* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand e-zine * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #150 Date: 15th December 2002 Editor: Alan Watson www.magician.co.nz www.alan-watson.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor’s Message 2. The Magic Of Michael Grandinetti. 3. Las Vegas SAM Convention 2003 - Acts Announced 4. Juliana Chen Is At The Apollo In Dusseldorf 5. Magic Goes Hollywood 6. The Real Secrets To Making Money 7. "In The Picture" - A Card Trick 8. Hocus Pocus Festival 9. Heroes of Magic TV Special 10. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga - Page 138 11. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives 12. Subscription Management ------------------------------------ 1. Editor's Message ------------------------------------- Message from Alan Watson - The Magic One Update on David Copperfield collapses from exhaustion: A link to a Canadian news article stating that his shows this weekend will go on as scheduled. http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=b5c101d5-8c1d-4839-b492-3 157050261d5 For a listing of all articles at this site about DC, go to: http://www.canada.com/search/results.aspx?keywords=copperfield ----------------------------------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com ---------------------------------- 2. The Magic Of Michael Grandinetti ---------------------------------- Message from Michael Grandinetti Illusionist Michael Grandinetti To Perform At The Shriners Children’ s Hospital Christmas Extravaganza, December 15 Los Angeles, CA – December 9, 2002 – Illusionist Michael Grandinetti will perform at the 2002 Annual Shriners Children’s Hospital Christmas Extravaganza in Los Angeles on Sunday, December 15 at 10:00am. The event will feature a 30-minute performance by Michael as well as entertainment by singer Henry Iglesias and an appearance by Trisha Kara from NBC’s Passions. Later, Michael will visit and perform close-up magic for the children throughout the hospital who are unable to attend the show. During the event, Michael plans on performing several illusions that allow the children to become involved and make it appear as if they are the ones doing the magic. “I can’t think of a better use of what we do as entertainers than to bring happiness to those in need, especially during the holiday season. I want to show these special children that they truly are capable of incredible things” Michael said. Although only 25-years-old, Michael’s magic has been featured on CBS, ABC Family, FOX, TNN and on radio stations across the country. In 1999, Michael’s magic was introduced to the world when he challenged “The Tower of Flaming Spikes” on the NBC special The World’s Most Dangerous Magic II. The Los Angeles Shriners Hospital accepts and treats children with routine and complex orthopedic problems, utilizing the latest treatments and technology available in pediatric orthopedics, at no charge. Since it’s opening in 1952, with a current roster of 260 full and part time employees, 43 physicians, 80 nurses, and over 200 active volunteers, the Los Angeles Shriners Hospital has provided orthopedic and post-burn treatment to more than 27,000 children. For more information on The Magic of Michael Grandinetti, visit www.michaelgrandinetti.com Press Contact: Michael Grandinetti Magic (818) 782-3792 press@michaelgrandinetti.com ------------------------------------ 3. Las Vegas SAM Convention 2003 - Acts Announced ------------------------------------- Message from George Schindler SAM Public Relations The Society of American Magicians show producer RG Smith announced a partial list of acts already booked for the 2003 Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The convention will feature the show stopping magic of JEFF MCBRIDE, plus the GAMESTERS Casino show in one spectacular gala to be emceed by STAN ALLEN. Also featured is an unique theme show entitled the SOLDIERS OF SORCERY starring well known artists headed by VICTOR & DIAMOND with an array of popular performers soon to be announced. Opening night Vegas head liners such as FIELDING WEST and NATHAN BURTON AND SARAH take time off from their regular shows to join us. Close-up performances will feature an Inner Circle of Las Vegas stars plus Magic Castle favorite PAUL GREEN. Watch this space for many more acts to be announced soon. Theater seating is limited to 900- Register now.. The convention dates are July 7-10 2003. At the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. See www.magicsam.com for details. --------------------------------- 4. Juliana Chen Is At The Apollo In Dusseldorf ---------------------------------- Message from Clive Court (Canada) Juliana Chen is at the Apollo in Düsseldorf until the end of January. She has six month's work in Germany next year and will play there for eight months in 2004. ---------------------------------- 5. Magic Goes Hollywood ---------------------------------- Message from J. Cruz The Pamplin Film Company (PFC), an award-winning independent film & video production company, based at Universal Studios Florida, has inked two new deals - including worldwide distribution of "Magic 4 Morons" (M4M). PFC's award-winning comedy-magic video M4M is receiving international distribution through 130,000 copies of Library Video Company's 2002-2003 catalogue recently mailed to libraries, government agencies, and consumers. In addition to the catalogue, customers can purchase the video at www.libraryvideo.com, their companion Web site. California-based Murphy's Magic (the world's largest distributor of magic videos) has also placed their first order for M4M, which stars American magician, Lyndel and co-stars actor, comedian, sound effects guru, and star of seven "Police Academy" movies, Michael Winslow. Murphy's services leading magic retailers worldwide. M4M is the first and only big budget instructional magic video to be filmed at a major motion picture studio and to star a Hollywood celebrity. ---------------------------------- 6. The Real Secrets To Making Money ---------------------------------- Message from Millard Grubb (US) "How This Magician Learned the "Hard Way" the Real Secrets to Making Money." "I am Angry Enough to Tell You the Truth about How You Can Market Your Shows and Save You the Money I Wasted." says Millard Grubb Millard Grubb is a magician from Chicago who¹s angry. He¹s angry that magician¹s are buying books that explain marketing, but don¹t show magicians how to get bookings step-by-step. His manual, The Magician¹s Emergency Toolkit Gold Edition, does just that. It takes you by the hand and shows you the simple a, b, c¹s of booking all the shows you need with actual marketing pieces that were used to bring in the cash. "I was so frustrated that the marketing books available to magicians just told you what to do, but didn't show you how to do it," said Millard. "Being able to take someone by the hand and show them clearly what to do step-by-step, along with actual examples, is my goal," added Grubb. You can find more info at: www.bookingmagicshows.com ---------------------------------- 7. "In The Picture" - A Card Trick ---------------------------------- Message from Fast Jimmy Fast Jimmy appeared on the Y? show today on channel nine in Australia performing "In the Picture" - a card trick where a selected card appears floating above the spectators finger in a polaroid photo. Special thanks are to be given to Dave Lord for his method and handling on the trick and for allowing me to perform it. ---------------------------------- 8. Hocus Pocus Festival ---------------------------------- Message from John Fells I have just returned from The Hocus Pocus Festival held in Granada, Spain. Fantastic with round the clock performances and lectures by an international assortment of quality magicians. The stage shows in various theatres throughout the city were beautifully organised and the acts pure quality. Juan Tamariz, Roberto Giobbi, Rafael Benatar, Mark Mitton, Paul Wilson, Mirko, Magomigue, Sergi Buka, Yunke, Pepe Dominguez, Jorge Blass, Jandro, Luis Manuel, Miguel Aparicio, Donald Lehn and Rene Lavand. I had read lots of reviews about Mark Mitton. I met him before his lecture and was impressed with his quiet manner and his profound knowledge on Slydini; so it came as a complete shock to watch his wild and very funny stage performance. Hysterical would better describe his antics. Without doubt the best moment was for me Rene Lavand. Poetry in motion, which had the audience, spellbound and emotionally touched. There were people crying in the auditorium moved by this living legend. I shall never forget the moment, which ended in one of the longest standing ovations I have ever experienced. Paul Green was great too. Brilliant spellbound routine. We are promised by the organiser Miguel Puga "Mago Migue" another just as exiting Festival. Can´t wait. ---------------------------------- 9. Heroes of Magic TV Special ---------------------------------- Message from Craig Mitchell Does anyone per chance have a copy of the Heroes of Magic TV Special which aired a year or two again in the UK? Any help would be much appreciated ... Please contact me privately at craig@mitchell.co.za Craig www.magic.org.za The College of Magic - Cape Town, South Africa --------------------------------- 10. The Amazing ‘Orchante’ Saga – Page 138 ---------------------------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) The Derek Metzger Story - To The Present Time Four months later, May 6th 1986, Sally arrived in London to rejoin her then fiancé, Derek. Just two months later – July, they ‘TIED THE KNOT’. Among their wedding guests was one of N. Z.’s top entertainers and television personality, Max Cryer - who was in London to attend another wedding as well, a Royal one, that of Sarah Ferguson to Prince Andrews. Unlike the afore mentioned couple, Derek and Sally’s marriage is still going strong, as it always will! Derek was privileged to appear in the Royal Variety Performance of 1986. Derek spent two years in the hit musical ‘42ND STREET’, at the famous ‘Theatre Royal’ in Drury Lane, understudying and performing the role of ‘Billy Lawlor’. He also worked at the Donmar Warehouse, on a production of a new (at the time) musical – ‘MATADOR’, performed at the Piccadilly Theatre in: ‘A Tribute To Noel Coward’. May 6th of 1998, after receiving some lucrative offers from back home, Derek and Sally headed back to New Zealand, where he played the lead in a succession of productions that included: ‘Some Like it Hot’, ‘Side By Side by Sondheim’ and the N.Z. tour of ‘Chess’. It wasn’t long before Australian theatre producers were getting the word about Derek and in January of 1993 he headed for Sydney, got himself settled in then Sally followed, arriving in Australia on the, wait for it, the 6th of May. It is a Very Strange Coincidence that Derek left N.Z. in the month of January, on each occasion, for both England and Australia. Even spookier, is that Sally left N.Z. on the 6th of May for England. Both she and Derek left the U.K. on the 6th of May and again, it was the 6th of May when Sally arrived in Australia! There just has to be a winning lottery ticket in there somewhere. Since settling in Australia, Derek has been constantly on the move with national tours of Cole Porters: ‘A Swell Party’, ‘Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘The Mikado’. His role in ‘Me & My Girl’ was sensational! The critics raved about his performance. Here are just two quotes from the Melbourne Critics…‘Derek Metzger has ‘STAR’ tattooed on his forehead…’ , ‘Melbournians’ were introduced to a 100% Star’…! It was for this role that Derek was nominated for and received, The Coveted ‘Green Room Award’, which is a Theatre Award for ‘Best Actor’ in a Musical! His other credits include: ‘Here Comes Showtime’, ‘Silhouette’ for the Marian Street Theatre, ‘She Loves Me’, ‘Closer Than Ever’, ‘Follies in Concert’ and John English ’s ‘Buskers and Angels’. He received a second ‘Green Room’ Award nomination for the Melbourne production of ‘Chess’. As well as Television appearances on Channel 10’s nationwide broadcast of ‘Good Morning Australia’ (I had a regular spot on the same programme performing Close –Up Magic when we were living in Sydney), ‘The Midday Show’, Channel 7’s Variety Gala, ‘G.P’. and ‘Ihaka’, Derek also performs regularly in concert. Last year (2001) he received a nomination for a ‘Mo’ Award (which is, more or less, the equivalent of the ‘Benny’ in N.Z.), for his successful One Man Show, ‘Nice Work if You Can Get it’! In all, Derek has been nominated three times for various performances, alongside some very heavy opposition. Derek’s other awards include a Scroll of Honour – ‘Professional Performer Award’ from the Variety Artists Committee (VAC), and in 1996, ‘Best Theatrical Performer’ from the New Zealand Entertainment Operator’s Association (NEOA). Derek is currently appearing in the very successful production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, playing the Scarecrow, for which he is receiving, once again, rave reviews. The show, which took eight million dollars in Melbourne, has just moved up to beautiful Brisbane, where it is again ‘packing them in’. In spite of all the accolades that have been, and still are, being heaped upon him, Derek is, as I said in the beginning, a quiet, unassuming, modest, caring and very likeable man. ‘The Biggest Talent and the Littlest Ego’, says it all! I have known Derek for eighteen years. Not as long as I’ve known his equally wonderful wife, Sally - thirty seven years! (We are kinda like brother and sister) DEREK, WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS OUR FRIEND. YOU ARE, AS IS SALLY, VERY SPECIAL TO US! TOM AND VERONICA ------------------------------------- 11. Magic New Zealand e-zine archives ------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. User Name: magic Password: kiwi When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. Eg 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999) Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. ------------------------------------- 12. Subscription Management ------------------------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. To subscribe or unsubscribe from the Magic New Zealand e-zine: www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html Magic New Zealand e-zine is published weekly, on Sunday. The opinions expressed in this e-zine are those of the individual contributors and not those of Magic New Zealand. Neither Magic New Zealand or Alan Watson can vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via Magic New Zealand e-zine. Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree that they will not hold Magic New Zealand and/or Alan Watson liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed herein. We reserve the right to edit, correct or, in our discretion, choose not to publish any submissions provided to Magic New Zealand for potential publication. Magic New Zealand welcomes readers to submit timely articles or news items which appear to be of interest to our readers. Those submitting to this e-zine agree that we have permission to publish their submissions and that they have the full copyright to the material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand are fully protected by international copyright as provided by law, and articles cannot be published for profit by anyone other than the individual author without the written permission of Magic New Zealand. >>This publication may be freely redistributed (but not sold) to other magicians if copied in its ENTIRETY including the copyright notice below and the above disclaimer.<< © Copyright 2002 Alan Watson