iProject
Rorrison, Alan
Alan Rorrison
Over the years many magicians have tried to make a portable version of this effect using many things. Most of these version compromised on aspects of the effect to make it workable and portable. This is something I was very aware of entering this project. In a phone I had found the perfect window but I still had to set myself some rules to follow to ensure the effect kept its "wow" factor.
- The card had to be a free selection
- The card had to be signed
- The spectator could do the selection and signing process if they wanted to
- The phone the card passed through needs to be borrowed
- In an "app for everything" world I was not allowed to add an app to the phone.
- The need to be able to feel that the card is inside the phone.
- Everything must be inspect-able
With the iproject I have met all my criteria and so much more. In this download you will learn how to take the corner of a signed card, a business card, a playing card or even a bank note and pass it through the screen of a mobile phone. Did I mention that ALL of the above can be borrowed? The phone, the card and the money. Everything can be borrowed and you can still do this effect. This will work with most smart phones so it is not limited to the iphones.
The gimmicks will also be upgradable when new phones are released in most cases. You will need to purchase one extra thing to make the gimmick which will cost around $4 but once the gimmick is made it will last you a life time.
You also get two little extra bonus routines which will allow you to break apart your spectators phones and restore them right in front of their eyes. Along with this we will give you an extra handling for the main routine which will make it a little easier on the beginners out there.
The download is in mp4 format and is just under 30 minutes long.
Quotes:
"If you are looking for an insane card through window style effect that will leave your spectators minds blown, this is it! and insane visual and another crazy concept from Mr Rorrison"
- Dee Christopher
"When you first see this you think "oh that's a cool app" Then you remember that it is your phone. Then your remember that you selected, signed and tore the card yourself and it is now INSIDE your phone. Then you have no where else to go but into madness. Bravo Alan"
- Ben Williams
"I LOVE IT"
- Greg Wilson
"The card through window we have been waiting on"
- Andrew Stewart
"NO. That's not possible! That's just not possible! How do you come up with this stuff you little hobbit f**k"
- Chris Webb
Reviews
(Top ▲)
It's Just The Two of Us (thank you Will Smith): You, Me and an iPhone and some other stuff that you have to buy . . . I guess that's more than two of us. For $25 bucks you get a DVD with three ideas that you can do when you spend more money on another something that costs about $5.00.
It's not a hard thing to find, but it would have been a much more complete project were this extra item included. However, in the defense of the creator(s), the thing you buy for $5.00 depends on what type of phone you're going to do this effect with. It works with iPhones and many others.
Anyway, the DVD quality is pretty low budget and poorly lit and sometimes the sound is a little off. As for the ideas you're paying for . . . they're not bad in my opinion. Two of the effects make it appear as if you somehow damaged their phone. In one case you apparently scratch the crap out of the back of their phone. In another, you apparently break the home button off of the phone. Both of these effects will pretty much only work with the iPhone.
But it's hard to say for sure without buying the special $5.00 something for every model of phone out there. Yes, the stuff you need to make your gimmick is very phone specific. You basically have to decide which phone you feel is the most likely available and easily borrowed, and then make a gimmick for THAT phone.
The main effect shown in the trailer is torn corner through iPhone screen. The illusion is very convincing and you can even let the spectator feel that the card is indeed inside the phone screen and not just stuck to phone. However, they cannot handle the phone in this condition. That's the big bummer about this project: at the very moment when the magic has happened (i.e., the phone is scratched, the button is broken off, the card is in the screen), the phone is not examinable or handle-able by the spectator.
Additionally, two of the three (not the broken button) are quite a bit angle sensitive, and you never actually see a live performance of the effects for the camera or an audience. You simply get a verbal walk through of how the effect will look. Even what you see in the demo is not a complete performance . . . some stuff is missing (likely to protect the method).
Bottom line: it's a poorly produced DVD that should have come with at least the gimmick for the iPhone - after all, the DVD IS called "I" Project . . . as in "I" Phone. The ideas, however, do have some potential. You also (if you can find it) get a bunch of effects you can do with Tic Tacs. This even more poorly produced video with some good ideas is a secret Easter egg on the DVD.
When you put it all together, a little bit of gem survived the crumbling rubble.
Final Verdict:
2.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Grubble (little, little bit of gem amongst some rubble).
(Top ▲)
The DVD does not supply the gimmick needed, and you will need to purchase the items required to make the gimmick online for about five bucks. So don’t expect to perform this the next night after buying the DVD.
However, once you have the gimmick, you have a nifty effect with a borrowed iPhone that does not have the issues that other effects like it on the market have. Sure, they can’t handle the iPhone while it’s in its ‘magical state’ but I think this is ok. I’ve done Linking Rubber Bands with borrowed hair ties, and I’ve never had a problem with not handing out the bands while they are linked.
The bonus ideas on the DVD are nice as well. There is an easter egg that includes some effects with tic tacs, which are fun and clever. Plus, they will give you something to work on while you are waiting for your gimmicks to arrive.
If the gimmicks were included, and this was around ten dollars more, I think this would get five stars. However, a the end of the day, this is worth the price, and those who want to perform the effect they see in the demo will be able to fairly consistently.
Clear effect, clever and practical method, and some lovely bonus ideas for twenty five bucks. You can’t really go wrong!