Believe by Joel Paschall
The Official Spam-
The Video-
I got this effect as a DVD Download, as I don't really mind not having it on DVD. There are probably extras that you get on the DVD, but not the Download, but I just wanted the effect; extras don't really concern me that much. This, after a few problems with MY computer, not the download, took about half an hour- forty-five minutes to download.
The quality of the video, as usual for theory11, was great. I could see everything that was going on as if I was there. At first the video was a bit jumpy, but like always, it was probably my computer. After that it ran perfectly smooth, and I didn't have any problems at all.
Dana and Wayne did a wonderful job editing this. It was put together very nicely, and looked dang cool. They got all the best angles for the teaching and performances. Good job, guys!
The Teaching/Teacher-
Joel is very quickly becoming one of my favorite theory11 artists. He has a nice personality, and just watching him perform makes you want to actually believe in magic. When he performed this effect, I was blown away for the first time in a long time. His patter, his personality, his handling; everything was perfect.
When Joel teaches, he goes over everything you need to know to be able to perform this. He teaches this crazy One Handed Braue Reversal that looks good and gets done what you need done. It's very knacky, so it'll be a while before I'll be doing this.
Joel teaches a very nice One Handed Double, which, like the One Handed Braue Reversal, looks good, but is pretty knacky. It reminds me a lot of Brian Tudor's One Handed Double, if you have seen it. However, Joel's is a little bit easier. This one is going to take a while before I'm doing it, as well.
Angles-
One question I have got since originally writing this review, both on AIM/MSN, and through PM... is how are the angles on this effect? Well, it's pretty darn much completely angle proof. I can't imagine a setting where you're performing and have angle problems with this.
Reset-
Obviously, since this effect is completely impromptu, there is no reset.
Gimmicks/Impromptuness-
The demo video truly does not lie for this effect. Believe uses absolutely no gimmicks, and can be done anywhere, anytime, with any deck of cards. It relies purely on sleight of hand, and demo video is not misleading at all. The change is really that visual, and it really is as awesome as the demo makes it sound.
When first buying this, I really was expecting there to be some PK Ring, magnet, or something else to achieve the change. The real method is almost diabolical, impromptu, and just as visual. The only problem I have with the change, and it is a tiny one, is that the changed piece is slightly moved, and is not in the same place as it was originally. But, if you do this right, your spectators will never notice.
Difficulty-
When going into this effect, I honestly expected not to be able to do it. I thought it was going to be that hard. And the truth is: it's not! It relies on a few basic sleights, plus a few things that are a little to quite knacky; some of which can be "replaced" or switched with other sleights that you already know.
This effect is something that will need to be practiced quite a bit, as it is NOT one that you want to go out and flub up. You want to make this everything it can be, and you need to give it the practice it deserves. Which means I won't be performing it for a couple of weeks. Which, sadly, means I won't be able to perform it at school. But I would rather perform it near-flawlessly next year than try to do it this week and mess it up.
Price-
To be quite honest with you guys, this effect is dirt cheap for what you're getting. I would have easily paid at least $30, probably more, for this. That's how good it is. Your spectators will love this, and you will love performing it. If you aren't willing to fork over the money for this; you don't deserve to perform it!
Performances-
Just for those of you that are wondering, this DVD/Download has one real live performance for real people, a performance "for you" on some concrete steps, and one or two performances (I wasn't really watching that closely; I was trying to practice) in the "Additional Ideas" section. They're all great, and give you an idea of what the effect looks like in real time.
Additional Ideas-
After explaining the basic method and handling, there is a section of the Download/DVD called "Additional Ideas". Joel is sitting outside on some asphalt, in what sort of appears to be an alley. He explains some different versions of Believe that you can do when the subject arises of "reading people's minds" and things like that. These are not extremely hard to do, but will require "lots" of practice.
Overall-
Like I said before, Joel is quickly becoming one of my favorite theory11 artists, and I have a feeling that Believe is quickly going to become one of my favorite effects. Joel goes into a lot of detail of why this effect works the way it does, a little bit of theory, and it all just works. That's all I can say. Get it, now!
By the way, I will be updating this in a few weeks to tell you how the performances are and what the reactions are like.
The Official Spam-
A pure, impromptu miracle from the mind of Joel Paschall. A card is selected from the deck, signed, and returned. An indifferent card is shown; the corner is ripped off and placed face up on the table. The rest of the card is set aside, in view.
With a slow, calculated, delicate wave of your hand over the torn corner, it visually changes into that of the spectator's chosen selection. Impossible? The rest of the card - which has been in view the entire time - is turned over as well.
The Video-
I got this effect as a DVD Download, as I don't really mind not having it on DVD. There are probably extras that you get on the DVD, but not the Download, but I just wanted the effect; extras don't really concern me that much. This, after a few problems with MY computer, not the download, took about half an hour- forty-five minutes to download.
The quality of the video, as usual for theory11, was great. I could see everything that was going on as if I was there. At first the video was a bit jumpy, but like always, it was probably my computer. After that it ran perfectly smooth, and I didn't have any problems at all.
Dana and Wayne did a wonderful job editing this. It was put together very nicely, and looked dang cool. They got all the best angles for the teaching and performances. Good job, guys!
The Teaching/Teacher-
Joel is very quickly becoming one of my favorite theory11 artists. He has a nice personality, and just watching him perform makes you want to actually believe in magic. When he performed this effect, I was blown away for the first time in a long time. His patter, his personality, his handling; everything was perfect.
When Joel teaches, he goes over everything you need to know to be able to perform this. He teaches this crazy One Handed Braue Reversal that looks good and gets done what you need done. It's very knacky, so it'll be a while before I'll be doing this.
Joel teaches a very nice One Handed Double, which, like the One Handed Braue Reversal, looks good, but is pretty knacky. It reminds me a lot of Brian Tudor's One Handed Double, if you have seen it. However, Joel's is a little bit easier. This one is going to take a while before I'm doing it, as well.
Angles-
One question I have got since originally writing this review, both on AIM/MSN, and through PM... is how are the angles on this effect? Well, it's pretty darn much completely angle proof. I can't imagine a setting where you're performing and have angle problems with this.
Reset-
Obviously, since this effect is completely impromptu, there is no reset.
Gimmicks/Impromptuness-
The demo video truly does not lie for this effect. Believe uses absolutely no gimmicks, and can be done anywhere, anytime, with any deck of cards. It relies purely on sleight of hand, and demo video is not misleading at all. The change is really that visual, and it really is as awesome as the demo makes it sound.
When first buying this, I really was expecting there to be some PK Ring, magnet, or something else to achieve the change. The real method is almost diabolical, impromptu, and just as visual. The only problem I have with the change, and it is a tiny one, is that the changed piece is slightly moved, and is not in the same place as it was originally. But, if you do this right, your spectators will never notice.
Difficulty-
When going into this effect, I honestly expected not to be able to do it. I thought it was going to be that hard. And the truth is: it's not! It relies on a few basic sleights, plus a few things that are a little to quite knacky; some of which can be "replaced" or switched with other sleights that you already know.
This effect is something that will need to be practiced quite a bit, as it is NOT one that you want to go out and flub up. You want to make this everything it can be, and you need to give it the practice it deserves. Which means I won't be performing it for a couple of weeks. Which, sadly, means I won't be able to perform it at school. But I would rather perform it near-flawlessly next year than try to do it this week and mess it up.
Price-
To be quite honest with you guys, this effect is dirt cheap for what you're getting. I would have easily paid at least $30, probably more, for this. That's how good it is. Your spectators will love this, and you will love performing it. If you aren't willing to fork over the money for this; you don't deserve to perform it!
Performances-
Just for those of you that are wondering, this DVD/Download has one real live performance for real people, a performance "for you" on some concrete steps, and one or two performances (I wasn't really watching that closely; I was trying to practice) in the "Additional Ideas" section. They're all great, and give you an idea of what the effect looks like in real time.
Additional Ideas-
After explaining the basic method and handling, there is a section of the Download/DVD called "Additional Ideas". Joel is sitting outside on some asphalt, in what sort of appears to be an alley. He explains some different versions of Believe that you can do when the subject arises of "reading people's minds" and things like that. These are not extremely hard to do, but will require "lots" of practice.
Overall-
Like I said before, Joel is quickly becoming one of my favorite theory11 artists, and I have a feeling that Believe is quickly going to become one of my favorite effects. Joel goes into a lot of detail of why this effect works the way it does, a little bit of theory, and it all just works. That's all I can say. Get it, now!
By the way, I will be updating this in a few weeks to tell you how the performances are and what the reactions are like.
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