Comments on: Derren Discusses The Secret of Luck

By: Jouni

Jouni — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:27:27 +0000

I’ve seen a couple of Derrens shows from TV and on the Internet and always liked the way he explains how he does some of his tricks and what those tricks are based on. Just watched the show, and although not being a native English speaker, found myself wondering, at what occasion did he plant the number four to my mind, because I found my self saying “neljä” (number 4 in Finnish) out loud at that point when Derren asked people to take a vote on which number should Wayne choose. Probably right at the beginning of the show, where Derren introduces the idea of the show and tells something about misFORtune (sounds like “four” to me…) and “what is this mysterious FORce and can it be…” (again for me it sounds like four, but as I said, I’m not a native speaker). Loved the show!

By: Michael O'Grady

Michael O'Grady — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:41:12 +0000

Hi Derren.
Totally forgot to post this link from my then, new, website/blog thing. We walked in to Todmorden (from Hebden) the morning after your show was aired and looked around for the dog. We saw the Butcher and Toy Shop owner and had to ask the Tourist info lady …who was most bemused. In the space of about 30 seconds, two people had shaken the butchers hand. When we got to the dog, we had to wait our turn and when we finished, more people were waiting. The grass was turned in to a proper mud bath. Really enjoyed the show. More please. A picture shows it all at http://www.mogrady.co.uk/2011/11/derren-brown-todmorden-lucky-dog-day-after/

By: makomk

makomk — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:15:47 +0000

Hmmmm. Random thought. If Derren Brown did have a magnet in the die, and if he could be sure the audience would pick either 3 or 4, he wouldn’t need to force the audience to pick 4 in advance or to have multiple trick dice. 3 and 4 are opposite each other – south pole of a magnet under the 3, corresponding north pole under the 4, switchable electromagnet beneath the bowl, job done. Would probably even make the trick more reliable because the side he wanted facing up would’ve been strongly repelled by the magnet.

That’s actually kind of elegant in a way.

By: Victor Reijs

Victor Reijs — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:20:35 +0000

Do people have good literature/articles/papers about this phenomenon about the content of this concept that people can so ‘fast’ take over the idea of luck? I would like to refer to this video as part of an essay I do about sacred sites.

Thanks for your help.

All the best,

Victor

By: Charlie Mason

Charlie Mason — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:34:24 +0000

Derren is amazing – I wonder what else he could get people to change about their lives just through the power of suggestion and self belief – for example could all overweight people become thin simply by believing they’re thin? Maybe Derren could chane the world if enough people listened…

By: Berber Anna

Berber Anna — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:26:09 +0000

Olivia: Don’t you think that’s exactly what these shows are, in fact, doing? ‘Programming’ people to be nicer, be more human, to overcome what’s holding them back… Cf. the timer at the end of Hero (as well as the message throughout), the last episode of the second Trick or Treat series (and, to a lesser extent, that entire series), and the Gameshow and Secret of Luck episodes of the Experiments. You don’t need to hypnotise people if you want to ‘program’ them into being all they can be. You just need to poke them in the right soft spots, push the right buttons. That’s what Derren’s later work appears to be trying to accomplish.

By: Matt W

Matt W — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:25:36 +0000

This was such a great show. Warmhearted and kind, and one in which Derren showed a really, really likeable side to himself which sometimes gets lost on the “something wicked this way comes” persona he often projects. Valuable life lessons to do with the way we filter the world, and ones that we should all take with us. I really appreciate the way you pay attention to detail so meticulously, and really think things through. Now, spill the beans… the dice WAS loaded, right? You showed us all how you influence people to think of your chosen song at the beginning… so… did you do it with the number 4 at the end? Come on, spill the beans!

By: Olivia

Olivia — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:11:07 +0000

How this could work as a TV format is something that could surely be worked out. And there is an interesting movement in the US called Random Acts of Kindness which would be a great name, don’t you think? I am not suggesting DB change into a pink fluffy easterbunny. But seing The Secret of Luck shows me that it is equally interesting to go down the sunny path once in a while. We all know the dark and sinister exists.

By: Olivia

Olivia — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:01:07 +0000

It was amazing how Dreen changed the outlook of so many people and did real life coaching. But how about taking this further even and use his abilities as shown in The Heist to programm people in a positive way? Ok it is maybe not as easy to predict and set up but also there wouldn’t have to be any “de-programming” afterwards. He has shown us so many insights into the negative side of the human psychy. And it would be great to spread more of the positive seed. Without there being any other reward than just acting responsible and human and letting go of fear. To some people taking part it could just be as exhilarating and surprising as the Heist. Wouldnt it be great to work with so, who doesnt think of himself as unlucky but racist and see how that could evolve and change?

By: Olivia

Olivia — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:43:47 +0000

i hope so from DB’s team will read this.

I thought it was amazing how DB covered a huge array of human emotions including a modern day interpretaion of the Milgrim Experiment in the Game show. Although I have to admit, that I couldn’t watch it all the way through. I found the faceless mob too terrfying. and seeing the 1970 Film Abraham – ein Versuch, which is the recreation of the Milgrim Experiemt by the Max Planck Institut in Munich, where I come from has changed my life. or rather it helped me stay on the path I was already on. i was only 14 when I made a concious decision to never hurt so intentionally even if it meant at the time that not taking part in the bullying would ostrazise myself in boarding school. Sorry went off on a tangient .