Make Believe

More to this film than meets the eye
Obsessions in youngsters aren't necessarily bad as MAKE BELIEVE proves. On the surface this is a film about a competition for magicians of a young age and as such it explores the fascination and need and the other painful aspects of adolescence that center on being noticed, accepted and to feel OK about themselves. That is what make this films work and why it has become an inspiration for so many young people who are trying to follow their dream - a trait too many of their subsequent generation have forsaken or found inappropriate in the dog eat dog world of making a living.

Along the say in this beautifully paced docudrama we meet six contestants who will vie for the title of Teen World Champion in the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas. Each of these contestants captures our hearts and through their penetrating focus on preparing for the competition and the notice from the public, from their families and from each other weaves a story that revisits what it is like to dream...

An Interesting and Entertaining Look Into The World of Teen Magicians - Recommended
"Make Believe" is a surprisingly entertaining documentary covering the quest of young magicians competing to become the Teen World Champion at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas. This is a look at some of the most talented of the contestants before, during, and after the competition. There is a subculture for almost everything and this documentary shows that the magician culture is very much alive and active.

I enjoyed seeing how the kids balanced their daily lives with the demands of preparing for the competition. These are very dedicated and determined performers that literally spend hours a day practicing and refining their acts. The filmmakers did a great job capturing the emotions and sense of anticipation in the days leading up to the event.

It is easy to forget how young these magicians are when you see the first rate magic they perform. It is also easy to forget that they are competing for a title that will help propel their magic careers and land them...

Cool
I envy these kids. Not because they can perform magic, but because each one has found a skill which they want to develop and feel a passion and commitment for. I don't think a person would have the energy and drive to keep perfecting their magic skills unless they really felt something for it. I thought the Japanese teen was the most amazing - he taught himself how to perform magic with very little resources compared to the other teen. I liked how he incorporated nature into his magic, and practiced for hours. What talent!

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