The Moon Vanish That Disappeared (Part 2 of 4)
What are the integral parts of one of Copperfield's grand illusions? Plus, the original announcement. Our Collector Annual cover story.
All of Copperfield’s grand illusions share common traits that are worth noting—not only because they’re intriguing for magicians but because they hint at what Copperfield’s moon vanish might look like in his signature style.
In 1994, Copperfield described in an interview with Jonathan Ross some strategies he used to convince audiences that his illusions weren’t faked. He identified two key elements: using a continuous camera shot and having a live audience present.
These elements are present in nearly every major Copperfield illusion, profoundly influencing both the methods used and the experience for viewers at home. Each illusion had to work for two audiences simultaneously and be choreographed so a single camera could capture the entire performance seamlessly.
In many instances—most notably, his escape from a building demolition—there was only one chance to get it right. These illusions required immense time and financial investment. For example, when filming in China, Copperfield’s team brought a Louma crane camera overseas to capture his walk through the Great Wall in one continuous shot.
The second crucial factor is the presence of a live audience. Copperfield wanted an audience there to validate the reality of the illusion, and he often tested his illusions with live audiences before committing to them. “I did that with every special. I wouldn’t just go out and shoot a TV special. I’d do it live so I could gauge the audience’s reaction”, he explained in an interview with GQ.
The third recurring element is music. Copperfield personally selected the music for each of his illusions and sometimes got the decisive inspiration for a piece from the music itself. Music adds an emotional layer to his magic, which he considers fundamental to his creations.
There’s also much to be said about the layers in his illusions. This brings us to the fourth core element: the presence of multiple layers in the magic’s design. These layers aren’t about the methods; we’re talking about the different levels of magic he combines to strengthen the illusion and make it look more real.
Regarding the Great Wall illusion, he said, “We thought many layers of the idea were important to make it more credible.” Not only did he complete it in one take with a live audience, but he also displayed his heartbeat on a screen for viewers, which dramatically stopped at one point. He choreographed his “struggle” to pass through the wall, making it seem as though he was stuck momentarily before succeeding.
This layering is present in many of his illusions. During the plane and train car disappearances, audience members stood in a circle, holding hands around the large objects so viewers knew they couldn’t pass through them.
The list is far longer than we can cover here. Watching any of Copperfield’s biggest illusions, you’ll quickly notice the many layers of magic designed to mislead viewers and divert attention from the secret methods, all while making the experience more beautiful and captivating.
The fifth and final recurring element in Copperfield’s illusions is his choice of locations. Not only are they large, but they’re also iconic, meaningful, and culturally significant. This allowed him to introduce storytelling into his big illusions and assured him the attention of the general public and the media.
Recognizing these elements is crucial not only to understanding Copperfield’s magic but also to envisioning how the Moon Vanish might look. As you’ll soon see, there is a lot we can say about it.
Fly Me To The Moon
On October 27, 2023, David Copperfield appeared on NBC’s Today Show to announce his plan to make the moon vanish. He also revealed a trailer along with a scheduled date: February 2024.
Copperfield claimed he had been working on this illusion for a long time (as mentioned, references to it date back at least thirty years). The announcement generated real excitement within the magic community; it came unexpectedly and sparked the imagination of magicians everywhere.
The extent to which this news reached the general public and became mainstream is unclear. Within our circles as magicians, we've been inundated with content about it. However, it's challenging to determine how much of this information reached laypeople.
Copperfield also announced he would partner with Save the Children for this illusion. The narrative behind it was—in Copperfield’s own words—“If one person can make the moon disappear from the sky, imagine how together we can make poverty and hunger and danger disappear for our children on Earth.”
Save the Children shared the trailer on their social media channels and began accepting donations in support of the event. Those attending Copperfield’s show at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas would see promotional material about the moon vanish at the show.
Everything was set. The classic Copperfield ingredients for a big illusion were in place—a spectacular, evocative item known worldwide and a narrative that could connect with people on an emotional level.
And then, slowly but surely, the Moon Vanish began to disappear...
