Puppets and Marionettes and More!

"P" is for Puppets in the A to Z Challenge

"Puppetry" has long been an interest of mine. Jim Henson was one of my heroes, and I cried when I heard he had died.

The 80's were a fascinating time in the evolution of "puppetry". I use the term loosely, as muppets, marionettes, and sophisticated radio control costumes all fall under the umbrella of this post.

From 1983 to 1987, Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs graced our tv screens. The Gorgs were among the most complex, with radio controlled faces:

Gorg from Fraggle Rock

1991 to 1994 presented us with Dinosaurs, a technological offspring of the Gorgs:

Ralph Kramden pre-incarnated as a dinosaur

In 1995 we were treated to the magic of Babe:

I think the Sheep were the most impressive characters

Unfortunately for the advancement of puppetry arts in cinema, 1993 introduced us to the first CGI dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, heralding the decline of puppetry in cinema.

Paleontologist Dr. Alan  Grant: "I think I'm out of a job"     Me: "Me too!"

Other Honorable "Puppetry" Screen Mentions:

1983's Pumpkinhead

1982's The Dark Crystal

1984's Gremlins

1990's Robocop 2

1990's Total Recall

1982's E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

1980's The Empire Strike's Back

My own projects have ranged from Halloween props to a rooster for a Passion Play:

Sea Dog Cemetery: Bush Gardens Howl-O-Scream 2002.
The fellow on top sits up when a bicycle brake lever is pressed, and turns his head.

Corpse sitting up in coffin in 2003's Grimmwood Manor

His head turns, and mouth opens

I've also done the mechanics for a Ventriloquist Head:

I've written a couple of shows including "Reindeer Pause", featuring a grown up and married Rudolph and Clarice, and I've built puppets for Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC, and I made a full body costume of "The Deficit Monster" that was a cross between Audrey II and a Fangtooth:

Fangtooth Fish
I don't have photos of the actual costume, but he was very toothy!

I was up in Maryland visiting my friends at Goatman Hollow (whom I collectively call "The Goatmen", even though there are some lovely ladies among them), when I found some cool puppets in a local gift shop. I decided to purchase one to augment my Santa act. Meet "Pesci". (Note, I never said I was a ventriloquist):

I did the Shrek and Jimmy Neutron heads for a local Regal Cinemas for a Christmas parade:

Shrek Head

Jimmy Neutron Head

And this was for Carowinds theme park in North Carolina:

Patch the Pumpkin

And when I was managing the prop shop at the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, WV, we made a tap dancing Vagina costume. But you'll have to wait for that. That post will appear on "V" day!

I've put up three posts on puppetry already:

Giant Ass Puppets

Wonderment Puppet Theater

Beowulf as a Puppet Show

I just discovered this amazing video:

Finally, I have to mention the Bear in the Big Blue House, if for no other reason than that he overcame Big Bird's gimp arm. But really, he is much more than that, with a camera in his nose and a viewing screen inside his chest for the performer. The fluidity of this guy kills me.

"P" is for Puppets, and April is Parkinson's Awareness Month

Elevator Pitch

Continuing with my "E" theme for the A to Z challenge, I thought I'd add a post on the "Elevator Pitch".

An elevator pitch it a term used in business circles for a sales pitch that is short enough to be presented on a trip in an elevator; usually about 30 seconds or so. When presenting an idea to someone who is interested but short on time, you might hear them say "give me your elevator pitch".

People ask me what I do, and I've always found it difficult to summarize it in an elevator pitch. Lately I've taken to saying something like "I design and build three dimensional art, primarily as a means to tell stories".

This at least tends to result in some questions from the listener, as opposed to me prattling on about theater, film, theme parks, displays, Broadway, churches, sculpture, fountains, puppets, marionettes, animatronics, character costumes, parade floats, Halloween, haunted houses, model building, computer modeling, architectural mapping, and European folklore.

I have found people tend to interpret my answer in regards to their own world view, and sometimes their actual needs. "So... does that mean you can make a video for me?" or... "Does that mean you can fabricate a display for our museum?"

Just yesterday someone I was having a conversation with asked "Who would have thought of puppets as art?" The top of my head almost blew off. I asked "Who WOULDN'T????"

So... to all the artists out there... give me your elevator pitch. Leave a comment. If you don't have one, it will be good practice in developing one. Because one day, you might just be on an elevator with someone who has the means to fund your dream.

Mine? Creating a stage puppet/marionette show centered on the Russian folktales of Baba Yaga, featuring a 12 foot tall Dancing Hut.

Anone got fifty grand they want to invest?

Baba Yaga by Viktor Vasnetsov

"E" is for Elevator Pitch, and April is Parkinson's Awareness Month

Giant Ass Puppets

Yes, I have a thing for puppets. And marionettes. Although I do admit to being intimidated by the complexity of marionettes.

As I've mentioned before, I was working for the summer in Shepherdstown, WV as prop shop forman for the Contemporary American Theater Festival. One day, an intelligent young woman working in the costume shop told me about a local venue that was having a event that evening open to the community. It was on private property, and had the unusual name of "The Timberframe Folly".

Timber Frame Construction

I was intrigued immediately, as I have a love for timber frame style construction.
When my wife and I built our home, we hoped to be able to employ timberframing. However, it was a bit out of our price range, and we went with something a little more traditional, although very much inspired by the timber frame idea.

As intrigued as I was over the timber framing, more to my joy was the information that there was going to be a show in a few weeks at The Folly, incorporating 10 foot tall marionettes.

The event that evening was wonderful, featuring hand made arts and crafts, home made stew, and local musicians performing under... the Timberframe Folly.

The folly has its own interesting history, but it was created by Al Thomas, a local timber framer, on the Sanders property. I inquired about the giant marionettes, and was introduced to Bradley Sanders, creator extraordinaire. Bradley showed me the marionette bodies in progress, as well as the enormous radio controlled heads.

Bradley and I shared an amazement at a video we had seen online. Each of us (independently of one another) had enthusiastically showed this video to anyone who would listen. Bradley laughed as I pulled it up and showed it to him, as if he had never seen it. Here it is:

I'll fast forward to my last day at CATF. After completing my contract as prop shop manager, I stopped by the Folly to see if they needed any help on the show, which was coming up in a couple of days. I had rescheduled my departure day to Sunday instead of Friday, so I could see the Saturday night show.
When hearing that I was going to be in town for the show, they asked if I would like to be part of it and help manipulate one of the marionettes. (Each marionette requires 4 people to operate). I jumped at the chance.

Here are videos of Fish Tales, written and performed by the local children at The Timberframe Folly.

Part 1:

Part 2