File puptcrit/puptcrit.0604, message 316


From: "W & P KREFTING" <kreftingfamily-AT-msn.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 18:58:56 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] STRINGS  --  Movie


The film opened last year and was featured at the Puppeteers of America 
Festival in St Paul MN along with Bernd Ogrodnick who held a 
Q&A/demonstration program. The DVD became available, first in Canada 
Amazon.ca, toward the end of the summer.

Wayne


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary Horsley" <mphorsley-AT-earthlink.net>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 6:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] STRINGS  --  Movie


> Whoa! So, when does open in the U.S.? Who does the marionettes? Absolutely
> fantastic!
>
> Mary
>
> "The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."
> -Walter Bagehot
>
> "One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the
> choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape
> ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And, the choices we make
> are ultimately our own responsibility."-----Eleanor Roosevelt
>
> "Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are
> dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do
> it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many
> tomorrows.
>
> -Michael Landon
>
> www.gentleteaching.com
>
> We can't become what we need to be by remaining what we are.
>
> --Oprah Winfrey
>
>
>
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Steve Axtell <steve-AT-axtell.com>
> > To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
> > Date: 4/27/2006 4:54:13 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] STRINGS -- Movie
> >
> > I watched the trailer and saw how the strings are
> > central to the story.   Here is a link to the trailer.
> >
> > http://www.stringsthemovie.com/uk.html
> >
> > Ax
> >
> > At 4/27/2006 12:36 PM, you wrote:
> > >Greetings, All:
> > >
> > >I'd like to respond to Linda, Ax and Michael about "STRINGS."
> > >
> > >Ax: The strings were the puppets' lifelines, so to speak. If one's
> strings
> > >were cut, then one was 'dead.' One cut one's own
> > >strings to 'end it all,' as in
> > >one example in the film. So the 'connection' to
> > >whatever was quite evident and
> > >a necessary visual to get that idea across... During the film, the use
> of the
> > >obvious qualities and also the limitation the strings imposed on their
> owners
> > >was used effectively. Both as a restrictive element, and also to
> indicate a
> > >physical bonding by having two characters' strings entwine. We got the
> > >message....
> > >
> > >I won't pretend to understand to what source of life or power or force
> the
> > >strings were connected. I've seen it a few times and didn't get the 
> > >idea
> that
> > >there was any attempt to convey some 'spiritual' connection, although
> that
> > >certainly might fit into some folks'
> > >interpretation.   The strings rose into some
> > >cloud-like ether so we never saw where they terminated. The strings did
> go
> > >'up.'
> > >So make of that what you will. Seems to me that reverence and respect -
> > >possibly worship - was paid to those who had
> > >gone before. Not to some deity or
> > >force.
> > >
> > >I don't want to say too much. Bernd Ogrodnick will be with us at the
> O'Neill
> > >Puppetry Conference this June and I hope we all
> > >have a chance to ask him a lot
> > >of questions.
> > >
> > >I agree that the film desperately needed some changes of pace. It was
> > >tedious. And plodding. It certainly could have used some cutting. I had
> great
> > >difficulty telling which side was which in the battle scenes.
> > >This very 'liquid' film needed some help in that I, personally, never
> > >understood why so much rain. Nothing was offered
> > >to explain or justify the excess use
> > >of water or why we seemed to be in this very humid environment. Perhaps
> it
> > >just 'was.'
> > >
> > >I will, no doubt, get some 'heated' replies for the following.... I'm
> here to
> > >learn.
> > >I was not taken in by any human character. None earned my sympathy. 
> > >They
> were
> > >all too distant. Too self centered. Strangely, however, I did feel
> empathy
> > >for the bird. It was the only character that evoked an emotional
> response. I
> > >felt that this bird showed his ability to relate to and care about 
> > >other
> > >characters. Perhaps the Mother in the 'birthing'
> > >or 'giving of life' scene was a close
> > >second. I can't explain why.
> > >
> > >I will also go out on a limb and suggest that this was some of the 
> > >finest
> > >(successful) manipulation I have ever seen in a
> > >film using marionettes. I have
> > >seen dozens of films/videos with some by world famous puppeteers. Most
> fall
> > >horribly short where it comes to careful
> > >manipulation. Even those I've worked on.
> > >
> > >I'm thinking that one of the main reasons was that Bernd and his crew 
> > >had
> > >access (or so I've been told) to special goggles
> > >that allowed the puppeteers to
> > >see what the camera saw though tiny monitors in the goggle lens. They
> could
> > >stay focused on the puppet and not have to peer over at some monitor.
> Working
> > >from very high bridges is tough enough.
> > >Fortunately they had this high tech tool
> > >to help them. I'll assume they took plenty of time to rehearse.
> > >
> > >A real problem with any commercial film seems to be that there are
> impossible
> > >time constraints, lack of rehearsal time, and in some cases, lack of an
> > >experienced director who understands what a
> > >marionette can and cannot do.   With
> > >STRINGS, I got the feeling that they did it 'til they got it right.
> 'Right'
> > >being a relative term...
> > >
> > >The marionettes were interesting and of really nice (clean) design and
> > >construction. I like the use of various textures to create interest.
> > >It was a tremendous undertaking, no question, with little expense or
> time,
> > >spared.
> > >But I for one, would have liked to have seen the potential for
> exploiting the
> > >possibilities and range of movement explored more fully. This is an 
> > >easy
> > >statement to make as I sit here in my
> > >comfortable chair, with no deadline hover
> > >ing, or film crew waiting for my input.
> > >
> > >I was jarred when the bird flew off at the end without the aid of its
> > >STRINGS. Nothing prepared me for that. It seems
> > >the whole film, that is to say - the
> > >LIFE connections, was based on those strings. Now, we have this critter
> take
> > >off on its own. Did I miss something?
> > >
> > >I wish there had been an hour of behind the scenes shots.
> > >
> > >For what it's worth...
> > >Fred T.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > Did they do a lot of rain scenes to hide the strings?
> > > > Ax
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > At 4/27/2006 09:59 AM, you wrote:
> > > > >My 4 cents on Strings:
> > > > >
> > > > >The puppets were astounding works of craftsmanship and artistry, 
> > > > >and
> for
> > > > the
> > > > >most part they were manipulated beautifully. (Only some of the 
> > > > >battle
> > > > scenes
> > > > >looked a bit clumsy.)
> > > > >
> > > > >My quibble with the film is with the script and direction.
> > > > >
> > > > >I would have appreciated some variation in the overall gloominess 
> > > > >of
> the
> > > > >script. For instance, the girl's pet bird could
> > > > >have added some much needed comic
> > > > >relief.
> > > > >
> > > > >As for direction, I thought the pacing could have varied. It was 
> > > > >all
> so...
> > > > >legato. There were also some questionable
> > > > >cuts/edits. When the characters' faces
> > > > >never change expression, and their mouths never move, it's 
> > > > >incumbent
> upon
> > > > the
> > > > >director to make absolutely clear who is speaking when. There were
> many
> > > > >scenes in Strings when the direction was more
> > > > >like that used for humans, which
> > > > >simply doesn't always work for puppets.
> > > > >
> > > > >I also got a little tired of all the rain scenes. It began to seem
> like
> > > > >showing off -- "Look! We can operate puppets in water!"
> > > > >
> > > > >But like I said, just quibbles. Overall, really an amazing film.
> > > > >Linda
> > > > >_______________________________________________
> > > > >List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
> > > > >Admin interface:
> > > > >http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
> > > > >Archives: http://www.driftline.org
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Steve Axtell
> > > > Axtell Expressions, Inc.
> > > > Website - http://www.axtell.com
> > > > New on DVD "AxTelevision"! - http://www.axtelevision.com
> > > > International Performer's Directory - http://www.axtell.com/ipd.html
> > > > Original contents =A9 2005 all rights reserved.
> > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > >
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >--
> > >No virus found in this incoming message.
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> > >Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.5.1/326 - Release Date: 
> > >4/27/2006
> >
> > Steve Axtell
> > Axtell Expressions, Inc.
> > Website - http://www.axtell.com
> > New on DVD "AxTelevision"! - http://www.axtelevision.com
> > International Performer's Directory - http://www.axtell.com/ipd.html
> > Original contents =A9 2005 all rights reserved.
> > _______________________________________________
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>
>
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