Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 23:57:58 -0400
From: Joe Dunfee <joe-AT-dunfee.com>
Subject: Re: PUPT: Cable controlled puppets/Animatronics links: Video


  I have the "mechanics for SPFX Make-up and Mechanical Puppetry #1"
video by Kalman.  Volume #2 was supposed to be on making a gripping hand,
but I don't know if it was ever completed. The web site given doesn't list
any other volumes, but only says they are future volumes - which would make
them at least 4 years overdue.
  Until I saw the message that mentioned a video by Michael Burnett, I would
have had to say that the one by Kalman was the only one on mechanical
puppetry.  Therefore, by default, it was the best.  There were certainly
some weaknesses - but I think that praise is more in order because he made
the video and has it available for others to learn from.
  When I first got the video, I had very little experience working with
metal - I had always worked with soft stuff like foam or plastic.  So, his
little demo of how to thread a hole and join two pieces of metal was the
first time I had seen that done. I knew, in principle, how to do it... but
it was nice to see a clear video about the process.
  So, if you are a novice to the field (especially to working with metal),
this can be a very valuable video. You certainly won't become an expert from
watching the video, but no puppet videos are going to turn you into an
expert in any aspect of puppetry.

  In particular, the video seems to be focused on the guy who reads "monster
make-up magazines" and wants to make a scarry face to put in haunted house
he builds in his guarage every year. 

  The main weakness of the video is that any artistic subjects are ignored.
The gorilla face he ends up with is just a mask that rolls its eyes, opens
its mouth, etc. It fails as a puppet becuase there is no character to it,
and it doesn't look alive.  [But in a dark garage on halloween night, I am
certain it can roll its eyes, and open its mouth, and scare plenty of kids.]
Certain other details, such as how he attaches the mechanics to the mask is
also ignored.

  The Michael Burnett video seems to very much focus on the mechanical mask
- but I haven't see it. I would be interested to see someone give a detailed
review.  Is it a contender to push the Kalman from its #1 position in the
Animatronics Video competition?

Joe Dunfee,  joe-AT-dunfee.com
Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA



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