"CTW" DVD by David Forrest
Suggested Retail USD$30.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

"CTW", David Forrest's take on the "card through window" plot, is a gorgeous, workable version that is mind-blowing in appearance and one of the best takes on the neo-classic.

Of course, I'm a bit biased; I've been doing "CTW" off and on since Forrest released the ebook a few years ago and it has never once failed to live up to its potential as a devastating piece of magic.

In Forrest's version, a card is selected, the corner torn off as a "receipt", and the card vanished. The card is then seen taped to a window by Duck tape (or the equivalent) and the corner matched to verify it is the chosen card. The performer then fans the deck, waves it over the card for only an instant and the card is now seen to be on the other side of the window.

For the purists, that extra phase might be a problem: if you want to slap a card on a window and push it through, well, "CTW" just isn't that. But for real world applications, this two-phase, "card to impossible location"/"card through window" combination is a power-packed thing of magical beauty.

Now for the details.

First, the gimmick is not something you can just slap together. It will take you about a half-hour to put together (Forrest includes the items least likely to be laying around your house, which is a huge plus). You'll need to print out some templates (included on the disc as PDFs) and put some of your craft skills to work. Luckily, this isn't really a nightmare to put together; it takes some labor, sure, but it's not so much that it turns you off the effect. Forrest does a fantastic job of teaching how to assemble the thing and that helps a lot. Further, you don't have to constantly remake the gimmick; I've used one for well over a year before it finally needed to be re-done, and that part wasn't the more complicated piece (Forrest echoes the same thing on the disc -- one part eventually "wears out" and that's the easiest part to replace).

Second, the handling of much of this is very much free-form. You have a lot of flexibility around things like the selection and the vanish. That's a plus; you can do whatever feels right for you or that you can throw together. Forrest gives a number of ideas for accomplishing both (as well as the penetration itself, which is a neat piece of thinking).

Third, you'll need access to both sides of the window you're dealing with. This should go without saying, but if it does I get letters. In the demonstrations, with Forrest doing this for spectators on the street, he uses car windows and house windows that are easy to get to. That's a necessity because you'll want the spectator to be able to compare that torn corner easily.

Well, that covers the effect pretty much. It's a great piece of work.

Now, a word about Forrest... this man can teach. "CTW" is a bit complicated, especially in assembly, and Forrest goes beyond the pale instructing the viewer on every single step of the process. When it comes to the working, once again he strives to get all the details he can into place. Owen Parker, who is becoming ubiquitous on Forrest's videos, is there to ask all the questions for us and the chemistry between the two is excellent. There's nothing forced here, no fake emotion to slow things down or leave a bitter taste in your mouth; these two guys are having fun bringing you this with all the quality they can muster. And they can muster a lot.

All in all, "CTW" is one great piece of magic. It looks great, is simple enough to do, and the quality of the video is refreshing. This is one I still do, after all this time, and that's saying something.

If you're at all interested in a "card through window" effect, "CTW" is one you should check out, and probably will be the one you end up doing.

"CTW" by David Forrest
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

Material: 10
The gimmick is brilliant, the routine a two-phased wonder, the set-up easy to do... this is a great idea perfectly presented.

Practicality: 10
Unlike some "card through window" works, this one is extremely practical: get the stuff in place and go for it. Of course re-set could be painful, but this ain't a routine you'll be trying to do while strolling; this is definitely a one-shot closer type of thing.

Quality of Production: 10
The production values here are perfect; Forrest paid a great deal of attention to the production and it shows.

Quality of Instruction: 10
The workings of this are simple; putting it together takes a bit. Forrest teaches both effortlessly. As a bonus, Parker is there to push the instruction even farther. This is a one-two punch that guarantees you'll be doing CTW without any trouble.

Presentation: 10
Where Forrest got the idea of making this a two-phased routine I have no idea but it's a great one. The visuals are excellent, the handling entertaining... Forrest worked on this presentation and it shows.

Shane

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