Women Are (Secretly) The Driving Force Behind Facebook’s “Making Magic”
Making Magic guests Mistie Knight (left) and Billy Kidd (center) with behind-the-scenes magic consultant AmberLynn Walker (right)
The last two episodes of Facebook’s Making Magic featured people you don’t often see in the magic industry: Women. Not only are women featured; their back-to-back episodes have been streamed more than those of their male counterparts.
This comes as no surprise to Making Magic guest Mistie Knight.
Making Magic Episode 3: Mistie Gets Crushed
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Video credit: Making Magic
“People are excited to see women in major magic roles, not just the shadows,” Knight says. “For so long, it was assumed that women in magic were merely ‘lovely assistants’ providing eye candy. The truth is, in illusion shows women are often the ones doing the heavy lifting.”
Making Magic doesn’t just feature female magicians on camera; half the show’s behind-the-scenes ‘magic consultants’ are women, too. Take AmberLynn Walker. You might remember her from America’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent: The Champions. On Making Magic, she makes sure the big illusions run smoothly. It’s a crucial job; some of the larger illusions have a real danger component, like when Billy Kidd was straightjacketed and Duct taped to a pole in Downtown Vegas’ Container Park.
Making Magic Episode 4: Billy Kidd Defeats Duct Tape
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Video credit: Making Magic
“Billy was in a completely vulnerable position,” Walker explains. “The tape could have broken around her feet or torso—the places that held the most weight. And with her arms strapped to herself, if the tape did give way, she would have caught herself with her face…on the pavement.”
It was Walker’s job to make sure that did not happen.
It didn’t.
Walker’s work drew high praise from show producer Laila Kabbaj, who says, “As a fellow woman in a male dominated field, it was an honor to collaborate with AmberLynn. She’s a creative powerhouse and true professional.”
Making Magic Producer Laila Kabbaj (from Atomic Entertainment) blocks an illusion with magic consultant AmberLynn Walker
Walker doesn’t just monitor the tricks; she also works with magician to create new tricks for their TV spots. The ’Duct Tape Straight Jacket’ trick was just one example. That came from a marathon brainstorming session between Walker and Billy Kidd.
Before Making Magic, Billy Kidd starred in Discovery Channel’s Breaking Magic and CW’s Masters of Illusion. But she says her experience filming Making Magic was very different from those other shows:
“Filming most magic shows requires planning and tons of rehearsals to make sure everything works out perfectly. What’s unique about Making Magic is that we had no rehearsals. We relied on conversation, friendship, and our love for magic.”
This formula seems to be working for Facebook. The New York Post called Making Magic “a huge hit,” and new episodes are set to come out in June.