"Now You See Me"
On May 31st the superteam of bank-robbing illusionists hits the big screen! David devised the magical heists for the film and spent five months on set in New Orleans designing illusions and teaching the all-star cast sleight of hand.
Video in the New York Times
On January 1st, the New York Times featured an article on David's crossword puzzle trick. Will Shortz, puzzle editor of the Times, narrates a video of David's signature performance piece.
"Now You See Me" Trailer
Here is the first trailer for "Now You See Me," Louis Letterier's movie about magicians robbing banks. When the film is released in June of 2013, David will have worked on this film for nearly two and half a years.
Profile in New York Magazine
Vulture.com, New York Magazine's online arbiter of all things hip and cool in entertainment, profiled David and his Puzzles & Prestidigitation. From David Copperfield to Will Shortz, and Mumford & Sons to Google, New York Magazine muses on David's unique blend of magic and puzzles.
Click here to read the article and see the video debut of David's Scrabble trick.
Wonderful World of Words
David teams up with Will Shortz for a weekend of puzzling at the Mohonk Moutain House. David will be lecturing on "Deception and Words" and will perform a few of his favorite intellectual illusions. Click here for more information.
Mumford & Sons
In August, David joined Mumford & Sons on their tour "Gentlemen of the Road," performing for sold out crowds in Dixon, Illinois. David wowed theatergoers with his one-man show in in the evenings and performed special late-night shows with the band. Look for more collaborations with Mumford & Sons in the near future!
Soho House Performances
David continued his tour of Soho Houses with performances of his one-man show at Soho House New York City in May and West Hollywood in July. On September 27th, David will be performing in Toronto for the club's grand opening.
Summit
In July, David shared his unique brand of magic and puzzles with a coterie of some of the most innovative and brilliant minds in the world - scientists, entrepreneurs, designers, writers - who had gathered for a weekend of idea exchanging in Utah. Look forward to an encore performance, and discussion about film and illusion with Summit in September!
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes recounts seeing David's show, telling Jay Leno that "David Kwong is so good, I wanted to punch him in the face."
Watch up until 1:00
On May 30th, David performed "Puzzles & Prestidigitation" at Google. David engaged some the world's brightest with mind-bending puzzles and a discussion about film and illusion.
New Orleans for "Now You See Me"
David is spending four months in New Orleans, New York and Las Vegas as the magician behind "Now You See Me," Louis Letterier's heist film about magicians robbing banks. David is designing the illusions for the film and is teaching sleight of hand to Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo, Melanie Laurent, and Morgan Freeman.
Article In Harvard Magazine
The January - February 2012 issue of Harvard Magazine features an article on David and his wizardry and wordsmithing. Read about his conjuring, cruciverbalism, and consultancies on studio films: "Five-Letter Word for Magic: David Kwong has a trick that's all is own."
Harvard University
On October 3rd in Cambridge, David mystified Harvard undergraduates and faculty alike with sleight of hand and word games. See below for a Harvard Crimson photograph of the show in Kirkland House. "Half-genius half-Houdini, David R. Kwong '02 left the crowd in awe during his performance," writes the Crimson.
(Chung Ling Soo aka William Robinson, Spellbound 1912)
Prestidigitation And Puzzles At The Soho House
On August 13th, once again David performed his tailor-made show for a standing room only crowd at the Soho House West Hollywood.
Conjuring And Cruciverbalism At The Soho House
On April 16th, David packed the screening room at the Soho House West Hollywood with a special show for its members and guests. Look for a repeat performance this summer!
American Crossword Puzzle Tournament
David recently performed his crossword puzzle magic trick for seven hundred particpants of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. A fun time was had by all!
On NPR's Weekend Edition - The Ol' Switcheroo, Will Shortz plugged David's performance for the tournament.
Profile In The New York Times
On Tuesday, December 7th, The New York Times featured a print and video article on David's performances and the unique intersection of magic and crosswords in his life.
Here's the online article with video: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/science/07construct.html
• Elegant sleight of hand and sophisticated puzzling
• Corporate Events
• Private Parties
For inquiries please contact Alan at alan@misdirectorsguild.com
David has shared his puzzles and prestidigitation with smart and savvy audiences all over the world. He specializes in corporate events and private functions.
From sleight of hand demonstrations to his signature crossword puzzle feat, David is happy to tailor a show to your needs.
The Misdirectors Guild
As a Hollywood executive, David formed the Misdirectors Guild to consult on film and television projects that require expertise in illusion and deception. The Guild is an elite group of magicians who are specialists in all areas of subterfuge including stage illusion, sleight of hand, puzzles and heists.
misdirectorsguild.com
The Misdirectors Guild
As a Hollywood executive, David formed the Misdirectors Guild to consult on film and television projects that require expertise in illusion and deception. The Guild is an elite group of magicians who are specialists in all areas of subterfuge including stage illusion, sleight of hand, puzzles and heists.
misdirectorsguild.com
Now You See Me
As Head Magic Consultant, David collaborated with the writers to devise the magical heists for the film. David spent five months on set in New Orleans designing the illusions for the film and teaching sleight of hand to Jesse Eisenberg, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson, Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco.
Click here to watch the trailer.
The Misdirectors Guild
As a Hollywood executive, David formed the Misdirectors Guild to consult on film and television projects that require expertise in illusion and deception. The Guild is an elite group of magicians who are specialists in all areas of subterfuge including stage illusion, sleight of hand, puzzles and heists.
misdirectorsguild.com
Nightingale
An immigrant woman (Marion Cotillard) is tricked into a life of burlesque and vaudeville until a dazzling magician (Jeremy Renner) saves her. The Misdirectors Guild oversaw the magic in the film and worked with Renner on his role as a turn-of-the-century magician.
The Misdirectors Guild
As a Hollywood executive, David formed the Misdirectors Guild to consult on film and television projects that require expertise in illusion and deception. The Guild is an elite group of magicians who are specialists in all areas of subterfuge including stage illusion, sleight of hand, puzzles and heists.
misdirectorsguild.com
Rabbit
The Guild is consulting on Warner Brothers' "Rabbit," an action-comedy starring Chris Tucker as a master escape artist. The film is being produced by Dan Lin ("Sherlock Holmes," "Gangster Squad").
The Misdirectors Guild
As a Hollywood executive, David formed the Misdirectors Guild to consult on film and television projects that require expertise in illusion and deception. The Guild is an elite group of magicians who are specialists in all areas of subterfuge including stage illusion, sleight of hand, puzzles and heists.
misdirectorsguild.com
Rumblewick
"Rumblewick" is DreamWorks Animation's upcoming film about a magician's rabbit who wants to learn "real magic" and thus enters the world of witches. The Guild is working closely with director Tim Johnson to deliver a story that is authentic to the world of magicians.
The Misdirectors Guild
As a Hollywood executive, David formed the Misdirectors Guild to consult on film and television projects that require expertise in illusion and deception. The Guild is an elite group of magicians who are specialists in all areas of subterfuge including stage illusion, sleight of hand, puzzles and heists.
misdirectorsguild.com
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
From the early stages of the script to the marketing of the film, David is working closely with producers on Burt Wonderstone, creating a story that is authentic to the world of magicians.
The Misdirectors Guild
As a Hollywood executive, David formed the Misdirectors Guild to consult on film and television projects that require expertise in illusion and deception. The Guild is an elite group of magicians who are specialists in all areas of subterfuge including stage illusion, sleight of hand, puzzles and heists.
misdirectorsguild.com
Houdini - ABC
The Guild consulted on ABC's modern-day Houdini project with Graham Yost ("Justified"), helping the show-creator to deliver a story that was action packed with illusion, escapism, and sleight of hand.
The Misdirectors Guild
As a Hollywood executive, David formed the Misdirectors Guild to consult on film and television projects that require expertise in illusion and deception. The Guild is an elite group of magicians who are specialists in all areas of subterfuge including stage illusion, sleight of hand, puzzles and heists.
misdirectorsguild.com
All About Steve
David is perhaps Hollywood's first credited Cruciverbal Consultant. In this romantic comedy which stars Sandra Bullock as a quirky crossword puzzle writer, David created all the puzzles for the film as well as taught the Academy Award winning actress how to construct a puzzle for the opening title sequence.
The Misdirectors Guild
As a Hollywood executive, David formed the Misdirectors Guild to consult on film and television projects that require expertise in illusion and deception. The Guild is an elite group of magicians who are specialists in all areas of subterfuge including stage illusion, sleight of hand, puzzles and heists.
misdirectorsguild.com
Bad Robot Project
David and the Misdirectors Guild are developing a secret project with JJ Abrams at Bad Robot. Details are remaining behind the curtain for now.
The Misdirectors Guild
As a Hollywood executive, David formed the Misdirectors Guild to consult on film and television projects that require expertise in illusion and deception. The Guild is an elite group of magicians who are specialists in all areas of subterfuge including stage illusion, sleight of hand, puzzles and heists.
misdirectorsguild.com
Red Lights
Robert De Niro plays Simon Silver, a mind-reader and mentalist. The Misdirectors Guild and Theory11 came together to create an online viral magic trick to promote the film. Fool your friends at simonsilver.com/secret!
The Misdirectors Guild
As a Hollywood executive, David formed the Misdirectors Guild to consult on film and television projects that require expertise in illusion and deception. The Guild is an elite group of magicians who are specialists in all areas of subterfuge including stage illusion, sleight of hand, puzzles and heists.
misdirectorsguild.com
Paranormal Activity 4
David Kwong and Team David Copperfield consulted on the latest installment of "Paranormal Activity," which according to directors Henry Joost & Ariel Schulman "is a celebration of practical effects." Seen here is the protagonist, Alex, levitating above her bed.
David is a veteran crossword puzzle constructor for the New York Times, LA Times and other national publications.
He concludes his one-man show with his original crossword puzzle feat: using words suggested by the audience, David endeavors to create a crossword puzzle in real time . . . with a twist.
Download Across Lite from The New York Times.
Across Lite Software.
Wed 4/11/2012 - [Across Lite] [pdf]
Sun 1/24/2010 - Abridged Edition [Across Lite]
* (spoiler - it's better to print it out)
Mon 2/16/2009 - [Across Lite]
Tue 7/29/2008 - [Across Lite]
Sun 2/18/2007 - Magic Words [Across Lite]
Wed 2/7/2007 - [Across Lite]
Sat 4/1/2006 - April Fool's Day Puzzle [Across Lite]
On January 1st, the New York Times featured an article on David's crossword puzzle trick. Will Shortz, puzzle editor of the Times, narrates a video of David's signature performance piece.
New York Magazine debuts David's Scrabble trick, which he performs at Electronic Arts, makers of mobile Scrabble.
Wanda Sykes tells Jay Leno she wants to punch David Kwong
in the face.
Watch up until 1:00
Here is the first trailer for "Now You See Me," Louis Letterier's movie about magicians robbing banks. When the film is released in June of 2013, David will have worked on this film for nearly two and half a years.
Photograph by Jacob Coppage
Jim Harrison/Harvard magazine
Scrabble trick for the close-up camera
Performance and discussion of illusion in film
Harvard University
David has uniquely combined his love for film and illusion. As a Hollywood executive, David developed "Now You See Me" with director Louis Leterrier and is a former member of the DreamWorks Animation story department.
David is perhaps Harvard University's only graduate to have studied the history of magic.
