The following is from C-SPAN 2 at 11:40 pm November 9th.This address was given by Tim Quinlan, Magic Candidate for the U.S. Presidency.He took no questions at the conclusion of the address.It runs approximately 20 minutes.
First things first:I would like to say late last night I called both President Bush and Senator Kerry to concede my campaign.It is now apparent that even if there was a recount in all 50 states, I would not have sufficient votes to win the Presidential Election.
I know more than anyone here tonight just how disappointing it is to fail.There are those who suggested all along that our country was not ready for a magician/president.That was why we opened our campaign in the heart of anti-magician sentiment, Kleesburg, Indiana.You will recall that despite the egging of our campaign bus and the arrest of our supporters, we continued.
Our campaign was shunned by the popular, anti-magician media throughout our travels.We were forced to buy very expensive advertising and if not for the constant support of a few millionaire magicians, we would not have made it this far.
We were particularly devastated by the anti-magician campaigns of a few but well supported section 527 groups.The so-called ?Magicians Assistants for Truth? ads cut us to the core.Their claims that we relegated them to ?box jumpers? and ?human distractions? seemed to hit home with an uninformed public.I recall being interviewed in Iowa by a young woman who asked ?how could you make them get into boxes so small they couldn?t even turn around?Did you think they were lower than veal??
Alex Lourido is a talented and charismatic magician, inventor, and now video producer.You know Mr. Lourido’s work to include Osmosis and Butter Coin.He has good stuff that is well made and original.
Mr. Lourido was kind enough to let me review his new DVD set, Retro Magic.I am flying to Las Vegas as I write this and have just finished watching it for a second time.To my left sit two other businesspersons who alternated their gaze between my computer screen and the mini-DVD player on the far passenger’s lap showing Showgirls, starring Elizabeth somebody.The girl from Saved by the Bell; she used to stick up for Screech.Her name will come to me.
Retro Magic is a wonderful resource.It does not fit neatly into any one category.It has teaching segments, performance segments, a neat set of scenes chronicling Mr. Lourido’s maturity in magic.However, the first thing you will notice — and the first thing my wife noticed — is the DVD case seems more appropriate for Girls Gone Wild than a magic video.
Picture a typical L&L DVD case; say Michael Close’s latest.Wherever you see Mr. Close, replace that image with a scantily clad teenaged woman.Front and back of the case shows front and back of the models.They are all clothed and there is no pornography on the cover or within the magnetic fields of the DVD — I know, I looked.
It is not clear the market Mr. Lourido seeks with this presentation.My guess, based on my enjoyment of the DVD, is that it is likely magicians for whom the images entice, repulse or have no effect.The magic is good, the production quality is very high and Mr. Lourido is charming as our host.
At the outset of the presentation segment, Mr. Lourido uses what he describes as a “cheesy camera trick” to cause the models clothing change to swimwear.The fact that he calls it a “cheesy camera trick” made it funny when it could have been considered offensive or pandering.The entire DVD is shares this… Continue reading Retro Magic – A Review: Sop Up the Gravy, Feel the Love!
Objective Productions is the UK company behind television shows such as Derren Brown?s Mind Control and the wacky, magical comedy series The Peep Show needed to expand its presence.
The independent television company announced today the opening of a new office in Manchester in order to access new magical talent.
The production company has done well with magic as the vehicle and television as the medium. The shows will be along the lines of Channel 5?s Greatest TV Moments and 50 Greatest Magic Tricks on Channel 4.
Anthony Owen was named the head of Magic Programming for the company and has great hope for finding new talent and new programs in the new office north west of the traditional home for UK?s television, London.
We wish them the best of luck and hope they received our resume.
WCCO Channel 4 in Minneapolis has a nice piece about a pretty nice guy doing nice deeds. Jeff Smith is also known as ?The Amazing Jeffo? and his magic is also known as ?helping others find the magic within them.?
Mr. Smith has been performing magic since he was a young one but turned professional at the age of 14.As he grew in his abilities and expanded his professional career, he suffered the progressive loss of his sight. By the time he turned 25, Mr. Smith was blind.Rheumatoid Arthritis struck his body hard but his love for performing magic helped him survive with a positive outlook.
“I think it’s been a therapy for me over the years to come out of my shell and share some of the insights or perceptions of someone who has seen and now is blind and has gone through some other sorts of experiences in my life.”
His work is not simply therapy, however. His act is as mainstream as any sighted magician.“I try to play off of the novelty of my blindness. I try to expose them to the fact that we have a lot in common more than we are different.?
Mr. Smith performs several types of shows, including corporate, schools, parties, and even teaches classes.
Check out the story of The Amazing Jeffo on Channel 4?s website here.
You may not have noticed, but Hollywood-types are not usually straightforward and candid.You hadn?t noticed that?Really?Wow, that is so, like, so crazy.What do you say we go drink bottled water and talk about people?
Anyway, by saying Siegfried & Roy?s animated new feature, Father of the Pride (?Father?), is still a great hit and highly valued, the Peacock Network (?NBC?) has publicly stated that it is a goner.
NBC has affirmed to the television media there is no question about it: Father of the Pride will be back after the November sweeps.The studios were adamant they will bring back the ?highly-rated? star of the new line-up in December.
In plain English, this means: ?We?re blowing $2,000,000.00 per episode.We?re going to play the ones we?ve already made ? that money is sunk ? and then we?re turning off the spigot.?
The studio did note, along with their faint-praise, that the show started ?under a cloud? in the form of Roy Horn?s unfortunate accident on October 3, 2003.
Bottom line in Hollywood: if you are not in the Fall Sweeps, the networks cannot price out your timeslot, and that kills your ad sales. If NBC takes Father out of the Fall Sweeps, it has told the advertising market that it does not care to set the demographics and price for the Father slot with Father in it.Follow the money in Hollywood.Father is gone.The money has moved on.
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