The Illusionist's Toolbox: The Techniques Behind Derren Brown's Absolute Magic

By admin

Absolute Magic is a book written by Derren Brown, a renowned magician and illusionist. Published in 2000, the book delves into the secrets and techniques behind the art of magic and illusion. Brown presents a comprehensive exploration of magic, covering various aspects including misdirection, suggestion, psychology, and audience manipulation. Throughout the book, Brown shares his insights and experiences as a magician, shedding light on the intricacies involved in creating and performing magic tricks. He delves into the importance of timing, body language, and psychology in order to effectively deceive and entertain an audience. Brown emphasizes the significance of practice and dedication in honing one's skills as a magician, debunking the common misconception that magic is purely based on supernatural powers.



Magic Bullet Looks Presets

MBL Presets is a library of professionally designed presets for Magic Bullet Looks plugin from Red Giant Software, the award-winning tool for achieving a stylish film look at a budget price.

Color grading presets provide a great jumpstart for doing color treatments and correction. These ready-made preset packs allow colorists to quickly apply the desired "looks" in their work. Add these presets to your editing repertoire and impress your audience. Film looks made easy!

  • Cross editor compatible. Presets work in all host apps supported by Magic Bullet Looks 2+, Magic Bullet Quick Looks, or Magic Bullet PhotoLooks
  • Windows/Mac support
  • Easy install
  • Being optimized for linear color space (REC. 709), presets work with all footage shot in any camera format
  • Highly customizable presets to suit your needs

Magic Bullet Looks presets work in all professional video editing applications:

  • Apple Final Cut Pro X
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Avid Media Composer
  • DaVinci Resolve
  • VEGAS Pro
  • and others

MBL presets require Magic Bullet Looks plugin (ver. 2 or newer). You must own this plugin to use the presets.

Brown emphasizes the significance of practice and dedication in honing one's skills as a magician, debunking the common misconception that magic is purely based on supernatural powers. One of the key themes in Absolute Magic is the psychological aspect of magic. Brown explains how magicians use various psychological techniques to influence and control the thoughts and perceptions of their audience.

MBL Presets Bundle

All collections (50+ presets) are conveniently bundled together as a one-time download:

  • MBL Presets Vol.1
  • MBL Presets Vol.2
  • Free MBL Presets

* Limited time offer. Don't miss out!

MBL Presets Vol.1

25 color grades to make your videos unique

Magic Bullet Looks in Vegas Movie Studio 17

I installed Magic Bullet Looks 4 on a system with Vegas Movie Studio 17. The plugin did not appear on the list of effects. The OFX folder for Looks did not exist in the Movie Studio OFX plugin folder, so I manually copied it there. After that is worked partially, but I couldn't open the preset "Looks" in Magic Bullet Looks. Everything used to work fine in Vegas Movie Studio 14. Has anyone figured out a way to get it to work correctly in version 17?

Last changed by johnebaker on 6/2/2020, 10:01 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

Reason: Refers to a Vegas product

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 6/2/2020, 10:01 AM

Hi and welcome to the forum albeit the wrong one.

Vegas products have their own form - see the Important posts at the top of the Video forum here.

This topic will be closed

John EB
Forum Moderator

VPX 15, Movie Studio 2023, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 22H2 Professional 64bit on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB HDD (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 22H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

Magic Bullet Looks

I've been using Vegas for several years now, and I've been able to achieve much of what Magic Bullet Looks accomplishes by using Vegas' standard tools, compositing, and gradient masks. Is there anything MBL can do that Vegas cannot do by itself? Is MBL just a shortcut to achieve looks that Vegas is capable of producing itself?

Comments

Grazie wrote on 9/26/2009, 8:41 AM

So for me . ..
MBL
PROS: Has a much better "Suck 'n See" approach. I can see my OWN gallery of MBL presets working on a REAL still of my work. Great for showing off to clients with actual filters to work. Very easy "palette-like" application of filters.

CONS: No realtime while within MBL so I can't see what a variation looks like in flowing framerate UNTIL I commit it - no realtime adjustment.

VegasPro,
PROS: Allows for ALL the existing SONY Fxs to be mixed-in. And allows for realtime playback adjustment. IMO, once learnt I have far more adjustment.
CONS: Doesn't have a Graphics Gallery of my Presets. Hard to thoroughly understand & learn, and make use of the options.

My thoughts are: 1: Why are you making the point? 2: I use both systems for my approach, AT THAT TIME!

PC 10 64-bit 64gb * Intel Core i9 10900X s2066 * EVGA RTX 3080 XC3 Ultra 10GB - Studio Driver 546.01 * 4x16G CorsVengLPX DDR4 2666C16 * Asus TUF X299 MK 2

Cameras: Canon XF300 + PowerShot SX60HS Bridge

kosstheory wrote on 9/29/2009, 6:01 PM

That is exactly the info I was after. I was just trying to determine whether the investment in MBL would be worth it, and why. Having toyed around with it a bit, I can see how it would be a nice addition, but I wanted to know whether there was anything it could do that I hadn't already seen.

Absolute magic derrwn brown

He dissects the principles of suggestion and misdirection, revealing how magicians exploit the human mind's susceptibility to manipulation. By understanding the way people think and perceive the world, magicians are able to create powerful illusions that captivate and mesmerize. Another prominent aspect discussed in the book is the relationship between the magician and the audience. Brown emphasizes the importance of connecting with the audience on an emotional level, establishing trust, and creating a sense of wonder. He explores the art of storytelling and its role in enhancing the impact of magic tricks, providing examples from his own repertoire. Absolute Magic is not just a guide for aspiring magicians, but also a thought-provoking exploration of the principles and philosophy behind magic. Brown challenges the conventional understanding of magic and seeks to demystify the artform, revealing the underlying techniques that make magic possible. It is a must-read for anyone interested in magic, psychology, or simply fascinated by the wonder and deception of illusion..

Reviews for "The Evolution of Derren Brown's Absolute Magic: From Novice to Master"

1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Absolute magic derrwn brown". I was expecting to be blown away by incredible magic tricks, but instead, all I got was cheesy theatrics and predictable illusions. The show lacked originality and failed to captivate my attention. I found myself constantly checking my watch, waiting for it to end. Overall, it was a major letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for true magic.
2. Michael - 1 star - As an avid fan of magic shows, I can confidently say that "Absolute magic derrwn brown" was a complete disaster. The tricks were sloppy and poorly executed, leaving no sense of wonder or amazement. It felt like I was watching a low-budget production with amateur magicians. The show lacked any creativity or innovation, and I couldn't wait for it to be over. Save your money and skip this one.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "Absolute magic derrwn brown" considering the popularity of the performer, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The show seemed rushed and lacked proper storytelling. The tricks were predictable and lacked the wow factor that you expect from a magic performance. Overall, it felt like a mediocre production and left me feeling unsatisfied. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking a truly magical experience.
4. John - 2 stars - "Absolute magic derrwn brown" was a huge disappointment. The show seemed disjointed and lacked a cohesive theme. The tricks were average at best and didn't offer anything new or exciting. There was a lack of audience engagement, and it felt like we were simply being shown a series of random illusions without any emotional connection. It's a shame because I had heard great things about Derrwn Brown, but this show was a major letdown.

The Science and Artistry of Derren Brown's Absolute Magic

Exploring the Legacy of Derren Brown's Absolute Magic