WORKING WITH PUPPETS
WORKING WITH PUPPETS
Puppets are great fun to work with. They are real time animation and are just like working with actors, spontaneous and interactive, except they happen to be an alpaca, a dog or even a cactus. They 'exist', 'are there' and trigger our deep seated need 'to play'. We know a person is working them but somehow we only see and believe in the puppet. Whether you are young or old this never changes.
PUPPETS IN TELEVISION
Puppets work best in the television medium. In real life puppets are limited to what they are able to do, by means of their physicality and operation, but by using a series of specific shots edited together controlling what we 'do' and 'don't' see television allows puppets to do ANYTHING. Fly, jump, swim, run into a rugby scrum and even drink!!
PUPPETEERS
I cannot stress enough the importance of using experienced and talented puppeteers. There are very few performers who really understand the art of puppeteering. So often because puppets are considered a 'child's art' people think anyone can do it.....'It's easy!!' This couldn't be further from the truth. Once you have seen a good puppeteer at work do you then understand what they bring to the puppet. It is a misconception that you need to build the most fantastic puppet with moving eyes, blinks and other gizmos but if you were to give a sock with two button eyes to a good puppeteer it would be truly 'alive'.
I often make the analogy when people are considering using inexperienced puppeteers that .....if you had gone to all the trouble of designing and hand building a beautiful car you wouldn't then give the keys to someone who had never driven.
PUPPETS
Although very performable a sock with two button eyes isn't the best we could hope for. As with any instrument that needs to be performed every consideration must be made when designing and building a puppet. From how the puppet will look and translate it's character visually, to it's range of movements, it's technical manipulation (for example interchangeable arms to handle different props) and to the environment it will be seen in. Again experience is so important.
PUPPET MAINTENANCE
Another key factor in producing puppets for television is the role of the Puppet Assistant. ( Or sometimes known as the Puppet Wrangler.) Puppets need to be looked after and require a person with a set of very specific skills. The puppet assistant not only understands how to prepare and 'rig' all the tricks employed in puppetry but also knows how to dress, maintain, repair and for each shot make neat and tidy the puppets they are looking after. A key role indeed. Often this is the one area that is underestimated and often dispensed with because of cost. 'Surely the puppeteer can do all this?' But again, using an analogy, it would not be expected of an actor in television to do their own hair and make up and to be able to launder and repair their own costume. The Puppet Assistant is the equivalent.
ASSISTANT PUPPETEERS
Sometimes puppets need an extra pair of hands to help operate them. Assistant puppeteers, usually in a junior role, provide that help. Whether it be to operate extra puppet arms, mechanisms or to simply help handle props.
PUPPET CO-ORDINATION AND CONSULTANCY
Television puppet shows that have a large cast of puppets often have a Puppet / Puppeteer Co-ordinator. They are usually one of the cast puppeteers who will also act as the direct link puppet-wise to the director. They advise on how to achieve certain shots with the puppets, on any puppet rigs that would need to be organised and to how many puppeteers might be required. The co-ordinator then relays this information back to the puppet department and organises the man power. This person basically provides the 'one voice' between a director and the puppet team.
On large scale projects before and during pre-production the puppet co-ordinator will often be the key person to whom the production company will consult with regarding the puppets. They are usually at hand during the puppet build, any set build involving the puppets and are responsible for suggesting puppeteers and assistants. This hopefully provides a smooth run and continuity into full production.