Well, the time has finally come. My book, "Scrolls: A Book of Story Telling Magical Theatre" is finally available for order from Leaping Lizards Publishing.
"Scrolls" contains routines, essays and a one-man show of magic based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe entitled "Poe's Grave."
Effects include "The Devil's Suicide" (my version of the six card repeat), "The Eye of The Seer" (a spooky approach to The Egg Bag), "Reincarnation - The Broken and Restored Thread" and many other effects.
And if you order before August 1st you will receive a bonus CD of effects as well.
For a sample from the book or to order please visit:
http://www.leapinglizardsmagic.com/scrolls.htm
Enjoy!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Doing Demo Videos
Well it's taken a fair amount of work, but I've managed finally to put together my first website demo video. It's not much, but I rather like it for a first effort. Once I get a better handle on how to do this video editing stuff I can make improvements until I get the kind of thing I really want all together.
Monday, May 21, 2007
On the artistic integrity of a good story...
Okay, usually I'm talking about magic, or perhaps I'm talking about my rapier studies and SCA related things.
This time I'm talking about story telling via "Heroes."
So we now have ended the story. Or have we? Now that the first season is over, let's talk a little about how it ended. I am not satisfied. A couple of months ago I heard that they were going to take the story into another season. I knew then that I was likely not going to be happy about it. And here it turns out that I am correct.
First the big continuity error: Peter Petreilli should have just flown away. He could you know. The first power he absorbed was his brother Nathan's. We know that once he absorbed a power he could use it again and again. He could fly. And if Peter loved everyone "unconditionally" then he should have been willing to fly off and blow up at a safe distance. Why did it take Nathan to do that for him? Because he's scared? Well, yes, they established his reliance on his brother throughout the season, but I'm still no so sure. He seemed ready to use other powers to protect people despite the danger to himself.
But who else should have died? DL certainly. I'm guessing that in the original story that DL probably did die. Why didn't he? We'll get to that.
Who else? Ando probably, and definitely Syler. Ando's death would have turned Hiro into the hero he is supposed to be and Syler was the villian that needed to be destroyed in the end.
So why didn't these guys actually die? (And yes, Syler is still alive. The image of the manhole cover is painfully obvious even without the "symbolic" cockroach crawling on it.) I'm guessing "Corporate Greed."
The network sees that they have a good thing going making them money. So they say "Hey, let's change the story a bit so we can keep everyone's favorite characters and milk this thing for more money." So out goes the artistic integrity of the story. You could see it. You could feel it. The ending didn't justify all that had gone on before.
Imagine how much more powerful the story would have been if Ando had bought the farm at Syler's hand in Isaac's loft? That would have been the moment that Hiro's heart would have been sacrificed to the dragon just like in his favorite story of Kensie. How much more would it have meant to Nikki to save Micha once she truly realized that he was all she had left of DL now that she knew that despite the manipulation of their lives and relationship they really did love each other?
Someone once told me that the difference between a Hero and a Champion is that a Hero is dead. Cynical, but think about that in light of little Molly looking at Parkman and hoping that he doesn't die.
I've enjoyed this series right from the beginning and I expect that I'll continue to enjoy it into it's second season. But this would have been so much better had it been a one shot thing. The artisitc integrity of the story would have been maintained. I know that it's a battle for writers to keep their visions intact in the face of corporate greed. It's sad to think that this story seems to have suffered that.
For those of you who are the "artistic story teller types," whether you be magicians or writers or whatever, think about the artisitic integrity of the story you create and tell. Think how much more it could be if you don't hold back and especially if you don't sell out. Those moments are precious and it sucks to give them up to something that might be easier to do or will be "more commercial."
Oh, and while you're thinking about that, also think about who was wearing Kensei's armor at the end there. Looked like "Hiro's dad" didn't it? *smile*
This time I'm talking about story telling via "Heroes."
So we now have ended the story. Or have we? Now that the first season is over, let's talk a little about how it ended. I am not satisfied. A couple of months ago I heard that they were going to take the story into another season. I knew then that I was likely not going to be happy about it. And here it turns out that I am correct.
First the big continuity error: Peter Petreilli should have just flown away. He could you know. The first power he absorbed was his brother Nathan's. We know that once he absorbed a power he could use it again and again. He could fly. And if Peter loved everyone "unconditionally" then he should have been willing to fly off and blow up at a safe distance. Why did it take Nathan to do that for him? Because he's scared? Well, yes, they established his reliance on his brother throughout the season, but I'm still no so sure. He seemed ready to use other powers to protect people despite the danger to himself.
But who else should have died? DL certainly. I'm guessing that in the original story that DL probably did die. Why didn't he? We'll get to that.
Who else? Ando probably, and definitely Syler. Ando's death would have turned Hiro into the hero he is supposed to be and Syler was the villian that needed to be destroyed in the end.
So why didn't these guys actually die? (And yes, Syler is still alive. The image of the manhole cover is painfully obvious even without the "symbolic" cockroach crawling on it.) I'm guessing "Corporate Greed."
The network sees that they have a good thing going making them money. So they say "Hey, let's change the story a bit so we can keep everyone's favorite characters and milk this thing for more money." So out goes the artistic integrity of the story. You could see it. You could feel it. The ending didn't justify all that had gone on before.
Imagine how much more powerful the story would have been if Ando had bought the farm at Syler's hand in Isaac's loft? That would have been the moment that Hiro's heart would have been sacrificed to the dragon just like in his favorite story of Kensie. How much more would it have meant to Nikki to save Micha once she truly realized that he was all she had left of DL now that she knew that despite the manipulation of their lives and relationship they really did love each other?
Someone once told me that the difference between a Hero and a Champion is that a Hero is dead. Cynical, but think about that in light of little Molly looking at Parkman and hoping that he doesn't die.
I've enjoyed this series right from the beginning and I expect that I'll continue to enjoy it into it's second season. But this would have been so much better had it been a one shot thing. The artisitc integrity of the story would have been maintained. I know that it's a battle for writers to keep their visions intact in the face of corporate greed. It's sad to think that this story seems to have suffered that.
For those of you who are the "artistic story teller types," whether you be magicians or writers or whatever, think about the artisitic integrity of the story you create and tell. Think how much more it could be if you don't hold back and especially if you don't sell out. Those moments are precious and it sucks to give them up to something that might be easier to do or will be "more commercial."
Oh, and while you're thinking about that, also think about who was wearing Kensei's armor at the end there. Looked like "Hiro's dad" didn't it? *smile*
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
On aging paper
Occasionally when you are working to create your own props you find that you need to have paper that looks old. This is especially good for routines where the props are old books or maps. Nothing looks worse then when you are telling a story and you try to pass off something freshly printed from your computer as an old letter from several generations ago.
But paper is kind of delicate stuff isn't it?
Well, no, not really. Paper can take a pretty fair amount of abuse. And as such you can do some things to it which makes it look older then it actually is. Here then is a brief listing of different ways that you might use to make your paper look old.
1. For color, soak it in dark tea
2. To make sheets brittle, get them wet and then cook them in a low temp oven.
3. To yellow them just leave them out in the back of your car for about a month!
4. You can make paper look dirty by rubbing powdered chocolate on it.
(Yes, I know some people would consider that a waste of good chocolate.)
5. Use the microwave to cook ketchup or steak sauce onto the paper to get "dried blood."
6. Get sealing wax from your local art supply store and drip some on.
7. Get Violin Rosin from the music shop to rub on the paper for that "old" smell.
Sometimes it takes just a touch of creativity to make your props looks that much better, but when you do the payoff is amazing!
But paper is kind of delicate stuff isn't it?
Well, no, not really. Paper can take a pretty fair amount of abuse. And as such you can do some things to it which makes it look older then it actually is. Here then is a brief listing of different ways that you might use to make your paper look old.
1. For color, soak it in dark tea
2. To make sheets brittle, get them wet and then cook them in a low temp oven.
3. To yellow them just leave them out in the back of your car for about a month!
4. You can make paper look dirty by rubbing powdered chocolate on it.
(Yes, I know some people would consider that a waste of good chocolate.)
5. Use the microwave to cook ketchup or steak sauce onto the paper to get "dried blood."
6. Get sealing wax from your local art supply store and drip some on.
7. Get Violin Rosin from the music shop to rub on the paper for that "old" smell.
Sometimes it takes just a touch of creativity to make your props looks that much better, but when you do the payoff is amazing!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Want to be a Magician?
Starting this April 16th, at the Boulder Creek Community Center I will be teaching magic classes!
There are two classes being offered.
First, a class specifically for adults and children together. What a great way to spend time with your kids, learning a skill which builds hand-eye coordination, self confidence and is great fun besides!
Second, a class specifically for adults only. Here we'll be examining more sophisticated magical techniques that you will be able to use to perform in most any situation and even build your own effects from!
Want to know more?
Sign up now at the Boulder Creek Community Center or call: 1-831-338-4144 to reserve your spot!
Santiago the Magician
Enter a World of Elegant Magic
Santiago's Magic
There are two classes being offered.
First, a class specifically for adults and children together. What a great way to spend time with your kids, learning a skill which builds hand-eye coordination, self confidence and is great fun besides!
Second, a class specifically for adults only. Here we'll be examining more sophisticated magical techniques that you will be able to use to perform in most any situation and even build your own effects from!
Want to know more?
Sign up now at the Boulder Creek Community Center or call: 1-831-338-4144 to reserve your spot!
Santiago the Magician
Enter a World of Elegant Magic
Santiago's Magic
Friday, March 16, 2007
And so it begins....
A long time project of mine is finally coming to fruition.
I have entered into negotiations with a publisher for my first book; Scrolls.
Scrolls is a collection of magic routines, essays and a one man play of magic effects based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. If all goes well then it will be published sometime in the fall.
I can only begin to scratch the surface on how I feel about this. Every time I have had an article published I have been overjoyed. Being a writer is almost as much fun as being a magician, and I've wanted it for far longer. When some of my essays started to see print I became utterly enthralled with the idea of actually publishing a book. Like many people I've even started half a dozen different novels and like many people those novels remain unfinished.
But creating a book of magic was something different and now, here I am, talking with a publisher!
Wish me luck, and believe me, if this all comes together you can bet you'll be hearing about it and where to buy it!
Santiago
I have entered into negotiations with a publisher for my first book; Scrolls.
Scrolls is a collection of magic routines, essays and a one man play of magic effects based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. If all goes well then it will be published sometime in the fall.
I can only begin to scratch the surface on how I feel about this. Every time I have had an article published I have been overjoyed. Being a writer is almost as much fun as being a magician, and I've wanted it for far longer. When some of my essays started to see print I became utterly enthralled with the idea of actually publishing a book. Like many people I've even started half a dozen different novels and like many people those novels remain unfinished.
But creating a book of magic was something different and now, here I am, talking with a publisher!
Wish me luck, and believe me, if this all comes together you can bet you'll be hearing about it and where to buy it!
Santiago
Spammers at it again....
For anyone out there who is getting SPAM that says it's coming from the Santiagos Magic domain name, I do apologize. It isn't coming from me at all. Some SPAMMER has latched on to my domain name as a way to try and hide the source of the messages. You can tell this from a number of different ways, but primarily you can see it in the fact that the addresses used are nonsense. For example I never send out messages from:
dwsch@santiagosmagic.com
Any random assortment of letters before the @ is a sure sign it is a SPAMMER.
And for what it's worth, every day now I'm getting several hundred bounced messages instead of the jackass who is sending them.
Not a lot I can do about it, but there is something you can do about it.
If you happen to get a SPAM from what appears to be my domain, or really ANY SPAM, please use the on-line SPAM reporting tool: SPAMCOP.
This tool will allow you to run the SPAM through a quick process that generates email complaints to the actual network administrators of the domains and ISP's really being used. Those people can shut the offenders down.
It's free and it works. I've been using it for years now.
Thanks,
Santiago
dwsch@santiagosmagic.com
Any random assortment of letters before the @ is a sure sign it is a SPAMMER.
And for what it's worth, every day now I'm getting several hundred bounced messages instead of the jackass who is sending them.
Not a lot I can do about it, but there is something you can do about it.
If you happen to get a SPAM from what appears to be my domain, or really ANY SPAM, please use the on-line SPAM reporting tool: SPAMCOP.
This tool will allow you to run the SPAM through a quick process that generates email complaints to the actual network administrators of the domains and ISP's really being used. Those people can shut the offenders down.
It's free and it works. I've been using it for years now.
Thanks,
Santiago
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Santiago's Dreamworks Adventure
What a day!
I've only been waiting for this to come around since just before Thanksgiving. That's when I got the initial call. And I've been a wreck ever since.
Yes, I've worked for some pretty good sized clients before. Law firms. Banks. Computer hardware and software companies. I like these events because the people usually are just uptight enough that I get the chance to really mess with them and they just eat it up.
But this was different.
This was Dreamworks. These guys know how to have a good time and they work at a job that is fun!
At first I thought I was going to be doing strolling magic. This is good. I love doing strolling magic. Then I found out that they wanted a formal show. Okay, I can do that too.
For 200 people.
Hmmm. Okay, that's a bit larger then I usually work with but I can still do that.
Then, it's two shows for 200 people. Hmmm. Okay, stretching my resources a bit but I can still do that.
Then, it's two shows for 100 people each. Okay. I'm more comfortable with that. Can I do the same show both time? Yes. Good. I can definitely go with that.
20 minutes? Hmmm. A bit shorter then I usually do, but I can edit a bit to come up with something that will flow well.
No fire, but they do want *poof*. Poof? Hmmm, I can do that too, but I need to work out some details.
It's been weeks and months of planning, but that's okay. Except they keep making these requests and changes. Okay, I can deal with this, but the closer we get to show time the less likely I'll be able to make modifications.
I settle on a line up. Thanks to the fact that they are filming this and putting it up on monitors half way back into the audience I have the chance to put some of my favorite close up material back into the show. I do this.
I settle on a line up of standards along with my new closer and my big piece is my 2 Ring Linking Rings routine. It's become something of a Masterwork Piece for me, so it has a lot of drama in it. And as much as I love the medieval-iod music I use for it in SCA settings, I change to a different bit of music. I know they are filming this and I know there is a chance that some of the film is going to be used for promotional material on their part so I select a piece of music I know is Royalty Free in order to avoid any problems. Truthfully, I like this bit of music better anyway, but it is modern fantasy sounding so it doesn't work well in SCA settings.
The day comes and I have all my show packed up early. I must kill time. It would do no good for me to be there to early. My contract says that my first show is at 4:00 pm so I plan on being there no later then 3:00. I get there at 2:45.
I'm thinking this is good. Plenty of time to relax, feel out the room and take my time setting up the one effect I'll be doing *poof* in.
Nope. Doesn't work out that way.
For some reason they think my first show is supposed to be at 3:00 pm.
YIKES!
They have a limited amount of time to run this. How fast can I be ready? I tell them "ten minutes to setup my show and ten minutes to get in to costume."
So while I'm setting things up I'm thinking "take out the *poof*." Sorry, but this is delicate stuff and I can't afford to rush it. It only changes the end of one effect a little so I can afford to abandon it.
The room is long and narrow. It's the cafeteria. Not what I was expecting. They gave me the impression that the room would be one where they do presentations. On the other hand, perhaps they do presentations in the cafeteria sometimes. I don't know, but again I just adapt. This is why I select the kinds of effects that I do. My show is highly adaptable and I can perform it almost anywhere.
I work the audience for a bit while the camera crew finishes setting things up. They are going to get me a lot of good, high definition footage. I should have it in a couple of weeks.
Showtime.
I go with my standard opener. I had been toying with a change here but decided to fall back to my standard because it helps me relax and by this point I am a freaking stress monkey. Whatever other impression of calm and professional you get from reading this, remember that under this calm cool exterior beats the heart of a stressed out maniac.
But my standard opener does a couple of things for me. It allows me to see who in the room is going to be worth playing with and it allows me to fall into the flow of my show with little thought. I know myself well enough to know that even if I am stressed out, once I hit the stage all energy goes into the performance and I forget about everything else.
Next I go into my favorite card trick. You all know it. You've all seen it. But here I'm hoping that the footage I get of the effect in close up (because those cameras where rolling) will be worth putting on my site for advertising. We shall see.
Then I go into "story time" and tell my "three monks" story with the three rope effect. The magicians who read this will know the effect as "The Professors Nightmare." After the show was over I had several people tell me that the audience was absolutely enraptured by my story telling. Good. Hopefully that will help make up for the lack of *poof*.
I move on to my musical 2 Rings Linking Ring Routine. (I really need to come up with a better title for the effect since it is something of a "masterwork" piece.) They were the most responsive audience I have ever had for this effect. Applause at every appropriate spot and totally amazed by the end.
I have to admit that I really turned on the energy for this one. So much so that I actually felt my legs trembling! I had to control that while still keeping the energy up. And again, after the show, one of the sound guys came up and told me that he figured I must have been pretty nervous because he could hear my heart through the body mike I was wearing.
Well, yeah, skippy. I was nervous. This is one of my best effects and I am doing it for the people at DREAMWORKS!!! *smile*
I finished off with my "Poe-tic Ribbon." This my recitation of a bit of Edgar Allan Poe (the "Dream within a dream" speech) and the production of a rainbow ribbon from the air. It's a nice bit that rounds out the show.
The applause was damn near thunderous. No *poof* but I got you people. And that's what counts!
Short break, reset my props.
"Santiago? Could you pose for a minute here. One of our artists is drawing a picture of you and we want to get some footage of him doing that while you are inspiring him."
D'OH!
So, fortunately for me I have a few more effects in my table. Learned a long time ago that it's always a good idea to bring more things then you actually need, because the things you actually need are never enough! So I performed that rubber band trick of mine (you all know the one) while they filmed mister Dreamworks Artist Guy (whose name is actually Ryan Savas) drawing pictures of me.
And yes, I did get a copy. (I'll probably put it up in the next day or so.)
So now it's time for the second show.
Only, turns out most of the people came for the first show (more then 100) and few came for the second. I had an audience of only about 30 for the second show.
Okay, adapting again. We bring the energy down a bit and make the show feel more intimate. A bit harder on me because as a smaller crowd they weren't sure if they could respond. But I worked them. And by the end I had them.
So where is everyone? Turns out the most of the people who came to the earlier show were now off in rushes. For those of you that don't know what that means, "rushes" are the daily films that are watched by everyone for editing and content. Dreamworks is in crunch mode finishing the last little bits of the next film "Shrek The Third."
So this was my day at Dreamworks.
Everybody is happy. The agent who booked me for this gig came to see me perform, and he's already talking about other things he wants to book me for. The people at Dreamworks are happy and I may very well hear more from them. There is a chance, albeit a small one, that a clip of my show may end up somewhere in the extras on the "Shrek The Third" DVD. Some sort of "behind the scenes" extra showing how cool it is to work at Dreamworks.
Because you know what?
It is cool. Even if I only got to work there for a day.
I've only been waiting for this to come around since just before Thanksgiving. That's when I got the initial call. And I've been a wreck ever since.
Yes, I've worked for some pretty good sized clients before. Law firms. Banks. Computer hardware and software companies. I like these events because the people usually are just uptight enough that I get the chance to really mess with them and they just eat it up.
But this was different.
This was Dreamworks. These guys know how to have a good time and they work at a job that is fun!
At first I thought I was going to be doing strolling magic. This is good. I love doing strolling magic. Then I found out that they wanted a formal show. Okay, I can do that too.
For 200 people.
Hmmm. Okay, that's a bit larger then I usually work with but I can still do that.
Then, it's two shows for 200 people. Hmmm. Okay, stretching my resources a bit but I can still do that.
Then, it's two shows for 100 people each. Okay. I'm more comfortable with that. Can I do the same show both time? Yes. Good. I can definitely go with that.
20 minutes? Hmmm. A bit shorter then I usually do, but I can edit a bit to come up with something that will flow well.
No fire, but they do want *poof*. Poof? Hmmm, I can do that too, but I need to work out some details.
It's been weeks and months of planning, but that's okay. Except they keep making these requests and changes. Okay, I can deal with this, but the closer we get to show time the less likely I'll be able to make modifications.
I settle on a line up. Thanks to the fact that they are filming this and putting it up on monitors half way back into the audience I have the chance to put some of my favorite close up material back into the show. I do this.
I settle on a line up of standards along with my new closer and my big piece is my 2 Ring Linking Rings routine. It's become something of a Masterwork Piece for me, so it has a lot of drama in it. And as much as I love the medieval-iod music I use for it in SCA settings, I change to a different bit of music. I know they are filming this and I know there is a chance that some of the film is going to be used for promotional material on their part so I select a piece of music I know is Royalty Free in order to avoid any problems. Truthfully, I like this bit of music better anyway, but it is modern fantasy sounding so it doesn't work well in SCA settings.
The day comes and I have all my show packed up early. I must kill time. It would do no good for me to be there to early. My contract says that my first show is at 4:00 pm so I plan on being there no later then 3:00. I get there at 2:45.
I'm thinking this is good. Plenty of time to relax, feel out the room and take my time setting up the one effect I'll be doing *poof* in.
Nope. Doesn't work out that way.
For some reason they think my first show is supposed to be at 3:00 pm.
YIKES!
They have a limited amount of time to run this. How fast can I be ready? I tell them "ten minutes to setup my show and ten minutes to get in to costume."
So while I'm setting things up I'm thinking "take out the *poof*." Sorry, but this is delicate stuff and I can't afford to rush it. It only changes the end of one effect a little so I can afford to abandon it.
The room is long and narrow. It's the cafeteria. Not what I was expecting. They gave me the impression that the room would be one where they do presentations. On the other hand, perhaps they do presentations in the cafeteria sometimes. I don't know, but again I just adapt. This is why I select the kinds of effects that I do. My show is highly adaptable and I can perform it almost anywhere.
I work the audience for a bit while the camera crew finishes setting things up. They are going to get me a lot of good, high definition footage. I should have it in a couple of weeks.
Showtime.
I go with my standard opener. I had been toying with a change here but decided to fall back to my standard because it helps me relax and by this point I am a freaking stress monkey. Whatever other impression of calm and professional you get from reading this, remember that under this calm cool exterior beats the heart of a stressed out maniac.
But my standard opener does a couple of things for me. It allows me to see who in the room is going to be worth playing with and it allows me to fall into the flow of my show with little thought. I know myself well enough to know that even if I am stressed out, once I hit the stage all energy goes into the performance and I forget about everything else.
Next I go into my favorite card trick. You all know it. You've all seen it. But here I'm hoping that the footage I get of the effect in close up (because those cameras where rolling) will be worth putting on my site for advertising. We shall see.
Then I go into "story time" and tell my "three monks" story with the three rope effect. The magicians who read this will know the effect as "The Professors Nightmare." After the show was over I had several people tell me that the audience was absolutely enraptured by my story telling. Good. Hopefully that will help make up for the lack of *poof*.
I move on to my musical 2 Rings Linking Ring Routine. (I really need to come up with a better title for the effect since it is something of a "masterwork" piece.) They were the most responsive audience I have ever had for this effect. Applause at every appropriate spot and totally amazed by the end.
I have to admit that I really turned on the energy for this one. So much so that I actually felt my legs trembling! I had to control that while still keeping the energy up. And again, after the show, one of the sound guys came up and told me that he figured I must have been pretty nervous because he could hear my heart through the body mike I was wearing.
Well, yeah, skippy. I was nervous. This is one of my best effects and I am doing it for the people at DREAMWORKS!!! *smile*
I finished off with my "Poe-tic Ribbon." This my recitation of a bit of Edgar Allan Poe (the "Dream within a dream" speech) and the production of a rainbow ribbon from the air. It's a nice bit that rounds out the show.
The applause was damn near thunderous. No *poof* but I got you people. And that's what counts!
Short break, reset my props.
"Santiago? Could you pose for a minute here. One of our artists is drawing a picture of you and we want to get some footage of him doing that while you are inspiring him."
D'OH!
So, fortunately for me I have a few more effects in my table. Learned a long time ago that it's always a good idea to bring more things then you actually need, because the things you actually need are never enough! So I performed that rubber band trick of mine (you all know the one) while they filmed mister Dreamworks Artist Guy (whose name is actually Ryan Savas) drawing pictures of me.
And yes, I did get a copy. (I'll probably put it up in the next day or so.)
So now it's time for the second show.
Only, turns out most of the people came for the first show (more then 100) and few came for the second. I had an audience of only about 30 for the second show.
Okay, adapting again. We bring the energy down a bit and make the show feel more intimate. A bit harder on me because as a smaller crowd they weren't sure if they could respond. But I worked them. And by the end I had them.
So where is everyone? Turns out the most of the people who came to the earlier show were now off in rushes. For those of you that don't know what that means, "rushes" are the daily films that are watched by everyone for editing and content. Dreamworks is in crunch mode finishing the last little bits of the next film "Shrek The Third."
So this was my day at Dreamworks.
Everybody is happy. The agent who booked me for this gig came to see me perform, and he's already talking about other things he wants to book me for. The people at Dreamworks are happy and I may very well hear more from them. There is a chance, albeit a small one, that a clip of my show may end up somewhere in the extras on the "Shrek The Third" DVD. Some sort of "behind the scenes" extra showing how cool it is to work at Dreamworks.
Because you know what?
It is cool. Even if I only got to work there for a day.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Scammers at it again!
Scammers try any number of ways to get your money. About a year ago I recieved a message which had a number of the tell tale signs of being a scam, but I investigated it just a bit to verify. Basically the message I recieved said someone was interested in hireing me to entertain at an event, and they were willing to pay for my travel, lodging and everything else along with my services. It looked potentially like a large paying gig.
I sent back a proposal and promptly recieved a cashiers check in the mail for several thousand dollars over the amount I quoted.
This is, of course, how the scam actually works. They expect you to call or email them back and say "I'm sorry, but you sent to much money." They then tell you it's alright. They trust you to cash the check and send them back the difference.
Yeah, right.
See, here is the thing. It's all in the timing. If you do this relatively quickly then by the time your bank has managed to verify the funds, it's to late. The check is, of course, a fraud, and the bank will then hold you responsible for all the money including what you sent back to the scammer.
No, I was not caught by this. I never lost a dime, but I did gather enough information in my dealings with them to open an FBI case.
So, I'm putting the word out there. If you happen to get a message like the one below, it is a scam. Don't go there.
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Mr Keyshawn Jaxson , recommended us your company Santiago's Magic.
Below you will find a proforma invoice with the full details of our first order.
Please sign and send back to us by fax or email: proforma_invoice.doc
Thank you in advance, and contact us as soon as you can, with a full offer.
Also let us know if the prices you published here at http://old.pinagalli.org are right or not.
Manager Campbell Nick .
Jaxon Soons LLC, California
Phone: 795-637-3884
Fax: 395-657-9969
I sent back a proposal and promptly recieved a cashiers check in the mail for several thousand dollars over the amount I quoted.
This is, of course, how the scam actually works. They expect you to call or email them back and say "I'm sorry, but you sent to much money." They then tell you it's alright. They trust you to cash the check and send them back the difference.
Yeah, right.
See, here is the thing. It's all in the timing. If you do this relatively quickly then by the time your bank has managed to verify the funds, it's to late. The check is, of course, a fraud, and the bank will then hold you responsible for all the money including what you sent back to the scammer.
No, I was not caught by this. I never lost a dime, but I did gather enough information in my dealings with them to open an FBI case.
So, I'm putting the word out there. If you happen to get a message like the one below, it is a scam. Don't go there.
-----------
Mr Keyshawn Jaxson , recommended us your company Santiago's Magic.
Below you will find a proforma invoice with the full details of our first order.
Please sign and send back to us by fax or email: proforma_invoice.doc
Thank you in advance, and contact us as soon as you can, with a full offer.
Also let us know if the prices you published here at http://old.pinagalli.org are right or not.
Manager Campbell Nick .
Jaxon Soons LLC, California
Phone: 795-637-3884
Fax: 395-657-9969
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