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Movie Trivia Cards by Craig Petty and Phil Smith

Created by: Craig Petty, Phil Smith

**Movie Trivia Cards (Focus)** is a revolutionary marked deck of cards designed by Craig Petty and Phil Smith, blending magic and mentalism with the universal appeal of movies. Unlike traditional playing cards, this deck leverages movie trivia to create instant connections with audiences. The basic effect involves revealing a spectator's chosen movie or predicting it in advance, but the deck's true power lies in its advanced capabilities. It can reveal additional details like the year of release, famous quotes, the speaker of those quotes, and even information not printed on the cards—such as box office numbers or the director's name. This 'God Tier' functionality makes it a versatile tool for both professional magicians and social performers. The deck is ideal for close-up or parlour magic, offering endless performance possibilities, from visual routines (like pulling Slimer from the *Ghostbusters* card) to intricate mentalism effects.

Key features

  • Marked deck with hidden information beyond standard movie trivia

  • Can reveal movie titles, release years, quotes, and even unprinted details like box office numbers

  • Designed for both beginners and advanced magicians

  • Blends magic and mentalism for powerful audience connections

  • Versatile for close-up, parlour, or social performances

Pros

  • Universal appeal—everyone has a favorite movie

  • Highly versatile with multiple layers of effects

  • Advanced techniques allow for unique revelations

  • Strong audience engagement and rapport-building

Cons

  • May require practice to master advanced techniques

  • Marked deck system might be intimidating for beginners

Effect

The Movie Trivia Cards trick, also known as Focus, allows a magician to instantly know a spectator's favorite movie, the year it was released, and even specific details like quotes, box office numbers, or the director's name—without any prior knowledge. The effect appears as if the magician has an uncanny ability to read minds or predict personal movie preferences, creating a strong connection with the audience.

Full Details

The Focus deck is a marked set of movie trivia cards designed by Craig Petty and Phil Smith. Unlike traditional playing cards, these cards feature well-known films, making them instantly relatable. The markings on the back allow the magician to identify the movie a spectator is thinking of, along with additional hidden details.

Key features include:

  • Revealing the movie title instantly.
  • Predicting the movie before the spectator says it.
  • Extracting quotes, release years, and even unprinted details like box office earnings.
  • Advanced techniques for deeper mentalism effects, such as revealing the director's name.

The deck also supports visual routines, such as pulling an image (like Slimer from Ghostbusters) from the card, enhancing the performance with theatrical elements.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick is ideal for:

  • Mentalists who want a fresh, engaging method for mind-reading effects.
  • Magicians looking for a marked deck with broader audience appeal than standard playing cards.
  • Performers who enjoy interactive, conversational magic that builds instant rapport.
  • Social entertainers who want to impress friends with a fun, movie-themed routine.

Difficulty Level

The basic effects are easy to perform, requiring only the ability to read the markings discreetly. More advanced techniques, such as revealing unprinted details or incorporating visual gimmicks, may require moderate practice. The deck is designed to be organic and natural in performance, minimizing complex sleight of hand.

What Magicians Say

Craig Petty and Phil Smith describe Focus as a groundbreaking marked deck, calling it "the Titanic of marked deck projects." They emphasize its versatility, stating:

  • "We've built the mother of all book tests into each card."
  • "You can reveal information that they can only find out if they Google the film."

MurphysMagicSupplies highlights the deck's universal appeal: "Not many people have a favorite playing card, but everybody has a favorite movie."

The ability to reveal unprinted details, like box office numbers, is praised as "the smartest thing I've ever heard." Performers also appreciate the visual potential, with one reviewer noting: "Imagine taking the Ghostbusters card and visually pulling Slimer from the card—that’s next-level magic."

Overall, Focus is seen as a powerful, engaging tool that blends mentalism, magic, and audience connection in a unique way.

What people are saying about Movie Trivia Cards

MurphysMagicSupplies says...

This is the Titanic of marked deck projects—we're only just hitting the tip of a giant iceberg. [...] You can reveal information that they can only find out if they Google the film they're thinking of.

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