Balloon Review 117 : Revlak School of Wizardry by Bruce Kalver DVD

Available from http://www.tophatprod.com/store/product ... ctid=16156 price $25

I decided to reach into the balloon DVD vaults and find something at the very back of the cupboard. This is DVD is old. I am unsure of the actual date of production but I thought it would be fun to explore this collection.

Let's see what we have here...

WITCHES BROOM

A very simple and quick to make witches broomstick. Perfect for halloween line work. This can be made in under a minute and can be used as a standalone item or to mount something on the stick such as a witch or cat.

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MAGICAL OWL

A quick and easy owl. I have to keep reminding myself that this is an old video and so not to be overly critical given the techniques available at the time. This model relies on artwork to make it look anything resembling an owl. Maybe with a few additions/changes it could still be useful today.

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THREE HEADED DOG

Sorry this design is simply awful. It is basically a balloon dog with two heads attached. To me it looks more like a bunch of flowers that died a week ago. One for the bin - sorry.

[attachment=0:2l2bxp60][/attachment]517-dog.jpg[/attachment:2l2bxp60]

FROG

This is a single balloon frog which looks nothing like a frog to be honest. The eyes and the face are OK but the body is basically a triangle. I cannot see any professional use for this design. Quick and easy to make (i am trying to remain positive)

[attachment=0:2ajwulpb][/attachment]518-frog.jpg[/attachment:2ajwulpb]

I made these last night Darren, happy to move them to a separate post if you would prefer?
Just from two balloons as per the model you showed from the tape,

Thanks Graham. I am more than happy for everyone to post variations,  improvements and comments to each review otherwise this section is a lonely place! I think with a lot of these designs a small change makes them very usable.

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And as you said you do have to take into account the year this was produced, I will message Bruce and ask him.

I think the DVD is a transfer from an original video but I could be wrong.

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COBRA

A single balloon model Cobra - incredibly quick to make, perfect for line work and the end result is passable if time is limited. Is worth keeping in your repertoire for emergencies  

[attachment=0:hupjiuuk][/attachment]542-cobra.jpg[/attachment:hupjiuuk]

WIZARD STAFF

A braided balloon pole with a round on top. Bruce's original design uses a clear balloon filled with confetti/glitter which would give a nicer effect. The braided pole is a little too flat and a more rounded twist would give a better look and fill. Overall a nice design. Looks good in silver and gold.

[attachment=0:101iz63z][/attachment]591-wizard-staff.jpg[/attachment:101iz63z]

GREEN ONE EYED MONSTER

I am guessing this is a parody of Monsters Inc. Unfortunately I do not like the construction of this balloon. The arms are simply tied onto the body which looks messy and the legs do not sit right. The simple addition of a couple of pinch twists would make it a lot more stable and add some character. The eye I have drawn on is not the same as Bruce. He adds some blue colour.

Personally I think this one looks a little poor for professional work.

[attachment=0:ez0heqy0][/attachment]606-green-monster.jpg[/attachment:ez0heqy0]

SUMMARY

If I make allowances that this DVD/video is old, I still struggle to find value for the $25 investment based on today's prices. The models only need a few tweaks to improve them dramatically and make them usable in the real world. If the DVD was now being sold for $10 then I feel it would represent good value for money if you are a beginner.

The video instruction is good and Bruce is certainly a good teacher BUT the designs are lacking.

Approach with caution is my advice.

Sorry!

I made this owl last night at the London City jam with a little help from Roger for the 160 on top. A three balloon owl that had it's origins here with the owl Darren posted on the review.
You should always check old DVD's and tapes as you never know when a little inspiration might strike you.

The owl looks great - I am glad I inspired you with my reviews!