Trust & Diamond – Germany – Illusions
Their sword box is a thing of beauty with blood smearing everywhere and that psychotic glint in Timothy’s eye. I only wish they would go further into that character as he plays the role so exceptionally well.
Thommy Ten & Amelie Marc (Germany)
Mental Magic
Second sight acts are clearly becoming very popular. With Thommy being in the audience selecting items - the presentation is more impactful than yesterday's act with the spectators already on stage. The problem though is the precision accuracy of the revelations. Couple this with the apparent lack of verbal transmission - a strange occurrence of the mic continually cutting out ( radio frequency interference ? ) and we are pointing to the direct use of electronics. And lay audiences would likely believe the same. And when that happens - the entire presentation is reduced to nothing more than a puzzle ...
Jeff and Tessa Evason remain the undisputed master of this field - having that critical ingredient for success - believability.
Marc Dossetto (France)
Stage Illusions
Projection and video mapping. Good but no where near the level of what we have seen on the "got talent" franchises ... I don't know whether I should applaud the performer or the CGI animator ?
Jonas Chen – Taiwan – General Magic
Dove production. Appearing flower. Another dove. Slow dove from jacket. And then a plainly visible dove from jacket ending with the production of his lady love interest.
Clarice / Simone – Germany – General Magic
Please stop squealing. An Oscars themed mentalism act that was exceptionally disappointing compared to the usual standard of German competitors. Choose a film here. Think of a director there. Select from my happen to have pile of “movie” books here.
Another exhausting morning done – with 20 minutes to rush on over to the last of the close-up contests.
PD: que yo esto lo pongo, repito, porque es la referencia que tengo para saber qué presenta la gente en los concursos... pero por dios, el tipo este que lo comenta tiene una pinta de estar más aburrido que las ostras... qué poco salero, madre, si es que no le gusta nada! Qué amargura!
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