Contact

The Insider | Walter Rolfo

By Damian Jennings - Thursday, April 17, 2025

In this episode, Matt Szat (filling in for Damian) chats with Walter Rolfo, the president and artistic director of FISM 2025. They discuss the importance of FISM as the premier magic competition, innovations for the upcoming event, and the role of online magic in expanding the art form. Walter shares insights on judging criteria, the experience of attending FISM, and the unique aspects of Torino as the host city.

Find out more about this year's FISM here.

Audio Version

Video Version

Transcript

Matt Szat (00:05.23) Hello and welcome to this week's episode of the insider. If you're asking yourself that doesn't sound like Damian, you would be correct. Damian is off this weekend when Josh and Andi found that out. They decided they wanted to get someone who was younger and more handsome and more vibrant. Unfortunately, nobody else was available, so they did end up getting me Matt Zat. I will be hosting today. We have a very exciting episode. This is FISM 2025 is just around the corner, just a few months away.

is going to be in a very exciting one. We're gonna have our biggest booth ever at Vanishing Inc. There's going to be new categories. Our own Joshua J will be performing and judging for the first time ever, which is why today's guest is so exciting. Beyond being an acclaimed live show and televised magic show producer and honorary member with Gold Star of the Inner Magic Circle, multiple time Guinness World Record Holder.

He is also the president, organizer, producer, and artistic director of the World Championship of Magic since 2012. So let's welcome in Mr. Walter Rolfo.

Waltter (01:11.035) Thank you very much, Matt. I'm very happy to be here with you and with the guys from Managing.

Matt Szat (01:16.974) We're so excited to have you. know you are a very busy man this time of year, so we're gonna hop right into it. Everyone has to answer this question. What is your magic origin story? You got 33 seconds, go.

Waltter (01:32.372) I began to be a magician when I was nine years old. I paid my study, paid my life doing magic. And after that, I became a journalist for the main Italian channel that is Rai. After that, I started producing TV shows and I opened a company that is Masters of Magic. We produce big events, the biggest connected to the world of magic. And after that, we produce more than 150 TV shows for the main channel.

and I was the president of FISM in and actually now I'm the president, organizer and art director of FISEM 2025. So I love magic very much. That is biggest important thing about magic.

Matt Szat (02:16.75) I love that. And everyone listening to this, also love magic. And let's just talk about fism from a 30,000 foot view right now. I was actually just talking to a friend last night who's a magician, knows what fism is. We've heard it called the Olympics of magic. But there are some people who just aren't really sure exactly what fism is. So in your words, what is fism and how does it elevate the global magic community?

Waltter (02:41.605) Because every three years the best magicians in the world compete to become the world champion of magic. And that is important because during the three years they study to create the best magic possible. in that way, staying all together and competing all together and showing the new future of magic, we create the seeds for the new idea.

that will be developed all over the world. not only, the FISM convention is the most important, the biggest convention in the world. So what happened is that stay together and see the innovating of magic. You as a magician, can come back and spread the mouth about the new way to do magic. So it's not only a way where people can compete, but it's also a way where you can try the best inspiration to create your best magic.

Matt Szat (03:40.28) love that and yes of course.

Waltter (03:40.295) Do you understand what I mean? Because sometimes my English is not so good. Italy I mean very, very better. But I hope that I can explain why FISM is so important.

Matt Szat (03:52.142) don't worry about it, makes total sense. It's the people coming in, they're doing the most innovative magic. And I guess, know, as artistic director, know it's the world championships of magic and it happens every three years, but you you're always working to grow it and make it bigger than it is. So what unique elements did you prioritize to make FISM 2025 stand out from any of the other championships? I know there's some new categories, maybe.

You can also share something about that as well.

Waltter (04:22.919) For first, I think that we should offer to the participants something that they cannot live online. So, something that allows you to live the best magic experience, something that you cannot learn online. So, for example, I talked with Joshua about that many times, and he will propose something that you cannot find online. And so, that is the first secret.

The second one is that I believe that people, magicians, stay together. They allow magic to grow because sharing ideas, the live experience of magic is important. And after that, we work with my team about two new demonstration category. That is for the first time, the World Online Championship of Magic and the Street Magic, the World Street Championship.

So we have two new categories that is important because online is a very, very popular way to do magic now. And street magic is a way to that allow us to keep in touch with many, many spectators, not magician, but spectator. And so to show how magic could be important and amazing. many things. And apart of that, we have the best artists in the world all together, the best lectures and the best competitions.

and the best show. So it's enough to say that it will be a great season.

Matt Szat (05:55.018) I love that. the online magic in one particular, it's broken down into its own subcategories. I know we are honored to have a nomination for our newsletter, but it has the podcast. And so just in your mind, there are some people who think, OK, online magic is detrimental to the art, but clearly the world championship of magic disagrees. So in your mind, how does online magic help grow the art and why is it so important to honor it at the biggest competition of magic in the world?

Waltter (06:25.573) Obviously in online magic, but as on the theatre magic, the close-up magic, on the street magic, we have good artists and bad artists. So online is just a medium where you can find good magic or bad magic. And obviously we will not accept a magician that explains tricks or that they say the secrets behind magic, but artists that use the...

the online like a stage, for example, Samuel Mortimer, he's great. He's doing very amazing magic. Maybe Chris Ramsey that has so many, many young artists that learn magic from him. The important for me about the street magic is first of all, that's permit us to show what FISM is to a biggest.

a bigger audience because... Can you hear me?

Matt Szat (07:26.946) Yes, you're just fine.

Waltter (07:28.825) Okay, to a bigger audience, because maybe in the world of magic, the magic circle, we have 300,000 magicians in the world, but we have maybe 10 million people that love magic and they don't know fism. So it's a way to catch more magicians to our world. And there are many ideas, many innovative ideas on...

in the online magic and that is cool because we can maybe steal some ideas, magic props that we can use also in the live magic. last but not least, online is a reality and so we must give value to this new reality because many good magicians burn online and it's a value that FISM has to valorize to give value to them.

Matt Szat (08:13.774) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Matt Szat (08:26.254) And so some of the criteria that will be judged, like how will street magic be judged differently than the standard close-up micro magic categories? There are different things you're looking for, there are different styles of magic. What sort of differentiates street magic to generate its own category?

Waltter (08:46.791) So we have, as you know, the FISM contest, we have some FISM rules and we have, that's called the FISM level. So if you are not good enough, you will not admit to the medal. So you must have a FISM level that is high enough to be allowed to the prize. And we have different...

value that you have in the paper of the judges about originality, about creativity, about showmanship, about techniques, about innovation. So those are the criteria. And for the online magic, we add also that you cannot use camera trick, no camera trick allowed, no people that explain magic, obviously. And...

Matt Szat (09:33.262) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Waltter (09:42.024) For the most important things, the video should be... not video that... sorry. The most important thing is that... yeah, difficult to explain. That is a real magic doing on camera. And so no CGI or something like that. And for the street magic, the rules are the same for the other category because magic is the same. It's a different theater, different stage, but magic is the same.

Matt Szat (09:57.89) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Matt Szat (10:10.542) That's very interesting and Going to all categories kind of stepping aside for a second. So when it comes to judging, you know any any magic whether street or online or stage, you know, we've we've heard this you stress the importance of Originality so say someone wanted to compete in fism or any competition, you know How important is it that the creativity is there versus the technical precision? I guess

How do you strike a balance? But more importantly, are you looking for a really original act or something that's super fooling? What is the judging when it comes to a general sense?

Waltter (10:50.887) So, a judge has, as I told before, some criteria that is fixed. And apart of that, they are also spectators. So if something really impresses them, it's something that has a value. And when judges start to judge an artist, the thing is if I have to put in front a real audience, and to the best audience that I can have. So...

is the actor that I'm judging should be a good actor that I really will be proud to show to the live audience. So that is the most important criteria. So something very innovative, but not amazing for the live audience. It's something that is nice to say, nice to tell, but it's not something that we've got to meddle. So innovative is important, creativity is important, but also

deserve respect to our house. That is probably the most important thing for a contestant. respect our house.

Matt Szat (11:58.158) Respect the art. I love that. So that also, we've talked a lot about the competition aspect, which I think most people know, FISM, the world championships that happen every three. I think that's what most people think of when they think of FISM, FISM winner. But it is a larger convention with more elements to it. just for people who are listening to this, didn't realize that, what are some of the other elements that are happening? What can someone who buys a ticket as they should, they should get a ticket right now.

What should they expect besides just the best magicians in the world competing on stage or in their respective category?

Waltter (12:33.831) many things and I think that the magic convention is a place where magicians should come in and for seven days that would be the season for 14 to 19, 20, 25. So in July, so 14 to 19, July, 2025. And you will have six days without the option of magic.

We invested a lot in one-man shows because as a magician I like to go outside in the country and watch the best one-man shows so we will have 11 one-man shows with the best artists in the world and that is a great value because you should go to Las Vegas and maybe Edinburgh and maybe London to see such many artists all together. And after that we will have

a lot of party because I believe that magic should also be funny. So we have spaghetti and pizza and beer. So time to stay together because the bad things is to have time to share magic with someone that you don't know, but maybe we could become friends and maybe we can spend our nights doing magic and magic trick each other. And after that, we will have around 60 lectures.

with the most innovative things and I ask personally to all the magicians to do something that they have not published before, they have not shown before. You cannot find online what you are going to see in Torino from the 14th to the 19th of July. other things, we will have also special galas, for example, for the opening gala we will have the

Grand Prix gala that all the Grand Prix winners from the past 20 years in the same gala. Unbelievable. Something that you cannot see again and you never see before. So there are many, many reasons to join us in FISEMITERI 2025 in Torino and I really wait for you. And if you want to know more, you can go on our website, fismiterit 2025.com and you will see.

Matt Szat (14:27.566) Mm.

Waltter (14:52.825) or the artist, or the cast, or the schedule. So many things that you will love it.

Matt Szat (15:01.432) love that. And will also we will also put a link we you know we post this on YouTube we posted on a blog so we will make sure you have those links because you're gonna want to check this out it's gonna be a great time and you mentioned in Torino and I want to just chat a little bit about Torino I believe I saw online it is called the city of magic so that is a that is a a great a great place but sort of how did I know you talk a lot if you go on let's see you talk a lot about Torino and it's so important the place you're in so how does

you know, being in Torino impact, you know, what you do, how is it a great experience for people who come just sort of what is that reputation influence, its influence on the convention itself?

Waltter (15:43.144) Torino, you are right, is considered the most magical city in the world because we have some alchemic cave where legends say that Calliostro or Nostradamus died and Torino is the city where Bartolomeo Bosco was born and it's considered so magical because legends say that there are two triangles, white magic and black magic in the world and

The coincidence of the two triangles is in Torino. So Torino is a very beautiful city. It was the first capital of the Italian kingdom and it was very connected to the masonry. So there are many esoteric places that are very interesting for magicians. Very close to Torino there is the Magic Museum of Mago Sales with more than 30,000 old books. One of the biggest libraries of magic.

And for that reason, we created the category, the new category of street magic, the world championship of street magic, because we want that magician also have the chance to visit Torino. That, believe me, is beautiful, is amazing. In the summer is gorgeous, and not only, we have one of the best food in the world, because Torino is also the capital of slow food, truffle.

and Barolo, the best wine of Italy, is from Torino. So you will enjoy magic and food. That is important.

Matt Szat (17:18.03) There's nothing else worth traveling for in the world when I travel I care about the food and also the magic so that's a guts credible You're basically you're in a beautiful city in Italy and you get to experience the best magic in the world I can't think of a reason you'd want to be anywhere else and I and I really enjoy that now This is my this is my very you know ignorant American self-speaking when I travel to different European countries I notice if things work a little bit differently buildings are older. Sometimes they're smaller. They're

that's designed differently. So were there any logistical challenges with, you know, transforming where you'll be into a magical center and getting ready for the convention? Just a lot of times people don't get to see the behind the scenes of a convention. So what is it like putting on this huge convention that people are coming from all over the world and having to basically build it from the ground up in Torino? What is that like?

Waltter (18:12.135) So Torino is the third city in Italy after Rome, Milan and Torino is the third. So it's a big city. For Italy, for Europe, it's a big city. Not for America, but it's a big city. There are one million and a half persons. And we have a beautiful underground subway.

So the important thing is that the theater of the convention is exactly in front of the subway underground. And so you can leave all Torino and you can, it's very cheaper if you want to live close to the convention. There are five stars hotel, maybe a little bit more expensive, but I know that people is something around 50, 60 euros per night to sleep in Torino. That is nothing. The Torino is in, the FISM is in...

very beautiful convention center and we have a food court with all the best Italian food and not only if you love McDonald's or Subway or KFC you can have also that so you can have very good food with very very few few money and Torino has a very good international airport very well served with the train

So it was the capital of Italy, it's an important city and everything is very comfortable. And the center is not so far away, very easy to reach with the subway. And you can walk because Torino has a very beautiful area where in the center with the old ancient building and you can easily walk. So you can enjoy also the night experience of Torino, very beautiful.

restaurants or dance clubs. So Torino is perfect for a magic convention. It's a big city with the taste of the intimates of Italy. So please join us and for everything that you need you can write to our secretary. They are working for you for FISM and we can help you to find whatever you want and the best hotel and also the best way to reach us.

Matt Szat (20:15.576) Hahaha

Matt Szat (20:26.296) I love that. You can hear the passion in your voice when you speak about it. It's so genuine and it's nice that it's a bigger, larger community and you're telling people to go out and see the community. think that's so important because some conventions, not even just outside the Magic world too, you feel like sometimes you're just stuck in a hotel and there's not much to do. So it's really about building community. think that's what FISM is all about. So we've talked about the convention as a whole, but at the end of the day, I think a lot of people, really relate FISM to the World Championships of Magic.

So there might be some people listening who maybe thought, okay, when I listen to this episode, maybe I'll learn how I can create a competition act. And they might be inspired to do that. So let's say there's somebody out there who it's their first time, they're like, maybe next FISM, I wanna be ready. What would you tell them to do over the next three years? Maybe tell the world championships again, to create a competition act. What's the first step and maybe some things they could understand if they wanna build that type of act.

Waltter (21:23.503) The first thing is that you have to think that building a FISM Act can change your life. Because if you are able enough, you can win the world champion or maybe become first, second or third and you can change your life because you can start working all over the world. But the second important thing is that preparing an Act for FISM, you will train yourself and you will dedicate

at least three years thinking to a new act. And that is a big, big value for your life because your way to do magic will change thanks to the time that you dedicate to prepare a new act. And the first secret, if I have to choose one, is to think something that is not so often, not so common, something that people can say, wow, that's original, because that's something that I never think about.

And I never thought that magic can do also like this. And that's important because for example, you don't need to do something wow, that unbelievable. But for example, Eugene in 2012 just changed the way to propose magic on stage. The card manipulating was amazing. His art is amazing, but his standing was the real.

the real secret of his winning. So you don't need to create the best magic trick ever. You should look for, be unique and innovative in the way you propose your magic and that will change your life for sure.

Matt Szat (23:07.31) So I guess my question to you then the inclusion of online magic, it's a reminder that magic is always evolving. Are you excited? you foresee maybe that that's gonna open up new lanes to just keep growing and evolving? What do you expect to come out of now? People have three years to prepare for the next one.

It kind of feels like anything could happen. Is that sort of what you're hoping for? Specifically with that category, the street magic as well, but specifically with that one, it's such a new way. Now people have three years to get ready for a new one. So do you really see some exciting things down the line for that?

Waltter (23:47.688) I think that innovation in real life is going very, very fast. And that is something like a crystal ball where we can see and also shape new futures. we are... Real life is changing very fast. is important. The magician...

Matt Szat (23:56.952) Hahaha

Waltter (24:16.721) can stay at the same speed because if not, we risk to be old. something that for us was unbelievable many years ago, now for children is something that they can manage just with a touch. And even if it's not magic, it's something that is like magic. And so we should work to create a new space

Matt Szat (24:32.92) Mm-hmm.

Waltter (24:46.381) in this big innovation world to shape the real power of magic. Which kind of deception we can propose to the audience? What is the real surprising in a world where everything is a surprise? So the challenge is save magic from the future and shape the good position for magic in the future of the world.

Matt Szat (24:49.005) Hmm.

Waltter (25:15.321) And I think that if maybe five, six, seven thousand magicians will think a new idea to compete for the next World Championship of online magic, maybe we can find a new seeds that can help all the magic community to create a better story for magic.

Matt Szat (25:35.648) That's great and to clarify on something just to make sure I understand everyone understands, you know, there's no CGI There's no camera trickery But if someone maybe records a video from the top down for the best angle that maybe wouldn't be if someone was sitting around them They wouldn't see is that okay for online magic if you have the camera at the right angle that you need Are those types of things? Okay

Waltter (25:37.159) you

Waltter (25:57.722) Yeah, because that is the stage. Do you remember that McLuhan told that medium is the message. So for me, every kind of medium has a different message. So every kind of stage has a different misdirection. Because the misdirection that I can use on stage is different from the one that I can use close up and television.

as different miserection. Camera for online magic as different miserection. I remember a very beautiful show with Orson Welles many many years ago and he did the gypsy thread and to make disappear, to make the secrets, magician can understand me, he do something like that, he has the thread, he open the thread, he goes outside, say look at it and after he come back. Going out of the video

He created the magic, but that was fair because he's using the medium in the best way. If he was on a table of close-ups, maybe he could do a lapping. He's not cheating. He's just using what he has. using the medium at the best is not cheating. It means that you are clever because you know where you are working and you are using the best at the best.

the place where you are. And it's very different from CGI, because CGI is tricking. It's like to you, it's no. But if you use a camera angle, that is part of the medium that you are using, so it's okay.

Matt Szat (27:33.048) Mm-hmm.

Matt Szat (27:46.004) That makes total sense and what I think is really cool that I mean guess just clicked with me is that if you're recording the video technically anyone from around the world could enter easier than I guess most traditional ways so someone in you know America could enter just by recording a video in their home and entering that way is that correct?

Waltter (28:07.579) Yeah, you can, sorry, I don't understand. Can you repeat, please?

Matt Szat (28:12.012) Yeah, sorry, you broke up a little bit there too. So I said it expands to, I guess it greatly expands how many people can enter since the, you're recording, most people are be recording in their home, from the comfort of their home and submitting. So it really expands the reach of how many magicians can get involved. Cause I don't live in Italy, can, without having to make much effort in terms of travel and accommodations and.

Waltter (28:32.166) Yeah.

Matt Szat (28:35.724) setting up maybe on a stage to record. can just record in my home, which I think opens it up to a lot of people, especially a younger generation who's used to performing that way. And it seems like that's exactly how it works, correct?

Waltter (28:45.887) Absolutely, yes, yes. Our goal is to spread the mouth about FISM and about World Championship of Magic, close-up, stage, online, street. That is our goal. I'm also the Artistic Director of FISM and my target is to involve as people as possible to magic. So I agree with you.

In that way, we are giving the opportunity to everybody to become the world champion of And the only... There is no problem about money, to have any, just the creativity and the aim to become the best. And so I think that is very, very good and it's very democracy way to spread the mass of our magic.

Matt Szat (29:41.516) I think it's great. think it's no secret that magic can often be slow to adapt. And it is. great to hear you talk about. You're right. Like going back to what you said a few minutes ago, it's a medium. It's a medium that we're now allowing. It's we're not saying you're not saying, you know, use cameras to cheat and CGI and tricks, but you're saying it's just another medium. And I think it really it does expand it. And it's it's really a great it's a great thing. And so I guess, you know, speaking about FISM twenty five twenty five, I think you've sort of you've

You've sort of answered this, but you know, what are some other ways besides, know, being focused with the filming and the social media, what are other ways that magicians can stay relevant? You know, I've gone to events and, you know, people are talking about AI and all that stuff and how that's sort of like magic to them. How can magicians be staying fresh and relevant, not just for a magic judging criteria, but just for audience expectations? What are some other things they can be thinking about?

Waltter (30:40.571) I think that for many years magic was a way to propose a trick and the trick was the power. I know more tricks than you so I am a better magician. Obviously there were many artists and great artists, legendary artists, but for the 80 % of magicians that work in the wedding or in the pub or maybe in the

Matt Szat (30:53.518) Mm-hmm.

Matt Szat (31:06.338) Yeah.

Waltter (31:10.417) convention, it was for most of them I know some secrets that you don't know. everybody can have the explanation of the magic tricks here. Sometimes during the show you have some spectator that googling, that googled the secrets. So secrets is not the power anymore for me. For me, the power is to create art with our secret. So what I really would like to

Matt Szat (31:19.342) Hmm?

Matt Szat (31:26.114) Mm-hmm

Waltter (31:40.36) to give us an idea with the FISM 2025 is that magic is a real great art, secret is part of this art, you really now, because secret is not a secret anymore, you must be a good actor, you must be a good inter... I don't know the name. You must have a showmanship, you must have a good text.

You must work on music, maybe be a dancer. So, art is the whole thing. Magic is the most important part of the things, but it's not enough. So, in the future, magician should be more artist than only magician. That's my opinion.

Matt Szat (32:29.166) I that is a great way of putting it. So we only have just a few more minutes. So we're gonna do some quick questions, because you've answered, some great stuff. We've learned a lot about fizzing. Let's get into some quicker questions. So I think we'll go back a second for performing on stage. I've talked to people, they've practiced their fizzing act multiple times, yet there's still those nerves. So what are some tips for a competitor to calm some nerves before a

big performance.

Waltter (33:01.703) Everyone has his secrets. For example, remember Vito Lupo told me that before the show you have to shake your hand. That is Vito Lupo's tips. But for me, what I teach to the magician is that a little bit of nervousness is important. So, start thinking that nervousness is okay, it works.

Matt Szat (33:31.659) Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah.

Waltter (33:31.686) Nervousness, yes? It's not something that you have to fight, but something that you have to accept. And there is no good artist without a little bit of nervousness. And sometimes the best show starts with the right size of nervousness. So change the point of view. It's not something, it's not an enemy, but something that if you use at the best, is a good friend. That is what I think when I am going on stage.

I think that I have a little bit of wow, tension, it's good because I never underestimate audience, I never underestimate shows, and so not eliminate, find a good balance inside you. And that is the most important things. And also think that nothing is the final, the life.

Matt Szat (34:27.534) Mm-hmm.

Waltter (34:27.751) We will also have a new occasion, new chance, even if sometimes we don't believe that. And I'm old enough to say that you will forever have the second chance. So enjoy the best day one and expect for the second.

Matt Szat (34:46.562) Fantastic. heard someone once said it changed my whole perspective that being nervous shows that you care about what you're about performing I think I think you said the same thing there. So I guess if someone is Coming as a a fism competitor What's a couple things one two three things that every competitor should know some quick hit things They should maybe how they should prepare what they should look for if you want to compete. What are some things you should know?

Waltter (35:12.359) So when you already started, the three things that you should know. One of the biggest secrets is how to take the applause of the audience and enjoy for the applause because some competitors finish the act and run away from stage. But that is very important because at the power to...

Matt Szat (35:26.04) Mmm.

Waltter (35:37.284) accept the applause and waiting for the right applause and enjoy is something that is important even because at the end judges also listen to the number of applause even if they should not but at the end so that's important and second one is enjoy the competition because the biggest gift of the competition is not the prize but all the path that you run because

not for emotional things, but because you created an act and with the new act you can work in your real life. And so that's important because you come back at home with new experience and with a new act that is ready to perform a stage and maybe is good for her money. So the fism is important because you spend time to work on that. And third.

Fair Freaklets find a way to create connection with you and the audience because magicians in the audience during the show scream, shout, enjoy. So remember that you are part of the community.

And the people in front of you, even if they are magician, so maybe sometimes they have something like that and waiting to discover your magic secret. Remember that if you are able to play with them, they will be your best friends because at the end, the clapping that you received is important, not only for you, but also for the judges. So start, find a way to be friends with the audience.

That is important.

Matt Szat (37:27.246) That's great. And real quick back to the online magic thing that just something that clicked into my head. Since you're not really playing with you don't have the banter with the audience there. You don't have that element. But you obviously are an acclaimed producer of magic television. And something I've learned when recording videos is you have to you have to be more animated. have to give more of yourself to a camera. Do you have any tips for people when recording on a camera to make it to make it a spectacle to make it

more interesting, do you have any tips for people when they're recording their videos that will get to catch the judge's eyes?

Waltter (38:02.095) Yeah, the camera changed a lot. I did many, many TV shows in my life. A lot, I think that I was in more than 2,600 episodes in my life. And I'm quite old and when I started, television was the place to be, but also the very rigorous place. So you have to...

Matt Szat (38:23.214) You

Waltter (38:31.717) be perfect and spoke in a good way and at the right timing and that was the past. Now with that we learned that reality is the new black. So reality and simplicity. So the best secrets for me, for everybody that try to do video on social media is the spontaneity.

Spontaneity is a good word. Spontaneity. Yeah.

Matt Szat (39:04.441) Yeah, yeah, it's about to 90 but that if that's even hard for me to say so you're you're good. You're good

Waltter (39:08.871) Okay, yeah, because I saw during videos, am around, we wrote the social, something around 250,000 followers, that in the beginning I tried to be very perfect. And now as easier I am, easier is the best. So...

Matt Szat (39:25.88) Mm-hmm.

Waltter (39:33.411) Remember that camera is not a judge, but it's just a way to speak with friends and find a way to be very easy. And probably that is the best secret to perform the best on camera.

Matt Szat (39:47.758) And one more before we start to wrap things up. you could resurrect one magician to headline, doesn't have to be the competition, but headline, know, the gala show, a one person show at FISM, who would it be and why?

Waltter (40:01.041) Houdini for sure, because he was not only a great magician, but he was also a great marketing man. so I think that we should have the greatest announce ever in the world. And I love the Venom for sure. I love Richard Hoss, but Houdini for sure attracted all the people because he was not only a magician.

Matt Szat (40:09.773) Haha.

Waltter (40:29.093) He was really, every moment of his life, a very unbelievable human. And so, yeah, for sure Houdini.

Matt Szat (40:39.264) Awesome, well, we do have to wrap things up, but before we go, we always end the podcast with four rapid fire questions. are not related to magic, they're about you, Walter. Don't think too much, you just gotta answer them as you did, but here we'll go right now. What is your favorite pizza topping?

Waltter (40:58.471) or mozzarella, fresh mozzarella because important, that's important. When you come to Italy and please bring your wife with you, bring your parents with you because Italy is a very beautiful place. So enjoy Fism and enjoy the holidays and pizza is simple. In Italy we have very, very, very good food because we don't create big mash up of food.

Matt Szat (41:06.029) Ha

Waltter (41:25.059) easier if you are in italy enjoy the mozzarella the original one you never taste something like that parmigiano the original one so very few elements one by one and you will be crazy so mozzarella margarita pizza without no topping no ananas please is illegal in italy no ananas because i mozzarella easy

Matt Szat (41:44.462) You

Matt Szat (41:48.556) My wife would agree with you. All right, favorite movie.

Waltter (41:51.528) Italian movie or in the world, for magic, I love the prestige. I love Nolan as a director, the prestige, the best one. And if you want, can say to you, oh wow, the sentence that I love when he say that the real secret of a magician is the total devotion to our hearts. That's amazing film.

Matt Szat (42:12.61) favorite person or people, you know, band that make music.

Waltter (42:19.015) Wow, you don't know because they are from Italy. love Fabrizio Dandre, that is like a poet. And he's not so famous because he's old now, but he's amazing. He changed the music in Italy. if you come in Italy, you can also listen to him. And if you want, can also have Gabri Ponte, that is new DJ that is working all around the world. So you can dance in Italy or inspiring you in Italy, you can choose.

Matt Szat (42:46.778) And the final question of today's podcast, if you had to fight, you had to physically fight to save your position at FISM, would you rather fight one giant And or 100 tiny Joshua Jays?

Waltter (43:01.391) Wow, I don't understand please. I know that is a tough question, so I don't understand.

Matt Szat (43:04.234) So if you had, is, nope, it's a tough one. So if you had to get in a fight, it's a hypothetical question. If you had to get in a fight with one giant And Gladwin, or you had to get in a fight with 100 tiny little Joshua Jays, which one do you think you could take?

Waltter (43:14.982) Yeah.

Waltter (43:22.239) Wow, I think one giant ending cloudwing because I know that Joshua is a very determined one and 100 Joshua, I think that I everywhere attacked probably so it will be, I think that I will die in both of them but probably with And I will have more chance but 100 Joshua it will be very tough and yeah.

Matt Szat (43:24.632) Hahaha

Matt Szat (43:43.374) You

Waltter (43:50.567) I forgot to give you some names for the cast if it's still possible to give you. So because it is amazing and so for example we have Mac King, One-Man Show, and I, Richard Wiseman, who is a special One-Man Show, Joshua Jay, Jason Lightemer, Saucer Victoria, Hector Mancha, Peter Mare, Topaz, Miguel Munoz, Armando Serro, David Williamson,

Matt Szat (43:56.014) absolutely. Absolutely.

Waltter (44:39.371) So it will be an unbelievable season. Please join in Italy because I promise that you will be

experience the best magic experience of your life. We waiting for you.

Matt Szat (44:49.602) I can't think of anywhere else in the world you could see all of that talent in one place and we are so happy you shared that with us. We can't wait to see you with our biggest booth ever and Joshua J is gonna perform like he said and he's also gonna judge. It's gonna be a great time for both Fizzum and Advancing Inc but with that we have to say goodbye. Thank you so much Walter Rolfe. We appreciated you being here and we hope to see you again very, very soon.

Waltter (45:14.939) Thank you very much Matt, thank you to Andy, to Josh, to all the people from Vanishing Ink that follow us, and it's true, it will be the big booster in the Magic Convention. So I'm waiting to be amazed and surprised for your creation, and so waiting for you in Italy, and thank you very much for the time.

Matt Szat (45:34.542) All right, thank you very much.

Back to blog homepage