Cyril floating on air? (Photo by WALDEN SADIRI)

SINGAPORE – Keeping true to the belief that the Suntec Fountain of Wealth brings fortune to those who wish from it, Cyril, the magician, who was standing at the middle of the fountain, produced loads of cash from the air just by snapping his fingers. The few people allowed to be near the fountain to watch him were in awe as he concocted a fountain of money for a few seconds. What followed after made his audience’s jaws dropped as he bent backward and seemed to have laid down on air a la Keanu Reeves in the “Matrix” movie.

Cyril was simply magical and simply amazing in the two short magic or illusions he performed in front of a live audience. It was actually a teaser to promote his upcoming TV magic special that’s slated for a Nov. 19 airing on AXN aptly entitled “Cyril: Simply Magical.” And for Cyril, one of the vital ingredients to make his magic effective and captivating to his audience was – the element of surprise!

The element of surprise was the reason Cyril was drawn to magic at an early age. He recalled being brought to Las Vegas to watch a variety show. He wasn’t told what was in store for him that night until a man went on stage and started producing doves from his fingertips. He also saw how the man on stage cut in half his beautiful assistant who’s inside a box and even levitated her. Since that night, he knew that he wanted to do magic and the rest is history. According to him, the magic he saw was unexpected and it changed his world!

To date, Cyril is one of the world’s most respected magicians. He has made a name for himself in Japan most especially where he was based most of the time as a magician. He has always traveled and performed in different cities in Japan and has 15 two-hour Japanese magic primetime TV special for a leading Japanese broadcaster, Fuji TV.

With the support of his avid fans, Cyril was christened as the world’s first “Cyber-Magician” as clips of his various magic tricks were uploaded on the Net for the world to see. He has also received accolades for his craft like being bestowed the “Magician of the Year” during the 39th Annual Academy of Magical Arts Awards (known also as the Academy Awards of Magic) in 2007.

So is he grateful to YouTube, where his magic tricks were viewed worldwide?

“Yes,” smiled Cyril during an interview held at Morton’s Bar at Mandarin Hotel, Singapore. “However, I’d like to remind everyone that it is illegal to upload copyrighted footages but I’m very grateful for people who have put me up. Because of them my magic has spread around the world and I’m where I am because of that.”

It was through the Internet that his notoriety as a magician was made known especially with tricks like moving the Lacoste emblem of a Lacoste shirt move around, teleport itself as a mobile phone logo, then make it increase in size on the shirt again until morphing into a baby crocodile. Other tricks found on the Internet was taking-off his head and producing a real hamburger from a catalogue, biting it and returning the burger as a picture again on the catalogue but with a bite mark!

And finally, after a year of negotiating, the magic of Cyril will be aired in Asia via AXN Original Production with co-production partner WME Asia and main sponsor Sony Ericsson.

Ricky Ow, Senior Vice President and General manager of SPE Networks-Asia, shared, “Cyril is an innovator. Producing 15 specials only means that he always creates new magic tricks for his fans in Japan. More than just a performer, Cyril’s magic is organic to the place he is in. He makes his magic more interesting by using things that are close to the people in that place. He brings magic closer to the people. He really loves performing in front of a live audience!”

Performing in front of a live audience is but natural for someone like Cyril who grew up in magic as well as in the performance arts.

“My magic started off in a theater, I grew up in Hollywood, California and was part of the Academy of Magical Arts which is very famous worldwide. It is also known as the Magic Castle. There I learned to create performance magic on stage in a theatrical environment with music and lighting. Back when I was a kid I made white doves and canes appear and made all these cards appear from my fingertips,” he explained.

He added that he honed his magic skills by traveling around the world and learning more about magic in different countries. He then was able to develop his own skills of doing magic in everyday situations that led him to doing magic anywhere and everywhere.

In fact his love for traveling is what also convinced him to agree to do a TV magic special for Asia, which was a first for his “magical career.”

“I love traveling. I love the world. I’ve always traveled around the world whether it’s private or business. I felt I’m ready to have 15 two-hour programs in Japan. My supporting fans in Japan wanted me to take another step to go to another level and I feel that coming to Asia and breaking new ground is that new next challenge for me,” he related.

And what’s the challenge for him of doing “Cyril: Simply Magic”?

“The challenge is that I’ve taken out from my element. Japan is like my second home, or my home I should say. And going to countries that I haven’t traveled to in my life like Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan made it very challenging in a sense that I don’t know anything about these countries. So we are here on a very tight production schedule and it is an unscripted show. I don’t come here knowing what I’m shooting, I go to these places and it’s like a travelogue. It’s not really a travel show, it is a magic program but in a way it is a reality program and we don’t know what’s going to happen,” he pointed out.

With “Cyril: Simply Magic,” the magician expressed that it was an honor for him that AXN Asia has placed him on the same level as magicians David Blaine and Criss Angel, whose magic specials the network airs for Asian viewers. He stressed though that what sets him apart was the fact that he was in Asia, filming for the Asians unlike the two magicians’ TV specials which were all made for an American audience. His upcoming TV magic special was “organic” with real objects and with real people who live in the Asian countries he visited including Singapore.

As to why he pursued his magic career in Japan instead of Hollywood where he grew up, the answer according Cyril was another surprise in his life. He fell in love with Japan and the people there.

“I’m half Japanese and my father wanted me to learn about my Japanese roots when I was very young. I was 15 going on 16 and the best way to learn about your country is to go to your country and to live there. So I left for Japan when I was going on 16 and I fell in love with Japan,” said Cyril who also revealed that being passionate about his magic in Japan was a struggle.

Like any success story, he passionately pursued what he loves and through hard work and perseverance, Cyril and his magic prevailed and the world now knows of his triumphs!

Lastly from his performances around the world, Cyril’s message is simple – oneness.

“Every country has a unique way of accepting a performance. To round it up internationally, it’s really becoming one and everyone is going to love it,” was Cyril’s magical remark.

“Cyril: Simply Magic” premieres on AXN on Nov. 19, 2009!