James Freedman (magician)
Encyclopedia
James Freedman is a British pickpocket entertainer and magician. He is most well known for his skill as a pickpocket and his ability to secretly pick the pockets of volunteers. For this reason, he is also known as 'The Man of Steal'.
James Freedman has picked the pockets of the Mayor of London, The Chancellor of the Exchequer and The Governor of The Bank of England. Time Out magazine wrote that he is "possibly the world's best pickpocket".
Freedman was the Magic Consultant for the 2006 film The Illusionist starring Edward Norton
and Aaron Johnson both of whom he taught sleight of hand
and stage illusions http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443543/fullcredits. Norton said that "James is one of the ultimate all-stars in his field today".
He was asked by Roman Polanski
to teach Sir Ben Kingsley and other actors the art of picking pockets for the movie Oliver Twist (2005)
and is listed in the credits as a Pickpocket Consultant.
He worked in London and on location in Serbia for The Brothers Bloom
a 2008 movie directed by Rian Johnson
. The movie stars Mark Ruffalo
, Adrien Brody
and Rachel Weisz
who learned sleight of hand magic from Freedman.Original Report
In 2010 Freedman advised on ‘Dip’ written by Simon Lewis
and directed by Lisa Gornick; a crime drama about a street pickpocket played by Robert Sheehan. James Freedman choreographed all the pickpocket sequences and taught Robert Sheehan the skills needed for his role as a street thief. Original Report
In 2008 and 2009 James Freedman and Martyn Rowland created magic effects and taught presenter Thomas Brezina magic tricks for the Austrian children's TV show Trickfabrik broadcast on ORF. http://www.kidstv.co.at/index.php?id=8 The show, which included magic tricks which viewers could learn and perform themselves, won an Intermedia-Globe-Silver-Award at the WorldMediaFestival (2010) and was also broadcast by the German children’s network KI.KA.
He was also consulted to advise on the critically acclaimed short film ‘ARK’, written by Charlie Williams (British writer) and directed by Mal Woolford. Freedman advised on “traditional magic methods” to allow Woolford’s vision of a four minute single camera shot with no image manipulation, no editing and no CGI. IMDb Listing
James Freedman was specialist consultant for the BBC One
drama Hustle
(aka Hu$tle in the USA), for which he trained the principal actors, notably Robert Vaughn
and Adrian Lester
, how to cheat at poker
.
He also worked as a specialist consultant for the popular BBC
spin-off series The Real Hustle
where he is credited here as Pickpocket Consultant.
of the Magic Management Group of companies which owns Magic Management, a company that uses magicians' psychological techniques in business communication and Magicians.co.uk Limited, a company that hires magicians, illusionists and magic consultants.
James Freedman has picked the pockets of the Mayor of London, The Chancellor of the Exchequer and The Governor of The Bank of England. Time Out magazine wrote that he is "possibly the world's best pickpocket".
Notable Film & Television Work
He also acts as a Magical Advisor inventing magic tricks and illusions for feature films, television shows, theatre and stadium productions. Source: IMDbFreedman was the Magic Consultant for the 2006 film The Illusionist starring Edward Norton
Edward Norton
Edward Harrison Norton is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and producer. In 1996, his supporting role in the courtroom drama Primal Fear garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor...
and Aaron Johnson both of whom he taught sleight of hand
Sleight of hand
Sleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
and stage illusions http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443543/fullcredits. Norton said that "James is one of the ultimate all-stars in his field today".
He was asked by Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
to teach Sir Ben Kingsley and other actors the art of picking pockets for the movie Oliver Twist (2005)
Oliver Twist (2005 film)
Oliver Twist is a 2005 British drama film directed by Roman Polanski. The screenplay by Ronald Harwood is based on the 1838 novel of the same title by Charles Dickens....
and is listed in the credits as a Pickpocket Consultant.
He worked in London and on location in Serbia for The Brothers Bloom
The Brothers Bloom
The Brothers Bloom is a 2008 American postmodern caper film written and directed by Rian Johnson. The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz, Ricky Jay, Rinko Kikuchi, and Robbie Coltrane...
a 2008 movie directed by Rian Johnson
Rian Johnson
Rian Craig Johnson is an American writer and director, who won the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival with his debut feature, Brick.-Background:...
. The movie stars Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo
Mark Alan Ruffalo is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He starred in films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Zodiac, Shutter Island, Just Like Heaven, You Can Count on Me and The Kids Are All Right for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best...
, Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody is an American actor and film producer. He received widespread recognition and acclaim after starring in Roman Polanski's The Pianist . Winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2003 at age 29, he is the youngest actor to do so...
and Rachel Weisz
Rachel Weisz
Rachel Hannah Weisz born 7 March 1970)is an English-American film and theatre actress and former fashion model. She started her acting career at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where she co-founded the theatrical group Cambridge Talking Tongues...
who learned sleight of hand magic from Freedman.Original Report
In 2010 Freedman advised on ‘Dip’ written by Simon Lewis
Simon Lewis
Simon Lewis is a novelist and screenwriter, born in Newport, Monmouthshire, in 1971. He went to school in Monmouth then studied Art and Art History at Goldsmiths College in London....
and directed by Lisa Gornick; a crime drama about a street pickpocket played by Robert Sheehan. James Freedman choreographed all the pickpocket sequences and taught Robert Sheehan the skills needed for his role as a street thief. Original Report
In 2008 and 2009 James Freedman and Martyn Rowland created magic effects and taught presenter Thomas Brezina magic tricks for the Austrian children's TV show Trickfabrik broadcast on ORF. http://www.kidstv.co.at/index.php?id=8 The show, which included magic tricks which viewers could learn and perform themselves, won an Intermedia-Globe-Silver-Award at the WorldMediaFestival (2010) and was also broadcast by the German children’s network KI.KA.
He was also consulted to advise on the critically acclaimed short film ‘ARK’, written by Charlie Williams (British writer) and directed by Mal Woolford. Freedman advised on “traditional magic methods” to allow Woolford’s vision of a four minute single camera shot with no image manipulation, no editing and no CGI. IMDb Listing
James Freedman was specialist consultant for the BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
drama Hustle
Hustle (TV series)
Hustle is a British television drama series made by Kudos Film and Television for BBC One in the United Kingdom. Created by Tony Jordan and first broadcast in 2004, the series follows a group of con artists who specialise in "long cons" – extended deceptions which require greater commitment, but...
(aka Hu$tle in the USA), for which he trained the principal actors, notably Robert Vaughn
Robert Vaughn
Robert Francis Vaughn, , is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. His best known roles include the suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s television series The Protectors, Albert Stroller in...
and Adrian Lester
Adrian Lester
-Personal life:Lester was born in Birmingham, England, the son of Jamaican immigrants Monica, a medical secretary, and Reginald, a manager for a contract cleaning company. He sang as a boy treble in the choir of St. Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham...
, how to cheat at poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
.
He also worked as a specialist consultant for the popular BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
spin-off series The Real Hustle
The Real Hustle
The Real Hustle is a BBC television series made by Objective Productions and written by Alexis Conran and Paul Wilson. The show demonstrates confidence and magic tricks, distraction scams and proposition bets performed on members of the public by presenters Conran, Wilson and Jessica-Jane Clement...
where he is credited here as Pickpocket Consultant.
Live performances
James has performed for the Royal Family, British Prime Ministers, celebrities and audiences in over 25 countries. In 2008 he was invited to entertain at Downing Street where reportedly he “bumped into the Chancellor of the Exchequer and ‘borrowed’ his wallet.” Original reportAwards
Formerly a Director of The Magic Circle Foundation, Freedman was awarded the title The Magic Circle Close Up Magician of the Year in 1992. The Magic Circle Official Site. He was promoted to Gold Star Membership of the exclusive Inner Magic Circle in recognition of his outstanding abilities as a performer.Entrepreneur
Freedman is CEOChief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Magic Management Group of companies which owns Magic Management, a company that uses magicians' psychological techniques in business communication and Magicians.co.uk Limited, a company that hires magicians, illusionists and magic consultants.
Trivia
- In 2003 Freedman's hands were insured with UK insurance company Royal and Sun Alliance for UK£1 million. (Source)
- From 2006 until 2011 Freedman's company Magic Management marketed The Magic Circle Headquarters and won several awards including 'UK Venue of the Year' and 'Venue Team of the Year'.
- He qualified as an Auctioneer and Chartered Surveyor and was the Honorary Auctioneer of The Magic Circle from 1992 to 1995. In 2010 he was elected to the governing Council of The Magic Circle
- In 2008 he was awarded the Order of Merlin by The International Brotherhood of Magicians. This is described by the IBM as "a special award to recognize members who have given twenty-five or more uninterrupted years of service to the organization." [Source
]