Thanks, but I don’t think it uses the rotating platform method. The trick is performed outside during daylight, and the wharf on the right as well as the sky and ocean are in full view the entire time.
Sure, and that would make it easy for the folks on the platform to figure out the trick.
But they’re not the primary audience. Copperfield and his ilk do a lot of tricks that only work for the camera.
I’d surmise that what is in the video is an edited reenactment of the trick. The original live trick was probably performed similar to the Copperfield/StatueOfLiberty rotating stage but for the video they used video editing. Notice the audience doesn’t seem that “wowed”.
David Blaine did something similar in one of his first TV specials. He performed a street levitation for groups of people out in public using the Balducci Levitation (look it up) and captured their reactions. The trick is an illusion where you appear to raise an inch or two off the ground. For TV they spliced in video of a pair of legs hoovering a foot or two over the sidewalk.
Again, it would be great if anyone has any ideas on how this was done. I have seen suggestions above that it uses a rotating platform or was somehow edited. However, the illusion was filmed outdoors with the background in full view, and in at least what appears to be one continuous take. So I don’t see that either one of these explanations works.
Again, the video is here (link, illusion starts at 2:00) and the relevant portion is only one about a minute long. Please take a look and see if anyone can provide any ideas. Thanks in advance for any insights.
The stage is moved. That’s at least part of it. Look at the far left of the jetty between the magicians and the assistants. It makes almost a perfect 45 degree angle and if the line continues it would just clip the white building on the left. After the move the line continued would just barely miss the left side of the island so there is definitely a parallax effect. Also, look at the red cap on the side. At the beginning it is offset to the right of the end of the HARARY sign. After the move it is to the left. Because of this I suspect a stage rotation.
Yes, the camera obviously rotates for the second part of the illusion, but I don’t see how that explains how the illusion was performed. Can anyone provide any insight?
It rotates from pointing towards Diamondhead, to pointing towards somewhere that isn’t Diamondhead. Since the camera is no longer pointed towards Diamondhead, you don’t see it.
Since it appears he in northwest of Diamond Head to perform the trick, the real question is where was he? Pearl Harbor? Otherwise he’d be on the island of Kauai.
@Chronos - I think the video shows there is no stage rotation during the initial part of the illusion, from 2:29 to 2:40 in the video.
@Saint_Cad - a longer version of the video indicates it takes place on Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park. A stock photo can be viewed here.
I agree that it’s a very subtle rotation because the jetty on the right and the hotel buildings to the left remain in the field of vision. But with clever planning, in particular by choosing appropriate distances and angles, you can create a parallax that looks as if some objects are stationery even though others are out of sight.
Could some of the movement be linear instead of all rotational? Perhaps a combination of both.
I was thinking that would be necessary. The lateral motion would counteract the parallax of the up close objects.
Brilliant, golf clap.