Hi all,

I thought I'd officially announce the details of my 'Street Illusions' segment here since this is a local forum on sharing and elevating magic.

This is the first Street Magic or episodic Magic segment/ series of any kind in the history of Singapore TV. Over the years, several magicians have been featured in one-off appearances on various shows but this is the first landmark project for regular episodic television content to be created specifically for a local magician.

As others have mentioned before, this is an important step in elevating the local magic art in Singapore. I've been striving to bring the local magic standard to a world-class level for the past 14 years with my live shows. This is the right time for another medium.

'Street Illusions' is a dedicated 13-episode anchor segment, part of the 'Top Fun' variety show on Channel 8, every Monday. Showtime is 8pm - 9pm. My segment is generally after 8.20pm.

You can read general details of the show here: TV

However, I have also created a backstage page for magicians only: TV Backstage

This 'secret' section was to give friends in magic some behind the scenes insight on the show. I'm trying to keep it interesting, informative and a way to share the experience with those seriously interested in magic. It details personal notes as well as lists/ credits the effects performed in the show.

Thanks goes out to my magic crew & dancers who are doing a fantastic job and friends who are continually contributing and supporting the show.

If you would like to be involved in the show, send me an e-mail.


Enjoy,

Best,

J C Sum
www.jcsum.com

Oh yes, finally a local-made magic special.

So do you think we can ever have a David Blaine or Mondo Magic kind of show on TV? Since you have some connections now with MediaCorp...

Not to jinx it, but yes, there will be more to come, if all goes well with this introductory segment to mass consumers and media buyers, not counting external unforeseen circumstances.

But, it will not be a one-off special.

While things are in the pipeline; for now, all effort, resources and commitment is to completing content for these 13-episodes with solid magic/ illusions with some pieces not seen in the world before, especially presented in the way as we do in the show.

Best,

J C

Congrats JC! Great to see this happening for you.

Best of luck.

- Raoul

wah!!!! I missed 2 episodes already?!

Is there anywhere I can catch the previous episodes?

Very cool.... B)
I think it's quite exciting that dispite our small population, we can get something of this going locally. And it can only be good to raise the status of local magic above that of "something for the children".

Yeah....i think quite a few of us have missed the 1st 2 episodes of it....

Any chance that the 1st 2 episode or the whole series is going to be made available? Via video streaming maybe? Or maybe a performance video for sale?

Thanks for the support guys!

I'm working towards an official DVD compilation of all 13 episodes with bonus footage. But, it is too early to say. There are 3 parties involved in terms of ownership of content, so rights/ distributions have to worked out.

It also depends on the popularity of the segment and potential sales returns... so basically, the more people who know about it and watch the segment now, the better the chances of a compilation DVD being produced!

So tell your friends about it, write in to the producer, do anything to spread the word!

Best,

J C

Any chance of the magic segment getting some advertising or trailers going for it? Coz i dun remember seeing any trailers or advertisment featuring it on TV. Then again, i dun watch TV that much now.

I would imagine there are plenty of people who will be very interested to see this with all the ang moh "street magic" hype but they might not even know it's there. We have about 1000 members in our mailing list, but that's not a lot when you are talking about media reach....

I have to say, JC Sum is very professional and it was a great experience watching how he creatively thought on his feet & managed everything during the taping of his show @ Raffles Place earlier this week.

Enrico, Bernard, Peter & I... we all agreed, he's pure talent. It isn't easy being performer/ director/ producer ...wearing so many hats at once!

Keep it up JC ^_^ What you're doing is great!

Ning

Due to the particular business arrangement with ownership of the show/ content/ segment, if we get even a spot in the trailers of the umbrella show, Top Fun, it is a bonus. I have no control or input on promotions. My segment is a tri-party working relationship which makes it tricky at times to manage.

Any word of mouth will help. The fact that your TV is on during the segment will help. Immediate feedback from Nielsen ratings and viewers has been positive and all parties are pleased with the segment.

Personally, I've felt the initial positive impact of the segments even though only two episodes have aired. During current tapings, many people recognize the work we are doing. So, I'm confident the following will build in another couple of episodes. We are on for 13 weeks which is a great sustained period of time.

Ning, it is great to put a face to the name... I did not know it was you. Thanks for the kind words... really, I'm just doing what needs to be done to ensure a world-class product. Necessity is the mother of invention, but truth be told, I had thought of Plan Bs and Cs for the unpredictable variables that may come into effective during live taping. Raffles Place was particularly challenging because of time. The crowd is really there for a very short time and we had to tape an entire episode's content within this time. Not sure if you stayed for the larger illusion that was presented, but that went over very well.


BTW, to all, I did a post-production session yesterday and was told by the creative head that I do not have a specific time slot for my 'Street Illusions' segment. They will randomnly insert it into the main program so that people have to watch the entire hour to catch it. So, it is not necessarily a 8.20pm onwards slot as mentioned earlier.

Thanks again for the support!

Now spread the word :D

J C

Nice to have you spreading life in Magic. Just applause you for the few episodes shown. Nice works done. Will certainly help u spread the words around.

Hi all,

Just to let everyone know about a general press release with regards to the show:

"This week's issue of the 'i-weekly' magazine features a 'Street Magic' teach-in by J C Sum.

J C will teach a different magic effect each week for the next 8 issues of 'i-weekly' to promote his weekly 'Street Illusions' TV segment."

This is part of a integrated promotion effort for the show. I came up with 8 original or greatly modified effects for the magazine. They will be fun and novel for those new to magic BUT will not create any problems for and performing magicians. In fact, if you have layman friends who buy the magazine and learn the effect, you can blow them away with a superior version of the effect using a more sophisticated method or pure sleight of hand.

Ratings are increasing each week for the show so keep up the support and tell your layman friends!

Thanks.

Best,

J C

Hi all,

Here is a positive update for you guys.

The show has been extended by another two episodes so you can expect two more segments of Street Illusions, for a total of 15 episodes, almost 4 months on air.

I'm also in discussion with MediaCorp to produce a compilation DVD of all episodes, including bonus footage. We are currently discussing content rights issue and distribution but I'm confident that it will happen. Besides bonus footage not shown on TV, I will also be recording an English audio commentary for all episodes as the DVD is intended for international sale as well.

Keep on watching and with even better ratings, maybe we will be extended once again... haha!

Best,

J C

Hi, Sir,

let us know weekly where you guys do the the shooting, if we are near by we will go over and say "Hi" to you. And may be we will be on air too. ha...

i had enjoy all the episode, thanks.

wish to see more on "stage magic."

B)

Yay! More! More!!!
I love the segment!! So glad we'll get to see more of it! :)

Definitely will buy the Dvd when in comes out!!

A. :g:

Anyone saw today's segment? It was quite interesting.

An ungimmicked, impromptu signed coin to char siew bao.

And a bottle production ala cyril's burger production.

Shucks. I missed it. Was switching between Superband, Lord of the Rings and Top Fun.

I missed the front part too... :(

All along was around 2045. This time it was showed at 2000. Argh!! *tears at hair* Next time i will tape everything down so i don't miss anything!!

I saw the bottle production though. I thought it was really nice except that i seem to have never seen anything like that poster before.. :P

A.

JC Sum did mention the possibility of a DVD out right? :) So maybe those of you who missed it can support him in its sales ^_^ Cute idea about the char siew bao. Pity I was at class when it screened on Monday night! Awww...

I saw JC SUM performing on chn 8's variety show, and only had one reaction: OMG....

I suggest that he should first inform the camera not to film what he is doing at certain angles, or dun do certain sleights when ppl are standing behind him... yep... the camera made him flash on national TV...

Hi Victor,

I'm currently in Bangkok for shows so did not watch the segment.

However, I did edit the segment personally and would like you to clarify what flashed to you. I received two msgs from magicians/ magic enthusiasts who enjoyed the segment in particular this week, so you will offer a useful alternative perspective.

For the record, nothing I performed was exposed to anyone in the live audience. If you are talking about people in the background, they can't see anything and have no idea what we are doing. In this case, a concealed object in the hand means nothing to them...

I, more than anyone else, would be particular on what goes on TV. I have full control in production/ post produciton so if anything was not presented well on TV, that is my full responsibilty. However, my team also takes efforts to ensure that what goes on TV is a desired result. By and large, nothing is left to chance, not counting extraneous uncontrollable circumstances.

So, please clarify your concerns specifically so that we may all learn.

Thanks.

J C

J C Sum,

I pretty sure that you are good with your angles and also, i am quite surprised that you did the editing yourself, which further impress me that you give good magic to the audience.
Nevertheless, alot of those clips are on those free streaming websites and no doubt alot of people will comment on that, and alot will say they saw something, but to my best knowledge, i watched the videos several times and i can see no flashes were made to the best of my knowledge.
And if there is any, i pretty sure that people here will already made a big fuss and even call you straight, (like me calling straight to your agent about your flashes if any)

So let say, everyone got their stands towards viewing, and i really want to hear about what flashes. :)


Mod Edited.
"u", "ur", "urself", "wat", "alreadi", "ppl", "wan", "abt"....etc
Please avoid using SMS language. And use paragraphing. And use full stops.

Dear all,

I’m pleased to announce that an agreement has been made with Concept:Magic and MediaCorp TV to produce and release a compilation VCD/ DVD of all 15 episodes of all the ‘Top Fun’ Street Illusions segment. It will include additional magic content not shown on television.

The video is a co-production between Concept:Magic and MediaCorp TV.

TS Films has picked up sole distribution rights for Singapore & Malaysia and will be distributing the VCD version through their retail outlets in both countries. The video is scheduled to hit stores in September 2006.

Concept:Magic has the rights to the global direct selling of the International Edition DVD that includes an audio commentary in English, not available in the VCD version.

International distribution rights are co-owned by Concept:Magic and MediaCorp TV.

This follow-up video project is really only possible because of the positive feedback the ‘Street Illusions’ segment has generated over the weeks. MediaCorp and TS Films are pure commercial entities who are driven by the bottom line (and not for the promotion of quality magic like us) so the agreement to produce the video is also testament of the content’s commercial and marketable value with foreseeable returns on their investments.

On our end, it is an additional platform and medium to showcase our magic to new local audiences and subsequently international buyers.

Check out today’s episode for some interesting items including my ‘Mental Photography’ handling/ routine and my rendition of Steinmeyer’s Lady in Puzzle illusion.

Thanks for everyone’s continued support!

Best,

J C

Wow! Thanks for this piece of news... Congrats JC! Here's wishing you all the best for the sales for your DVDs and VCDs :lol: I'm sure it will be very well received here! WOOT!!!

Hi, the 17/07 episode was nice. So nice that my 2.5 yrs old son call you big magician, i(his father) small magician, (any way i am not a magician, i just take it as hobby). B)

Well done, Mr JCSum :P