Beckwith, Tobias: Beyond Deception ©2007 Tobias Beckwith, Triple Muse Publications, CA Hardcover, w/dj, 123 pages ISBN: 9780977984398

Image courtesy eBay seller HollywoodMagicShop

Comments: Illustrated by Kiva Singh. Presents many different ways of creating original and powerful magic performances.

Contents (from book ToC):

 v Foreword (Bob Fitch)
1 Introduction

5 Chapter I: You Are a Creator
5 Believe It!
5 Creating Your World as You Go
7 Assume the Role
8 Create your Master Mind Team
8 The Flesh & Blood Team
8 The Imaginary Team

11 Chapter 2: Systems for Creativity
11 Genrich Altshuller - TRIZ
11 A Three Stage System
12 Analytical
12 Operative
13 Synthetic
13 Edward de Bono's System

17 Chapter 3: Magic Theatre - Basic Principles
17 Making Choices
19 Choices to be Made
19 Story
19 Character
19 Props
20 Setting
21 Theme
21 Rhythm
22 Tone & Mood
22 Style
23 Making Bigger Choices

25 Chapter 4: Tools for Exploration
25 Stock Your Creative Files
26 Collect!
26 Stories
27 Characters
27 Settings
28 Jokes
28 Music
29 Organize
30 Remember
30 Journal Keeping

33 Chapter 5: Exercises in the Mind
33 Find a Purpose
33 Action
34 Dramatic Structure
36 Weaving Exposition In
37 Conflict for Excitement
39 Research your Passions
40 Exercises in Passion
40 The "Why" String
41 Making it Physical
44 Jeff McBride’s “Passion Piece” Exercise
58 Exercises of the Mind / Conclusion
58 Good in the World
59 External
59 What Response Do You Want?
60 Internal

61 Chapter Six: Exercises - Letting the Body Think
61 Theatre Games for Magicians
62 Be a Character
63 Mirroring
65 The Reverse Mirror Effect
65 Centering
66 Shifting The Center
71 Accents
72 Motivations
79 Internal Rhythms
81 Moods & Qualities
82 Reactions
83 Put On The Mask
85 Arbitrary Physical Experimentation
85 Witnessing Meditation
86 Slow, Fast, Loud, Soft...
86 Do It Slow
87 Do It Fast
87 Shout It
88 Whisper It
89 Sing It Like Opera
91 Do It Without Language
92 Do It Without Movement
93 Use Different Kinds Of Music

95 Chapter Seven: More Mind-Body Experimentation
95 Do The Opposite
95 Give Your Props Character
96 Change The Scale
96 Explore The Core

99 Chapter Eight: Case Studies
99 Case Study 1 - The Spirit Scarf
103 Case Study 2 - Shot Glass Surprise (Eugene Burger)
107 Case Study 3 - Jeff McBride’s Rainmaker
110 Case Study 4 - The Sawing
114 Case Study 5 - New Takes on a Classic - The Ambitious Card

119 Conclusion
120 Appendix - Resources
122 About the Author
123 About the Illustrator