Attack of the 50 Foot Demon: Large Scale Balloon Art and Other Advanced Balloon Twisting Techniques [CD-ROM]

Larry Moss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

Learn to create massive balloon figures using dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of balloons. Larry's balloon fabric creation techniques have been used in decor for small rooms as well as television studios.

This educational CD-ROM, aimed at the balloon professional, contains all of the information an experienced balloon twister needs to begin making balloon fabrics using circular, spiral, and criss-cross methods. In addition to many pages full of explanations and drawings, this CD contains nearly 30 minutes of video.

As an added bonus, two special sections, including balloon busking and figures based on 6-inch heart balloons, are present on this release of the CD.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent, informative introduction to the production of balloon fabrics. Get it." -- Kevin Kinney

"I definitely say it is a must have for the serious balloon professional." -- Terrie Basko

"This CD is enough reason to go buy a computer." -- Tom Myers

About the Author

A performer all his life, Larry discovered in 1985 that his magic shows could be greatly enhanced with the use of balloons. He never tires of creating new approaches to making balloon twisting interesting, funny, educational and at times, even suspenseful. Larry has performed in venues including street corners, restaurants, classrooms, stages, rock concerts, and television. With a degree in applied math and computer science, Larry worked for several years in the computer field before completing a degree in elementary education, and eventually combining his loves of teaching, entertaining, and science. This combination of skills has resulted in Larry performing for audiences around the world.

Product Details

• CD-ROM: 40 pages
• Publisher: Fooled Ya (April 1, 1999)
• ISBN-10: 0964849747
• ISBN-13: 978-0964849747
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,916,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Larry Moss gives you all of the tools that you need., October 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Attack of the 50 Foot Demon: Large Scale Balloon Art and Other Advanced Balloon Twisting Techniques (CD-ROM)

In the first balloon art multimedia CD-ROM, Larry Moss focuses on three misunderstood areas: Balloon Fabrics, Heart Balloons, and Balloon Busking. The result is a very useful and important work.

Larry teaches by example, and not by recipe. So, when he teaches balloon fabrics, or weaving, he gives us clear instructions on how to construct large-scale balloon creations. He offers both text and video, so you can see the structures made in real time (actually 'QuickTime'). This is a very good way to learn balloon art.

However, he does not give the reader any recipes for any finished creations. This is either a strength or a weakness of the CD. I like being given the tools that I can use to create on my own. However, the balloon artist who is only looking for the next hot balloon creation will not find the answer in this CD.

Larry includes a detailed section on how he made the world's largest balloon sculpture in Japan. He shares the working diagrams, pictures of the structure, and discusses the experience. I doubt I'll ever attempt a project of that scale, but I do plan on using this approach when building my own large-scale creations.

Equally interesting is the section on hearts. For years, heart balloons have been neglected by twisters. Few artists have manipulated them to create things like people, ice cream cones, paratroopers, butterflies, sunflowers, etc. Again, Larry doesn't give recipes, but rather the twists and handling in both diagrams and video. And then he shows a number of examples that can be copied using his techniques.

His section on street performing with balloons is a refreshing change from the "balloon-for-a-buck" that is often preached elsewhere. He offers ideas on crowd gathering, bits, and offers advice that he has gained through years on the street.

All balloon artists should get this CD-ROM immediately.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dispelling Your Twister Demons, August 9, 2000

By 

Mike Kenyon (Frederick, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Attack of the 50 Foot Demon: Large Scale Balloon Art and Other Advanced Balloon Twisting Techniques (CD-ROM)

One day, if we are really, really lucky, all balloon twistig books will be like Larry Moss's books. Well written, humorous, and integrated with an overall theme. Whether you are a beginning twister at the dinner table, imposing your balloon dreams on loved ones, or working as a 'professional', after you make your first 3 animals, you realize you need a theme. Some thread to tie it all together. Larry Moss provides creative examples of just how to do that. While a balloon show will never be as long as a book, learning new techniques and creations ought to be done within a framework.

50' Demon has, as it's overarching theme, balloon fabrics. You know, making large expanses of material from 260 balloons. 80 to 90% of the CD is dedicated to teaching you, step by step, the fundamentals of balloon weaving. Next you learn alternate methods of weaving (sort of like the difference between a Harris tweed and a French lace) which deliver different effects. Moss is generous with the pictures of what he and others have created, and it will certainly get your creative side fired up. The CD offers an especially useful addition - movies of Moss actually weaving. Once you start weaving, you go back and look at the pictures, and figure that the objects were fixed up afterwards. Nope - watch the movies, and you see Moss producing these finished products. It is always nice to see someone actually do something they tell you is doable.

The CD is capped off with a record of one of the largest sculptures ever made - a 50' demon fighting a samurai, commissioned by a Japanese television station. The process and the project are well documented. The reader comes away with even greater ambitions (a housing project, made of balloon fabric!) and some insight into managing a large weaving project.

As an added bonus, just to keep his reputation alive as the most creative twister _ever_ , Moss provides a section on using heart balloons to provide a new three dimensionality to sculptures. Did you ever see the heart balloon as a parachutist, a fish, a simple car, or a ballroom dancer? This section is a bonus in the book, so the material is not presented step by step. This is a view of what you can do, and it leaves you with a taste of inspiration to see the world of balloons in a new way.

Get this CD. If you are a twister who is tired of one balloon animals, you'll see a world you never knew existed on this cd. If you are a full time twister looking for a new way to engage the audience in a large scale project, balloon fabrics are the way to go. If you are a decorator interested in adding a special, unusual touch to your work, this cd is essential. And if you are not a twister, but are interested in the world and the many wonderful, creative people in it - get this CD. It will spark the wonder we knew as children on seeing the first snowflake, the first clown, or the first balloon twister.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book out there to improve skills!, February 26, 2004

By 

"sbiederman3" (Austin TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Attack of the 50 Foot Demon: Large Scale Balloon Art and Other Advanced Balloon Twisting Techniques (CD-ROM)

This book is NOT for beginners - it's a bit too advanced to start out with, but if you're looking to go to "the next level" past simple animals, this is the ONE CD to get. Larry Moss is truly a master of turning balloons into artwork and this CD will pay for itself a hundred times over with increased business, increased tips and (the best I think) that increases "wow" factor from your audience. A MUST HAVE!!