From: Christopher Hudert <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com> Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:49:28 -0500 To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] making puppets fast On Nov 23, 2008, at 10:56 AM, puppetpro-AT-aol.com wrote: > People are fascinated with "how long it takes" ... we've all gotten > this question...I wonder, why? I also wonder, has anyone curbed or > increased their time making puppets recently -- and why?=A0 I think people are intrigued by something out of their ken. I answer this question first much like I did about putting on the clown makeup when I was in the circus - I always takes exactly how much time I have. Part of this is contained in a favorite quote: "Finished is Better Than Perfict." Sometimes it is much better to be done than to have it exactly perfect. As it will never be exactly perfect, it is better to settle with some minor flaws and declare it "done" than to keep working on that perfection. Plus it is likely that the audience will never notice those "flaws" that I've been obsessing about. I find, too, that projects - just like putting on the clown make up - will often expand to fill the time allowed. Truth is a comfortable rate for putting on my clown make up is about 20 minutes, but I've gone from street clothes to full costume and make up in as little as 3 minutes, and often take 30 minutes or more if I have the time. For puppets I explain there is not quite the same rule of thumb, as it depends greatly on the type, style, scale, and so on. Add to that any research you need to do and keep referring to during the process. A puppet can take a few dollars and a few minutes to create, or thousands of dollars and weeks to create. Sometimes the quickest, cheapest, least complicated puppet can be more effective than something from the opposite end of the spectrum. Sometimes it's the puppet, sometimes the performer. For me, the puppet is the instrument. Hand a Strat to a novice violin player and you're not automatically going to get magical music, but often a gifted musician can create magic with the least of instruments. So too, the puppet. I've experienced magic from improvised puppets in the right hands, disappointment from wondrous puppets in the wrong hands, and just about everything in between. Puppetry is one of the few things that breaks the aphorism of "You can get things cheap, fast, and good - but you can only have two of those at any given time." Because puppetry, like many arts, is such a wide open area, there is no set "how long" or "how much". So, yes, I have both curbed and increased my time in making puppets recently. Many times projects were determined by a deadline. While that is still essentially true, I have also recently worked on some things intentionally working as fast and as cheaply as possible, while still maintaining a standard of quality. The intent was to curb a growing tendency towards more elaborate and involved process and puppets, and to get back to some basics. Part of it was also to challenge myself to work within the confines of a smaller budget of both time and money. But, I've also expanded the time on a couple of puppets to the extent that I don't know if they ever will get finished. Some of this has to do with the fact that they exist in a vacuum. There is no deadline and no show for them. I've even gotten into some and then, not liking the direction they were going, tossed them, which for a pack rat like me is unusual. I have to confess, I'm guess I'm not much of an artist in that respect. I am not driven by the creation of the instrument, so I don't often go to the studio just to create puppets. I'd much rather spend time on concepts, show ideas, writing, and so on. Christopher _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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