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Paul Carnazzo: Altriotto Review

One book, nine effects, one set of props and $35 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect/Method

You get a range of effects that all fall under the category of close up mentalism. All of the methods are realistic and very doable. The themes range from dark (The Wannabe Serial Killer) to casual and fun (Uncrushed) and everything in between.

Read through the description of the effects in the ad copy to get a sense of the effects. Also, keep in mind that the material in this book is not "just more of the same" mentalism. This book explores unique presentations as well as some familiar presentations. The methods used range from "relatively common" to "lesser known." In every case, however, the methods are legitimate.

The first two effects, This Side Up, and Positively No Force will require a one time prep that will take ten or so minutes. But once the prep is done, just carry around the "thing" that you created in the above ten minutes and you can do the effect anytime, anywhere. Just to be clear, each of the two effects will require its own ten minute(ish) one time prep.

The third effect, Uncrushed requires a one time prep that takes just 2 or 3 seconds. Once you've done that, you can just carry it around with you. The type of water bottle used does change the gimmick that you'll need to create. However, all you need to know is what kind of water bottle people you hang out with drink. Then you can make a gimmick for the next time you hang out.

For a darker themed effect, The Wannabe Serial Killer is a story of an OCD serial killer that ends with a prediction of your victim's (spectator) decisions about which murder weapons are in use. The outcome "saves the spectator's life." Included with the book are the props (photographs of the weapons) needed for the effect. He also briefly covers how to age the photos further if you'd like. The method is smart and simple. He gives you two different methods. One uses the "Free Will" principle. However, if you're not familiar with that, you can use the alternate method that I think is better and cleaner. Either way, the method is very good and deceptive.

There are more effects, but let me just sum it up by saying that much of Paul's work in this book relies on clever methods and clever scripting. The scripting is very powerful and really adds to the illusion of the effect.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy is very accurate. Read the effects and see how clean they seem and/or sound. They really are that clean.

Product Quality

The book and the photos are both well made. The instructions are very clear, and it's easy to learn and do everything in the book based on Paul's write ups. The photos are printed in a sepia-looking style on thin card stock. They have the right blend of old/creepy to add a level of depth to the effect. There are quite a few typos, but nothing that will prevent you from understanding the information.

There was one weird thing on page 47. Here's what it says: "The nice thing here is that you are actually revealing a lot of information about the participant's item before you even touch the paper. For example, the following line:"

That's where it ends. There is no "following line" after that. So I'm not sure what was meant there. Yet, even this mistake did not detract from the ability to learn the effect. It was just a weird misprint or something.

Final Thoughts

If you're not familiar with his work and/or his way of thinking, these effects/methods will give you a good sense of who he is. But, beyond that, you will get a nice collection of close up mentalism that relies on minimal props, clever methods, elegant scripting and engaging story lines.

It's easy to look past the few minor production flaws (i.e., the typos) and see the beauty of what you receive here: An Eclectic Collection of Mental Effects from Paul Carnazzo.

Final Verdict:
4.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.