Watch this magic trick by Copperfield.

[Shell Beau]

Do you find yourself trying to figure out how they do it? Who has any good explanations?

http://www.flurl.com/uploaded/laser_trick_5639.html

[-..__...]

1. I have no idea.

David Copperfield has some pretty good illusions. Too bad he has to stick all the flash dance type theatrics in his shows.

[Shell Beau]

2. Yeah, it makes it kinda cheesy!!

[QuettaKid]

3. easy....

firstly, the laser is just that, an ordinary laser light. He has it hit the bar at first to make it look like it's a lethal weapon. Simple explosives go off at the same time the laser hits it....then when it "cuts" him in half, that is just done with blue screens.....I think. :shrug:

[displacedtexan]

13. Green screen is the new blue screen.

My daughter just did the makeup for an HBO short, completely done with green screen. It reminded her of the "Wag The Dog" Albanian girl scene.

[Mizmoon]

4. I saw one show if his that was not appropriate for children

He's got some odd opinions on what makes a good family show.

[Shell Beau]

5. I've never seen him but I guess I could

see children getting scared at some of the stuff he does. Does he use sex a lot in the show?

[Mizmoon]

6. He got on a bed with two women

and tied one up. Then he chained the other one down. They magically got out of their bonds. Whoa!

[Shell Beau]

7. I wonder, though, if kids look at it as sexual.

But yeah, that sounds a little risque!!

[WillParkinson]

12. Magic shows are "old hat"....

You need to keep them flashy for the audiences of today. It's a hook. Maybe not the best one, but you've got to keep it fresh.

Or, as they say: Sex sells.

[DS1]

15. Yeah, it's what makes most magic unfuckingwatchable, and why

people like David Blaine and Chris Angel (even though Angel gets in the theatrics a bit much too) so popular with most people. Most people being 'those who don't travel to Vegas to watch a fucking magic show'.

Penn and Teller manage to do some great tricks, without all the theatrics

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

8. I used to worship David Copperfield as a kid

His yearly specials at Xmas just blew me away, but they haven't been on for years now (we occassionally get a Lance Burton repeat).

I've got a few ideas how about how he does the Laser illusion, but no way can I explain the whole thing. However, it definately has nothing to do with 'green screen' or CGI or anything like that.

FYI, the trick was invented by a guy called Steve Fearson (who used to perform it as 'Splitting Image' - here's a low-quality video of him on Japanese TV http://www.angelfire.com/film/magicvideos/steve_fearson_david_copperfield_magic_trick.wmv - before he sold it to Copperfield.

The greatest Copperfield trick for me still remains his 'Flying'. I watched it countless timse when I was younger trying to figure it out. Even though I know the 'secrets' behind it, I still love watching it.

[Shell Beau]

9. I know! As much as I have always wanted to know the secrets

behind the "magic", I was pissed when they started coming out with those shows that showed how they do it all. I shouldn't have watched them, but my curiosity got the best of me. But those guys who did it are sell outs!

[QuettaKid]

10. You know the flying secrets!?!?!?

tell me!!! PLEASE !?!?!?! or perhaps you can just nudge me in the right direction webwise?

[QuettaKid]

11. your link doesn't work

is there another way to see it?

[DS1]

14. Link works fine