Price$19.99
Media TypeDVD, Video Download
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedJun 02, 2014
Control
Ollie Mealing
Ellusionist
(Based on 1 review)
"Ollie creates an unbelievable world and leaves the audience agog with wonder. " -Tania Harrison
A highlight on the UK Festival circuit, Ollie Mealing had kept his genius relatively hidden from magicians until last year, where he began to release his Card Magic series on YouTube, playing with the mind of his spectator like a master-puppeteer in each mind-boggling video. When Daniel Madison brought Ollie to our attention in October of last year, we instantly sat up and took notice.
Before he was whisked away to work on Derren Brown's 'Infamous' tour, we brought Ollie across the pond to teach us 11 original controls - fluid, imperceptible movements that demonstrate his complete and utter command over the order, placement and position of any card he chooses.
Ollie is as in tune with the considered movement of an individual card as a concert pianist is with each key he touches. In this video he teaches the movements, subtleties and handlings to be as adept at each control as it is possible to be.
Controls
Chasm
A Card is peeked in the middle of the pack and the deck squared. With a quick fan, the selected card is now positioned at the bottom of the pack.
Bionic
The deck is spread and a card down-jogged. The deck is closed and it's only at the last minute that the jogged-card is pushed flush. The top card can immediately be shown to be the selection.
Behind Bars
A card is selected from the pack and the deck fanned to allow reinsertion. The deck is cleanly squared, and the selection is now ready to be bottom-palmed off for later use.
Reload
The cards are dribbled into the hand and a selection fairly chosen. The dribble is completed on top of the selection, the deck spread lengthways, and re-squared. Where an instant before it was in the middle of the spread, the chosen card has somehow made it's way to the bottom of the pack.
Daredevil
The cards are riffled off the fingers until the spectator indicates a choice. The spectator is shown the selection one last time before the deck is squared. Once again, it's moved its way to the bottom of the deck.
Compass
A selection and control wrapped up in a tumbling flourish. A chosen card is shown fairly in the spread and inserted into the centre of a fan. With the lose of the fan, the card is now on the bottom of the deck.
Regurgitate
A must for any ACR where a table is close by. The deck is spread showing the selection in the middle of the pack before the spread is closed. The card's just done what every good ambitious card should do.
Tumble
A packet flipping control that's simple, direct and utterly impossible. The selection is fairly shown in the middle of the deck, but is back on top when the cut is completed. You'll fool even yourself with this one.
Suspension
A tabled cut shows a card in the middle of the deck. The card is riffled shuffled into the pack, remaining out-jogged until the two packets are squared. The deck can be instantly flipped to show the card has moved to the bottom of the deck.
Time Will Tell
We're going to have to find a way to work this into every trick we do. The deck is cut, leaving one card balanced on the thumb. The card pirouettes as the other half of the deck is spread on the table. The spread is completed with the chosen card in the middle. On squaring the pack, the spun card has shifted to the bottom of the deck.
Poison
As clean as any control can be. Poison is like a spread pass without the need for a pass. The deck is spread, a card shown, and the spread closed. The chosen card is now on top of the deck. This move will have spectators looking for the duplicate still in the middle of the pack.
Bonus: Synchronicity
An amazing four ace control that… Wait - it's a bonus. You'll find out when you see it.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Well the title says it all, this is a DVD on various controls, flourishy controls, simple controls, controls to the top, controls to the bottom and in one case a 4 card control. There is a wide range here. Most of the controls have a hint of Dan and Dave Bucks style with an extra spin here or an extra cut here. The style will not be for everyone but most people will find a control that would fit them.
The first few minutes is an interview with Ollie Mealing by Eric Jones. It was interesting to watch and nice to have. All of the controls are taught to music without any speaking. I'm not a fan of this style but it did not hurt the teaching too much.
The controls are as follows:
Chasm: a card is peaked the deck is fanned and the card is controlled to the bottom of the deck. This is not terribly difficult and the sequence of moves if performed at the correct pace it provides good time misdirection for the move. There is a little bit of an awkward part to the fan that I don't love, but this is fairly practical overall.
Bionic: A card is touched and in jogged as it is displayed. In the process of going from an in jog to an out jog it is controlled to the top of the deck. This is a little angly and bold. It's also a bit unnatural for my tastes.
Behind Bars: The spectator calls stop and you pull a card out. In the process of moving the deck from one hand to the other the selection is controlled to the bottom. The move here is beautiful and invisible. Some will think that the way the card is held is not natural, I disagree. I think that with the right attitude you could pull it off but I will not be using this control personally.
Reload: The spectator calls stop during a dribble. The cards are casually spread and the selection is controlled to the bottom. This looks fair and natural. It is one of the easier moves to master as well. I will be using this.
Daredevil: The cards are riffled and a spectator calls stop. The card is peaked. In showing how far down the card was it is controlled to the bottom of the deck. This is fairly natural but a fairly bold move. There is a small discrepancy at one point as well but I really like the idea behind this control.
Compass: A card is touched in a spread and turned over and out jogged with a flourish. The card ends up on the bottom of the deck. This was a bit flourishy, while it didn't look like the flourishes helped in controlling the card they were a little distracting and I could see them as confusing for a layman.
Regurgitate: A selection is made from a spread on a table as the spread is cleaned up the card is controlled to the top. This is fairly natural, bold and kinetic. If you can do it in a fairly smooth motion you should be fine. Border-less cards would work great with this particular control. You do need a table to perform it.
Tumble: The deck is dribbled face up and with a haphazard toss the selection is controlled to the top. You need a table for this but it is a very fun control that can be performed fairly messily, reminiscent of Lennart Green.
Suspention: From a dribble the spectator calls stop. With a cut and shuffle with the card outjogged it is controlled to the bottom of the deck. This is clever and could be used as a way to make one card jump from one packet to the other. Ollie adds the shuffle but it is not needed. This isn't very difficult.
Time Will Tell: A card is selected during a dribble, it is balanced on the thumb, spun and out jogged. It is controlled to the bottom. This is pretty flourishy but it is surprisingly manageable. I'm not a huge fan of how flourishy it is.
Poison: A card is touched, out jogged and controlled to the top all in the hands. In Ollie's hands this looks especially natural and simple. When you see what is happening though it is clear that this is very tough. It looks nice but it is tough and has a large angle consideration.
Synchronicity: Is a four card control. Four cards are placed in a spread on the table and they end up on top. I use this more than any of the above controls. It is slick, one of the easier to do and pretty strong.
So you can see that there is a broad range of controls here a couple are cool for the move monkeys out there but for the most part it gets a little bit redundant to have so much of basically the same move. Regardless this is a high quality DVD with a lot of options for good card controls.
The first few minutes is an interview with Ollie Mealing by Eric Jones. It was interesting to watch and nice to have. All of the controls are taught to music without any speaking. I'm not a fan of this style but it did not hurt the teaching too much.
The controls are as follows:
Chasm: a card is peaked the deck is fanned and the card is controlled to the bottom of the deck. This is not terribly difficult and the sequence of moves if performed at the correct pace it provides good time misdirection for the move. There is a little bit of an awkward part to the fan that I don't love, but this is fairly practical overall.
Bionic: A card is touched and in jogged as it is displayed. In the process of going from an in jog to an out jog it is controlled to the top of the deck. This is a little angly and bold. It's also a bit unnatural for my tastes.
Behind Bars: The spectator calls stop and you pull a card out. In the process of moving the deck from one hand to the other the selection is controlled to the bottom. The move here is beautiful and invisible. Some will think that the way the card is held is not natural, I disagree. I think that with the right attitude you could pull it off but I will not be using this control personally.
Reload: The spectator calls stop during a dribble. The cards are casually spread and the selection is controlled to the bottom. This looks fair and natural. It is one of the easier moves to master as well. I will be using this.
Daredevil: The cards are riffled and a spectator calls stop. The card is peaked. In showing how far down the card was it is controlled to the bottom of the deck. This is fairly natural but a fairly bold move. There is a small discrepancy at one point as well but I really like the idea behind this control.
Compass: A card is touched in a spread and turned over and out jogged with a flourish. The card ends up on the bottom of the deck. This was a bit flourishy, while it didn't look like the flourishes helped in controlling the card they were a little distracting and I could see them as confusing for a layman.
Regurgitate: A selection is made from a spread on a table as the spread is cleaned up the card is controlled to the top. This is fairly natural, bold and kinetic. If you can do it in a fairly smooth motion you should be fine. Border-less cards would work great with this particular control. You do need a table to perform it.
Tumble: The deck is dribbled face up and with a haphazard toss the selection is controlled to the top. You need a table for this but it is a very fun control that can be performed fairly messily, reminiscent of Lennart Green.
Suspention: From a dribble the spectator calls stop. With a cut and shuffle with the card outjogged it is controlled to the bottom of the deck. This is clever and could be used as a way to make one card jump from one packet to the other. Ollie adds the shuffle but it is not needed. This isn't very difficult.
Time Will Tell: A card is selected during a dribble, it is balanced on the thumb, spun and out jogged. It is controlled to the bottom. This is pretty flourishy but it is surprisingly manageable. I'm not a huge fan of how flourishy it is.
Poison: A card is touched, out jogged and controlled to the top all in the hands. In Ollie's hands this looks especially natural and simple. When you see what is happening though it is clear that this is very tough. It looks nice but it is tough and has a large angle consideration.
Synchronicity: Is a four card control. Four cards are placed in a spread on the table and they end up on top. I use this more than any of the above controls. It is slick, one of the easier to do and pretty strong.
So you can see that there is a broad range of controls here a couple are cool for the move monkeys out there but for the most part it gets a little bit redundant to have so much of basically the same move. Regardless this is a high quality DVD with a lot of options for good card controls.