Walking on water? [Archive]

Mendeli

2nd July 2006, 01:52 PM

blutoski

2nd July 2006, 01:59 PM

Cyphermage

2nd July 2006, 02:36 PM

http://www.afhakers.nl/media.asp?x=1617#afhurl

what the...

it seems the guy in this video is walking on water. What's going on? I was thinking maybe he had "special" shoes but then he tosses them away...

That's from a recent episode of Criss Angel - Mindfreak. He's a magician who has his own series on cable. He does some pretty good illusions.

I saw this one, and although the audience wasn't pre-arranged, a "cameraman" entered the water before Criss did, and was moving in exact lockstep with him as he traversed the hotel pool. I suspect he was providing whatever it was that Criss was walking on, and moving it along.

No one's claiming there's anything paranormal here.

Jeff Corey

2nd July 2006, 02:36 PM

That was my quess. It reminded me of that old punchline, "Walk on the stones. schmuck!"

cloudshipsrule

2nd July 2006, 05:23 PM

http://filecabi.net/video/angelbench.html

Did he use one woman who has no torso and another midget with long legs? My guess would be good editing and some paid helpers.

cloudshipsrule

2nd July 2006, 05:31 PM

And another. Voodo dolls?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXNhRDcCGKE&search=criss#angel

Cyphermage

2nd July 2006, 08:54 PM

And another. Voodo dolls?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXNhRDcCGKE&search=criss#angel

Criss Angel is very talented. However, his gimmick is trying to act like a naive bumpkin in awe of the powers he has tapped, while his production team stands around feigning amazement and saying things like, "Even I don't know how he did that."

If you engage your critical faculty, you will realize that the above is misdirection, and his performances are very carefully produced, and are often quite high tech.

In other instances, like him lifting the front end of the taxi, it's as low tech as having the rear wheels between him and the ton of ballast, while grunting and straining convincingly.

If we saw David Copperfield doing the same stuff, we probably wouldn't think there was anything unexplainable about it, but Criss does a really good job of selling it, and the reality show format creates the illusion that we are seeing both what goes on in front of the curtain, and behind it. Of course, we aren't.

I'll look at a bunch of his shows when they're having a marathon, and I can TiVo them, and fast forward through all the hand-waving to the trick at the end. I don't find them interesting enough to watch them as they air.

valis

2nd July 2006, 10:03 PM

That's from a recent episode of Criss Angel - Mindfreak. He's a magician who has his own series on cable. He does some pretty good illusions.

I saw this one, and although the audience wasn't pre-arranged, a "cameraman" entered the water before Criss did, and was moving in exact lockstep with him as he traversed the hotel pool. I suspect he was providing whatever it was that Criss was walking on, and moving it along.

No one's claiming there's anything paranormal here.

There is a spot or two where they don't walk in lockstep but, I notice that the cameraman never stands all the way up or exits the pool.

My six year old likes this show, so I guess if you are a fan of magic it's nice that there is a primetime magic show that gets kids interest.

Cyphermage

2nd July 2006, 10:30 PM

There is a spot or two where they don't walk in lockstep but, I notice that the cameraman never stands all the way up or exits the pool.

My six year old likes this show, so I guess if you are a fan of magic it's nice that there is a primetime magic show that gets kids interest.

It's been quite a few decades since a magician had a primetime show on a network.

Spektator

3rd July 2006, 07:34 AM

There's also some editing involved. When the POV shots are cut in, it's obvious that the feet--Angel's or whoever's--are not walking at all, but just dabbling the surface. That's because the person "walking" is suspended over the water and just going through the motions.

gfunkusarelius

3rd July 2006, 01:28 PM

yeah you're right, in the overhead shots there is no weight on his feet. its also funny that he has to step just a little ways into the water. he's not really on the surface...wouldnt want to risk catching a little glare off of the surfaces he is stepping on if the water breaks over them

anyway, this is magic, its not paranormal so i guess its silly to debate