Filming is underway on the documentary Dealt about the extraordinary life of master card mechanic/card shark Richard Turner. Dealt is being directed by Luke Korem and produced by Koremn, Bradley Jackson, Russell Wayne Groves, and Andrew Lee, and according to Ralph Smyth Entertainment, we can expect to see the documentary debut in 2015.
“His talent is mesmerizing and character is larger than life,” said Korem. “I’m honored to make this documentary.”
Details on Dealt:
Dealt is a documentary that follows Richard Turner on his journey of self-discovery after losing his sight at the young age of nine. In his formative years Turner battled with drugs and alcohol due to feeling helpless and defeated. However, Turner eventually developed an enhanced sense of touch, and when he picked up a deck of cards his life changed.
Mentored by Dai Vernon, known as the only man to ever fool Harry Houdini, Turner quickly became the greatest card magician of his time. Not only has he enraptured the world around him with his talent, Turner is also a speaker who motivates others to “deal with the hand they’ve been Dealt in life.”
Richard Turner Facts [Courtesy of Ralph Smyth Entertainment]
Richard grew up in San Diego, California in the 1960s and as a young boy he dreamed of becoming like Maverick – the Hollywood TV character played by James Garner who could swindle any old-west casino. Richard would dress up in cowboy attire and try to fool his brother and sister with card tricks. He practiced every day and fell in love with magic. However, at the age of nine, Richard began loosing his sight to a degenerative disease that would eventually leave him in a world of darkness.
For much of his formative years he felt helpless and angry, and drifted onto a path of destruction often turning to drugs to cope with his loss. Richard’s perception changed when he realized his loss of sight was being compensated by an increasingly refined God-given sense of touch. At the age of twenty-one he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in magic. There he was quickly discovered and mentored by the renowned Dai Vernon, known as the only magician to ever fool Houdini.
Due to Richard’s intense dedication (practicing 18 hours a day) and amazing touch, he mastered all that Vernon taught him, and invented his own methods, which made him arguably the best card mechanic in the world.
