Shawn Farquhar

[haroldross]

I just watched Episode 7 of 'Penn & Teller: Fool Us' yesterday.

I think that I saw what I would consider the most powerful card trick that I have seen to date. Shawn Farquhar did a great performance. I have a few ideas on the technique but that doesn't matter. This effect was the type that amazes both magician and layman alike. The look of amazement on Penn's face just made my day. What a wonderful example of 'not seeing the forest for the trees.'

‪Shawn Farquhar - Fool Us Penn & Teller |...

[Alex Hess]

Great trick, and what I like even more is that he credited his inspiration and how he learned it.

Thanks for the share

[Eoin Lavery]

When i first watched this I fell in love with that trick. It really was incredible. They really had no idea on how it was done and the look on Penn's face was one of a lot of astonishment. I have probably watched this trick too many times now, constantly rewinding and watching over again. I love it.

[haroldross]

As I watch the trick and think about it more, I'm sure that Penn & Teller have figured it out by now. Very basic techniques were involved and simple ones at that. They have a tough job seeing an effect once and them trying to figure it out.

Let's analyze the effect. Look around 4:00. When he "pops" it open, notice the wrapping only covers the top part of the box (he convincingly 'shows the entire box). With that being the case, he could have opened up the bottom and did some manipulation. He knew that he was going remove the ad cards and joker and so he prepared the second deck without those cards.

The remaining joker was the one that he moved from the first deck and into the top of the second
deck that was already in the box to create the illusion that it is still an opened deck. This additional card was removed around 3:05.

Look at 2:43, when he pulls out the new deck, it is already opened and he flicks his finger to close the flap. Notice that he uses two hands to do so. He already knows the card so he can probably count up to that card and insert the flap there. (This part is probably technically challenging but not impossible since there is some space that the jokers would have filled. Which is probably why he removed them in the first place.)

Around 2:54, he makes a joke about recapping ("that's the pen, it's the joke"). Look at him manipulate the deck. Great misdirection! He is probably closing up the flap so that it covers all the cards instead of being stuck at the point where he inserted the card. You will see the top card slightly jogged and the box can be seen at this point (close to his body).

Looking at 3:04, this is where he removes the top joker that conceals the box. Now comes the long story to add a little time. Again great misdirection. Closely look at around 4:04, and do you notice the small amount of cellophane wrap around the top.

Now starting around 2:43 he opens the box flap to location of card Penn choose. This may seem very difficult but remember the cards are in new deck order and there are a few cards missing so there is some room to play with here.

While he is telling the joke he is inserting Penn's card through the bottom of the box and closing up the box.

To hide the deck, he uses the Joker. He removes the Joker.

Now you may notice that the plastic wrapping only covers a third to a half of the box of cards but he does a good job of 'showing' the wrapped box. Shawn was very good at fooling Penn into looking at the wrong place. I love Shawn's techniques for misdirection.

I think that Shawn is outstanding at reading people. He knew that if he had done this effect on Jonathan Ross, Penn and Teller would have busted him early in the game. With Penn as his assistant, he could keep Teller from seeing some of the moves by having Penn 'get in the way.' Great strategy!

Now I could be wrong in my analysis but I don't think I am too far off. I would recommend going to Shawn's website and checking out, 'The Ultimate Invisible Deck - The Omni Deck.'

[Eoin Lavery]

Was at a party tonight and a magician was there. After his performance I went up and introduced myself. We each performed a few tricks for each other and he gave me his business card and invited me along to their next meeting on 3rd October, and Shawn Farquhar is going to be there. Should be interesting to talk to him.