"Attack of the Copper Silver Coin" DVD by Cameron Francis and David Forrest
Suggested Retail USD$30.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

"Attack of the Copper Silver Coin", a new DVD from Cameron Francis and Dave Forrest, is a collection of routines using the titled gaff that will have you digging through the sock drawer before you can say "sun and moon". Commercial, entertaining, and workable, this is some great stuff.

Not a big surprise, really. I knew going into this one I was going to like it. First, it's by Francis and Forrest, two performers and creators whose work I really like and, at times, flat-out envy. When these guys are good, they are superb. Second, it uses a gaff that I dearly love (you won't find mine in the sock drawer anytime soon -- i generally carry it with me everywhere I go). So, you put those two factors together and "Attack of the Copper Silver Coin" is something I knew I was going to love as soon as I saw it.

And I do.

"Attack of the Copper Silver Coin" contains ten routines, all centered around the copper/silver coin (otherwise I imagine the title would be a bit different). The ten routines vary in plot nicely -- there's something for everyone here -- and delve into some of the things possible with a gaff as versatile and it is venerable.

The routines are described pretty well in the ad copy, so I'll just hit the high notes.

"Where Eagles Dare" is a signed-coin-to-pocket routine which could pretty easily be turned into a "coin-to-impossible-location" plot. A silver coin with a sticker on it is signed and then placed between two copper coins where it's visible right up until the time it isn't -- it's gone that quickly. The hand is shown empty, put into the pocket, and pulls out the signed coin. Think about it, work out a kink or two that may come up, and that signed coined to come from a lot of different places (even just a nest of boxes, for heaven's sake). This really is some excellent thinking.

"Double Transit" is a nice bit of weirdness. In this one, a signed coin and a signed card trade places with an unsigned card and an unsigned coin. The visuals here are quite good, but it's the plot here that is so slick. This is one that's going to get a work-out in the real world.

"Simple Alchemy" is a coin transformation that is very visual and striking. In this one, three copper coins are shown. In a blink, all three change to silver coins. One at a time, they change back to copper coins and then, again in a blink, change back to silver. This is a great piece of quick and startling coin magic.

"Metal Sink" is almost an act unto itself and my ultimate favorite on the disc. In this one, two cards are chosen and lost in the deck. A silver coin is shown, vanishes, and reappears in the deck, above one of the chosen cards. The coin and card are set aside so that the card is covering the coin. A copper coin is shown and vanishes but doesn't appear in the deck. The first selected card is lifted, showing the silver coin gone and the copper coin in its place. The card is turned over and it's seen to be the second selection. The card case is turned over and, under the cellophane, is the first selected card and the silver coin. This is one powerfully crafted piece of work.

As I said, those are my own favorites, but the quality of the routines on the disc will make finding your own personal favorites as easy as deciding if the theme matches your style.

Really, there are no other considerations here. The routines are all top-flight stuff and extremely practical. True enough, they all use a gaff, but other issues -- angles, set-ups, resets, and the like -- are all miniscule if they exist at all. About the only concern is using the gaff, and Francis and Forrest have put the routines together so that rarely is the heat on the gaff and, when it is, it's fairly easily dispelled.

Just some things to think about with this one. The copper/silver coin can really be pretty much any flavor you'd like to use, from the traditional US half/English penny to the penny/dime to the European and British variants out there. I have a fondness for the US dollar/quarter, but that's just me. Regardless, the routines don't depend on any specific make or model; go with what you feel comfortable with and can get your hands on.

The workings themselves are fairly basic, though you'll need to have some basic coin skills. Nothing too major is required -- we're talking your basic false-transfers, palming, switching and the like -- but you'll need to be able to handle them to work the routines. For the most part, the gaff does all the work for you, leaving you with just the fundamentals to bring to the table.

Lastly, and uncharacteristically, the disc is not as good as other release by Francis and Forrest. The production values are lower and the instructions seemed rushed at times. This is probably because this was originally offered as an online download and was transferred to disc. It's a bit disappointing, but in the end doesn't reflect that badly on the material or the thinking behind it.

At the end of the day, "Attack of the Copper Silver Coin" is a great collection of material that is slick enough, entertaining enough, and practical enough, to make it into many an act. It'll have you digging through that sock drawer before you know it.

"Attack of the Copper Silver Coin" DVD by Cameron Francis and David Forrest
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

Material: 10
These are simply stellar routines. All ten of them are worth seeing, if not learning and using on a regular basis. Some are familiar, in plot if not in method, but they have been turned just enough to make them unique and at times powerful routines.

Practicality: 9
All the routines use a gaffed coin, hence the title, but that's the only drawback here. Other concerns -- reset, set-up, angles, and so forth -- are either minor or don't exist at all. All in all, these are some great, perfectly practical routines.

Quality of Production: 8
The production needs some help. The video is blanched in places, navigation is iffy on older players, the sound is a bit spotty... but none of it is too detrimental to learning the material.

Quality of Instruction: 8
Francis and Forrest do a great job of teaching the routines, though at times the explanations seem rushed and are bare-bones compared to other offerings from the pair.

Presentation: 7
Most of the time, the presentation is strictly narrative and the visuals are fairly standard. However, when the material really shines, it's powerful stuff. All in all, this is way above average work with way above average appeal.


Shane

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