have you watched derren browns "the experiment"

[Jack by the hedge]

He didnt say "I didnt use magnets/'strings/pixie dust " either. So shall we assume he did? I dont know how he did it,I'd be dissapointed if it was camera trickery,Id prefer a cool magic secret.

Did you see evidence of pixie dust, or have an explanation of how the trick could be achieved that way?

I don't leap to assume camera trickery because he didn't rule it out. But I don't rule it out because he didn't rule it out. It's the evidence of camera trickery that makes me think he used camera trickery.

So there's a way he could have done the trick and there's particular evidence that points to that method being used, and the only reason to think he didn't do it that way is that some people would be disappointed if it were ever proven, which it never will be.

I'd prefer a cool magic secret too. The week after the show, I watched his "explanation" hoping he was going to blow our socks off by proving it couldn't have been camera trickery. No such luck.

 

[Stray Cat]

On the topic of stooges in his live show, initially (first couple of tours) he threw frisbees into crowd-an unpredictable mehtod if you want to land it to your stooge

Latter tours he throws a stuffed toy(monkey) who ever recieves it then throws it behind themselves blindly,that person then is the chosen to go on stage. So talk of stooges is ridiculous.

He throws around 20 frisbees a night,so if he can hit marked people with that accuracy in different venues he's doing the wrong job.

From my personal experience of watching a section of one of his TV shows being filmed. I can say that the thing that ruled out the normal 'magic gimmick' explanation was the editing. Anyone viewing the edited version of the effect I watched Derren film would have to conclude that he used a stooge. However, in the unedited version (watching it live), his method was crude and obvious (to a magician).

 

[Azrael 5]

From my personal experience of watching a section of one of his TV shows being filmed. I can say that the thing that ruled out the normal 'magic gimmick' explanation was the editing. Anyone viewing the edited version of the effect I watched Derren film would have to conclude that he used a stooge. However, in the unedited version (watching it live), his method was crude and obvious (to a magician).

Yes he's certainly guilty of editing out a method to a trick,but then that's par for the course really with TV magic these days.But using camera tricks /editing to achieve the trick? I'd hope not.

 

[Azrael 5]

*edit*
I'd prefer a cool magic secret too. The week after the show, I watched his "explanation" hoping he was going to blow our socks off by proving it couldn't have been camera trickery. No such luck.

Why should he? First he has to assume TV audience will think that it is, then has to pander to them by saying it isnt?
Same with Russian Roulette effect,big media hullabaloo about it being blanks/fake gun,again Derren has never commented on it. He let's people think ,keeps them guessing ,brilliant PR really.

Do it and walk away,creates a better lasting impression.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

"Pick a card"
"OK"
"What is it?"
"Ace of hearts"
"Correct."

So there's a trivial "trick" where everyone can see how to do it in a disappointingly obvious way. If the magician wants to impress you, he needs to go on to demonstrate he didn't do it the obvious way. In this case, maybe reveal something saying "Ace of hearts".

If you think Derren was deliberately misdirecting us to think he was using camera tricks, then that's an obvious and disappointing way to do the trick. What's the point of leaving the audience believing that was how he did it?

 

[dlorde]

Same with Russian Roulette effect,big media hullabaloo about it being blanks/fake gun,again Derren has never commented on it. He let's people think ,keeps them guessing ,brilliant PR really.

I read an interview recently where he said the bullets weren't blanks - but that's all he would say.

 

[Azrael 5]

"Pick a card"
"OK"
"What is it?"
"Ace of hearts"
"Correct."

So there's a trivial "trick" where everyone can see how to do it in a disappointingly obvious way. If the magician wants to impress you, he needs to go on to demonstrate he didn't do it the obvious way. In this case, maybe reveal something saying "Ace of hearts".

If you think Derren was deliberately misdirecting us to think he was using camera tricks, then that's an obvious and disappointing way to do the trick. What's the point of leaving the audience believing that was how he did it?

Did I say that he wanted audience to think it was camera tricks? I assume given faux explantion in second show he wanted them to think it was wisdom of crowds.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

Did I say that he wanted audience to think it was camera tricks? I assume given faux explantion in second show he wanted them to think it was wisdom of crowds.

I agree. In that case I think it's fair to say that we were not supposed to notice the evidence of camera tricks, and that this implies they were part of the trick.

 

[John Albert]

We also haven't proven that he doesn't actually have magical powers. Plus, I have seen no evidence in this thread that he's not a vampire.

Good point. Maybe he's God.

He certainly seems to do no wrong in some peoples' eyes.


ETA: I personally find the use of camera tricks equally disappointing as the use of stooges.

Claiming that, from a magician's perspective, one is "cheating" and another isn't, is rather like "I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy."

 

[Azrael 5]

Episode 2. No dodgy camera tricks or stooges, just plenty of shark jumping.

 

[lane99]

...I can assure you that a performer who was known to be accomplishing his effects via stooges would have no respect within the magic or mentalist community...

Not sure on what basis you're able to assure the reader here. Since many within the magic/mentalist community accept stooging as legitimate and do not necessarily regard the use of stooges and an elegant method as being mutually exclusive.

Though if Derren Brown was in this particular show using stooges, that would be rather crass . But I doubt this participant was a stooge.

That said, the audience of this show is being tricked. And I'm sure the participant was secretly made aware that no one would actually be harmed when he pulled the trigger on the gun.

 

[AdMan]

Not sure on what basis you're able to assure the reader here. Since many within the magic/mentalist community accept stooging as legitimate and do not necessarily regard the use of stooges and an elegant method as being mutually exclusive.

I said that as someone who's been studying and performing magic and mentalism as a hobby for over two decades. I don't really think that the use of stooges is accepted as a legitimate and elegant method within the community--for example, if you ever bought a mentalism effect and the instructions basically said to use a stooge, most performers would feel ripped off. I've no doubt that the method is used at times, but I don't think many performers brag about it. It's really just seen as cheating. (I'm not talking about "instant stooging," which I think is viewed somewhat differently.)

That said, the audience of this show is being tricked. And I'm sure the participant was secretly made aware that no one would actually be harmed when he pulled the trigger on the gun.

This may very well have been the case. I brought up the fact that DB likes to use the principle of "double reality," and I wouldn't be surprised it that was the case here too.

 

[AdMan]

Episode 2. No dodgy camera tricks or stooges, just plenty of shark jumping.

Just watched episode 2.

WTF? At best, that was a joke and a completely unnecessary waste of time. Jumping the shark is an understatement. Using stooges in creative ways would have been a step up. It was utter garbage.

 

[Bram Kaandorp]

Just watched episode 2.

WTF? At best, that was a joke and a completely unnecessary waste of time. Jumping the shark is an understatement. Using stooges in creative ways would have been a step up. It was utter garbage.

I still don't get what the "what the hell?" moment was supposed to be. Y'know, the moment where the entire thing is tilted on its axis, and you are left wondering if you really fully grasped everything.

Admittedly, not every show he does has this, but at least some small element would be very weird and mindfunking.

None of that here. It's almost like he has stopped trying completely. We are presented with a concept which we know exists, and we see how it unfolds. Pretty standard.

But I think that even the audience in the studio was in on it, making it his worst show ever.

 

[Professor Yaffle]

I'm watching the second episode now. So far it looks like an ordinary reframing of the Milgram experiment combined with a bit of diffusion of responsibility.

ETA: Yep stayed that way. I thought it was quite good, but I'm sure if you were expecting some magic tricks it would have sucked...

And no I don't think the audience was "in on it" - its what I would have expected to have happened if the audience were naive. I'm pretty sure the "contestant" was in on it though - it would have been unethical to put someone through that otherwise. Just like in the Milgram experiments.

 

[Azrael 5]

Things that make me think contestant was "in on it".
Water spilled on him,yet minutes later it's forgotten, no feeling of wet patch, he didnt even stand up and go "WTF"
Recieved phone call to inform him he was being sacked. "Oh ok then thanks."
Other girl's boyfriend offers "take it outside" and Paul(?) being a kick boxer declines.
Not even sure the whole hidden camera section was "live",psosibly pre-recorded with Derren taking his cue,things seemed to take a long time to happen and didn't see any one wearing earpieces.

 

[AdMan]

Things that make me think contestant was "in on it".
Water spilled on him,yet minutes later it's forgotten, no feeling of wet patch, he didnt even stand up and go "WTF"
Recieved phone call to inform him he was being sacked. "Oh ok then thanks."
Other girl's boyfriend offers "take it outside" and Paul(?) being a kick boxer declines.
Not even sure the whole hidden camera section was "live",psosibly pre-recorded with Derren taking his cue,things seemed to take a long time to happen and didn't see any one wearing earpieces.

Yeah, I also got the feeling that all of the hidden camera sequences were pre-recorded.

 

[lane99]

Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't, but you're the one who made the assertion that he's already been "caught of course" using actors. Again for the umpteenth time. Where's the evidence?

This is the act: Voodoo Doll

This is the actor: Magda Rodriguez

 

[Professor Yaffle]

Things that make me think contestant was "in on it".
Water spilled on him,yet minutes later it's forgotten, no feeling of wet patch, he didnt even stand up and go "WTF"
Recieved phone call to inform him he was being sacked. "Oh ok then thanks."
Other girl's boyfriend offers "take it outside" and Paul(?) being a kick boxer declines.
Not even sure the whole hidden camera section was "live",psosibly pre-recorded with Derren taking his cue,things seemed to take a long time to happen and didn't see any one wearing earpieces.

Oh and his characteristics were clearly made up in order to make the audience unsympathetic towards him and to elicit the negative choices.

 

[Professor Yaffle]

This is the act: Voodoo Doll

This is the actor: Magda Rodriguez

http://aboutderrenbrown.blogspot.com/2008/07/revealed-derren-brown-used-actress-in_24.html