File spoon-archives/puptcrit.archive/puptcrit_1999/puptcrit.9904, message 102


Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 17:16:59 -0400
From: Dave&Ann Yates <monet-AT-lincoln.midcoast.com>
Subject: Re: PUPT: multiple marionette controllers


I love the visual way you write_ I can "see"  it/them
Gives me a great lead to work from. Having someone think it through ..helps
me think about how to engineer it.

Thanks!

Annie of the right brain thinking



Jim Wrote:

>Dear Whomever was inquiring about a controller to manipulate multiple
>marionettes:
>
>	 There are several parameters:  Do you want several (1-4) marionettes
>in tandom (meaning one in front of the other) or side by side (as the name
>implies).  Do you want individual marionettes to be capable of being
>individually operated, as for example one-by-one joining a line of
>marionettes?
>
>	I have built all these acts e.g, (1) can-can girls (side by
>side..SBS) (2) furry creatures with body & legs only, who join a line as the
>act progresses (line up in Tandon..TN)  (3) Mexcan Hats, with only feet,
>which join up as in #2, (4) Ball room dancers where the male and female face
>each other, (5) Rand Turk where one character breaks into five smaller
>figures, (6) line of Russian Cossacks, (7) Two Russian Cossacks each
>manipulated by one hand doing two different dance steps, (8) two sets of four
>marching toy soldiers..see my Nutcracker video for set of 12 marching toy
>soldiers.  etc., etc. Each type of multiple act requires a different type of
>controller.  I have worked and studied Rufus's controller, which controlled
>as #1 above.  It was quite complictated, but when broken down to the basic
>components, easy to understand.
>
>	So first you must decide on which of the multiple marionette acts you
>wish to control.  Some figures require a spacer to keep them at the proper
>distance apart.  You could rig a circulular ring or dowel with cross parallel
>strings to tie several together to allow for the heads to turn in unison..
>The knee ankle strings for can-can dancers need to have a cross bar dowel to
>pull all the strings fairly vertical.  If the strings are pulled at an angle,
>tied to a ring, for example, they should run through eye screws on the main
>control in order that all strings tied to the same body part are pulled the
>same vertical distance, otherwise the end marionettes will kick higher or
>lower than the middle characters.
>
>	Weight is also a consideration.  The figures could get heavy, and
>it's not much fun hanging them around your neck for support.  I've used
>"rocking" Cross bars (with extenders) both to hold the shoulders and heads to
>support multiple figures, and to rotate the extenders to cause the legs to
>kick (on a set of Russian Cossacks, for example.)
>
>	Does this help?  There simply is no ONE WAY to construct controllers
>for all multiple marionette acts.  Wish I had the time to draw all this out
>for you, but if you'll consider my remarks above, hopefully you can get on
>the right path.  Jim Gamble
>
>
>  --- Personal replies to: Jimsan777-AT-aol.com
>  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu





  --- Personal replies to: Dave&Ann Yates <monet-AT-lincoln.midcoast.com>
  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu

   

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