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On Screen And Other Mysteries

David Acer

(Based on 1 review)
Imagine you have a few people at your home for a party, when suddenly, someone asks you to do a trick. You shrug, pull out a deck, get him to choose a card, then lose it in the pack, whereupon you turn on your TV and click through some channels until you find one you like -- lets say it's a scene with a busy sidewalk. You step back, then spring the deck against the TV screen. When all the cards have fluttered to the floor, one card is seen to be sticking (back outward) to the screen! Or is it? For a man walking by IN THE TV SHOW suddenly stops, looking straight into the camera. He furrows his brow, walks up to the screen, then PULLS OFF THE CARD, yanking it instantly into TV land! He looks at it on both sides, showing that it is indeed the spectator's selection, then he shrugs and walks off screen!

On Screen is an easy, mind-blowing showpiece that will turn your next party into a sci-fi spectacle! Plus, learn 21 more sleights and routines from the minds of David Acer and his friends, shot on tour through Europe and Canada, including:


  • Big Time: The magician's hand becomes an impromptu magnifying glass, enlarging the printing on chosen cards, and ultimately upsizing the entire deck!
  • On Bended Knee: While seated at a bar, for example, and with a wave of his hand, one coin resting on the magician's knee changes instantly into another!
  • The Spice Rack: A restaurant salt shaker is visibly stretched to twice its normal size!
  • Ultimate Aces: Michel Huot's mind-blowing kicker for MacDonald's Aces, featuring the dazzling Spring Change!
  • Four on the Floor: A quick and elegant production of four-of-a-kind from the demented (though not quite addled) minds of David and Richard Sanders!


And so much more! Caffeine Overdose, B.J.'s Honey Cut, Acer on Equivoque, Fanfare, The Step Control, Postcards From The Dead, and the list goes on and on, plus TV clips from magic shows, comedy shows and talk shows, AND hilarious guest appearances by Jay Sankey, Richard Sanders, Rick Bronson, Alain Choquette, David Kaye, Barry Julien, Patrik Kuffs, Michel Huot, Jimmy Carlo, Stéphane Bourgoin and Romaine!

Reviews

Bryce Kuhlman

Official Reviewer

Feb 04, 2004

I could sum this DVD up in one sentence: "Easily the most entertaining, enjoyable, worthwhile DVD I've seen in a very long time!"

Let's face it: David Acer is a goofball? and a great magician! Not only that, he's got some very talented friends. Believe it or not the "and Other Mysteries" part of this DVD is what really makes it worthwhile.

Of course, that's not meant to demean the "On Screen" effect. It's well-produced and great for parties. Unlike other TV magic effects I've seen, David even explains how to choreograph the use of the DVD remote and TV switches so that it really looks like you're just turning on the TV.

But as I said, it's the rest of the material that makes this an awesome DVD. It's a combination of funny video clips (with friends, from David's standup act, and a full-blown movie short) intermixed with a lot of excellent material from David and friends like Jay Sankey, Richard Sanders, Jimmy Carlo, and Romaine.

It's really totally amazing how much magic is taught on this tape. Since it's mixed-up with these funny clips, it seems like this video must go on forever! The list of special guests includes thirteen performers!

Some of the highlights for me included:

Big Time - a "hand-made" magnifying glass turns a regular deck of cards into a jumbo-index deck.

Carlo Bands - an extension of the Crazy Man's Handcuffs that will fool the crap out of you!

David Acer on Equivoque - too funny for words. What the "magicians choice" shouldn't be, but all-too-often is.

Romaine Riffle Pass and Tabled Palm - Advanced card technique that's worth the study.

On Bended Knee - a baffling coin change for informal situations. This also includes commentary from Jay Sankey with an explanation of a wonderful coin vanish invented by Vernon.

The list could go on, but I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Any negative comments? Only one. Some of the camerawork was bad. I get the sense that most was shot with a handheld by various friends. That's all fine and dandy, but the camera goes out of frame during a number of important moments. If they could've had two cameras (one for an establishing shot), this could have been easily fixed.

The verdict: For the love of (insert favorite deity here), buy this DVD!
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