This effect is one of Ben Harris' most closely guarded secrets. He's been sitting on this for over ten years, using it privately for the most important occasions only. It is Ben's very favorite trick of all time because it meets all of his personal requirements for the ideal effect.
If you are familiar with Ben's previous writings, you will know that he has always insisted that the very strongest magical effects appear to violate natural law. As an example, "levitation" has always been one of the magician's most powerful effects because gravity appears to be controlled. Zoom certainly appears to violate the laws of nature. Further to this, the effect appears perfectly natural and effortless at every stage of performance.
The object to be animated is 100% examinable - (even though it is cleverly gimmicked) and the lead-in and lead-out consists of perfectly normal actions in every way. The effect per se (between the lead-in and lead-out) looks exactly like real magic. In fact, nothing appears to be contrived at all. Further more, the effect is tamper proof. It matters not if a testy spectator grabs your hands or the animated object at any point during performance. Nothing will be discovered and you can instantly pick up where you left off without any worries. Isn't this just as it would be if you had real magical powers? These positive attributes make Zoom the almost perfect magical demonstration of supposed psychokinetic powers.
Like all good ideas, this one is very simple. However, to meet all of the above criteria, Mr. Harris has thought it all through in a thorough manner over the years. His instructions are detailed to make it very easy to follow. Nothing about Zoom is difficult to do.
A playing card is selected from the deck and examined. The spectators are asked specifically to look for "threads, motors and trap-doors" - anything devious. After the card is examined, the performer turns attention to himself. He turns up his sleeves and asks that his hands be inspected for anything suspicious. The table surface is also carefully inspected. Once the examination ritual is out of the way, the performer announces an attempted experiment in mind over matter.
The playing card is tabled and the spectators asked to gather in closely. The performer now waves his palm-down hand in magical passes over the tabled card. He furrows his brow as if attempting to create a magical spell.
After a few moments of intense concentration, the card comes to life and moves this way and that - away-from the performer's hand - across the tabletop. It shimmies along, seemingly with a life of its own, all the way into one of the spectator's waiting hands. Once again, all may be examined and then the effect repeated. This is one of those rare effects where an immediate repeat actually deepens the mystery without increasing the, possibility of the audience detecting the method.
