Price$14.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedJan 08, 2016
Force of Will
Hooper, Dave
Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.
(Based on 2 reviews)
There are a thousand ways to get a spectator to choose a certain card. Even today, new methods are being brought to light, even as you read this. Yet, one thing has remained constant throughout the years, the pursuit of the perfect force. Dave Hooper has refined his take on the classic force for more years than many of us have even considered taking our card magic seriously... And the result is a thing of pure beauty.
"Dave's force is the best I've ever seen. And I've seen many!" - Harry Robson
After 35 years of being a professional magician, It is today that he reveals his teachings on what some will call the greatest Classic Force, ever.
"He forced the same card on me FIVE times, and it was fair. Every time." -Chris Ramsay
If you are struggling with the classic force or are looking to refine and make it absolutely 100% undetectable and effective, then there is no alternative. The proof is inside.
"Dave has made all other forces irrelevant. If you're going to learn the force, this is the best. It blew my F***ing mind!" -Kieron Lefever
Reviews
(Top ▲)
The classic force, when well performed, is the most natural and convincing force possible. What makes it effective is that the selection process appears to be out of the performer’s control. To create this illusion takes subtlety, refinement, psychology and experience. Many great performers have written extensively on how to effectively force in this manner, and now Dave Hooper has contributed to the lexicon with his DVD, “Force of Will.” In performance, his handling looks outstanding. The cards appear sloppy, out of control and chaotic, and yet the spectator repeatedly selects the force card. Even knowing the classic force, it appears to be impossible that he could be forcing the card.
Unfortunately, the instruction on the DVD leaves much to be desired. First and foremost, it’s only 12 minutes long, which is just not enough time to share 30 years of experience with such a subtle and refined technique. Further, as anyone who has worked with the classic force knows, there are many elements at play that contribute to the success of the force, and Mr. Hooper discusses very few of them. While he has clearly mastered the force, his advice on the DVD can be boiled down to “spread through the cards in a sloppy manner” and “if the spectator speeds up, you should speed up; if the spectator slows down, you should slow down.” While both pieces of advice are valid, they are insufficient in and of themselves for the purposes of actually teaching the technique.
The fundamental change Mr. Hooper made was the manner in which he spreads the cards. Other than to say, “spread the cards like this,” essentially no explanation was provided. Given that his spreading technique is at the heart of his approach, far more time was needed to adequately explain how he performs it. The fine details of how many cards to cut to prepare for the force, how to hold the cards during the technique, the movements of the performer’s arms in relation to the spectator, along with the many other elements crucial to the force, are all left up to the performer to figure out on his or her own.
Mr. Hooper does offer some additional information (discussing ways to practice the technique and mentioning the importance of continuing to spread after the selection is made), and while this information is good, it doesn’t help if the basic technique isn’t communicated. He also discusses outs, which consist of “try again” and “do another trick,” both of which, while good advice, are old chestnuts and are only valid if the trick doesn’t rely on the force being successful the first time it is attempted.
It’s unfortunate Mr. Hooper and the DVD producers released such an inadequate product, given his mastery of the technique. 12 minutes of vague and well known instruction does not do justice to the classic force as performed by Mr. Hooper. If one is to ask for money in exchange for information, that information had better be at least marginally effective in teaching the technique. While I am very impressed with Mr. Hooper’s skill, I can’t recommend “Force of Will.”
Unfortunately, the instruction on the DVD leaves much to be desired. First and foremost, it’s only 12 minutes long, which is just not enough time to share 30 years of experience with such a subtle and refined technique. Further, as anyone who has worked with the classic force knows, there are many elements at play that contribute to the success of the force, and Mr. Hooper discusses very few of them. While he has clearly mastered the force, his advice on the DVD can be boiled down to “spread through the cards in a sloppy manner” and “if the spectator speeds up, you should speed up; if the spectator slows down, you should slow down.” While both pieces of advice are valid, they are insufficient in and of themselves for the purposes of actually teaching the technique.
The fundamental change Mr. Hooper made was the manner in which he spreads the cards. Other than to say, “spread the cards like this,” essentially no explanation was provided. Given that his spreading technique is at the heart of his approach, far more time was needed to adequately explain how he performs it. The fine details of how many cards to cut to prepare for the force, how to hold the cards during the technique, the movements of the performer’s arms in relation to the spectator, along with the many other elements crucial to the force, are all left up to the performer to figure out on his or her own.
Mr. Hooper does offer some additional information (discussing ways to practice the technique and mentioning the importance of continuing to spread after the selection is made), and while this information is good, it doesn’t help if the basic technique isn’t communicated. He also discusses outs, which consist of “try again” and “do another trick,” both of which, while good advice, are old chestnuts and are only valid if the trick doesn’t rely on the force being successful the first time it is attempted.
It’s unfortunate Mr. Hooper and the DVD producers released such an inadequate product, given his mastery of the technique. 12 minutes of vague and well known instruction does not do justice to the classic force as performed by Mr. Hooper. If one is to ask for money in exchange for information, that information had better be at least marginally effective in teaching the technique. While I am very impressed with Mr. Hooper’s skill, I can’t recommend “Force of Will.”
(Top ▲)
Terrible.
Those were tough words to write, but not only did I waste $15 on this, I feel Murphy's Magic owes ME $15 for the time I wasted on this.
In fairness, Dave Hooper's idea is sound, but virtually none of what is promised in the ad copy is delivered. There is nothing unique about his classic force and certainly nothing is taught that makes the learning of the classic force easier or "100% undetectable and effective."
I do not blame Hooper for this mess. I would have thought the folks at Murphy's would have more closely edited and "proofed" this product prior to release. If there was another section where Dave broke down the Classic Force to elemental bits and discussed them, maybe talked in detail about the psychology this would have been worth it. Read the Classic Force chapter in Giobbis' "Card College 1". Or check out Liam Montier's description in BBM's "The Forces Project" or Josh Jay's "Hand Picked Astonishment's" DVD on Forces. In these, you will learn something.
I like Dave Hooper and his magic. He is a clever, affable guy and his magic is often very good. But this one is a mess.
Those were tough words to write, but not only did I waste $15 on this, I feel Murphy's Magic owes ME $15 for the time I wasted on this.
In fairness, Dave Hooper's idea is sound, but virtually none of what is promised in the ad copy is delivered. There is nothing unique about his classic force and certainly nothing is taught that makes the learning of the classic force easier or "100% undetectable and effective."
I do not blame Hooper for this mess. I would have thought the folks at Murphy's would have more closely edited and "proofed" this product prior to release. If there was another section where Dave broke down the Classic Force to elemental bits and discussed them, maybe talked in detail about the psychology this would have been worth it. Read the Classic Force chapter in Giobbis' "Card College 1". Or check out Liam Montier's description in BBM's "The Forces Project" or Josh Jay's "Hand Picked Astonishment's" DVD on Forces. In these, you will learn something.
I like Dave Hooper and his magic. He is a clever, affable guy and his magic is often very good. But this one is a mess.