File puptcrit/puptcrit.0501, message 288


Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 07:36:54 -0800
To: puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org
From: Steve Axtell <steve-AT-axtell.com>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] High Tech Little Shop of Horrors


At 06:45 AM 1/25/2005, you wrote:
>The reference to the "waldo" reminds me not only of the original Waldo CGI
>puppet character from "The Jim Henson Hour" and the Muppets' 3D attraction at
>Disney-MGM Studios, but of the simulacra Doozers from "Fraggle
>Rock."   Does the
>waldo glove work as an elaborate, high tech simulacrum, working the puppet
>remotely by carrying the puppeteer's hand motions via electronic wires to the
>puppet?.....
>
>But let's say Waldo was performed as live animation, and was making apparent
>eye contact with the audience, even really addressing himself to specific
>people in the crowd.   Do you think the character on-screen, as opposed to
>what
>may be happening with the puppeteer and his gizmos backstage, is actually the
>puppet?   Or is the puppet what is on the computer monitor?   Or is it the
>keyboard of the computer?   The abstract programming?   Arabic numerals in
>code?
>
>Curious,
>
>Sean

My opinion is that if you are directly controlling, the real time movements
of an object for purposes of entertainment or drama, it is a puppet.  A
"waldo" (Rick Lazzarini told me he owned the trademark to this word) is
just another method of transferring the real-time control from the
puppeteer to the puppet.

Two great references to see a waldo in action is "Turtles on a half shell:
Making TNMT" , and the movie FX (which parts were faked).

Hand puppet (hand directly controls the puppet)
Rod Puppet (hand controls rods at a distance from the puppet)
Cable control (hand operates cables at a distance from the puppet)
Radio control (hand operates joy stick at a distance from the puppet)
Waldo control (entire body of puppeteer controls the puppet)
3D virtual puppetry (puppeteer using joystick directly controls the live
movements of a 3D animated puppet on a monitor)   Many draw a distinction
because the puppet is no longer real but virtual, but I think it's still
puppetry because the manipulation is real-time by an operator.

Now if the puppeteer were a programmed robot, who in turn operated a
puppet....is it puppetry?    Hang a marionette from the moving arm of a
robot.   The marionette dances around like a drunk....is the robot a
puppeteer?

Ax

>Steve Axtell / Axtell Expressions, Inc.

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The original content of this email or attachments is =A9 2004 Axtell
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