From: Stephen Kaplin <skactw-AT-tiac.net> Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:08:29 -0400 To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Across the Universe Bread and Puppet was not directly involved in the film, but it's an interesting story. Apparently the producers of the Taymor movie contacted Bread and Puppet's director, Peter Schumann to ask permission to use his puppets, or have him make some for the film. He declined, saying something to the effect of "go make your own". The producers took this as permission to crib, so they then went off looking for puppet-makers that could make authentic- looking Bread and Puppet- type figures for them. I was asked to build them some models, but turned the gig down ( what they wanted was a sort of B & P-lite, ie- the rough-hewn style without the hard-biting politics) They finally managed to find a well established puppet designer (who shall remain nameless) who built them the puppets the puppets they wanted. Some time later they were shooting scenes in the streets of NYC with these pseudo-B&P puppets and Peter's son, Max, (who lives and works in NYC) happened to pass by. He wondered what the hell B&P was doing in the middle of a big film shoot. Asking around he was able figure it out. The Theatre was irate at being ripped off so. The producers were contrite and offered Peter a check for $25,000, which he refused to take. The movie was made anyway and the rest is history. That's the story as far as I know. I wonder if any one else cares to add to this. There was a large (fairly positive) review in today's NY Times with a big photo of some of these puppets. They certainly do look like straightfoward ripoffs of B&P's garbagemen characters and giant hands. But if you look closely, you realize that there is a lot of very un-B&P like detailing to their sculpting. Stephen On Sep 13, 2007, at 5:46 PM, Kathleen David wrote: > I haven't seen it yet but a fellow WGA writer did with a Q&A > afterward with Julie Taymore and he said it was wonderful. > Apparently you do have to like the Beatles to really enjoy it. > I think Bread and Puppet was involved with this film because of > some of the stills I have seen and one of the trailer. > Does anyone know for sure? > Kath > _______________________________________________ > List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org > Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit > Archives: http://www.driftline.org > _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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