In a press release provided to Den of Geek, Testa notes that he came into the project with a limited understanding of magic and used his magical naivety to understand the community of illusion artisans, highlighting them in a way that shows the core of the trade.
“The film became not just an investigation into piracy, but an exploration of the people behind the illusions — creators whose work is often invisible even as it inspires wonder around the world,” Testa says.
With the idea of uplifting a community whose livelihood and integrity were being breached, Testa set out to create a renewed appreciation for the artists who spend their lives creating wonder, and the Jason Bourne-like lengths they will go to protect it.
The documentary explores, at its essence, the lack of protections that has created a billion-dollar global market. Kearney, a management consulting firm, estimates that globally, internet piracy costs the entertainment industry around $75 billion annually.
In a world that is already talking so much about the theft of intellectual and creative property at the dawn of the age of AI, the lack of protections for creatives is jarring.
With a 1-hour and 27-minute runtime, Stealing Magic explores the magic community’s identity, dedication to the craft, and the real impacts piracy has on not only the livelihood of creatives but also the price of leaving fantasy unprotected.
