Well generally yeah you're right, but I think Metamorphisis would be a rare exception in my opinion since it is such a classic effect that has been around so long performed a certain way so much. I think Metamorphisis is not only the specific effect but also the specific method as well, and other methods for doing it are just similar effects. At least thats my opinion about Metamorphisis....

In My opinion, the method Used does matter. The Pendragons held a record, for doing Metamorphosis, exactly as Harry Houdini did it, Only a edited of a LOT faster. THAT is what the record was for.

Anyone can do it in half a second the way Criss did. Fact is, that if all that is being judged is the effect it is Possible to do the effect is...say 1/10th of a second. But then you tip the gaff to the audience.

They will see through it as fast as any of us do it.

While I can understand that all the audience sees IS the effect, and to them they are BOTH the same effect. To say " This Magician Holds the world's Record for THIS Illusion." well, every magician that has done it, has done it exactly as Harry Houdinin did it, just faster. It's Not about whether it is smoke..... or a cloth.... That is irrelevant.

The Method is not about smoke or a cloth. In my opinion the reason to use smoke is that that way, it is easier to hide cut edits than with a cloth.

I am sure that to get the world record he did not use a cut edit, since it is Possible to do it extremely fast without one. But for a TV show... I think he would use a cut edit that way he can do it at a leasurely pace, and not have to rush...in other words... the TV audience assumes since he can do it realllly fast in person they are getting the same treatment. I think his TV audience is gettin Gypped.


Sorry, I don't like Crissy.... I think he has a nasty a**ed attitude, and he has arrogance not backed up by skill, he has fallen into the easy trap of using camera edits and stooges for all his telivised performances.

Fact is, if I were looking for camera editing, I'd watch a Star Wars Movie. Not his magic show.

Thank you for the explanation! And I respect your opinion about Criss, just wanted to let you know that. So I hope you respect mine too.
I appreciate the fact that it's after all possible to discuss about the man in a respectful way. I thought that this was the case when I entered the forum for the first time, then I got a little disappointed by scrolling through the topics and read a lot of hateful and heatedly posts... I understand your opinion about camera edits in Mindfreak and that other magicians get angry about the fact that he is nevertheless such a big star. I still love the show. He may not be the best magician of the world, but he created an art and a personal image that causes emotions beyond all I ever experienced before- on both sides. On the one side there is unconditional love- I know that some of us Loyals even make themselves look "scary" and "brainwashed"! On the other side there's extreme hate, and many people on both sides seem to love arguing about that. And that's one fact that just fascinates me about Criss. I still believe he has more skills than many people put it past him, but I don't want to try to persuade you.
Again, thanks for the clarification about Metamorphosis, I was really a little confused.

still, I doubt that he edited this one. I'd be able to do it this fast, and exactly like this, and I could do it live (If I had the equipment..........)

Lol watch it in slow motion, then tell me that... I'm telling you you can almost see the cut lol.... just like other times he uses this editing method, its just a method you can kind of see happening if you know whats happening...

Well maybe that was edited but i know a way to do it without editing and doing it under a second.

You missed the point I was making, and metzykid after me. Criss didn't *need* to resort to camera trickery (mistakenly called "editing") to accomplish the illusion, and probably didn't. He has done this in a live venue before. The editing that probably did occur was for post production, which happens all the time in television. That's how they fit the shows in the time allotted and to allow for commercial breaks. If an editor sees a half second of extraneous smoke and he can make the cut without interrupting some other scene, then that would be the logical place to do it. It might mess with our concept of "no camera cuts" but there have been many shows that were ruined as far as magicians were concerned because some producer wanted to insert a reaction shot rather than keep one continuous take. Even Copperfield has fallen victim to this. During his torn and restore baseball card routine, the producers had the final say and cut to Wayne Gretzky for a reaction shot instead of focusing on the card like they should have done.