The magic is back on the small screen
November 12, 2005 | 12:00am
If viewers think the magics gone from local television, then they should think again. Erik Mana, the countrys most prolific magician today, is coming back to the small screen to bring all that magic back. Hes starring in a two-part TV special dubbed Mastermind: The Magik of Erik Mana, which airs its second part on Nov. 18 on ABS-CBN 2.
Not until Erik Mana came along, viewers had to content themselves with fictional TV shows, from Bewitched and Charmed to the occasional local TV sitcoms that were oftentimes unmemorable. But Manas back and ABS-CBNs got him.
Produced by EMC Productions, which Mana and his manager Solomon Cu both head, Mastermind will be their third TV project. Just two years ago, Mana hosted the successful magic series Naks, which aired on GMA 7 for an entire season. The following year, he starred in Stranger: The Magic of Erik Mana, a one-hour TV special that aired on Studio 23.
Mana said Mastermind will follow the format of Stranger. Again, hes playing the man on the streets, approaching strangers and surprising and delighting them with his unique magic tricks. The difference is Mastermind is going to be "darker" in tone. Its not going to be as light-hearted and bright this time around as Mastermind explores the mysterious and involves a bit of the supernatural.
"Its not just the usual card tricks this time," he said. "Theres going to be a Gothic feel to it. The focus will be on the occult, superstition and the supernatural. Well delve into ghost stories and theres going to be a special tribute to that Japanese horror classic, Ring. This segment promises to be scary as it will also involve a videotape. Thats about all I can say about it. Youll have to see the show to see whats in store!" said Mana coyly.
Mastermind will also feature hypnosis or mind control. Mana always has a deck of cards with him and he never fails to leave people bewildered with what he can do with the cards. As he did in the first special, hes going to amaze a lot of people as he goes around the streets of the city. As he stressed, hes bringing card tricks beyond the usual guessing game. He wont be playing the psychic in this show; instead, hes going to turn a number of "muggles" into expert psychics who can guess the suit of a closed card. How does he do this? The answer is simple: he controls your mind and turns you into the magician!
Mana recalls having done this to a woman he approached. Upon discovering that shes guessed all the cards right, she was so astonished she slapped the magician on the face! "Slapped in a very affectionate way," he stressed.
"Hypnosis is much more sophisticated now. Hypnosis can even cure cigarette addiction but for up to a certain time only. A number of chain smokers keep wanting to see me just to continue the hypnosis," he laughed.
Although the occult figures prominently in Mastermind, Mana assures the special doesnt involve black magic or witchcraft. "Thats much too dangerous," he explained. "Black magic is used to cause harm or curse people. Its the same with witchcraft. I would never try black magic and it will never be featured in any of my shows."
Manas success in TV may be attributed to his amiable personality. Hes only 33 years young and he looks approachable. He doesnt wear the flamboyant costumes of the magicians of yore and his presentation is free of gimmickry, campy emoting and visual effects. The result: Mana is a magician who looks human and real (and gorgeous to some, too!) which makes his magic simultaneously more realistic and wondrous.
His passion for magic started when he was just seven when he was growing up in Toronto, Canada. He idolized Doug Henning and David Copperfield and he decided to be a magician when he was about to finish high school. "I apprenticed with several established magicians. But with magic, they could only guide and give advice. Its really all up to the person to master the magic," he pointed out.
"If there had been a school for wizards, I would have signed up for it. If anyone opened up one now, Id still go and study!" said Mana, who admits to be a fan of the Harry Potter books.
He then headlined Torontos popular comedy bars, nightclubs, college campuses and corporate shows but he decided to base himself in Manila when he made homecoming in 2001. "There was a dearth of magicians and here I was, all too excited and happy to fill in that void," he said.
With Mastermind, the void in magic shows on TV has certainly been filled. And Manas not just about to perform his magic tricks, hes bent on turning the "muggles" among us into bona fide wizards.
Not until Erik Mana came along, viewers had to content themselves with fictional TV shows, from Bewitched and Charmed to the occasional local TV sitcoms that were oftentimes unmemorable. But Manas back and ABS-CBNs got him.
Produced by EMC Productions, which Mana and his manager Solomon Cu both head, Mastermind will be their third TV project. Just two years ago, Mana hosted the successful magic series Naks, which aired on GMA 7 for an entire season. The following year, he starred in Stranger: The Magic of Erik Mana, a one-hour TV special that aired on Studio 23.
Mana said Mastermind will follow the format of Stranger. Again, hes playing the man on the streets, approaching strangers and surprising and delighting them with his unique magic tricks. The difference is Mastermind is going to be "darker" in tone. Its not going to be as light-hearted and bright this time around as Mastermind explores the mysterious and involves a bit of the supernatural.
"Its not just the usual card tricks this time," he said. "Theres going to be a Gothic feel to it. The focus will be on the occult, superstition and the supernatural. Well delve into ghost stories and theres going to be a special tribute to that Japanese horror classic, Ring. This segment promises to be scary as it will also involve a videotape. Thats about all I can say about it. Youll have to see the show to see whats in store!" said Mana coyly.
Mastermind will also feature hypnosis or mind control. Mana always has a deck of cards with him and he never fails to leave people bewildered with what he can do with the cards. As he did in the first special, hes going to amaze a lot of people as he goes around the streets of the city. As he stressed, hes bringing card tricks beyond the usual guessing game. He wont be playing the psychic in this show; instead, hes going to turn a number of "muggles" into expert psychics who can guess the suit of a closed card. How does he do this? The answer is simple: he controls your mind and turns you into the magician!
Mana recalls having done this to a woman he approached. Upon discovering that shes guessed all the cards right, she was so astonished she slapped the magician on the face! "Slapped in a very affectionate way," he stressed.
"Hypnosis is much more sophisticated now. Hypnosis can even cure cigarette addiction but for up to a certain time only. A number of chain smokers keep wanting to see me just to continue the hypnosis," he laughed.
Although the occult figures prominently in Mastermind, Mana assures the special doesnt involve black magic or witchcraft. "Thats much too dangerous," he explained. "Black magic is used to cause harm or curse people. Its the same with witchcraft. I would never try black magic and it will never be featured in any of my shows."
Manas success in TV may be attributed to his amiable personality. Hes only 33 years young and he looks approachable. He doesnt wear the flamboyant costumes of the magicians of yore and his presentation is free of gimmickry, campy emoting and visual effects. The result: Mana is a magician who looks human and real (and gorgeous to some, too!) which makes his magic simultaneously more realistic and wondrous.
His passion for magic started when he was just seven when he was growing up in Toronto, Canada. He idolized Doug Henning and David Copperfield and he decided to be a magician when he was about to finish high school. "I apprenticed with several established magicians. But with magic, they could only guide and give advice. Its really all up to the person to master the magic," he pointed out.
"If there had been a school for wizards, I would have signed up for it. If anyone opened up one now, Id still go and study!" said Mana, who admits to be a fan of the Harry Potter books.
He then headlined Torontos popular comedy bars, nightclubs, college campuses and corporate shows but he decided to base himself in Manila when he made homecoming in 2001. "There was a dearth of magicians and here I was, all too excited and happy to fill in that void," he said.
With Mastermind, the void in magic shows on TV has certainly been filled. And Manas not just about to perform his magic tricks, hes bent on turning the "muggles" among us into bona fide wizards.
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