Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 08:51:50 +0100
From: Les Lamborn <llamborn-AT-rbc.org>
Subject: Re: PUPT: puppet interview


>Hi! My name is Brooke Shomo. I am 11 years old and am doing a report on
>puppetry and Jim Henson.  Part of my report needs to be an interview. I
>can't find anyone around here that uses puppets, so I am on the
>internet. If anyone could answer my questions I would appreciate it. I
>am sorry, but I need the answers ASAP. Thanks.
>1. Why did you choose a career in puppetry?

I was facinated with puppets. I was young when TV began and I watched Howdy
Doody (a Puppet show) and Bil Baird puppets on TV and so on. I went to the
library and got a couple of books that showed me how to make my own
puppets. I don't do many shows now but from 1971-78 we did lots of shows.

>2. What type of puppets do you like to work with best and why?

I like the glove puppets (hand puppets) best. For me glove puppets are
easier to bring to life and I have fewer cases to move from one show to
another. I can also work two at the same time, one on each hand. If I were
using string puppets I need both hands to work one puppet.

>3. What position do you sit or stand in to perform puppet shows?

I stand behind the curtain or backdrop - which I can see through.

>4. How do you make puppets move their mouths to look like they're
>talking?

I made my hand puppets similarly to a ventriloquist's dummy. I control the
mouth by a lever moved by my index finger. There is a long dowel attached
inside the head that I hold in my hand - sorta like holding a flag in one
hand. I make the arms of the puppet move with my thumb and middle finger.
My ring finger and little finger are wraped around the dowel for stability.

>5. Do you perform on TV or stage, which is better?

I have 5 stories that have been produced for the movies. They are each 10
minutes long.  I enjoy performing in front of a live audience so that I can
hear when they laugh and play off reactions of the audience.

>6. Is performing on TV or stage easier and why?

Performing for TV is harder because every little detail is carefully
watched and we have to get it right. On stage it is the overall effect that
carries the show.

>7. How do you make the puppets arms move without it looking awkward?

I extend the arms of my puppets with cardboard tubes which makes them a
little longer. This helps them to be seen better and the movement of the
arms are different from the way humans move their arms, but that's ok
because a puppet is sorta like a "live cartoon" character.

>8. What personality in a puppet do you like to portray best?

I don't know that I can answer that question because I do two characters
which are totally opposite and they help tell the story. For example I do a
character who is a kind - a little slow in thinking things through - kinda
bear. His name is Beau Bear, by the way he has a deep voice and the other
character is Bruce the Goose, he has a squeeky-squaky voice. The goose is
unkind seldom like anything anyone else is doing and always wants to be
boss. Do you know anyone who is like Bruce? Ha Ha Ha. I like doing both
characters. By the way these stories are not only puppet shows but they are
also radio shows, known as Fables of Faith - heard on the Moody Radio
Network.

>9. How has Jim Henson changed the art of puppetry?

I think Jim Henson has brought puppetry to a new level. He has used TV and
film to bring new life to puppetry. His humor, mechanical effects - puppets
ridding bicycles - with a wide shot from the camera - WOW. That's just the
tip of the iceberg. With many of the feature length films that Henson has
produced or his puppets were a part of new and creative techinques were
used and so other puppeteers tried to copy or improve on what Henson has
done.

Brooke I hope this helps.
  Sincerely
    Les Lamborn

Les Lamborn
Host of Our Daily Bread & Words to Live By
Ventriloquist, puppeteer
Grand Rapids, MI, USA
www.rbc.org




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