Daniel Madison’s ‘Hunger’ ends with hospitalization
December 1, 2008
What was intended to last until Feb. 3, 2009, has ended after 44 days.
Illusionist Daniel Madison, who is one of the featured artists in Xtreme Beginnerz 2, began a fast on Oct. 3 designed to challenge his mind. According to a post on his Web site, his mind was up to the task. However, his body did not cooperate: On Nov. 11, after collapsing for the fifth time in seven days, he decided to end his dangerous experiment.
The irony is how invincible he felt in the first few days of the stunt. He wrote that after two weeks, he started to feel invincible, and cut down on the little food he was allowing himself to about 2,000 calories a week — about a seventh of the recommended daily amount.
“Although my mind was strong, I would soon discover that this was nothing more than a side-effect of what was happening to my body… My mind had the strength that my body needed; an overcompensation for what my body was lacking.”
The low point came on Oct. 28, where in a bout of self-doubt he questioned the purpose for the stunt and destroyed his diary and video records — explaining why there is only one record, from Day 44, on his site:
“I became frustrated, depressed, weak and lost and saw myself from the outside through the eyes of my dark side; I saw a man so lost that he began to starve himself just to be found, I saw hate and emptiness and saw a part of me that had taken over. As a result, I deleted the Hunger diary and crushed the tapes filmed throughout the experiment and slid a pizza and chips into the oven. I sat in the kitchen waiting for the bell to ring, but by the time the 20 minutes had passed, I had already been lifted by that dark side of me; I saw that as a different person, but then realized it was me, telling myself to get up and keep going, not to be weak or lost, to achieve what I’d set out to do. I became my own enemy. The pizza and chips hit the bin and the hunger continued.”
Madison is rewriting the book and will release it on his Web site. He also said the time away from magic, though draining on his body, has nourished his creativity. We salute his attempt, even though it exacted disastrous results on his body.
Astrologer: Overcoming challenges in Blaine’s blood
October 20, 2008
For those who wonder why David Blaine got away from street magic and concentrated so much on stunts (never mind how that was completely disproven by “David Blaine: Dive of Death”), the answer is in the skies.
Astrologer Julie Rimmer, who blogs astrological at The Twelve Gates, read a chart for the Mysterious Stranger and found that he is deeply driven to overcome challenges. She even compared Blaine to Franz Reichelt, the unfortunately famous Austrian tailor. Maybe that should be the famously unfortunate tailor.
Mars trine Pluto in air can signify an ease in expressing his will-power through the mind. Also present in his chart is Uranus in Libra opposing Sun/Venus and Chiron. There is the Promethean spirit here, Mars in Aquarius can be brilliant but add Jupiter and the Promethean vision is expanded. When Uranian energy is strong in the chart there is of course the danger of being perceived the fool.
Rimmer has also done charts for Warren Buffet, Marilyn Monroe and Nick Adams. Based on her reading of Blaine’s stars, and if you believe in astrology, then the ridiculing of Blaine won’t stop, and the next stunt should be even more insane. We can’t wait.
Daniel Madison to starve self
October 12, 2008
Add British magician Daniel Madison in the list of magicians to test their physical and mental selves.
Madison, the magician and flourisher who appears in Xtreme Beginnerz 2, announced on his Web site that he would starve himself as part of a mental test, called “The Hunger.” The stunt, which he began on Oct. 3, is the first event in something he calls “The Madison Show.”
By doing the stunt, Madison is responding not to his stomach, but his mind. He explains:
I have one force of motivation; having survived a long run of insomnia I suffered delusions and nightmares that one day soon I will lose my mind; this induced my fascination with the human mind beyond any thought I have ever had. I once trained my memory to a near-photographic level, I have beat addictions, illnesses and endured fetes that I will not speak of with nothing more than mind control and it’s become my obsession to find out the limits of my mind before it is too late.
Madison mentions he’ll be using a “Bale diet” — likely a reference to British actor Christian Bale and the well-publicized weight loss he endured for his roles in the recent Batman movies and “The Machinist.” For the role of Trevor Reznik, Bale lost 63 pounds, to the shock of director Brad Anderson. Whatever exact diet he uses to starve himself, Madison isn’t talking details — only that extreme weight loss isn’t to be “advertised or glamourized.”
Throughout the duration of “The Hunger,” Madison will be under the supervision of his doctors and his wife, who happens to be a staff nurse.
Brad Christian responds to quote in Page Six story
October 8, 2008
Brad Christian, President and founder of Ellusionist.com, is featured in a newly-released podcast from Magic Newswire.
He speaks for 30 minutes about a recent misquote in a Page Six Magazine story, gives personal thoughts on David Blaine and the recent special, “David Blaine: Dive of Death”, and speaks about the beginnings of Ellusionist and magic on the Internet.
The podcast is featured here:
Earlier this week, Page Six published the report about David Blaine and his feelings about the flubbed ending. Reporter Rachel Syme talked to Blaine, some fans and members of the magic community and wrote a story that Jonathan Bayme, CEO of Theory 11, told iTricks “was not a fair assessment at all.”
Christian was quoted in the story as saying Blaine was considered “a bit of a joke” among certain groups of magicians. His quote was used to suggest the magic industry feels betrayed by Blaine and his attention to stunts instead of magic. However, he told Justin Robert Young, of iTricks, earlier this week that he was taken completely out of context.
Today, Christian spoke at length with Magic Newswire about the story behind the story of the story. He also talks about the history of Ellusionist and more about David Blaine’s career.
Magic’s most dangerous tricks
September 29, 2008
The sword cabinet. The straitjacket escape. The trick with the spike under the cups. The roller coaster escape.
While you’re waiting for BentTouchSlink, think about this: What’s the most dangerous magic trick of all?
The good people at Listverse.com have their top 10, and published them over the weekend, along with a lot of videos that feature David Copperfield, Harry Houdini, Criss Angel, Penn & Teller, Lance Burton and David Blaine, among others. Agree, disagree? Discuss.
Blaine: Finale didn’t go as planned
September 25, 2008
Photo courtesy the Associated Press
The controversial, anticlimactic finale to “David Blaine: Dive of Death” was not supposed to be that way, said Blaine.
Magic Newswire posted an audio link of Blaine talking about the stunt this morning. According to the interview, Blaine was to jump and descend about five feet, then balloons were supposed to whisk him away after everything went dark. But President Bush’s address to the nation pushed the time schedule back, then winds picked up, complicating the stunt.
Blaine also addressed the controversy over his potty breaks on “Live with Regis and Kelly.” Said Blaine: “I think there was some confusion about why I was taking breaks. There’s no way to relieve yourself without putting everyone below you at risk.”
Here’s his appearance this morning on “Live with Regis and Kelly.” It’s not the best video quality or the complete interview; his interview starts around 5:18:
Blaine attracts turnout, heckling puppet
September 24, 2008
Kevin Reylek, of the New York Magic Project, has posted an updated timeline of day three of Blaine’s “Dive of Death.” The hours covered in the timeline are from 1 to 6:30 a.m. EST. According to his report, the stunt has attracted a crowd, including many magicians and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. We’re pretty sure there is no way the dog can get enough altitude for Blaine to be something to poop on.
Other events include rigging Blaine into an L shape so he can catch a little bit of sleep and the construction of a pool-type setup underneath him.
Presidential speech to delay beginning of special
September 24, 2008
“David Blaine: Dive of Death” will be delayed by about 15 minutes to make room for a presidential address.
President Bush will address the nation tonight at 9 p.m. EST on the United States’ major news channels. He will speak about the nation’s recent economic woes and a recently-proposed $700 billion bailout for several of the nation’s finanacial institutions. It is his first nationwide address in more than a year, and is expected to be his last, according to the Associated Press.
“Dive of Death,” which was scheduled to air at the same time, will be delayed by 15 minutes, reports The Magic Newswire. While you’re there, check out the site’s final interview with Blaine, where he addresses recent allegations of cheating and how he’s holding up.
On the lighter side…
September 24, 2008
Photo illustration courtesy News Biscuit
Not everyone is taking David Blaine seriously. In one of the better fake news stories about Blaine, News Biscuit has the scoop on David Blaine’s latest stunt: Spending 45 years of his life in an office job. From the “story:”
‘I will go to new parts of my mind,’ he said, ‘I will wake up at six thirty every morning and travel to an office. The building will be sealed and air will be re-circulated using machines. I will be allowed to eat, but often it will be over-priced sandwiches at my desk. After work, I will go home and repeat the exercise the next day.’
Brad Blanks conducted an interview with Blaine on Monday. As you can see below, Blanks asks the important, relevant questions.
Less than four hours until “Dive of Death” starts… check back here throughout the show for more information.
Less than 10 hours before finale
September 24, 2008
Photo courtesy New York Magic Project
While others are underwhelmed, several on the scene know exactly how difficult Blaine’s 60-hour sojourn is. Stunt organizers have set up an area where others can be hung just like Blaine. Kevin Reylek, of the New York Magic Project, hung upside down for about 60 seconds:
I can tell you, after having spent only 1 minute upside-down myself, I have immense respect for what David is accomplishing. It hardly seems possible that a human body could endure such a thing…I can personally attest that after having myself been hung upside down and having watched David for hours, that his display of stamina and perseverance flies in the face of even the toughest critics. It seems to me that some people are pulling at straws to find something “wrong” with this stunt. Trust me, David is the real deal.
Reylek has posted a timeline of the second day; videos are on the way.
According to news reports, Blaine is “suffering but surviving” the stunt. He is on track to complete the stunt at about 10:45 EST tonight during “David Blaine: Dive of Death” on ABC.
As the event draws nearer, what do you think the finale will be? Discuss it here in the Ellusionist forums. And Ellusionist also has a repository of Blaine information here.
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