Price$119.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryMentalism
Date AddedOct 25, 2009
13 Steps To Mentalism
Richard Osterlind
L&L Publishing
(Based on 2 reviews)
Tony Corinda's landmark work, 13 Steps To Mentalism, is widely considered to be the mentalist's bible. In this comprehensive DVD series, modern-day master Richard Osterlind performs dynamic effects from each step of Corinda's seminal work in front of a live audience. Then, along with co-host Jim Sisti, digs deep into the principles and concepts that make this material so strong and timeless. This DVD set ably demonstrates why Corinda's 13 Steps To Mentalism will always be a fundamental and substantial part of any mentalist's education.
DISC 1
Introduction to Corinda's 13 Steps to Mentalism
Step One - Swami Gimmick
Introduction
Discussion of the Book
Swami Gimmick - Discussion
An Opening Effect
A Stage Effect
Dartboard Prediction
A First Class Newspaper Effect
Matches or Cigarettes
A Close-Up Quickie
Living and Dead
Step Two - Pencil, Lip, Sound
and Muscle Reading
Introduction
The Spectator as the Telepathist
Just Chance (Impromptu)
Ghost Deck
Sujan Location
Muscle Reading - Discussion
DISC 2
Step Three - Mnemonics and Mental Systems
Introduction
The Amazing Memory Test
A Day For Any Date
Extraction of Cube Roots
Magic Square
Knight's Tour
Simple Card Systems
DISC 3 Step Four - Predictions
Introduction
What is a Prediction? - Discussion
Predictions, Billet Knives, Pencils, and Indexes - Discussion
A Million to One
The £75,000 Test
Astronomical
The Third Choice
The Prophesy
Hanging Prediction
Step Five - Blindfold and X-Ray Eyes
Introduction
Sightless Vision Act
Impromptu Test (performance only)
Mental Masterpiece (Fogel's Newspaper Prediction)
DISC 4
Step Six - Billets Introduction
Billets - Discussion
Center Tear
Jaks' Crystal Locket
Three Little Questions
Great Minds Think Alike
Step Seven - Book Tests
Introduction
A Classic Swindle
My Word
A Lesson in Mentalism
The Missing Link
The Crossword Puzzle
DISC 5
Step Eight - Two-Person Telepathy
Introduction
Two-Person Telepathy
Step Nine - Mediumistic Stunts
Introduction
Mediumistic Stunts
Cold Hand
Zarkamorta II
Spirit Slates
Step Ten - Card Tricks
Introduction
Photo Memory
Incredible Slate Test
Teleprognos
Birds of a Feather
Blind Coincidence
Two Minds
Before Your Very Eyes
DISC 6
Step Eleven - The Question and Answer Act
Introduction
The Question and Answer Act
Step Twelve - Publicity Stunts
Introduction
Publicity Stunts - Discussion
Step Thirteen - Patter and Presentation
Introduction
Patter and Presentation - Discussion
Total Running Time: Approximately 12hrs
Reviews
(Top ▲)
You may recall, many moons ago I reviewed Richard Osterlind's DVD set on Annemann's Practical Mental Effects. You may also recall that the rating was "average."
One of the "issues" I had with that set was that often, it felt as though Osterlind was saying (in not so many words) that the Annemann book is old, here's a completely different effect that you should do instead.
However, and a big fat however it is, this set (Corinda's 13 Steps to Mentalism) is much better. Oddly enough, I'm a bigger fan of the Annemann book than I am the Corina book, but when it comes to the DVD sets, I'm a much (much, much) bigger fan of the Osterlind Corinda set than I am the Osterlind Annemann set.
First, Osterlind stays very close, and very true to the spirit of the book, and his treatment will inspire you to buy the book if you don't already own it. Secondly, because the book takes 13 topics (e.g., nail writers, billets, book tests, etc.) this makes doing a DVD with the same audience (for the most part) doing the same trick (e.g., 5 book test, or 5 billet effects, etc.) very tricky.
Yet Osterlind nailed it. In most cases he made the same trick (e.g., book test 1, book test 2, etc.) seem different each time. I imagine that the audience got magic/mentalism fatigue after a while. The DVD set is 12 hours of footage which means probably 50 or more hours of filming probably for a full week or so.
I don't know that for sure, but even if it was only 12 hours, that's still a ton, but Osterlind seemed to keep them interested. He's a working full time pro who has done or currently does much of the material shown in the DVD set. Some of which he was more practiced and polished with than others, but I have no issue the less-than-polished parts. His goal was to give us a solid full course on Corinda's book, and that is exactly what he delivered.
I liked the fact that in some cases he "admitted" (for the want of a better term) that he wasn't as versed on this or that from the book, but he still took the time to study the book / effect(s) and give us his all.
He talked about the fact that he spent (if memory serves) 6 months straight reading nothing (no books, no nothing) but Corinda.
The discussions and interactions with Jim Sisti made the explanations a lot more interesting and was a nice break from ALL OSTERLIND ALL THE TIME. I love the guy (never met him) but watching 12 hours straight of him (or anyone for that matter) will give you OO (Osterlind Overload). Jim also added to the project by giving Osterlind someone to talk to during the more discussion-y less effect-y sections of the DVDs.
This set (unlike the Annemann set which is 6 individual DVDs) is a one-package six DVD set.
The price ain't cheap, but it's 100% worth the cost if you're currently (or planning on becoming) a mentalist, and even if you are never going to be a mentalist, it's still worth studying.
Get the book for sure, but if you want someone to help ease you into it, look no further than Richard Osterlind and this 6-DVD set.
Final Rating: 5 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM!
(Top ▲)
The first things I would say is set yourself plenty of time. Richard takes you right through the book almost exactly page by page. The running time is 12 hours but you need more than that. After my first watch I use it to go back and double check things. It is a great resource to go with the book as sometimes you need to see things to follow them. L&L publishing who put it out have done a great job with production. A live audience who are enjoying things which helps in following audience responses, more than one camera and a great cover of the book. To top it off Jim Sisti and Richard do an in depth discussion. I recommend it with 5 stars as it is very worth it.