The Constant Gardner

Since rejoining Netflix, Buster and I have become movie junkies, we've been watching a movie every night. Last night I introduced him to Taxi Driver w/ DeNiro, and Jodie Foster. It had been YEARS since I saw it. I didn't remember that Cybil Shepard, Albert Brooks and Harvey Kietel were in it. Classic Scorsese.

We didn't have any Netflix movies to watch tonight so we went to the Admiral and saw The Constant Gardner.



I had never heard of it but was pleasantly surprised what a fine (and artsy) film it was. I really liked the way they used depth of field and focus to switch foreground and background images. Also the use of color to create contrast between some scenes with vivid colors and others (usually flashbacks or memories) with a washed out over lit scenes. Very cool!

Good script, good acting, good camera work, good editing, good directing. AND we got to see some killing! everything I like in a movie.

John Longenbaugh (click here)

I saw this post on the Magic Cafe

Greetings:

I'm a playwright and theatre director who's returning to magic after many years, thanks to a new play I've written. It's called "Marvolo the Anti-Smoking Magician," and it'll be produced in March of next year here in Seattle.

I'm wondering if any other Café regulars are aware of other scripts with magicians written into them. I'm aware of Woody Allen's "The Floating Light Bulb Trick," but does anyone else know any plays about magicians?

Many thanks!



John Longenbaugh

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In response, I posted that I lived in seattle and I was working on a one man show. After a few emails back and forth we agreed to meet for lunch at Café Septième in Capitol Hill. In one of his emails, John sent me his script for his play "Marvolo the Anti-Smoking Magician," a funny one act play.

It was great making a new friend. We both had lots of questions about each other. I was interested in starting a dialog about the structure and technique of what is required when writing a play. He was interested in finding out about the magic scene here in Seattle.

John practiced and performed magic as a teenager but hadn't really touched it since then. I told him about the Tuesday Night Sessions, The "Back Room" Tightcircle as well as Lynnwood Ring. I described our scene here in Seattle as "Vibrant"

I did a few tricks for him and he bought me lunch. (Thanks John!)

John generously offered to to help me as I begin to script my show and look for direction. I have a feeling that he is going to be a big help.

Shuffle

Full Size • Click Here

Treasure Uncovered

Nickel Chrome Plated Phoenix Cups and Balls

Photo by JR Hughson

In 1999 I wanted to end the century with another offering from the the T.Frank Mint (a name I obviously ripped off from The Franklin Mint, when I had delusions about creating a company that would manufacture a line of contemporary collectible magic tricks). Here was the ad that unveiled a limited number (100 sets) of Nickel Chrome Plated Phoenix Cups and Balls


Full Size, CLICK HERE

A recent inquiry prompted the excavation of remaining sets of the these beauties from the jungle of my storage facility. Bill Plamer wanted to buy a set for his Cups and Ball Museum. I wasn't sure if there were any left or not. As it happens, there were 5 sets! He has pruchased one, now there are 4 sets left. I am offering these final sets at the same price as I did when I put them out, $300.

The reviews are in!

Evidently the Noodle Joint Ramblings were a hit!

Here are some comments from the Web:

Tom
You do have more noodles on your chin than you have in your bowl.
Thanks
Mario - (Mario Morris)

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Magic and a hot bowl of Pho.
Tom, this may be your best yet.

"What does magic mean to me...?"

Made me spit coffee all over my monitor. You are the best buddy.

You show some fine chops to boot.

Best,

Dan- (Danny Hustle)

•

I do agree with you Dan.
Tom your the king of video clips.
Mario

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You guys flatter me beyond belief!!!

I often think, this is what my son and I come up with, with little or no planning or thinking.

I then wonder If we could come up with something really cool and relevant If I took the time to script, storyboard and plan a more substantial project. I am convinced I have a few good scripts in me.

Guess we'll see. . . ay?

Thanks for the encouragement gents!

Tom

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You know what Tom, as a guy who writes those little vignettes you are making are pure gold. Because they are unscripted and off the cuff. If you collect enough of those just a little bit at a time you will feel a story (your story) emerging from them.

Then you can take all of those little bits and draft the script. Once you have the story you sprinkle a bit of the truth in there to make the bullshit ring true and you will have a good story.

This character that is emerging is a hoot and this last one I am guessing contained the most honest bits of you. You are a character my friend and in a world that lacks character I mean that as a sincere complement.

Go for it! Just make sure they cast you in the lead when you sell the script!

Best,

Dan-

P.S. Your look in this last video really punched it too. You were just in street clothes eating soup. A regular guy that anybody can identify with. Then you are knocking out downs stars and roll downs. That is really shocking to a lay audience.

In a film, when a guy looks like he can do that stuff and he does it the reaction is "so what". When a guy looks like your neighbor, the bartender, your kid's teacher, the funny guy behind the counter at the corner store, and he knocks that stuff out it sets you flat on your ass. Your character is a funny, likable, everyman. Then you get to see the thing that sets him apart and makes him just a little different.

Now add conflict and a resolution and you my friend have a story.

Almost every portrayal of a "Magician" in film is either a tux wearing Herman knock off or a scam artist Harry Anderson wanna be. The kids liked David Blaine because he looked just like them.

You are on to something Tom.

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Anyone else having trouble getting this vid to run?

Steve

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Ran fine for me. Kinda sad, really. (melancholy, not pathetic)

Jeff

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A lovely film, Tom, obviously heartfelt.

"Loser"? I don't think so. You've lived a life devoted to your passion, have seen some incredible things, got to know some unusual and talented people.

I think you were (or are) going through a 'down' period, as we all do. I used to go to Tannen's every week and sometimes would see a kid showing off some bad magic and domineering the shop, often when someone like Frank Garcia was there, being quiet. I used to tell Frank, "I gotta get out of magic." He just smiled that enigmatic smile he had.

Maybe you're just putting too much chili sauce in your noodles.

Thanks for the movie.

Matt Field

In my "In Box"

Hi Tom,

On your blog, I noticed a post labeled "Cribs" there was a orange prop in front of the topsy turvy bottles. I have that trick and it was the very 1st trick I received! What is it called? I never saw another one! Do you know the history about it?

Thanks,

Tom OBrien



Yo Tom,

This was one of my first tricks as well! I bought it around 1974 in Paris where I was attending the American School of Paris. I think I was in the third grade. It was a cut and restored string trick. I'm not sure who the manufacturer was. If I had to guess, I might say Tenyo. At any rate, as a kid I thought it was a nifty little trick.

Leaning Gag

Punch Cigar

Session

Last night's session was light but tight. Core regulars Steve, Tim & Jose were absent. In fact, no one showed up till almost 9:30PM (that's a first). Isaac showed up sporting a 6 pack of Rolling Rock and a grin. Randy followed shortly there after. A bit later Becky wandered in with her brother Ben. He's a Google Guy from Mountainview, CA visiting and taking care of some business here in town. Next Philemon and Nash showed up.

We did a few card tricks and talked about the exploding lightbulb. Isaac filled us in on the lecture he recently presented to a group of clowns and magicians in Eastern Washington. From what I gathered sodomy jokes are "out" in kids shows these days. Thats good to know. I'm always the last to find out these things.

Anyway, the topic shifted to Payne's lecture and we discussed Magic, Meaning, Themes and Why. Good discussion. Near the end of the session, when it was to to just Philemon, Nash and myself; we jammed on the cups and balls for almost an hour. Fun stuff!

JR Hughson

Spent some time yesterday with my old friend JR Hughson. JR & I go back 15 or 20 years, back to our Cincinnati roots. He's been a bit of a guru to me and I hope he knows how much I appreciate his friendship. The latest thing I learned from him was how fast you can get divorced when there is no fighting. I lent him a tape I had dug up. It was us practicing magic in my mom's attic. Fun memories, both of us with our girlfriends. . . later to become wives. . . later to become exwives. . . oh well.



Here is Max, JR & Sam Highson



Sam makes a piece of art out of her applesause.

JR is a interesting man. At 32 years old he retired from Microsoft. After taking a few years off to spend with his family, he was enticed back to Microsoft. JR has always been tecnologically advanced. He was the one that started me blogging back before people knew what blogs were. . . back in 2001. Check out his blog Back-Talk if you get a chance.

Pic du Jour

Video du Jour • Noodle Joint Ramblings

Noodle Video • Click Here

Payne's Lecture

Saturday afternoon Buster and I were entertained and enlightened at Payne's lecture. Well attended by around 50 local magicians we were given the opportunity to see and hear a bit of Payne's creative process.

He started out by performing a routine called the Gift from the Magi (a variation of David Parr's "Dinner with Bourgies"). After doing this prediction effect and teaching the method, Payne showed us how he was able to take the same trick and apply it to many different themes. For his Harry Potter Show he put the prediction in a large Jelly Bean. Other themes included Life/Death, Audience/Magician, and a Bank Night Theme with play money and a real bill.




He emphasised the idea of taking standard effects and performing them NOT in the standard way. Talking about the way he had modified many tricks to suit his Rennisance Festival Act, he shared with us his "What's Next" routine. He had modified the prop by covering it in parchment paper and converting the spots to X's and talked about making his mark on the paper.

He outlined his ideas on Theme Magic and made a point to say it wasn't what (tricks) he was doing but how he did it. He used different language that made us think outside the box. Payne showed us that the prop doesn't have to be what it is, It can be whatever YOU want it to be, or can imagine it being.



He illustrated this by showing us how he had modified a die box to look like something very different. The routine had the same structure but now he had a reason for having the box.

Payne then preached the gospel of magicians asking themselves


WHO - Who am I? What kind of character are you trying to portray?
What - are you doing?
Where - will you be doing it?
When
Why? That's a big one. And finally
How - Will you accomplish all of the proceeding?



Payne always cracks me up! He has, as unique a sense of humor as he does a perspective on magic. Payne drove the point home, that even if you are using a standard magic prop; that you should strive to create unique magical presentations that are YOURS.

He talked about the challenges he faced when working on his Checkers, Rice & Orange routine (a routine I've been lucky enough to see him perform before a lay audience that loved it as much as I did.



As the winner of many magic contests Payne is qualified to give some excellent advice on competing. He explained how close up contests are really parlour contests, I couldn't agree more.

He performed his variation of Penello a card routine he modified to use coasters, he calls it Coasterello. After that he performed his "Pet Flute" routine that used the added sense of sound. I saw him perform this routine at the last Magic Monday at Third Place Books.

Next he performed a mental routine themed around a Thai Food restaurant called "Thai Wan On"

If you can't tell by now I am a big Payne fan! Here is a guy who is who has great balance in his life. A good job, a beautiful wife who loves him, a charming home, the respect and admiration of his peers and talent oozing out of every pour.

Payned finished his lecture with his homage to Tommy Wonder. He broke down the thought process for several Nest of Boxes that he has made and performed over the years.

A great afternoon of LegerdaPayne!

Touchdown Seahawks!!

The Seattle Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl.

FINAL SCORE: SEATTLE 34, CAROLINA 14

Scotty Walsh Spotlight Feature

I met Scotty a few years ago when I first moved to Seattle. He was working at Market Magic at the time. I don't really recall our first meeting but he described it this way. I walked into the shop wearing my fedora, cigar in hand, big smile on my face. I introduced myself as Tom Frank from Cincinnati, Ohio. He later told me that I came across like the huckster in The Music Man. Wasn't my intention. . . . but it never is.



Anyway, he started coming around and hanging out at our back room sessions at Seattle Magic. He asked a lot of good questions and was clearly on the fast track to making quantum leaps in his magic and starting an exciting adventure as a street performer. Scotty seems to have a knack of being at the right place at the right time. I think he was hanging in the back room when Stephen Minch brought Robert Giobbi in one afternoon. The summer before last, Scotty picked up and went to work a summer in New Orleans. Next thing ya know he's staying at Harry Anderson's house. Ahhh the opportunities that busking can provide.



As many of you know I studied with Cellini during my formative years as a street performer. Scotty claims that I am his Cellini (a huge compliment). He reminds me a lot of myself at his age. Brash, fearless, fun and full of enthusiasm. A risk taker, so much so that he proposed to Becky and married her after only knowing her for 3 weeks. A divorce 3 months later didn't really surprise anyone and certainly didn't slow him down. He just moved to Cairo, Egypt with a woman a few days ago.

I have been lucky enough to watch his steady progress. He went from a guy who didn't know how to street perform, to a guy doing circle shows gathering huge crowds and making good money. Right On!!



On a more personal note I can tell you that Scotty is a good person, who cares deeply for people and magic. His interests don't stop there, he is a clown, an acrobat and a writer. He has traveled the globe as a soldier, a humanitarian, and a lover. Using magic to transcend language and borders he will grow as an artist and share the love in his heart and the magic he has to offer.

Last week he joined me at the Owl and Thistle Bar. We hung out, then went to my house where we sessioned till 6:30 in the morning. We talked cards, coins, cups and balls, linking rings, egg bag and the miser's dream. We talked about the greats of our craft, about the past present and future.

I like watching Scotty perform. We've had lengthy discussions about what he's doing and why. It's going to be fun to watch him grow, mature and come into his own as a performer and a person.

Go into the world Scotty and share all that love in your heart. Create good art and make everyday magical.

Here's a pic that Annie took of Scotty and Jake yesterday morning before they took him to the airport.

Saturday

Today Buster and I attended Payne's lecture at 2PM. I will post a review of the lecture complete with pics in the next few days. To give you an idea of what was on the agenda; Here was the email ad / invite:

Payne's Prestidigital Presentations Lessons in Thematic Thaumaturgy

For the first time our own Master Payne is going to unveil his innermost secrets and reveal his methodology of creating unique themed magical presentations with tricks and props you already own.

He will guide you step by step through the creation of some of his most ingenious of routines and teach you how to apply this knowledge to create unique routines of your very own.

And yes, he will actually teach a few of his prize-winning routines as well.

There will be something for everyone. Close up, Platform, Stage even his take on an illusion or two. He will reveal the inner working of his Nest of Boxes; Teach Tips and Tricks of reworking and refinishing props; Present you with sage words of wisdom; and make a few jokes.

All this and more!!!

Master Payne is the 2005 PCAM Pro Challenge Gold Medallist and the winner of both stage and close up contests at the
2005 Magic Jamboree.

He has been presenting his unique vision of magic in and about the Pacific Northwest for over 25 years and has performed in Venues from England to Guam.

After the lecture Buster and I went to Ivar's for a late lunch / early dinner before taking a ferry to Whitby Island, where I performed at the Useless Bay Country Club. I did 30 minutes of strolling and a 45 minute after dinner presentation.

Perhaps I will write about the show or post a video clip.

But now it's getting late and weather permitting I'd like to Busk at the Market tomorrow morning. There are a lot of "out of towners" in for the big playoff game at Seahawks Stadium. I'm sure Pike Place Market will be on their hit list of things to do while in Seattle. Let's hope it isn't raining. My clock is set for 9:30AM

Goodnight. . . . or should I say Good morning?

Crowd Control

Cups and Balls

Documentry du jour

To read some reviews Click Here.

. . . And the Netflix keep on coming.

I liked this film. Good story, nice job telling it. Liked the way the camera moved and the story progressed. Well Done (get it? It's a burger joke. . . forget it.)