Magic & Illusion: Please explain your “Moving Wall Technology.”
Don Drake: When people hear the term black art, they think of Omar Pasha, who has a very good black art act. But I use the method in a covert fashion that doesn't look like black art. And my new Moving Wall Technology (MWT) can be used for any illusion you'd care to do.
Three black art curtains are arranged in the following manner: an 8' x 10' center curtain is suspended along the back of the stage and two 8' x 6' “wing” curtains are attached to the back curtain and sit at 45 degree angles. There’s also a matching black art floor. Because of the black art material, all the audience sees is a long black rectangle, which they will assume is a backdrop.
Against and camouflaged by the center curtain is a second curtain that is on wheels and may be moved downstage, towards the audience, about 4 feet. The movement of the center curtain creates a black art passageway that allows people or props to be brought in or taken out of an illusion. I use a special material called Triple Velvet that has to be built and sewn along precise lines. I can sew it because I've had 50 years of experience in black art.
M&I: How would an illusionist use MWT?
DD: Let's say you want to do a teleportation from box A to box B on a stage. When the moving curtain is back against the center curtain you can invite audience members to come up on stage and examine the boxes. When they return to their seats, the center curtain is secretly pushed forward against the inner corner of the two boxes. The adjustment of the center moving curtain is absolutely invisible to the audience. If a girl is in box A, she can simply walk behind the moving curtain to box B and make her appearance.
Now you can pull the moving curtain back into it's original camouflaged position and re-invite audience members to look at the props again. Since all they saw there was empty space behind the boxes before and after, it will look like real magic.
I think that I'm advancing the art when I give you something that will eliminate ugly and suspicious bases, give assistants a good place to hide without being cooped up or cramped, sets up in a hurry, strikes easily and is easy to transport.
The price of the illusion stage complete with custom frames is $4,200.00. The slightly smaller 8' X 8' curtain is $3,600.00 and the bigger 8' X 12' curtain is $5,000.00.
For more information, visit Drake’s web site at: http://blackartsecrets.com. Drake’s Moving Wall Technology is Pat. Pending.
