For Beginners
By Amy Harder
While there are some nifty things here at PuppetryLab.com from which beginner puppeteers can certainly benefit, this site is here specifically to challenge advanced puppeteers with beyond-the-basics information and techniques. So, if you’re just getting started in puppetry, you’re welcome to look around but you might want to check out these great resources for beginners:
First, go over to Expert Village to see some nice video demonstrations of puppet manipulation and more by puppeteer Paul Louis in his Puppet Theater series. All the basics are shown in happy little segments.
Then check out Steve Axtell’s online article, “Developing Excellence in Puppet Manipulation“. This is a great primer course that covers eye contact, lip synchronization, head and body movement, plus some fun characterization exercises.
In your search for information, don’t neglect your local public library. You’ll probably be surprised at the number of resources they have on puppetry, puppet building, and theater in general. (Remember, good puppetry is good drama.) Ya’ never know what little gems you’ll find if you get your butt off the chair and actually try researching the old fashioned way. You know, WITHOUT the Internet.
In addition, you might consider looking into local or national puppetry organizations, like the Puppeteers of America, the Fellowship of Christian Puppeteers, UNIMA-USA (or the many other International UNIMA groups), to name a few. These organizations provide information, training, resources, and even local chapters to help you get plugged in to the puppetry community in your area.
And, of course, there are the many hands-on training opportunities at conferences, workshops and festivals worldwide. PuppetryLab’s Events section will be listing upcoming puppetry training events by location.
If you are looking to get into church puppetry, make sure you check out One Way Street and Puppet Productions. They are the leading resource providers for puppet ministry. One Way’s got a great book called “Puppet Ministry Made Easy” and a nice instructional DVD, “Puppet Ministry Basics and Beyond”. They also sponsor lots of regional training festivals. Watch out, though. You might just find me at one of ‘em.
OK. Is that enough to get you started?
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