"Scripting Magic" book by Peter McCabe
Suggested Retail USD$39.95
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In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

"Scripting Magic", a book by Peter McCabe but with a host of contributors, is something every performer who scripts their magic, wants to script it, or even is thinking remotely about scripting, simply must have, must read, must digest, and must think about. More, if the your goal is to make your magic powerful and effective, then regardless of your scripting experience, this is one book you need more than you know.

Pretty much everybody reading this knows I'm biased: I am a big scriptwriter when it comes to my magic. I've told friends that, when I perform, if I scratch my chin or open my mouth that I'm doing it because my script calls for it and there's a reason for it... And I was only half joking when I said it. Scripting can solve so many performance problems, raise the level of so many effects, that I swear by it and always will.

I expected McCabe's "Scripting Magic" to be a bore for me, of course. After all, preaching to the choir is never energizing or exciting, let alone educational. And when you figure in all the classes and courses and workshops I took in scripting, direction, and drama in general over the past five-plus years, well, I also expected not to see a whole lot new here.

So I was wrong. Pleasantly, surprisingly, happily wrong. "Scripting Magic" contains some wonderful ideas for scripting magic effects, discusses those ideas (and gets a ton more) from some of the script-minded luminaries in our art, and, in the end, gives you all the tools you need to make your magic stronger and more effective.

I've got to say this, though, just to make sure we're all on the same page: McCabe takes it as his task to teach you scripting techniques and ideas; he does not take on the somewhat herculean task of convincing anyone of the need for scripting. As such, if you're not interested in the topic or you find it unnecessary or simply foolish, then move along because there's nothing for you to see here. Personally, I think that "moving along" is probably one of the biggest mistakes you'll make in your magical experience, but hey, different strokes, right?

Still here? Good. Now, for others who do at least try to script their effects, or are interested in how to do, or for those that have been scripting every effect they do, "Scripting Magic" is a must-have. If scripting never really entered your noggin, but the thought of making your magic more powerful, carry a bigger impact, and result in better performances then, again, "Scripting Magic" is a must-have.

Now I could go running off at the mouth about all the four-star contributors to McCabe's book, but I won't (go see the nearest dealer ad for that long, long list). I'm also not going to run said mouth about all the effects in the book because this is not a book of effects, though plenty are taught: it's a book about scripts and those effects are the examples McCabe uses to teach the ideas and techniques that are central to this book.

I'd rather run my mouth about those -- the ideas and techniques -- and as it turns out there's a lot there to talk about: over fifty essays, effects, and interviews all discussing the details of scripting effects. I don't think there's any major point of discussion that gets missed here, from outlining the tech tools of the trade that will help you put those scripts together to when to script (and when not to) to how to work a script with improvisation. This is about as comprehensive a book on scriptwriting magic as you could ask for.

"Scripting Magic" is also a darn fine read. It's a page-turner. It's a book hard to put down once you get started. It's one of those rare magic books that's fun to read again. McCabe, a professional scriptwriter, pulled out all the stops and made this an enjoyable book, cover to cover.

With all of that going for it, "Scripting Magic" is, in short, one fantastic book. The phrase "highly recommended" just begins to describe how I feel about this one.

"Scripting Magic" book by Peter McCabe
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

Material: 10
Over fifty essays, presentations, and interviews cover the work behind scripting magical effects and make this one a must-have for anyone into scripting their magic (or want to be) and anyone looking for ways to make their magic more powerful and entertaining. This is, in short, an excellent collection of thinking and ideas.

Quality: 10
McCabe outdoes himself here. Scripting can be a dry topic but not in McCabe's hands; this is a genuinely fun book to read, as entertaining as it is instructive.

Illustrations: n/a
There aren't any and, considering the topic, there aren't any really needed.

Presentation: n/a
This isn't a book of presentations; it's a book to help you create your own.



Shane

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