

Gambler's Ballad: The Legend of Johnny Thompson
Overview
Penn and Teller hired Johnny Thompson to consult on their magic show as soon as the duo began their career and Johnny has been with them ever since. "Gambler's Ballad" follows Penn and Johnny's progress as Thompson teaches Penn his signature card act. Numerous well known figures from the magic world reminisce and wax philosophic about the unparalleled knowledge and profound influence Johnny Thompson has had on their own careers as well as the history and current state of the art of magic.
Top Cast
The Amazing Johnathan
Self

David Copperfield
Self

Derek DelGaudio
Self

Arsenio Hall
Self
Handsome Jack
Self

Penn Jillette
Self

Teller
Self

James Randi
Self
Key Film Crew
Production Stats
You May Also Like

MAXIMÓN - Devil or Saint is a documentary about the controversial Maya deity, also known as San Simon or the drinking and smoking saint of Guatemala. He is a mixture of ancient Maya beliefs and Christianity. The movie concentrates on the people who surround Maximón with their strong personalities, opinions and faith. The documentary gives us a rare view into the rituals and fiestas honoring Maximón. The cult of Maximón is flourishing because he performs miracles. He is also feared and despised because he is used to cast curses that can result in death. Ultimately, Maximón transcends the duality of good and evil, reflecting the Maya cosmovision in which everything in the universe co-exists.
Maximón: Devil or Saint

Step into the world of Magick Balay, a magician since age 14, and a man with a passion for bringing amazement into people's lives.
A Man Named Magick
Documentarian Karen Cruz profiles eight key players in the Magic: The Gathering scene on its twentieth anniversary in Denver, CO. One of the original fantasy collective card games, Magic has millions of players worldwide and is considered one of the most successful card games of all time.
Mile High Magic

Director Robert Kolodny draws parallels between the Harry Houdini's conjuring power of sleight of hand and the creative process of hand crafting works of film. Commissioned for the 2026 True/False Film Festival.
Escape Artist

An extremely rare and hard-to-find documentary short by director Ashim Ahluwalia. Thin Air chronicles the lives of three magicians against the backdrop of contemporary Bombay and offers a refreshingly complex vision of urban life through three illusionists who have little option but to confront reality.
Thin Air

A kaleidoscopic road trip through modern mystical Americana, revealing the hidden magic that’s happening all around us. A living tribute to the glimmering pockets of light beneath the crumbling facade of the American Dream, inviting viewers to slow down and engage with the unseen.
Wild Magic
In the north country there are helpers. People with special gifts and abilities. In the Sámi heritage they have existed for centuries. They healed, relieved pain and stopped bleeding. And much more. The good helpers are still here. Out there in our modern world, they are hidden, sometimes hard to find - but not gone. What kind of knowledge do they possess - is it a gift, or could anyone learn how to heal?
The Secret Helpers

Box explores the synthesis of real and digital space through projection-mapping on moving surfaces. The short film documents a live performance, captured entirely in camera. Bot & Dolly produced this work to serve as both an artistic statement and technical demonstration. It is the culmination of multiple technologies, including large scale robotics, projection mapping, and software engineering. We believe this methodology has tremendous potential to radically transform theatrical presentations, and define new genres of expression.







