Pocket Horror Vérité by Jim Kleefeld, Eric Ross

This is a fantastic effect that is easy to do and a great fooler – at first glance it may seem similar to Simon Shaw’s Director’s Cut, but it is very different and you will be more than happy with this method and effect even if you already have Simon Shaw’s. 

Sadly, I overlooked Cinema Vérité when I first purchased it but if you spend just a few minutes learning the method you will have it down and never forget it. Contrary to what you might think there is almost nothing to learn or crib sheets to look at. You could do this blindfolded or even over the telephone.  Now to really do this effect justice you should do two things:

1. Read the expanded instructions that you can obtain from Jim or Stevens Magic, it contains lots of tips and ideas which will make your presentation even better.
2. Over time the more you get to know the movies depicted (many of which you will already know) the more it will add to your performance.  You can still amaze them almost immediately but if you perform this regularly you will probably want to take it to the next level by being more familiar with the movie posters, cast members, basic plot etc.  All of the details are included in the expanded instructions.

Once you have performed it a few times I believe it will quickly become one of your go to effects, and it plays well particularly if you personalize the movies with your own experiences and how they impacted your life.

In the handy pocket size it comes in Classic and Horror. I will sometimes use both in one performance which really fools them because there are so many movies (32 in each set) that it really makes you look like some sort of hard core movie mentalist savant.

Mark Stevens has told me this is one of the top sellers at Stevens Magic and now I understand why.

Effect: Cinema Vérité is now available in a new vest-pocket size, perfect for restaurant work, table-hopping, or just carrying around for casual presentations. These new cards look just like trading cards, 2 and 1/2 by 3 and 3/4 inches. Each set consists of the same 32 film poster cards in this convenient size, but the backs have been completely re-designed to give them a Collectible Trading Card look. Comes with a handy two-pocket wallet for storage and transport.

Hand out the cards to the audience. Choose a spectator. Caution them not Io show you which cards they have. Ask them to choose a film and concentrate on the title. Now have them turn the card over. On the back is a list of titles chosen by a film critic source. Ask the spectator to read the films on the list, including their chosen film, in any random order. Ask them to keep the face and back of the card out of your view.

You listen to the list of film titles and tell them which one they are thinking of. Repeat the process with another spectator. They choose a film, read the names on the card in any order, and you first describe the poster image, then name the film. Next, have the spectator concentrate on the number of people who voted on this particular list. You tell them the number they are thinking of. You can repeat this with any spectators any number of times.

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