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{{Short description|British entertainer and illusionist}} |
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'''James Freedman''' (born 6 April 1965) is a British entertainer, sleight of hand artist and expert on stealth crime and theft from person. 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'. |
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{{other people}} |
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{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} |
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[[File:James Freedman at TEDTalentSearch.jpg|thumb|Freedman presenting a [[TEDx talk]] on "Secrets from a professional pickpocket" in 2012]] |
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| ⚫ | '''James Freedman''' (born 6 April 1965) is a British entertainer who is best known for his skill as a [[pickpocket]]. He has picked the pockets of the Mayor of London, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Governor of the [[Bank of England]]. In 2013 ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' wrote that he is "the world's number one pickpocket".<ref>{{Cite web|title = Lost Lectures: Big Fight Live|url = http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/lost-lectures-big-fight-live|website = Time Out London|accessdate = 2015-10-14}}</ref> Freedman is an authority on pickpocket techniques and is consulted by police forces and security professionals for advice. In 2015, he was appointed the UK's first Fraud Prevention Ambassador by the [[City of London Police]]. |
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== Special consultant == |
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| ⚫ | James Freedman has picked the pockets of the Mayor of London, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Governor of the [[Bank of England]]. |
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Freedman acts as a consultant inventing magic tricks and illusions for feature films, television shows, theatre and stadium productions. He worked on the 2006 film ''[[The Illusionist (2006 film)|The Illusionist]]'', and taught [[Edward Norton]] and [[Aaron Taylor-Johnson]] the necessary skills for their parts; Norton said that "James is one of the ultimate all-stars in his field today".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/leisure/filmreviews/display.var.1229102.0.norton_is_simply_magic.php |title=Norton is Simply Magic (From Your Local Guardian) |accessdate=2007-03-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927045923/http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/leisure/filmreviews/display.var.1229102.0.norton_is_simply_magic.php |archivedate=27 September 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | He was asked by [[Roman Polanski]] to teach Sir [[Ben Kingsley]] (for his role as Fagin) and other actors the art of picking pockets for the movie [[Oliver Twist (2005 film)|''Oliver Twist'' (2005)]] and is listed in the credits as a [[Pickpocket]] Consultant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,14931-1812362,00.html|title=Home Page – The TLS|website=TheTLS}}</ref> |
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Freedman is an authority on pickpocket techniques and is consulted by police forces and security professionals to share his expertise. |
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In 2012 he also taught pickpocket skills to [[Helena Bonham-Carter]] and [[Sacha Baron Cohen]] for their roles as Monsieur and Madame Thenardier in ''[[Les Misérables (2012 film)|Les Misérables]]'' directed by [[Tom Hooper (director)|Tom Hooper]]. |
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== Live Performances == |
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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."<ref>http://www.magicweek.co.uk/backissues_0400-0449/0433.htm</ref> |
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| ⚫ | He also trained Sir [[Ian McKellen]] to portray a stage magician for the short film ''The Egg Trick''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1784658/|title=The Egg Trick|date=21 June 2013|publisher=|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> directed by Stephen Kroto. In an interview following the UK premiere, Kroto joked that Freedman "is the man who taught Fagin to pick pockets and Gandalf to perform magic! "He worked in London and on location in [[Serbia]] for ''[[The Brothers Bloom]]'' a 2008 film directed by [[Rian Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magicweek.co.uk/backissues_0350-0399/0360.htm|title=0360 - MagicWeek UK Magic News|website=www.magicweek.co.uk}}</ref> |
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He also gives pickpocket demonstrations to educate and help people avoid becoming victims of real pickpockets.<ref>http://talentsearch.ted.com/video/James-Freedman-Secrets-from-a-p</ref> This TED talk is one example. |
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| ⚫ | In 2010 Freedman advised on ''Dip'' written by [[Simon Lewis (writer)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magicians.co.uk/news/?p=701|title=Latest news from Magicians.co.uk» Blog Archive » Fancy a dip?|website=www.magicians.co.uk}}</ref> |
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His one-man theatre show [http://www.manofstealwestend.com James Freedman: Man of Steal] won 5-Star critical acclaim at The Edinburgh Festival in 2014 and in 2015 enjoyed a sell-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory Theatre before transferring for a limited run to Trafalgar Studios in London's West End. The show was hailed “a spectacular coup de theatre” (The Telegraph) and reinforced Freedman's reputation as “a master of the deceptive arts” (The Stage). |
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| ⚫ | In 2008 and 2009 James Freedman and Martyn Rowland created magic effects and taught presenter Thomas Brezina magic tricks for the [[Austria]]n children's TV show ''Trickfabrik'', broadcast on ORF.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kidstv.co.at/index.php?id=8 |title=KidsTV GMBH: News |accessdate=2010-10-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501193453/http://www.kidstv.co.at/index.php?id=8 |archivedate=1 May 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> 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. |
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== Notable film & television work == |
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He also acts as a [[Magic consultant|Magical Advisor]] inventing magic tricks and illusions for feature films, television shows, theatre and stadium productions.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1844201/</ref> |
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| ⚫ | He was also consulted to advise on the short film ''ARK'', written by [[Charlie Williams (British writer)|Charlie Williams]] and directed by Mal Woolford that was accepted for inclusion in the Palm Springs International Shortfest. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1276937/|title=Ark|date=26 August 2008|publisher=|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> |
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Freedman was the Magic Consultant for the 2006 film [[The Illusionist (2006 film)|The Illusionist]] starring [[Edward Norton]] and [[Aaron Taylor-Johnson|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".<ref>http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/leisure/filmreviews/display.var.1229102.0.norton_is_simply_magic.php </ref> |
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| ⚫ | He was asked by [[Roman Polanski]] to teach Sir [[Ben Kingsley]] (for his role as Fagin) and other actors the art of picking pockets for the movie [[Oliver Twist (2005 film)|Oliver Twist (2005)]] and is listed in the credits as a [[Pickpocket]] Consultant.<ref> |
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| ⚫ | He also trained Sir [[Ian McKellen]] to portray a stage magician for the short film<ref> |
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| ⚫ | In 2010 Freedman advised on |
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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. |
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| ⚫ | He was also consulted to advise on the short film |
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== Awards == |
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Formerly a Director of the Magic Circle Foundation, Freedman has been awarded the title the Magic Circle Close Up Magician of the Year twice, most recently in 2014. He was promoted to Membership of the Inner Magic Circle in recognition of his outstanding abilities as a performer. |
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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 recognise members who have given twenty-five or more uninterrupted years of service to the organisation."<ref>http://www.magician.org/portal/node/290</ref> |
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== Trivia == |
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* In 2003 Freedman's hands were insured with UK insurance company Royal and Sun Alliance for UK£1 million. [http://pickpocketshow.com/profile.html (Source)]. |
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* 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'. |
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* <nowiki>He qualified as an Auctioneer and Chartered Surveyor and was the Honorary Auctioneer of the Magic Circle from 1992 to 2011. In 2010 he was elected to the governing Council of the [http://www.themagiccircle.co.uk Magic Circle].</nowiki> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.jamesfreedman.com jamesfreedman.com]{{DEFAULTSORT:Freedman, James}} |
*[http://www.jamesfreedman.com jamesfreedman.com] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Freedman, James}} |
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[[Category:1965 births]] |
[[Category:1965 births]] |
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[[Category:English magicians]] |
[[Category:English magicians]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:People educated at Epsom College]] |
[[Category:People educated at Epsom College]] |
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[[Category:Pickpocket entertainers]] |
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Latest revision as of 23:43, 26 September 2024
James Freedman (born 6 April 1965) is a British entertainer who is best known for his skill as a pickpocket. He has picked the pockets of the Mayor of London, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Governor of the Bank of England. In 2013 Time Out wrote that he is "the world's number one pickpocket".[1] Freedman is an authority on pickpocket techniques and is consulted by police forces and security professionals for advice. In 2015, he was appointed the UK's first Fraud Prevention Ambassador by the City of London Police.
Special consultant
[edit]Freedman acts as a consultant inventing magic tricks and illusions for feature films, television shows, theatre and stadium productions. He worked on the 2006 film The Illusionist, and taught Edward Norton and Aaron Taylor-Johnson the necessary skills for their parts; Norton said that "James is one of the ultimate all-stars in his field today".[2]
He was asked by Roman Polanski to teach Sir Ben Kingsley (for his role as Fagin) and other actors the art of picking pockets for the movie Oliver Twist (2005) and is listed in the credits as a Pickpocket Consultant.[3]
In 2012 he also taught pickpocket skills to Helena Bonham-Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen for their roles as Monsieur and Madame Thenardier in Les Misérables directed by Tom Hooper.
He also trained Sir Ian McKellen to portray a stage magician for the short film The Egg Trick[4] directed by Stephen Kroto. In an interview following the UK premiere, Kroto joked that Freedman "is the man who taught Fagin to pick pockets and Gandalf to perform magic! "He worked in London and on location in Serbia for The Brothers Bloom a 2008 film directed by Rian Johnson.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7] 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 short film ARK, written by Charlie Williams and directed by Mal Woolford that was accepted for inclusion in the Palm Springs International Shortfest. 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.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Lost Lectures: Big Fight Live". Time Out London. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
- ^ "Norton is Simply Magic (From Your Local Guardian)". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- ^ "Home Page – The TLS". TheTLS.
- ^ "The Egg Trick". 21 June 2013 – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ "0360 - MagicWeek UK Magic News". www.magicweek.co.uk.
- ^ "Latest news from Magicians.co.uk» Blog Archive » Fancy a dip?". www.magicians.co.uk.
- ^ "KidsTV GMBH: News". Archived from the original on 1 May 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
- ^ "Ark". 26 August 2008 – via www.imdb.com.