Price$35.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryGeneral, Stage
Date AddedMar 27, 2008
The Naked Zombie Ball
Raymond Crowe
(Based on 1 review)
View Clip Floating Ball Study for the Stage
Raymond appears at over 150 Corporate shows a year. His work has been featured on "World's Greatest Magic IV" and he received a standing ovation for his performance at the 2003 FISM. Classically trained in Mime, Raymond applies these techniques to the humble Zombie ball with some astonishing results - a complete routine for the Zombie using no Cloth and no Zombie Gimmick! Each phase of the routine is discussed in full detail.
Mini classes in Mime techniques are taught, such as Fixed Point and the showing of Weight.
This DVD is a must to anyone wishing to learn more about combining illusionary mime with magic. The routine is designed for stage/platform use but the principles taught here can be relevant to any performing environment.
Quotes :
"I used to hate ZOMBIE........not anymore.........Excellent!"
-WAYNE DOBSON
"It's just great. I laughed really loud .... makes brilliant sense as an intro to doing the Z without a gimmick. I'd hate you if I didn't like you so much."
-TINA LENERT
"Imagine my surprise when I put in the DVD and discovered it was about the floating ball. I was hoping for naked zombies.......or anyone naked for that matter!
This DVD is absolutely brilliant! The routine is very magical and visually appealing. And the lessons are many, far beyond the ball itself. Most magicians don't give their movement a thought . You aptly demonstrate how effective a little thought, observation, experimentation, and rehearsal will go toward an outstanding effect. How "acting" and movement create an illusion instead of just a trick. You have provided perfect example of how attention to simple details can create something astounding.
One of the things that appeals to me most regarding magic, is not just "secrets", but beautiful, elegant, SIMPLE solutions for making the ordinary look extraordinary. The simpler the means, the more I love it. Anyone can dazzle people with a million dollar budget, topless showgirls and fireworks.........but it takes a brilliant mind to bring to life a simple idea and astonish people with it.
The production was also top notch. Everything was beautifully written, staged, directed and scored. The little silent movie and extras are also priceless.
Congratulations on some really great work."
-JOHN CARNEY
"The Naked Zombie is a real fooler. Raymond Crowe not only fooled me in his performance, but while he was doing his explanation - he did it again. I was waiting for him to introduce a thread someway or other. When I think back I still cannot believe the illusion that he created with his body and hand moments. This is real magic. This is a thesis on theatre technique.
Even if I did not care for magic I would have loved the performance of the Naked Zombie. Great story, camera work, music and acting by Raymond."
-BEV BERGERON
"Your teaching section was masterful, I loved that you took each tiny little step and isolated it on its own, moving the viewer from subtlety to subtlety towards a fuller understanding of your performance.
You had a lot to pass along, and did well in giving an overview while cautioning the viewer to get a foundation in solid training before trying to perform the piece."
-WALT ANTHONY
"Raymond Crowe is a cutting edge thinker who takes the floating ball well over the edge with concepts and teaching guaranteed to make you a better Zombie manipulator."
-Jeb (Sable) Sherrill
Running Time Approximately 40min
Reviews
(Top ▲)
I should confess that I'm a huge Raymond Crowe fan. I suppose that means I may not be completely impartial in this review. But at least I've owned up to it, so keep that in mind as you read on.
Maybe I should start by telling you why I'm such a fan. I first saw Raymond on video doing his billiard routine. I think it was the first (and only) billiard ball manipulation routine that I've seen that actually made sense. It was about billiards! He used a pool cue, a pool rack, ball nets and actual billiard balls. What a concept....
Then, of course, came the wonderful shadow routine. It's beautiful. Enough said.
But the part that really made me fall for him was a story I heard from a friend. This particular friend was the stage manager at a major magic convention. Ray Crowe was on the bill, along with many other performers. Things weren't going well. There were technical difficulties. Performers were turning into monsters. My friend tells me that amongst all of the attitude, arrogance and chaos, Raymond was a joy to work with -- a consummate professional.
You really get a sense of that professional, grounded, caring attitude on this DVD.
But enough about my Raymond Crowe obsession, let's get to the material.
The packaging says it all. It's a zombie routine that uses a standard zombie ball, but doesn't use the standard gimmick. In fact, there's no real gimmick at all. And there's no cloth to hide things.
So how does it work? Well, I can't really tell you that here. You'll have to buy the DVD. But I can tell you what you'll need to make this work.
As mentioned, you'll need a zombie ball. To do most of the routine, that's all you need for props. However, there are some really nice moves that you won't want to miss out on. Luckily they use things you already have (like a solid ring from your linking ring set).
The one thing that you will need that's non-standard for most magicians is some basic movement and mime skills. Don't sweat it, though. Raymond goes over all of the basics you'll need to pull off this wonderful routine. You don't have to be Marcel Marceau. I'd guess that with a couple weeks of practice in front of a mirror, any of you reading this will be able to do it. What's more, once you've got those basic movement skills down, you can use them to make your other routines better.
One last thing: the performance part of the DVD is probably worth the price. It's a wonderful little silent film, expertly shot and edited. I've actually shown in to several of my non-magician friends, all of whom loved it.
Maybe I should start by telling you why I'm such a fan. I first saw Raymond on video doing his billiard routine. I think it was the first (and only) billiard ball manipulation routine that I've seen that actually made sense. It was about billiards! He used a pool cue, a pool rack, ball nets and actual billiard balls. What a concept....
Then, of course, came the wonderful shadow routine. It's beautiful. Enough said.
But the part that really made me fall for him was a story I heard from a friend. This particular friend was the stage manager at a major magic convention. Ray Crowe was on the bill, along with many other performers. Things weren't going well. There were technical difficulties. Performers were turning into monsters. My friend tells me that amongst all of the attitude, arrogance and chaos, Raymond was a joy to work with -- a consummate professional.
You really get a sense of that professional, grounded, caring attitude on this DVD.
But enough about my Raymond Crowe obsession, let's get to the material.
The packaging says it all. It's a zombie routine that uses a standard zombie ball, but doesn't use the standard gimmick. In fact, there's no real gimmick at all. And there's no cloth to hide things.
So how does it work? Well, I can't really tell you that here. You'll have to buy the DVD. But I can tell you what you'll need to make this work.
As mentioned, you'll need a zombie ball. To do most of the routine, that's all you need for props. However, there are some really nice moves that you won't want to miss out on. Luckily they use things you already have (like a solid ring from your linking ring set).
The one thing that you will need that's non-standard for most magicians is some basic movement and mime skills. Don't sweat it, though. Raymond goes over all of the basics you'll need to pull off this wonderful routine. You don't have to be Marcel Marceau. I'd guess that with a couple weeks of practice in front of a mirror, any of you reading this will be able to do it. What's more, once you've got those basic movement skills down, you can use them to make your other routines better.
One last thing: the performance part of the DVD is probably worth the price. It's a wonderful little silent film, expertly shot and edited. I've actually shown in to several of my non-magician friends, all of whom loved it.