Brian Ochab specializes in close-up magic. His rapid fire blend of cartoon voices, impressions and magic won him the first place championship and the People's Choice Award at the International Brotherhood of Magicians Gold Cups Competition. He is the first and only magician in history to have won The People's Choice Award in close-up magic from both the IBM and SAM and is also a gold medalist at the Magic Castle Strolling Olympics.
Wayne Kawamoto: Please tell me about your directorial work and the resulting Emmy nomination.
Brian Ochab: I guess I was around eight or nine when I became fascinated with movies and television. I started like most guys with my dad's super 8 camera. I grew up in Warren Michigan, not LA, so my resources were somewhat limited, but I still had fun.
Star Wars had a profound experience for me. I started to make little films with science fiction and fantasy themes. Eventually, I met renowned stop-motion animator Larry Larson who became a mentor and dear friend, and I instantly found myself working the world of stop motion animation and special effects. We worked on a multitude of commercials, industrials and feature films including Sam Raimi's “The Evil Dead II.”
I moved into directing by way of local commercials. That led to a music video for the underground hit “Just Jammin” by a Detroit based rap group, the 24 Karat Krew. After that, I co-wrote and directed a 30 minute short film which was an official entry for the Academy Awards Short Film Category.
This past year Rick Sadlowski, a close friend mine who used to help me with my "little movies," called me about this new children's show he was working on. It's called MY “BEDBUGS” and was being produced back in Michigan. It has the spirit of the Sid & Marty Krofft productions of the 70's and they were looking for a director who could take the show, especially the visual and fantasy elements and run with it.
I flew back Michigan to check it out, they made me an offer and I inked a deal to direct and associate produce the first season. I directed a total of 17 episodes. The show was nominated for seven Emmy's which included one for me for directing. It is currently airing on PBS in the Midwest.
WK: How has your magic background contributed to your success as a director?
Brian Ochab: It was actually my writing/directing experience which led to my success in magic. I moved from the Midwest to LA with directing experience but few connections. While I was making the rounds I took a quick job as an extra on the set of a movie. I ran into Charlie Spector, an actor and a great magician. He showed me some card magic that really blew my mind.
My interest level grew quickly and before I knew it I was performing and competing. I know the things that I enjoy and have a sense of what an audience responds to. I also wanted a competition act which was vastly different than anything out there. It was a risk but it paid off.
I approached magic specifically from a directing and writing point of view, paying special attention to story and character development. This is an area where I think many magicians are most challenged. A magic trick is really nothing more than a visual effect. It's just like learning stop-motion animation or CGI...cool stuff but by itself is really only eye candy. When you begin to use it to weave a story, build suspense and create a mood for the audience, you've elevated it to a magical experience and can take the audience on a great ride.
The "art" is combining the technical and creative with something that has entertainment and commercial value; something that moves the audience in some way. It's disruptive and taxing on an audience to watch a movie or a magic act when the creator is basically saying "hey watch this cool camera move" or "see what I can do with your signed card."
Rule Number One: Care about your audience and...don't bore them.
