I think the toughest thing about being an actor in a film is to be with a director who doesn't know what they want. And that can be really, really frustrating. Ricky Jay actordirectorfilm Change image and share on social
Writing is the only thing in my life that doesn't get easier. It just doesn't. Ricky Jay easylifething Change image and share on social
Every acting gig isn't the same, every writing job isn't the same, every live performance isn't the same - the challenge is the level of difficulty or ease, and that may vary. Ricky Jay actchallengedifficulty Change image and share on social
I never talk much about my family, but my grandfather was friendly with these guys, with magicians and ventriloquists on the highest levels, and I was just... interested. Ricky Jay familyfriendlygrandfather Change image and share on social
I don't know what first got me to attack melons. It's not like I ate a bad one and got an upset stomach. It just eventually seemed like the appropriate fruit. Ricky Jay attackbadeat Change image and share on social
To obfuscate the reconstruction of the effect - when a magician is fooled by another magician doing magic. In my career that's not been the major passion, but it's been the passion of a number of my mentors. The crowning achievement for them would be to create magic good enough to fool other magicians. Ricky Jay achievementcareercreate share on social
Like every art form, there are jealousies and angers and competitiveness in magic. But there's camaraderie among magicians, whether you perform it for a living or you're an enthusiast. Ricky Jay angerartcamaraderie Change image and share on social
I was considered a comedy magician. And - how do I put this without sounding egotistical? - it didn't take me long to realize that comedy magicians usually couldn't do comedy or magic. Ricky Jay comedyconsideregotistical Change image and share on social
I wasn't obsessed by magic. People say, 'How you can you claim you practiced eight hours a day and weren't obsessed?' Well, people go to a job they don't even like for eight hours a day; it's not obsessive if it's something you like. Ricky Jay claimdayhour share on social
Unlike other Jewish families, we didn't go out for Chinese food on Sundays, but we spent our time in a world of baking powder biscuits and the best shrimp cocktails that ever were. Ricky Jay bakebiscuitchinese Change image and share on social