The link between a magician’s performance and filmmaking is obvious once you point it out. Both require precise timing, control of the audience’s attention and performance under pressure. On a more poetic level, both aim to create astonishment and hope. This is what Ali Cook seeks to do with his storytelling. The magician‑turned‑filmmaker has won countless awards with his short films. His latest, The Pearl Comb, is now seeing much success..
The Pearl Comb is set in 1893, as an endearing Cornish fisherman’s wife captures the attention of the medical profession as the first person to ever cure someone of Tuberculosis. A doctor (played by Ali himself) is sent to investigate her miraculous claim, hell bent on proving a woman’s place is in the home and not practicing medicine… only to discover the source of her unearthly power.
Ali Cook has created a folklore‑esque story set in the sea‑glass hues of Cornwall. It has won over 25 awards nationally and internationally and received praise from many film critics.
In addition to this, it has been picked up by the streaming giant Disney+, a feat Ali described as “impossible” and, by all means, a rare occurrence in the short film world.
Of course, the “impossible” is not unknown to Ali, who for many years was one of the biggest on‑screen TV magicians, having written and starred in the television series Now You See It (BBC1), Penn and Teller: Fool Us (ITV1), Dirty Tricks (Channel 4) and Monkey Magic (Five).
His expertise includes sleight of hand, street magic, escapology, stage illusions, thought control and gruesome gross‑out tricks. Following his success, Ali has joined the likes of HRH The Prince of Wales and David Copperfield with his promotion to Gold Star Member of the Inner Magic Circle.
It’s not a surprise, having seen the practical and special effects Ali often uses in his films, such as “hypnotising” rabbits (a rabbit is “reanimated” in The Pearl Comb). He explains: “As a magician, you learn loads of sneaky things that maybe people don’t know. So when it comes to doing practical effects, I have a few tricks up my sleeves literally, quite often doing things people haven’t seen before. And then I try to mix practical with VFX as much as I possibly can so that the audience is a little bit confused as to how you did it.”
However, he says there’s plenty more to the link between magic and film beyond smoke and mirrors. On a storytelling level, he believes his unorthodox career path of magic and stand‑up comedy has provided skills that ultimately improve his performance, storytelling and directing.
For how the three-act structure links to magic tricks, see our article here.
The full article will be made available in the launch issue of Prequel! So be sure to register your interest.
Prequel Magazine 