Control by Ollie Mealing

Shot in Ellusionist's Toronto studio on the shores of Lake Ontario, 'Control' is Ollie Mealing's magnum opus of original card controls, used throughout his startling magic performances.

Powerful enough to stand on their own, these controls may be presented from something as simple as a color-change to a performance as complex as showcasing the magician's mastery of the cards in his hands.

In this video, Ollie Mealing presents 11 of his very best. This is Ollie Mealing: Control.

A highlight on the UK Festival circuit, Ollie Mealing had kept his genius relatively hidden from magicians until last year, where he began to release his Card Magic series on YouTube, playing with the mind of his spectator like a master-puppeteer in each mind-boggling video. When Daniel Madison brought Ollie to our attention in October of last year, we instantly sat up and took notice.

Before he was whisked away to work on Derren Brown's 'Infamous' tour, we brought Ollie across the pond to teach us 11 original controls - fluid, imperceptible movements that demonstrate his complete and utter command over the order, placement and position of any card he chooses.

Ollie is as in tune with the considered movement of an individual card as a concert pianist is with each key he touches. In this video he teaches the movements, subtleties and handlings to be as adept at each control as it is possible to be.

Controls

Chasm: A Card is peeked in the middle of the pack and the deck squared. With a quick fan, the selected card is now positioned at the bottom of the pack.

Bionic:The deck is spread and a card down-jogged. The deck is closed and it's only at the last minute that the jogged-card is pushed flush. The top card can immediately be shown to be the selection.

Behind Bars: A card is selected from the pack and the deck fanned to allow reinsertion. The deck is cleanly squared, and the selection is now ready to be bottom-palmed off for later use.

Reload: The cards are dribbled into the hand and a selection fairly chosen. The dribble is completed on top of the selection, the deck spread lengthways, and re-squared. Where an instant before it was in the middle of the spread, the chosen card has somehow made it's way to the bottom of the pack.

Daredevil: The cards are riffled off the fingers until the spectator indicates a choice. The spectator is shown the selection one last time before the deck is squared. Once again, it's moved its way to the bottom of the deck.

Compass: A selection and control wrapped up in a tumbling flourish. A chosen card is shown fairly in the spread and inserted into the centre of a fan. With the lose of the fan, the card is now on the bottom of the deck.

Regurgitate: A must for any ACR where a table is close by. The deck is spread showing the selection in the middle of the pack before the spread is closed. The card's just done what every good ambitious card should do.

Tumble :A packet flipping control that's simple, direct and utterly impossible. The selection is fairly shown in the middle of the deck, but is back on top when the cut is completed. You'll fool even yourself with this one.

Suspension: A tabled cut shows a card in the middle of the deck. The card is riffled shuffled into the pack, remaining out-jogged until the two packets are squared. The deck can be instantly flipped to show the card has moved to the bottom of the deck.

Time Will Tell: We're going to have to find a way to work this into every trick we do. The deck is cut, leaving one card balanced on the thumb. The card pirouettes as the other half of the deck is spread on the table. The spread is completed with the chosen card in the middle. On squaring the pack, the spun card has shifted to the bottom of the deck.

Poison: As clean as any control can be. Poison is like a spread pass without the need for a pass. The deck is spread, a card shown, and the spread closed. The chosen card is now on top of the deck. This move will have spectators looking for the duplicate still in the middle of the pack.

Bonus: Synchronicity: An amazing four ace control that… Wait - it's a bonus. You'll find out when you see it.

Available in DVD, Download or as a Bundle of Both - add Control to your cart today.