PuppetryLab.com

A few of you have wondered about the nifty quotes that appear on PuppetryLab. No, I don’t have a complete listing of them to send to you. Sorry. And no, they’re not all sourced. Yet. But I’m trying. Really.

However, I’ve listed many of the quotations (complete with cited references) on the Puppetry page at Wikiquote. So for those of you that have been wondering… there ya’ go.

By the way, the listing at the Wikiquote puppetry page could really use a bunch more quotes. So far, I’ve been the only contributor to that page and it’s a fairly meager listing, at best. The puppetry community has done such a fabulous job with the puppetry pages at Wikipedia, I know we can help round out this sister site.

So, what’s your favorite puppet quote?

Boundaries: Everybody Loves A Parade

It’s almost time to move on to our next section. But before we do, let’s explore one more practice tool in this frame/boundaries study. For those of you that have actually followed these lessons sequentially, you’ll recognize this exercise as eerily similar to our previous game, Memory Lane. We’re going to take that basic idea and expand it–allowing you to play more with character and acting–while continuing to work on the core skill of knowing your screen frame boundaries. So, grab a friend and get ready to have some fun!

Set up. For this game, you’ll need to have plenty of room on the screen in which to move around. Set your camera to a wide enough shot that 4-5 puppets could stand side-by-side on screen. If you are in tight quarters, just go as wide as your space allows. You’ll need to work with a partner on this one and you’ll both need to work to keep the illusion alive through good puppetry and video skills. Here we go! Read the rest of this article »

This exercise is a fun characterization game that takes a bit of concentration and requires silly physical movement. Use this as a fun warm-up to get blood flowing and giggles going. There are other similar games like this out there, but this version is my kooky twist on the standard. Have fun, dudes.

Set up. Spread out across the room, making sure each player has room to move without smacking his neighbor (think aerobics class). This is an elimination game. The last person to complete the required task is out. The game continues until one player is left standing. Read the rest of this article »

Are you ready for more nuts-and-bolts puppet manipulation training? This little vid demonstrates how to make a puppet look like he’s doin’ a backstroke. This technique requires a good working knowledge of Double Rod Manipulation and is a follow-up to the immensly popular Swimming vid.

Watch Now:

 Swimming Backwards [1:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Podcast Video [1:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Flash Video [1:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Boundaries: Merry Pop-Ins

A skilled television puppeteer will not only know the boundaries of the screen, but he will also be able to use them to his advantage. In this lame-name exercise, we’ll play more with our boundaries and challenge our accuracy at the same time. And, unlike the last game, this one will be a little more interesting to watch on screen. As a matter of fact, it has the potential to be particularly humorous. Don’t get so caught up in the details that you forget the character that is on your hand. Let the personality of your puppet show through and have fun! Read the rest of this article »

This is a well-known warm-up game that is frequently spotted at youth camps, scout meetings, and drama classes. It’s another one of those group games that helps reinforce the idea that a team has to be connected and alert to what is going on around them in order to make things work.

Set up. Gather your players into a circle and have them hold hands. That’s it. You’re ready to play. Read the rest of this article »

From their web site, “One Way UK hold more than 40 Training Days/Seminars/Festivals throughout the UK in the course of a year. These are a combination of Workshops, Performances, and Competitions designed to Teach, Challenge and Equip the puppeteer (Beginner or Advanced) and the director for continued and effective ministry.”

More info @ OneWayUK.com:
Training Day - St Albans, Herts (UK) - Feb 24, 2007

From their web site, “One Way UK hold more than 40 Training Days/Seminars/Festivals throughout the UK in the course of a year. These are a combination of Workshops, Performances, and Competitions designed to Teach, Challenge and Equip the puppeteer (Beginner or Advanced) and the director for continued and effective ministry.”

More info @ OneWayUK.com:
Training Day - Sheffield (UK) - Feb 24, 2007