To: puptcrit <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org> From: Greg Ballora <gregballora-AT-sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2007 20:16:48 -0800 Subject: [Puptcrit] "Protagonist" at Sundance If you all are like me, you probably are not too up on the documentary film world, but I thought I would announce this one. "Protagonist" is a fascinating study of the arc of tragedy as seen in the lives of four real men. Jessica Yu is the academy award winning writer/director/editor of this beautiful piece. Janie Geiser designed the puppets for the piece, and I got to help build the puppets, along with many others, and had the privilege performing on this piece. Jessica created the piece after receiving a grant to do a documentary on Euripedes. She read all his plays, and took the basic structure of his tragedies, and found four living people whose lives fit that mold. This is a weak synopsis of the film, but I use it describe the use of the puppets in a documentary. Jessica needed a way to not only perform scenes from Euripedes, but also scenes from the past of the four subjects. She chose puppets based on Greek Masks, and the puppet sections are really pivotal to the film. Personally, it was a great challenge, to go from my usual work in special effects, and cute slick stuff for Disney, to working on this film where the puppets were relatively simple, carved wood, but were performing scenes like the robbing of a bank, a father beating his child, a man hallucinating in prison, and other really meaty scenes. I like the film so much that I am going to try to plead with the director for a showing in Los Angeles Area that I can invite the puppet community to come to. I hope the film gets out to the rest of the world as well. It has important messages for our time about the dangers of absolute certainty among other things. It is also one of the most innovative uses of puppetry I have seen in film. Here are a few links to articles about it. http://www.cinematical.com/2007/01/26/sundance-review-protagonist/ http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-ca- jessica28jan28,1,2619462.story I have been surprised that although the puppets are mentioned, there is almost no discussion of how well they work in the story, whether they are performed well, how they convey meaning,etc. The puppets are sort of like a location, worth mentioning, but not perceived as a performance that affects the film. I think it is probably because the reviewers are so unused to puppets that they don't even see them as something to comment on other than as a gimmmick. I hope some of the rest of you get a chance to see this film. I don't know how documentaries are distributed, but If I find anything out, I will try to pass the info on. Greg Ballora _______________________________________________ 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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