Derren Brown

[realityhack]

As demonstrated here.

There you go.

[Moscow Mule]

There you go.

If that's how he did it - as per all of those "get a pen into a jar over the shoulder" type youtube videos - then I'm disappointed.

Edit: I thought there were two cameras in the room, but I don't remember seeing anything from the wide shot???

[realityhack]

I thought there were two cameras in the room, but I don't remember seeing anything from the wide shot???

You only need (and should only have) 1 camera for split-screen. It's done with an image processor in the studio, with the feed from one camera. You can even do it with consumer software (Adobe After Effects) but you'd need better kit for a live feed.

A second camera wide-shot would show nothing untoward.

[Doggy Styles]

realityhack, you've convinced me. And if that wasn't the way he did it, you could sell him the idea.

It was a jolly good trick though. Right, I'm off to lunch.

[Moscow Mule]

You only need (and should only have) 1 camera for split-screen. It's done with an image processor in the studio, with the feed from one camera. You can even do it with consumer software (Adobe After Effects) but you'd need better kit for a live feed.

A second camera wide-shot would show nothing untoward.

I know you can do it, I know how to do it. I've never seen it done live, but then I don't work in a TV studio.

The second (wide) shot would ruin the illusion (unless it too was being split), but he did boast about it in the pre-amble.

[Tingles]

I know this is a long shot......

But has anyone actually checked that the numbers that came out of the machine were actually the ones on his balls???

OR....

Did he write down his numbers on the white board and imposed his will on the population that the numbers were correct....

Very similar to making the bookie pay out on the wrong dog....

Just trying to find an angle...

[gingerjedi]

I think he will proclaim himself to be the son of God, he was wasn't due till 2012 but seeing as the whole world is in a bit of a pickle he thought he'd pop by early to save us from Peter Mandelson.

[gingerjedi]

I know this is a long shot......

But has anyone actually checked that the numbers that came out of the machine were actually the ones on his balls???

OR....

Did he write down his numbers on the white board and imposed his will on the population that the numbers were correct....

Very similar to making the bookie pay out on the wrong dog....

Just trying to find an angle...

Uh the lotto has a website with the result, unless they're in on it too which would be a little unethical don't you think?

[Money Money Money]

Not so.

Here's one way it could be done:
Live feed from static camera on a tripod with split screen. As he leaves the left-hand part of the screen, it's frozen. As the numbers are read out, an assistant replaces the balls with the correct numbered balls. Note the delay from the numbers on the TV to Derren writing them down. This gives the assistant a few more seconds to make sure the balls are placed correctly and leave the shot. The left split-screen is switched to live, and Derren enters it to show the finale.

This would explain the curious elevation of the ball on the left shortly after the last number is announced, the design of the stand so the balls will be in (almost) the same position, and the left-right placement of the balls vs Derren & TV.

The shaky camera work? Easy. The live feed is passed through a second image processor where an editor moves the screen within the screen jerkily to simulate handheld camera work. The actual 'shot' area is larger than that broadcast, and it's moved around frame-in-frame and broadcast from the second processor. This technique is common in filmmaking to simulate camera shake. This would explain the not-quite-so-random camera shake we see.

Thats what I said!!!!

[Tingles]

Uh the lotto has a website with the result, unless they're in on it too which would be a little unethical don't you think?

Well...

Influencing the whole population into believing he chose the numbers is far better than a cheap split screen trick!