Isn't Derren's point that the whole seance thing is bollocks? I'm pretty sure it's been done to prove how easy it is to dupe people. The fact that the alleged 'dead woman' was brought out from the truck at the end showed that (she'll have been an actor then).
The really clever thing he's managed to do is not only to attract the usual viewing audience of cranks and freak-show watchers to this show, but also the sceptics who, because they know Derren thinks it's crap, were watching to see him prove it.
It is simple psychology, but isn't that what he's meant to be about?
Derren Brown's whole thing is based upon the power of suggestion. I think he's wonderful with it. It's a very very simple skill but he does it very effectively.
I think his point is obvious and well made. He refered to the Victorian Seance's a few times and how they were duped. I think there will be a great many people who've been duped in a similar way.
I was doing this until I heard a huge smash outside my house about 45 minutes ago. I've just been standing outside in the road wearing nothing but my dressing gown moppin up blood. Turns out this kid was doing 60 down a 30. There were two female passengers in the car with him. His vehicle spun around and smashed into my neighbours fence. The car has definately been written off. Glass, trees and debry everywhere, part of the cause for people being very badly cut. It also was a surprise to realise that my Mum teaches them. The last ambulance has just gone and I'm sure they will be alright.
It was clear from the start this was fake but it was still very enjoyable. One thing that confuses me though. The girl acting as the 'medium' mentioned Jane's dad being a builder and that she looked after her ill grandmother. This same information then appeared in the letter that was read out. Was she part of the scam too?
I thought this programme was really, really good.
Derren managed to 'fool' those students into auto-suggestion just from looking at a picture. The one thnig I'd like to know is why/how that ball appeared to float in mid air if it was just in their mind...
I did that glass/letters thingy and all I got was a noise up my chimney!
It's not hypnotism you fool, it's psychological illusion. As has been said. The power of unconscious suggestion.
Anybody who thinks it was a real séance, hypnotism or magic should be shot. Especially when Derren Brown explains the illusions he performs when he does them.
It's not a case of "buying" it (James Martin), it's a case of how well Derren Brown performs the illusion. And to be honest, I thought tonight's performance was slightly too obvious. But that doesn't take away from the fact that he is an excellent illusionist.
Isn't Derren's point that the whole seance thing is ****? I'm pretty sure it's been done to prove how easy it is to dupe people. The fact that the alleged 'dead woman' was brought out from the truck at the end showed that (she'll have been an actor then).
I can't believe the forum managed to contribute a whole page worth of postings before someone pointed this out. Although I missed the very start, apparently it was made clear that the whole thing was a psychological illusion (after all, he is a psychological illusionist!) and NOT a seance.
Still I thought it was well done and I have to admit I did find the odd bit of it creepy, even though I don't believe in all that nonsesnse.
Although p_c_u_k makes an interesting point, the possibility of the whole thing being a total setup did cross my mind. But with all those people involved how would they keep it quiet?
It was definately hypnotism. It's the way Derren always does it - he shows someone a picture, tells them something random and what he tells them gives them clues.
i.e. for the fact that her dad was a builder, he could have said "I want you to *build* me an image of this person". It's just a less obvious form of hypnotism combined with Derren scaring the crap out of them so that they will believe anything they're told. Still not sure about the ball though.
Oh, and another point. No way was the show live!!! Just like Russian Roulette it was obvious that it had been pre-recorded and edited together. And I seriously doubt the phone calls from viewers were genuine either.
