File puptcrit/puptcrit.0709, message 189


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
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