Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2002 09:41:35 -0400
Subject: Re: PUPT: Disney Job



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On Friday, October 11, 2002, at 10:03  PM, DanB315-AT-aol.com wrote:
>  Is Barney or Santa Claus a puppet? I don't think so- they are not 
> inanimate objects.

Barney - Yes.  He is (in my definition) a full-body puppet the same way 
that Big Bird or Bear (from Bear in the Big Blue House) is a puppet.  
In all instances, the puppet/costume is worn and manipulated.  And they 
are all inanimate objects when not being manipulated.

Santa Claus - Of course not.  Everyone knows that he is a real person 
who lives at the North Pole with Mrs. Claus, elves and flying reindeer!!

Just to play devil's advocate for a moment:
Everything that I have ever heard about Disney has pointed out its 
restrictive hiring and employment practices.  But the way they refer to 
their employees might shed some light (or just be a convenient excuse). 
  All employees are considered "Cast members".  Now, in the 
entertainment world, the term "cast member" means that attributes other 
than your ability come into play.  In theater, 50 talented actors who 
can sing, dance and act may audition for the same role.  They all can 
fulfill the "work" that the role entails, but it is the one who "looks" 
the role who gets it.  Disney is doing the same thing.  All employees 
need to "look" the role of a Disney cast member.  Therefore they have 
the right to tell people how to dress and look to fulfill the "role" of 
an employee.  It is like a producers of "The Phantom of the Opera" 
telling the actor playing the Phantom that he must wear a tux and a 
mask.  And he has to take his earrings out before going on stage.

This excuse can somewhat be used for their need to control how their 
employees look.  As for the need to wear a costume, the answer seems 
obvious.  It is part of their job description.  Is it something a 
puppeteer should HAVE to do?  In my opinion, no.  And because of the 
job description I wouldn't work for them.  But I also wouldn't work as 
a coal miner.  Hauling coal out of a mine is not something I want to 
do, but its part of that job description.

Like I said, I'm just playing devil's advocate.

Jared

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On Friday, October 11, 2002, at 10:03  PM, DanB315-AT-aol.com wrote:

<excerpt><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>0000,0000,0000</param>
Is Barney or Santa Claus a puppet? I don't think so- they are not
inanimate objects. 

</color></fontfamily></excerpt>

Barney - Yes.  He is (in my definition) a full-body puppet the same
way that Big Bird or Bear (from Bear in the Big Blue House) is a
puppet.  In all instances, the puppet/costume is worn and manipulated. 
And they are all inanimate objects when not being manipulated. 


Santa Claus - Of course not.  Everyone knows that he is a real person
who lives at the North Pole with Mrs. Claus, elves and flying
reindeer!!


Just to play devil's advocate for a moment:

Everything that I have ever heard about Disney has pointed out its
restrictive hiring and employment practices.  But the way they refer
to their employees might shed some light (or just be a convenient
excuse).  All employees are considered "Cast members".  Now, in the
entertainment world, the term "cast member" means that attributes
other than your ability come into play.  In theater, 50 talented
actors who can sing, dance and act may audition for the same role. 
They all can fulfill the "work" that the role entails, but it is the
one who "looks" the role who gets it.  Disney is doing the same thing. 
All employees need to "look" the role of a Disney cast member. 
Therefore they have the right to tell people how to dress and look to
fulfill the "role" of an employee.  It is like a producers of "The
Phantom of the Opera" telling the actor playing the Phantom that he
must wear a tux and a mask.  And he has to take his earrings out
before going on stage.  


This excuse can somewhat be used for their need to control how their
employees look.  As for the need to wear a costume, the answer seems
obvious.  It is part of their job description.  Is it something a
puppeteer should HAVE to do?  In my opinion, no.  And because of the
job description I wouldn't work for them.  But I also wouldn't work as
a coal miner.  Hauling coal out of a mine is not something I want to
do, but its part of that job description.


Like I said, I'm just playing devil's advocate.


Jared


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