Hi Everyone,
I just got my DVDs of Cultural XChange Vols 1 & 2, starring Apollo Robbins and Shoot Ogawa. I have been looking for effects that pack a punch without any patter, mainly for venues that have loud music blaring and for audiences that don't speak English. These DVDs definitely provide such material.
First off, let me warn you the effects presented here are NOT EASY. You definitely need to have some familiarity with holding cards and coins in your hands to learn the sleights here. Things like the Muscle pass, finger p*** and classic p*** are not explained, unlike some other videos, so if you're a total newbie to magic, save your money for the time being and get these DVDs at a later date.
Shoot and Apollo alternate the routines, except for 2B Gone which has both of them performing their own variation. Shoot's Japanese, so his English isn't that strong, but Apollo is in each of the explanations that Shoot gives and brings up the questions you're likely to have regarding the method. So it works well in that sense.
I won't list every effect (Because there's a LOT!), just those that stuck out for me on this set.
Lets move on to the effects on each DVD :
Vol 1Trinity : This is a very beautiful appearance and vanish of a coin. Not easy to do, but well worth the effort to learn it. This is the routine that is done on the demo vid of Vol 1. By Apollo
Neo-Purse Frame : Very nice coin routine with a purse frame and coin. It reminded me a bit of Jerry Andrus' Zone Zero effect. One phase requires the muscle pass. By Shoot.
Right on Cue : Spectator chooses a card, you wave a fan over it, and suddenly an 8 Ball appears on the pack! Can be done during walkaround. By Apollo.
Royal Transpo : Transpo effect with Kings and Aces in the Spectators hand. Also shown on the demo vid. By Shoot.
Slide : Coin Vanish by Shoot. This is a clean complete one hand vanish. Very hard.
Coin Exercise : Exercise by Apollo on vanishing a coin and doing hand wipes to keep it hidden. Also difficult.
Shoot Shot : Another coin vanish by Shoot. Also requires a lot of practice.
Changing Tebe : Apollo's variation of Ross Bertram's Tebe Change. Very visual and very nice. It's on the demo vid.
Anniversary Salsa : Shoot's variation of Doc Eason's Anniversary Waltz.
Toast Aces : Shoot makes 4 aces appear in a very slick fashion. It's over rather quickly though. You need to be able to do Lennart Green's Top Shot.
Shooting Kennedy : Jumbo Coin routine by Shoot, also on the demo vid.
Vol 2Son of Recap : This is Apollo's variation of Greg Wilson's routine Recap. It's more suited to Apollo's style and the ending makes the pen appear in the spec's elbow. This last phase also prevents Son of Recap from being impromptu, like the the original effect is. But you could combines phases from both and throw in your own to make a great effect from this. Worth Learning. Last part is on the demo vid.
Coins to Glass : Very visual, very cool but atypical coins to glass by Shoot. You need to muscle pass for this routine though. Part of it is on the demo vid, but not enough to make anything out.
Heel Tap : Very beautiful utility move by Apollo. Hold an object (eg a coin) in your hand, tap the heels of your hands together, and the coin changes into a pair of dice. Anything in the right size can be used for this, and it looks like a camera trick. On the demo vid.
Kelly in the Box : Signed Card to card case by Apollo. One of the easier routines, but you still need to practice to perform it well. Last part is on the demo vid.
No Steal Matrix : Very visual and quite easy matrix effect. By Shoot.
8 Way Change : Shoot does a bunch of Colour Changes to find 2 selected cards.
2 B Gone : 2 versions are taught, each by Apollo and Shoot. Bare handed productions and disappearance of 2 coins. Both variations are a bit similar and the routine is very visual.
These DVDs contain a few more effects that I haven't mentioned here. Overall both are very good, though I would see myself using Vol 1 more than Vol 2.
As mentioned the routines are NOT easy, so if you're just starting out, forget it for now. If you've some background in card and coin work, and want some good visual magic, then I'd highly recommend these DVDs.
It's $35 - $40 USD each from your favourite online dealer. I got mine from Ellusionist as they were selling both as a set for USD $66. I ordered it last Sunday, it shipped on Tues the 18th because 17th was a public holiday in the US. I got it today (25th).
http://www.bobkohlermagic.com/products/culturalxchange.htmlhttp://www.bobkohlermagic.com/products/culturalxchange2.html