This DVD explores “#*@!,” an effect Jay Sankey first released in his 1990 book, 100% Sankey. In 2001 he released a DVD dedicated to “#*@!,” titled “Paperclipped!”

That isn’t the DVD I’m reviewing. Instead, I’m reviewing “Paperclipped Special Edition,” the next generation in DVD’s dedicated to “#*@!,” released this year. Like many of the blockbuster movies of today, apparently this magic trick is too big for one DVD release.

In the effect the magician displays a playing card, folded in quarters and held closed by a paperclip. A card is chosen and signed. When the paper clipped card is unfolded, it is shown to be the signed selection.

This sounds like a great effect. Assuming, of course, that the description matches the reality. Which it does. For the most part. What I mean by “for the most part” is that the method for “Paperclipped” is not particularly clever or innovative. While it is still effective, in order to maximize the impact of the effect the performer must focus on presentation, subtlety and natural handling. Thankfully, this DVD touches on each of these topics.

The DVD begins with an extensive discussion of elements critical to the success of the effect, including key lines to include in the script, detailed instructions on the Mercury Card Fold, an analysis of what makes the trick effective, tips on performing under various conditions, as well as a card routine to use as a lead-in to the trick. The DVD then continues with several ways to cause the prediction to appear when you begin the trick, along with 9 different, new approaches to the effect.

This is a lot of content, which is fantastic. It’s all the content you would look for in a DVD dedicated to one effect. The drawback is that the content is a mixed bag of quality and substandard material. For example, the lead-in card routine he offers starts with the ambitious card, segues to card to pocket, then ends with “Paperclipped.” While independently these are solid effects, no thought is given to connecting them in a logical manner. Also, Jay makes heavy use of double undercuts and riffle forces. While these can be effective sleights, Jay’s performance gives the impression that he is using them to get the job done, rather than because they are the most effective or deceptive sleights for the occasion. Lastly, his handling of the Mercury Card Fold, while technically invisible, draws attention to itself. I found this very disappointing, given Jay is no slouch when it comes to sleight of hand, and the fact that the card fold is critical to the effect.

Also, it seems that some of the methods and effects on this DVD were created and taught simply because they could be. The ideas are not finely honed and clever handlings, but feel rather thrown together. For example, his Bonus Effect, “Card in Egg” is not convincing and leaves the performer with his hands covered in raw egg. That’s ridiculous. The “thrown together” quality of some of the material, combined with the frequent occasions where his hands were out of frame or the camera was focused on his stomach, gave this video a very casual, unrehearsed feel.

While I do have a number of concerns, there are some great ideas to be found on this DVD. My favorite ideas were those that included a bill or another playing card in the effect. Unlike the original handling using a single playing card, the use of a second object actually justifies the use of a paperclip, rendering it and the subsequent switch effectively invisible. There is also a clever application of the one ahead principle, as well as several effects that use “Paperclipped” unconventionally, including a sympathetic card routine and an interesting mentalism/transformation effect.

While there is some lackluster material on this DVD, there are a number of solid ideas as well. Given that, and the fact that Jay gives the real “work” on the effect, gleaned through thousands of performances, as well as those shared by the numerous magicians he has spoken to regarding the effect, there is value to this DVD. If the effect of “Paperclipped” appeals to you, this DVD will be a valuable resource.

“People ask me, ‘how many decks do you have to go through before you get [the Mercury Card Fold] down?’ That’s like asking a man how many cows does he have to! milk before he can write a good country song.”
Jay Sankey

While it’s true that Jay Sankey’s benchmark close-up trick, “Paperclipped,” has, over the years, been marketed in several forms (I think I may have a version on Beta), it’s also true that, unlike many one-off tricks now being offered on DVD, this is a boni fide signature piece. The magician introduces a prediction in the form of folded card on a paperclip. The prediction is tabled, whereupon the spectator freely chooses and signs any card from a regular deck. That card is shuffled back into the pack, the pack is tabled, then the magician picks up the prediction, removes it from the paper clip and, hands clearly empty, unfolds a corner just enough to reveal that, though this card was taken from another deck, it is in fact the same as the spectator’s selection. But as he continues to unfold the card, the audience sees that, it’s not just a duplicatee of the selection - it IS the selection, signature and all. Thus, as Jay points out, while the trick begins as a very straightforward mental effect, it ends as a mind-bending magic effect.

In addition to the classic handling, which Jay spends nearly 40 fun, interesting, thought-provoking minutes teaching, over a dozen other uses for the ingenious switch that makes this trick possible are also included (a version for kids, a prediction of a spectator’s date of birth, an excellent, real-world Ambitious-Card/Card-To-Pocket routine with “Paperclipped” as the finale, a “Paperclipped” transposition, a brilliant card-to-cardcase application, and more).

If you’ve already learned “Paperclipped” from one of its other sources (going back to its initial publication as " # * @ !” in 100% Sankey), this DVD would likely enrich your understanding of both the plot and methodology (and, by extension, related effects in close-up magic). Whether or not that’s enough motivation to purchase the same effect twice is up to you. If, on the other hand, you’re not familiar with “Paperclipped,” and you’re interested in investing the necessary time and practice to perform it smoothly, this is absolutely, indisputably the source from which to learn it.