How Does Teller Cut a Flower by Manipulating Its Shadow?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mechanics and techniques behind a magic trick performed by Teller, where he appears to cut a flower by manipulating its shadow. Participants explore various hypotheses regarding the nature of the flower, the use of light, and the visual effects involved in the performance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the flower could be plastic and hollow, while others argue it may be real but previously altered.
  • One participant proposes that the flower parts are made of light-sensitive substances that could be cut by light, indicating a timed mechanism for the cuts.
  • There is speculation about the use of a projector to create blood stains, with questions about how the blood color appears on screen and in Teller's hand.
  • Some participants discuss the possibility of the trick being performed behind a white screen, raising questions about how the blood is visible from the front.
  • One participant mentions that the flower likely had to be broken before the trick, suggesting various methods to make the parts fall off on cue.
  • There is a suggestion that the shadow of the flower may have been back projected, requiring precise timing in the staging of the trick.
  • Participants note the challenge in determining whether the flower is real or an expensive plastic replica, emphasizing the complexity of the trick.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the nature of the flower and the techniques used in the trick. The discussion remains unresolved, with no consensus on the exact methods employed.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference concepts such as photoperiodism in relation to the flower's behavior, but there is uncertainty about its relevance to the trick. The discussion includes unresolved questions about the mechanics of the blood effect and the visibility of the flower's parts.

Raghav Gupta
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This magic trick was performed by Teller on Penn and Teller: Fool us.
In this trick the magician is basically cutting a flower by doing movements on a shadow.
I don't see here sleight of hand or any threads attached. The screen may be recorded but how the real flower or artificial is being cut?
Anybody has some logic for this?
 
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Consider... the flower is plastic and hollow.
 
The flower may be real to me! But it has been *deflowered* before it is introduced to the audience. ?:)
Everything seems to be done in a timely manner (The flower parts or joints where the cuts are done are made out of substances that are light-sensitive and so are probably cut by the light itself). He just needs to wait and watch when i.e a petal falls to make his slight cut move. Blood stain is implemented in the projector.
I like his long and sharp knife!
 
Silicon Waffle said:
The flower may be real to me! But it has been *deflowered* before it is introduced to the audience. ?:)
Everything seems to be done in a timely manner (The flower parts or joints where the cuts are done are made out of substances that are light-sensitive and so are probably cut by the light itself). He just needs to wait and watch when i.e a petal falls to make his slight cut move. Blood stain is implemented in the projector.
I like his long and sharp knife!
I was looking at photoperiodism,
but how is that leaf is falling first and then other parts? In photoperiodism parts not fall apart like that.
Also blood stain may be implemented by the projector but how the blood colour is appearing on screen.How in his hand red colour comes suddenly?
 
Raghav Gupta said:
I was looking at photoperiodism,
but how is that leaf is falling first and then other parts? In photoperiodism parts not fall apart like that.
Also blood stain may be implemented by the projector but how the blood colour is appearing on screen.How in his hand red colour comes suddenly?
I think it is done behind the white screen (see how his hand move closer to the screen, it is all set at that particular position where the stain begins to brush with his hand downward)
They won this law suit over a copycat version by a Belgium magician by the way.
 
Silicon Waffle said:
I think it is done behind the white screen (see how his hand move closer to the screen, it is all set at that particular position where the stain begins to brush with his hand downward)
They won this law suit over a copycat version by a Belgium magician by the way.
But blood is being seen from front.
How it can come from back into front?
Also what about photoperiodism?
 
The long shadow drip was projected, the red streak at the end comes from a small bladder of fake blood in his hand (palming small objects is a standard trick). The flower had to be broken b4 the trick, there are lots of ways to get the parts to fall off on cue. It may be that the shadow of the flower was back projected too... then the staging requires more timing.

It is not possible to tell, from the vid, if the flower is real or plastic: expensive plastic plants are that good.

There are a number of ways to do this trick... pick your favorite but usually the simplest approach is the one that got used.
 
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