Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 18:03:42 -0800 From: Dmitri Carter <dmitri-AT-nwpuppet.org> To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org> Subject: [Puptcrit] Puppet stomach Dear Amy & critters, We have used a balloon to inflate the belly of a marionette. It was in the NW Coast Native American story of "Raven & the Box of Daylight". For this production we are grateful to have worked with Nu-Chah-Nulth carver George David and the Green and Hottowe families of the Makah Tribe. Raven transforms himself several times trying to trick his way into the chief's house and eventually succeeds by transforming into a pine needle which falls into the water of the chief's daughter. After drinking the water with the needle, she becomes pregnant and the next day she gives birth to a little raven boy. Eventually Raven gets the light out of the box and flies out the smoke hatch in the ceiling bringing light to the world. The effect of a balloon worked wonderfully as her belly grew when she was sleeping and then was gone again when you see a little boy. The lighting was dim so that the air tube with balloon attached would not be too visible. It wasn't there all the time. In the same show there was another traditional character which in our show used a balloon. Snot boy was apparently done as a masked character and possibly as a puppet along the Northwest Coast. According to various accounts, they would sometimes use oysters or other gooey things that would be pulled out of the nostrils of this character. We ended up not being so authentic and used a balloon but one benefit of a balloon that seafood does not offer is the ability for the snot to grow and shrink. Quite disgusting. Kids of course loved it. For a hand puppet or rod puppet, it would be much easier to have a balloon effect. We have also run tubes down on rod marionettes and that works fine too. Just make sure to have extra balloons and switch fairly frequently so you don't have it pop unexpectedly. Popping on queue can be quite effective though. If you want it to inflate and deflate, you can try using a binder clip on the air tube. Someone that is really great with inflatable effects is Jean Claude of Compagnie Coatimundi in Avignon, France. I don't think he is on this list but he is an amazing puppeteer and inventor. He has a house that explodes as a giant snail emerges. In another effect, his hand inflates right as he is about to shake hands with his neighbor, who of course is quite horrified. They do great shows and anyone interested in puppets and inflatable effects should definitely try to see them if given the chance (somewhat difficult for us in the US since they are in France and seldom tour here). Anyhow, good luck. Sincerely, Dmitri Carter dmitri-AT-nwpuppet.org http://www.nwpuppet.org Northwest Puppet Center 9123 - 15th Ave. N.E. Seattle, WA 98115 tel: 206 523 2579 fax: 206 523 8078 _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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