http://www.xmission.com/~zerowc/krystal/0603tv.html

Reading this has made me suddenly reflect on all the times I've lambasted Blaine, Angel, or whoever else. And it's a shame because I've worked in a network before and most of the realities here are true. The network tends to ill-treat you, even if you're a star. It's not because they like, it's just the way the industry works; things usually are never confirmed until at the very last minute. Heh...

And according to some other magicians who have been on TV (people like Marc Paul who was approached first to do a UK show that eventually went to a man called Derren Brown) the reality is usually harsher than what the article says. Marc had to film 4 shows (that 30 mins per show) in one night for his TV series.

You know you have to have 40 tricks by Monday because the network will throw away over half of them. What you did not plan on was that once they filmed all of these effects, things would change yet again. The president of the network in another country says, "All the things you filmed at night are out - I want this to look like it happened during a single day. All the things you shot in such-and-such a club are out - we have a dispute with their Parent Company. All the risky things you shot are out, our Legal Department won't stand for any of that. Oh, and your big finale that has been your trademark for years is out too- for legal reasons. Find a new finale to the show"

This paragraph reminded me of all the Blaine tricks that some websites were selling and which were "filmed but not shown on TV". Now I see they weren't joking. :blink:

ouch. i've always fully appreciated the works of david blaine or criss angel because most of them they're original works of their own. but now after realizing that they have to come up with so many effects for the network head gonzos, and having maybe half of it thrown out... man that must have sucked.

Two points to make here:

1. Eh... I think I am one of those who didn't appreciate those TV magicians. And it's all because I thought they should have done this, should have done that or they were too stiff, too monotonous and too uncreative. Little did I know how tough was it for them to make it on TV.

So apologies to Chris Korn.... even if he may never know it.

2. That's why I always advocate we should make a video by magicians and for magicians. To really show what we want to express, rather than what the media bigwigs wanted to show. I am sure, even to laymen, it would be an refreshing change.

Imagine people buying our video, $$$ pouring in, getting mobbed by fans on the street, getting invited to perform at NDP or to the Istana, getting mentioned by the PM.... and... oops getting a bit over myself.