File spoon-archives/puptcrit.archive/puptcrit_1997/puptcrit.9705, message 133


Date: 27 May 97 10:13:23 +0500
From: puppetco-AT-thepuppetco.org (Christopher Piper)
Subject: Re: Animatronic Camera (Thanks everyone)



>I think the main question everyone is trying to ask me is if I have the
>motions all figured out yet. Well, let me rephrase that into a question for
>all of you. When you are building a puppet, do you first develop the look
>then let the personality come from that, or do you think of a personality
>first, then create the look?
>The route I am taking on this is to develop a look first. Perhaps I am
>wrong for this. I might be trying to jump ahead several steps, and falling
>flat on my face. Any thoughts on this?

Ah, the old "chicken and egg" quandry, glasshoppa.  Since I usually
build a complete cast of characters, I look at an overall visual style
first.  However, certain characters may be so strong as to influence or
even fight the stylistic concept right off the bat.  This dynamic can
actually be very helpful as it keeps you exploring the possibilities.
You already have a basic concept, which is why I suggested playing with
the cameras in my earlier post.  Creative play can lead to a personality
emerging from the object, and lead to a solution.


>***Well, last minutes thoughts from a mind gone mad!***
>Imagine THIS idea. How about an old fashioned potrait photographer with his
>face stuffed in an old fashioned camera that has the clothe hood covering
>his head. I am trying to find a way to just integrate his head as the
>camera. That would be interesting if possible. Hmm...Well, if people are
>continually interested in this project, I will post more later. I am rather
>long winded and really do not want to annoy anyone.
>Thanks again everyone, Scott McDonnell


I'm not sure if this is what you are already saying, but what if your
guy with his head under the hood is *really* into photography, you might
substitute his face for the face of the camera.  It's a little surreal,
but it would be a captivating image and your could do some neat things
if the camera had one of those accordian type necks that could give it
your "wiggle".  You would have to be careful to keep it cute so as not
to scare your target audience.

Another off-the-cuff idea:  What about making the body of a point and
click camera the body of a bug, like a beetle or ladybug.  You could
call it a "shutterbug", and the back plate could open up as if a
carapace, and it might free you up a little bit because you could add a
head, arms and legs to the camera body.  This may be a little too far
from your original concept, but as with all free advice, it is worth
every penny.

Good luck.


  ________________________________________________________________________
  * Christopher Piper }P-{>   ||||||||||||   The Puppet Co. Playhouse    *
  * *****   E-Mail    *****   ||||||||||||   Glen Echo Park, Maryland    *
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  *      TPC Web Site         P u p p|e|t|    puppet theater for the     *
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