File spoon-archives/puptcrit.archive/puptcrit_1999/puptcrit.9906, message 262


From: "David James Bender" <davebender-AT-excite.com>
Subject: Re: PUPT: Writing and Puppetry
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 1999 07:32:05 PDT


On Sun, 27 Jun 1999 22:39:05 +0100, Stephen Kaplin wrote:

> Dear David,
> 
> 	Much as good playwriting skills are needed by puppeteers, I'm
> afraid you have fallen into a misconception common to neophyte puppet
> enthusiasts. Puppetry is not a literary artform-- it is an amalgam of
live
> performance (which naturally includes spoken word, both scripted and
> imrovised, but also includes music, dance and mime), and visual design
> (plastic and graphic) in motion. 
> 	Anyway, I don't want to discourage you from sharing playwriting
> tips, but just be aware that puppet theater is not always reducable to a
> printed page.
> 
> 			Stephen Kaplin

Stephen,

I completely agree with you!!  However, because Bob had indicated a need
that he saw in developing character and plot, and I recently took a class in
writing, I'm focusing my lessons on the writing aspect of character and
plot.  I fully encourage you (and others) to write your own lessons focusing
on other aspects of a puppet show (isn't it the point of this mailing list
to make is simple for puppeteers to share ideas, breakthroughs, tips, and
help?!)!  How about someone write lessons on materials (foam vs. chainmail!)
and their effect on the puppet (and therefore on the final puppet show)?
How about someone else write lessons on creating or choosing music for
puppet shows?  And another on dance.  Or mime?  Improvisation?  Sets?
Lighting?  Drawing?  I could go on and on and on!!!!!!! 

I'm doing what I can to contribute to the improvement of the art (and Jim
Gamble is too!) by sharing what little (lot of) knowledge I (he) have (has)
with all of you.  I'm certainly no authority and I certainly don't have all
the answers.  It takes all of us to help eachother improve.  I encourage
everyone on this list to help out all of us (especially yourself!) by
sharing what little (or LOT!) you know about even a tiny aspect of creating
and producing a puppet show!  I'm finding it a great refresher to try and
teach all of you about writing...it's helping me remember things I forgot
and reminding me how much I love creating fiction (and puppet shows!)!
Everyone has SOMETHING to contribute...It doesn't have to be a 100 part
series...just share with us (in a constructive manner) something you think
would be useful to at least one of us out here in cyberspace.  Your
assistance is invaluable and GREATLY appreciated (at least by me!)!  I hope
to learn something from all of you soon!  Best to all!!!

Yours,
David James Bender




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