Magic Consulting for TV and Film
Ghostly Effects for Meet The Richardsons
Season 4, Episode 9 of Meet The Richardsons required some Spooky Magical Effects. Jon and Lucy were making a Halloween special so were spending the night at one of Britain's most haunted houses. They needed a TV magic consultant to create magical effects to get the cast members screaming, including books flying off of shelves, candles lighting by themselves, pictures falling off of walls, champagne bottles popping, paper bursting into flames plus lots of other ghostly effects.
After a couple of days of prep making props, and a few hours setting up on the shoot day, this was the result:
TV Magic Consultant on Meet the Richardsons
Martyn has created magic effects, plots and props that have been used in TV shows and in feature films in the UK and abroad.
CREDITS INCLUDE:
TV
Meet The Richardson’s
Scare/Illusion Consultant
Prank Kings (Pilot)
Magic Consultant
Don’t Scream - BBC3
Scare/Illusion Consultant
Trick Heads - Comedy Central
Magic Producer
Wedding Day Winners - BBC
Magic Consultant & Writer
Richard Jones Operation Magic ITV
Magic Producer & Writer
Britain's Got Talent - ITV1
Magic Consultant Live Show
The Royal Variety Performance - ITV1
Magic Producer & Writer
Tricked Series 1 - ITV2 (7 Eps)
Magic Producer & Writer
Tricked Series 2 - ITV2 (7 Eps)
Magic Producer & Writer
Tricked Series 3 - ITV2 (7Eps)
Magic Producer & Writer
Tricked Halloween Special - ITV2
Magic Producer & Writer
Trick Fabrik Austria Series 1 - ORF (13 Eps)
Magic Consultant
Trick Fabrik Austria Series 2 - ORF (13 Eps)
Magic Consultant
Prank King - ZigZag
Magic Consultant
FILMS
Oliver Twist (Film dir. Roman Polanski)
Magic Consultant
The Illusionist (Film dir. Neil Burger)
Magic Consultant
ADVERTS
Persil Advert
Magic Consultant
Umbro Advert
Magic Consultant
Ekko Credit Card Advert
Magic Consultant
‘The Nevers’ Advert
Magic Consultant
CREATING MAGIC FOR ITV2's Tricked
Working for ITV Studios, Martyn was Co-Writer and Magic Producer on all three series of the hit ITV2 show Tricked.
A hidden camera magic-based prank show that targets celebrities and members of the public when they least expect it. The first series aired in October 2013 and attracted 30% more viewers than the time slot average. The most popular episode featuring Helen Flanagan getting spooked by a ghost was watched by 1.2million people.
The stunt below involving the Boy Band 'Blue' and a caravan created an enormous amount of discussion on the internet and in the press...
This series went on to win Best Entertainment Series in the Broadcast Digital Awards in 2014, beating competition from 'Release the Hounds', 'Made in Chelsea' and Channel 4 magic show 'Troy'.
Series 2 and 3 followed and gave ITV2 its highest rating Tuesday night since 2008.
A spectacular illusion where a speeding car vanished in a puff of smoke bewildered viewers. It also led TOWIE's Joey Essex to believe that the show's star, Ben Hanlin, had been back in time, and brought Michael Jackson back to meet him.
Writing for Britain's Got Talent Winner, LC Richard Jones
Martyn worked with Lance Corporal Richard Jones on 3 projects recently. His guest spot on the finals of this year's Britains Got Talent Finals, his Royal Variety Performance, and his TV Special on ITV1.
Britain's Got Talent Finals 2017 - Guest Spot
As last year's winner, Richard was asked to perform during the live finals of this year's competition. Martyn worked closely with Richard to create an amazing piece of magic that had the whole studio audience involved. He really stunned the judges and the millions of viewers watching live with his amazing performance. Watch it below:
Royal Variety Performance 2016
Martyn was asked to work with Richard to co-write his act for the Royal Variety Show. Following on from his winning performance in the finals of the show, Richard told another story close to his heart, and also asked HRH Prince Charles to help out with a trick! The performance received a standing ovation, and you can watch it below.
Operation Magic - ITV1
Working for ZigZag Productions, Martyn was Co-Writer and Magic Producer for Richard's 1 hour TV Special Richard Jones: Operation Magic. This show allowed him to give back to his army colleagues by performing morale-boosting military magic for the troops. He entertained and amazed everyone from new recruits to decorated veterans.
Austrian Magic for TrickFabrik
Popular Austrian Author and TV Presenter Thomas Brezina created a format for an exciting Childrens' Magic Show for ORF, and Martyn was delighted to be asked to be a Magic Consultant.
The first series required magic tricks and illusions for 13 episodes – so nearly 100 close up magic effects and stage illusions with a modern twist were created. The show contained a mixture of live studio-based magic combined with big illusions on location.
Illusions created included making a Fire Engine appear, and making the Vienna Donauturm (Vienna's tallest builing) vanish! The show also taught the viewers simple tricks, and encouraged thousands of children to try magic as a hobby. Series 2 was quickly commissioned. Martyn was once again asked to advise and an additional 100 magic effects were written and produced.
The show won a prestigious Intermedia-Globe Silver Award at The WorldMediaFestival.
Magic for Feature Films
Oliver Twist (dir. Roman Polanski)
In Roman Polanski's version of Oliver Twist, several magic and pickpocketing sequences were required. Martyn was called upon as a Magic Consultant.
The trailer for the film contains three Pickpocketing scenes created and choreographed by Martyn
Whist working on the film in Prague, Martyn was also asked to entertain at Polanski's birthday party!
The Illusionist (dir. Neil Burger)
Martyn worked on the magic sequences in the film 'The Illusionist'. Many effects were created for the film, a highlight being an orange that seems to fall in slow motion.
Although it looks like CGI, it's a live magic trick that is performed by Edward Norton.
The stills above showing Martyn performing the trick are taken from the proof of concept video that was sent to the Director.