From: Jimsan777-AT-aol.com
Date: Sun, 8 May 2005 13:17:09 EDT
To: puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] Body Puppet Making/Foot attachm'ts


Re: Body Puppets, Feet, Festival programs etc.

   I have some great video that I shot in Siberia of several companies using 
"body puppets" with puppet's feet tied to the puppeteer's...also the "dancing 
partner puppet" etc.   Most were animal puppets, sort of like Felix the Cat, 
Giant Rabbits, etc. or other fanciful animals, but some were of humans.   
Having created these types of puppets myself (with the help of our able 
puppet-builders, Greg Ballora, Barbara Poznic, etc.) we discovered the WRONG ways to do 
it.

   Those I saw in Russia adopted a simplier approach, they put their own feet 
into oversized shoes they created from foam, fun and rubber soles, etc. with 
an elastic band around the heel to hold it on.   worked great, even with lots 
of acrobatics.   Feet were oversized and elongated so that the torso did not 
lean forward.

    Our "Tales of the Ashanti" which I offered the PofA for the fest this 
summer and which was, sadly, turned down uses (almost) life size puppets, each 
operated by a single puppeteer.   Greg Ballora created the puppets, Roger Mara 
wrote the script.   I offered it for the fest program because the puppets were 
very unusual and are operated by attaching the puppet's feet (from the heel) 
to knee pads worn by puppeteers, thus elevating the "Playing Board" about 14-16 
inches from the floor.   Frontal set pieces provided the illusion   of the 
playing board.   For the swimmer, the puppeteer, lying on the floor could 
operate that particular pupept from "below."   Set pieces revolve,etc.   I offered 
TA because I never seen a production at a PofA Festival using so many 
innovative techniques. I thought it would be nice to show something different.   Greg 
was a main puppeter for many years with this show, which was performed at 
Hollywood Bowl, Stern Grove Festival in SFO, over 1000 schools, and other places 
across the USA.   We now have a black puuppeteer, Gerald James, an excellent 
actor, dancer and puppeteer to work with Keith Wassmuth, who was the original 
puppeteer along with Greg.

    Aplolgies for the long post.   When I get to it, I'll edit the video and 
transfer to DVD.   You learn a lot by watching other's.    Regards, Jim Gamble
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