Price$34.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryMentalism
Date AddedJun 17, 2014
Foresight
Smith, Oliver
SM Productionz
(Based on 3 reviews)
Foresight is a powerful fusion between magic and mentalism by our friend, Oliver Smith. For those of you who love visual effects that fit right in your wallet, this is for you. It's extremely visual, easy to do, and gets jaw-dropping reactions. You'll be able to construct a powerful presentation while blowing people's minds with this eye-candy gem.
Custom Gimmick / material included
Reviews
(Top ▲)
PROS
The instruction to build the gimmicks is very clear. The performance would look good at a few feet away or more. The morph from a cross to a square looks good.
CONS
Two cautions:
First, the process of selecting one of two force cards feels a bit forced. “If they say one, then count this way, if they say two, then count that way, etc.”
Second, The cross morphs into a square on the corner of the card. If this was “real” magic, the cross would morph to a square in the middle of the card.
VERDICT
Not a bad little effect, but I think they could have put a bit more forethought into this project.
The instruction to build the gimmicks is very clear. The performance would look good at a few feet away or more. The morph from a cross to a square looks good.
CONS
Two cautions:
First, the process of selecting one of two force cards feels a bit forced. “If they say one, then count this way, if they say two, then count that way, etc.”
Second, The cross morphs into a square on the corner of the card. If this was “real” magic, the cross would morph to a square in the middle of the card.
VERDICT
Not a bad little effect, but I think they could have put a bit more forethought into this project.
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Speak Now by Taylor Swift
Foresight by Oliver Smith Review:
One gimmick, one DVD and $35 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
You predict one of six ESP symbols named by a spectator. If you get it wrong, that's okay because the Cross (your wrong guess) morphs visually into the square (their selection).
Method
An arts and crafts project that is a bit of a royal pain to make. However, once it's made, it does work like shown in the ad copy. Keep in mind that the morphing cross to square is not always required. If they happen to select the cross, then you're done; no morphing needed. You are supplied with almost everything you need to make the gimmick. You'll need to supply the tape/glue/etc.
This method is very finicky and will take some serious practice to get right. Also, you won't want to be too close to the spectators. If you're too close, you run the risk of exposure.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is pretty solid; however, there is a distinct possibility that the photos on the DVD cover are not actual images of the gimmick. The gimmick viewed that closely does not look that good. Also, you cannot hand out the card without a sw***. The trailer leaves that out, which I think is okay. Just keep in mind that you'll need to do a sw*** first. The provided envelope does most of the work for you when it comes to this part of the performance.
Product Quality
The DVD is produced well and taught well for the most part (see note below), but you do have Chris (I don't know his last name) up to his, seemingly, usual antics that will, likely, drive you mad. The stuff supplied to make the gimmick works as claimed. However, the instructions were a bit unclear and confusing in some places. As a result, I screwed up my gimmick. It wasn't quite right. So I had to remake part of it. Then I screwed up again on a different part. So if I'm going to use it in the real world, I'll have to tear it apart and rebuild it. It was close enough for me to prove the concept, but not good enough to actually use in a performance.
Final Thoughts
Once you make the gimmick (maybe 20 to 30 minutes), it's pretty solid. However, it's just not as clean in real life as it is on camera. You'll need a bit more distance from the audience and a little bit more misdirection than the trailer would lead you to believe. One last thought: the trick you're actually doing is a prediction of one of 6 cards places in a row. If you're familiar with a hot rod "selection" process, you'll be using a very similar technique here. What you're really getting is two outs for that trick. You get a cross or a square (the cross magically becomes a square).
The bottom line is that the trick can look pretty good but it's distance sensitive and requires a sw***. If you're okay with those things, then you'll be just fine with this.
Final Verdict:
3.5 Stars with a Stone Status of gem with a little g.
(Top ▲)
The Effect in Detail
Foresight is a mix of magic and mentalism. There are 2 basic ways that it will play out. Six cards with ESP symbols are placed down on the table and an envelope with your prediction is shown. You are able to assure that they will either chose the square or cross. If they chose the square you show that your prediction was the cross. With a little bit of magic the ink on the card slowly morphs from the cross to the square. Alternatively, if they select the cross, you show them what would have happened if they would have selected another card like the square.
That is a mouth full but basically you are learning 2 effects, how to move the ink on a playing card and how to predict a certain selection.
In The Package
You receive a specially made envelope in the package along with some extra cards and small bits that will be needed to construct the gimmick. This gimmick is very hands on. If you are not into arts and crafts then you should avoid this trick.
Possible Problems
You are taught how to make a gimmicked card. I have a hard time with this type of gimmicked playing card, it is a very clever solution for sure but it seems to contradict itself. It is a close up effect but you have to maintain some distance as you perform it.
At one point they suggest that you could keep this in your wallet, while this is entirely possible, it is not the safest thing to do given the type of materials used to create the gimmick.
Considerations
The selection method is classic in nature, it is fairly straightforward and can be found in many sources including 13 Steps to Mentalism. The method for moving the ink is clever but not the most bullet proof in real life performances. It is angle proof but you will need to be sensitive to the optimal performance situations. You must switch the gimmick out at the end. This is easily done and they give a couple handling tips to make it more smooth. The reset will take just a few seconds and they don’t go over any ways to make the reset easier.
Thoughts
The DVD is put together well, you will need to supply some extra materials to make the gimmicks and you will need to put aside a half hour or more to make it. Chris from Sans Minds is the narrator, I know that many magicians are bothered by him, I actually really like his energy and he doesn’t bug me. I think that this effect is nice but it is not very versatile given the distance requirements.
Foresight is a mix of magic and mentalism. There are 2 basic ways that it will play out. Six cards with ESP symbols are placed down on the table and an envelope with your prediction is shown. You are able to assure that they will either chose the square or cross. If they chose the square you show that your prediction was the cross. With a little bit of magic the ink on the card slowly morphs from the cross to the square. Alternatively, if they select the cross, you show them what would have happened if they would have selected another card like the square.
That is a mouth full but basically you are learning 2 effects, how to move the ink on a playing card and how to predict a certain selection.
In The Package
You receive a specially made envelope in the package along with some extra cards and small bits that will be needed to construct the gimmick. This gimmick is very hands on. If you are not into arts and crafts then you should avoid this trick.
Possible Problems
You are taught how to make a gimmicked card. I have a hard time with this type of gimmicked playing card, it is a very clever solution for sure but it seems to contradict itself. It is a close up effect but you have to maintain some distance as you perform it.
At one point they suggest that you could keep this in your wallet, while this is entirely possible, it is not the safest thing to do given the type of materials used to create the gimmick.
Considerations
The selection method is classic in nature, it is fairly straightforward and can be found in many sources including 13 Steps to Mentalism. The method for moving the ink is clever but not the most bullet proof in real life performances. It is angle proof but you will need to be sensitive to the optimal performance situations. You must switch the gimmick out at the end. This is easily done and they give a couple handling tips to make it more smooth. The reset will take just a few seconds and they don’t go over any ways to make the reset easier.
Thoughts
The DVD is put together well, you will need to supply some extra materials to make the gimmicks and you will need to put aside a half hour or more to make it. Chris from Sans Minds is the narrator, I know that many magicians are bothered by him, I actually really like his energy and he doesn’t bug me. I think that this effect is nice but it is not very versatile given the distance requirements.