File spoon-archives/puptcrit.archive/puptcrit_2004/puptcrit.0407, message 53


From: Widerman-AT-aol.com
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 05:32:44 EDT
Subject: Re: PUPT: a book marionette  


Hi Gloria,

Here are a few suggestions, in addition to Jim Gamble's:

This is a very tricky puppet, so consider having two or three versions of 
your book marionette, for easy substitution if something goes wrong. This puppet 
works beautifully, but can really become a problem if you aren't very careful. 

Certainly, one book that can open, for that important event, and a duplicate 
that does not open, for scenes where that action is not needed is a good idea. 
The book that can open is much more likely to cause problems. Also, our magic 
book can fly and open in midair, which I'm not sure you require. You can 
string up a real book for this puppet.

We use five strings, one to each corner of the book, and one opening string. 
Two strings are attached at the spline top and bottom. Simply drill through 
the spline and secure them. Then drill through the corners of the top and bottom 
of the right hand corners of the back cover. The strings should wrap around 
the right side of the book and be brought up through the drill holes and 
secured. The opening string goes through the spline at the center of the specified 
page. Make sure the book is well broken-in, so the page will lie flat when you 
pull the string to open it. The control can be a simple cross, and the book 
should be strung to lie flat when the cross is parallel to the floor. The 
opening string has extra slack that allows the book to close all the way, and is 
threaded up through a hole drilled in the center of the cross, which is then 
attached to a pull ring on top. With a little skill you can very gracefully open 
and close the book, either in the air or flat on the ground. Practice flat on 
the ground first. Pull the opening string very slowly while lowering the entire 
control. When the front cover hits the spline strings, allow the spline 
strings some slack to control a complete opening, keeping the book level to the 
ground as it opens. Practice alternating opening and closing. Opening at a slight 
tilt is a little more difficult, but the effect is stunning. This puppet 
tends to flip over, and you must preset the opening string at the middle of the 
right side of the book while it lies flat, not coming out the top. Do not ever 
allow the book to stand completely vertical. Cheat it at a slant and it will 
work great. You can even lip-synch the opening as if it was a mouth and have the 
book talk!  I recommend keeping a duplicate puppet of the book handy in case 
it flips over.

Of course the non-opening book can be done with four strings, one to each 
corner, which will feel the same to the puppeteer as the opening book when it is 
closed.

I'll never understand why simple three four and five string puppets are a lot 
more trouble than the ones with 15 or 20, but that's marionettes for ya.

Finally, if you insist on turning pages, I'll get back to you on that. ;-)

     -Steven->


In a message dated 7/14/2004 3:14:29 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
gloreeeah-AT-yahoo.com writes:
hello puppetcrit

if anyone has some expereiece creating a book
marionette. 
my name is gloria and i am working on the cast for my
vancouver fringe festival production "no theory will
save us"
the antagonist is a book that opens and closes and
lies flat on the ground and stands up 
if you have any reference or suggestion for book
marionettes...  as i have become quite lost in my own
designs and have not found too much information  for
an action book  marionettes in my local library.
i am coming up with better designs for controls
however the actual book character .. i am quite lost
.. i think actual paper my be too heavy.

The Press Release for this show will be coming out in
a week and a half and i will send ti out to the list
and i hope if anyone is in the pacific nw  and can
make it to Vancouver to see the show, there will be 7
shows in september 9 - 19 
more info to come. 

thank you in advance 
gloria.. 


--- StripMime Warning --  MIME attachments removed --- 
This message may have contained attachments which were removed.

Sorry, we do not allow attachments on this list.

--- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts --- 
multipart/alternative
  text/plain (text body -- kept)
  text/html
---


  --- Personal replies to: Widerman-AT-aol.com
  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Archives at:         http://lists.village.virginia.edu/~spoons

   

Driftline Main Page

 

Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005