MAKE BELIEVE Premieres at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival

On Friday, September 17th, I met up with my Sorcerer's Safari family to see Make Believe's international premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. Two of cast memebers, Bill Koch and Derek McKee have attended Sorcerer's Safari - it was great to see them again. Make Believe is a documentary that follows six of the world's best young magicians as they content for the title of World Magic Seminar's Teen World Champion, a Las Vegas based competition. This coming of age voyage submerges viewers into the subculture of magic; a placed filled with the imagination, dedication, persistence, sacrifice and dreams of oddballs. 

Check out the Make Believe Trailer:

Watch an interview with J. Clay Tweel and Steven Klein, the director and producer of Make Believe at the Los Angeles Film Festival:




Here's the Question and Answer session after the screening at the LightBox:



Hear what people are saying about Make Believe:



In order of appearance:

Michael Kras
Lee Asher
Steven Klein - Producer
J. Clay Tweel - Director


Afterwards, we headed down the street to the Elephant & Castle for the after party. We jammed, had food and drinks, told stories and just hung out. But I couldn't stay long because I had to head back to London for two shows the next day.

I really enjoyed the movie. The cinematography is exceptional. You are transported from the snow covered streets of Littleton, Colorado to the vast mountain vistas of Japan. The story is so compelling and engaging, to be able to see these artist attain their dreams is magic in itself. Make Believe resonated with me deeply because I could connect with ever single character. It wasn't just a movie, but an experience that left me motivated and inspired to continually become greater. If you're an aspiring, young magician - even if you're not - I highly recommend you see this film.

A busy month

The last month has been super busy. After producing four shows at the Arts Project, I decided to finish off the summer by producing my one man show Feats of Mystery at the Spriet Family Theatre.  Click here to read a review about the show.

An interesting prediction...

Some attendees after the show

Two days later, I was a guest, along with the Mayor of London - Anne Marie DeCicco-Best, on London Tonight with Jeff Leeson. This was my first ever appearance on television and overall it was a great experience. Warning: this footage is from a late night talk show intended for an adult audience. Viewers discretion is advised. Watch my segment right now http://bit.ly/9WP49t  It's episode 4, part 5.


After the filming, I headed straight for Sorcerer's Safari Magic Camp - Canada's Premier Magic Camp. Yes, you did read that correctly - magic camp. Such a place exists, and not only is it the closest thing to Hogwarts, but this was my fifth year and I got to be a counsellor. Ever since my first year as a camper in 2006, I have always wanted to be a counsellor. I wanted to be able to give a similar opportunity to other young and aspiring magicians; an opportunity I was given my first year. It's somewhere where magicians of any age, gendre and ability can congregate in order to improve. Read more about camp in my interview with the Beat Magazine

Leave me a comment and tell me what YOU think.

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California!

On the 12th to the 20th I will in California in Santa Clarita and LA area. If anyone's in the area at the time, give me a shout. This is my second visit to California. Last year I went for 8 days in March. I was continually out doing things. I performed at a private dinner party for the organizers of the Duff Shaw Classic Golf Tournament, named in memory of a Los Angeles golf course superintendent who passed away in 1994 from a brain tumour.

I was fortunate enough to see John Carney perform his one man show Carney's Wonders and even speak with him after the show to sign his book 2 books: Carneycopedia and the Book of Secrets. John is an extraordinary and talented magician, winning more awards from Hollywood's world famous Magic Castle in their entire history. Sometimes he performs as his alter ego, Mr. Mysto. John studied under the greatest magician in the last century Dai Vernon.

I got to spend a day work shopping on my stand up show with Tony Clark. He trained under master magicians Slydini and Canadian, Doug Henning. Awarded World Class Stage Champion by the Society of American Magicians, Tony continues to perform and produce shows around the world. After working on my act for the day, we visited the prestigious Magic Castle to catch some shows and poke around. The castle was featuring Spanish performers that week and we saw a multitude of great acts, from quick-change artists to hilarious emcees. Hopefully I will get to make a second pilgrimage to the castle this trip.

Later in the week, I got to spend time with a dear friend and mentor, Aaron Fisher. Aaron is one of the world's contemporary contributor's to magic, with his book The Paper Engine: Tension, Focus and Design in Card Magic as well as through his lecture series. He got into magic in his teens and studied theatre at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. During that time Aaron was in the perfect breeding ground for magic and hung around magic legends including: Larry Jennings, Michael Skinner and Johnny Thompson, The Great Tomsoni. Aaron I got to hang out and catch up on each other as well as discuss magic. This is normally what magicians calling 'jamming' where we show each other what we've been working on. Each magician has different influences, reads different books and has their own style; in collaborating with each other new innovative magic can be created. I hope to see Aaron after his recent return from his lecture tour in Spain!

I met Aaron in 2006 at Sorcerer's Safari Magic Camp, Canada's premier magic camp. I have been returning ever since and have been a counselor in training for the last two years in a row. Sorcercer's Safari's mission is to instill an appreciation for and promote the art of magic through professional instruction and diverse performances. Their mission also includes helping our young magicians hone their craft to achieve the next level while having fun. Sorcerers Safari provides participants with the opportunity to meet and work with people throughout the magic community, including notable magicians like Lee Asher, Daniel Garcia, Jason Dean, and Aaron Fisher among others. Going to camp every summer has been a monumental contributor to my magic. I wish to return every year to continue learning and with the hopes to give to another camper what was given to me.

I also got to sit in on a taping of NBC's animated TV series Curious George with its star Frank Welker, an American voice actor. Frank started his career with commercials when he was at college. It was during this time he created his stand up comedy act. Frank is better known as Santa's Little Helper from the Simpsons, Freddy and Scooby-do. I got to hang out with Frank for a day and talk about show business as he practiced noises and impressions all day.

Last year was an amazing trip and I am looking forward to this year being the same!