Cameron Francis - Exchange Rate Inc

Cameron Francis-Exchange Rate Inc
I'll just dive right into this. For $30 bucks, you get 8 tricks . . . mostly good tricks, but even so . . .
that's a little pricey considering the price of other DVDs out there. Additionally, some of the effects
on this DVD were 'recycled from other video shoots or other projects. For example, Cagey is from
Omega Mutations.
As for production quality . . . as always, BBM productions kick butt. There are absolutely no
complaints regarding production quality.
Back to the price . . . everyone has different opinions about how much a magic DVD should cost.
I've given my opinion above. However, I'll go over the effects below, and give you my opinion. You
may find that it would be worth the investment to you, or you may find that it is not worth it. Below
you'll find the effect title, the official ad copy, my commentary and a star rating (scale from 1 to 5)
on each effect.
Effect Title: Exchange Rate

Official Ad Copy: The official Ad copy on this (the title) effect was too long . . . so here's the Stone
Cold version: a signed coin visually and instantly changes places with a dollar bill.x
My Commentary: This effect is definitely good, and Cameron offers several handling ideas along
with several methods, including a way to do the effect where both the bill and the coin are signed.
Overall a solid effect with a great deal of consideration put into method making it about as simple
as possible. I will say that I found the back-and-forth-to-the-pocket-ness of the original version a bit
clunky. I liked some of the alternatives a little better.
Star Rating: 4
Effect Title: Driven

Official Ad Copy: A 100% impromptu pen thru bill. Borrow the pen. Borrow the bill. Anytime,
anywhere incredible magic.
My Commentary: As you read some of the ad copy below, you'll see a lot of hype (as is typical of
ad copy). However, this one is not hype. It's 100% true. This is one of my all time favorite effects
from Cameron. Additionally, if you've read any of my past reviews of Cameron's work (and some of
the comments below), you'll note that I often critique his 'let's take this and do that and put this here
and do that, etc' presentational style. However, in this performance you see a decent presentation
and a very welcomed lack of put-and-take patter.
Star Rating: 5
Effect Title: Uninked

Official Ad Copy: The bill switch on acid. You offer to give your spectator a dollar as a 'thank you'
for their kind reactions to your magic. But you notice the bill has some nasty marks on it... they'll
LOVE what happens next!
My Commentary: Ah . . . there's that ad copy hype I mentioned . . . If you left out the 'Bill Switch
on Acid' line, I'd agree with the ad copy. This is a nice switch on the bill switch (pun fully intended).
I like the effect, the idea and the presentational premise. Because you really do give it away to the
spectator as you promised. Plus there was that lovely lack of put-and-take patter again. Excellent!
Star Rating: 5
Effect Title: Cheque This

Official Ad Copy: A borrowed bill turns into an IOU cheque. Then a selected card is shown to have
been predicted on the cheque. And then, to cap it all, the bill reappears inside a card case that has
been on display the entire time!
My Commentary: For you Yanks out there . . . 'cheque' is the fancy British way to say 'check.' I like
the idea of a dollar bill turning into a check. This idea has been explored by others. My only
problem with this effect is that it's a bit convoluted and sort of rambly and back and forth. Parts of
the effect are meaningless while other parts have meaning and logic. The bill turning into a check
was logical (based on Cameron's presentation), but then the whole pick-a-card-and-your-card-is-
gone,-but-it's-on-the-check-but-the-card-is-in-the-card-box seems to be to much of a flurry for my
style. I think with a little extra effort, however, this can become a decent presentation piece.
Star Rating: 2.5
Effect Title: A Strange (Re) Visit

Official Ad Copy: The jacks are doing something strange with a spectator's selection. Something
VERY strange.
My Commentary: This effect has a nice kicker ending, but the build up seems a bit convoluted.
There's a lot of put-and-take patter . . . a lot of 'we'll need this card, and then we'll need some other
cards, and then let's put these cards over here, and obviously the two red Jacks are the hearts and the
diamonds.' Yes . . . that was the patter used. Again, the trick is pretty good, but I wasn't a fan of the
presentation. Also, there is one moment in the effect that feels a little fishy and kind of obvious that
something sneaky is happening. However, if you can put your own personality on this and give it a
good presentation, the effect is solid and has a kicker that nobody will see coming.
Star Rating: 3.5
Effect Title: Tear it Up II

Official Ad Copy: A two phase, torn and restored card guaranteed to leave your spectators
speechless.
My Commentary: Phase I is awesome. Phase II - not so much. Frankly, I think the effect would be
better in reverse (Phase II first). Phase I is a killer torn and restored corner of a card. The effect and
method is clean and clever. So you tear off a corner and the restore it. Then to 'prove' that no funny
stuff was going on, you do Phase II which is to tear the whole card (not just the corner) and restore
all but the corner and give that to the spectator. That makes no sense to me. They just saw you (in
Phase I) restore a corner. So it's not unreasonable to expect them to want to see that final corner
restored in Phase II. However, in my opinion, Phase I is one of the best ways to restore a corner (the
final corner) on a torn and restored card.
Star Rating: 3.5
Effect Title: Implicit Progression

Official Ad Copy: An easy, impromptu progressive assembly!
My Commentary: While ad copy is true, this is probably my least favorite effect on the DVD. First,
it has the stating-the-obvious-patter that I just hate. These are kings, and these are indifferent cards,
etc. Additionally, what should be a simple act of setting down four piles of four cards each is
extremely convoluted process as is often the case in assembly type effects. Then the effect and the
displays between each round are not-so-clean and convoluted. Sorry . . . I just don't like this type of
effect, and I don't feel like it connects with anyone or 'fools' anyone.
Star Rating: 1
Effect Title: Cagey

Official Ad Copy: (Taken from the bestselling Omega Mutation DVD Set) - A stunning
transposition with an ending that will slay your spectators.
My Commentary: This is pretty good, and has a nice presentational hook. However, the effect is not
as clear as I prefer at first glance. It takes a minute for the effect to register, but once it does, it's a
pretty powerful.
Star Rating: 3.5
There are some good ideas on this DVD and you'll likely find something that speaks to you. The
average rating of all of the effects is 3.5 stars . . . not too shabby. Add a little for the solid production
quality (thank you BBM), and dock a little for the price, and you're left with . . .
Final Verdict:
3.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.

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Cameron Francis-Exchange Rate Inc

Effect Title: Exchange Rate

Effect Title: Driven

Effect Title: Uninked

Effect Title: Cheque This

Effect Title: A Strange (Re) Visit

Effect Title: Tear it Up II

Effect Title: Implicit Progression

Effect Title: Cagey

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