puppetFIX

Back On the Road - and the Street!

2011-05-04T04:51:00.005-04:00

Lots has happened since last we updated... including this!

We'll be creating videos as we travel around the world (technology permitting), so keep checking back as the tour progresses. Be sure to also check out the official USO blog for pictures and performance updates as well as the opportunity to check out all the other amazing stuff they do.

Great News!!!

2010-09-13T20:58:00.006-04:00

Hey There! It's David...I know I haven't personally been updating this blog as much as I could be lately (my dad reminds me of that fact almost every time we talk...ha!) but I have some exciting news to share that I hope will more than make up for it...

I've just been cast as Princeton/Rod in the Tour of Avenue Q!

Rehearsals will start late Oct. or early Nov. with the first show of the season opening in Japan in Dec. Once January hits, we'll be on our way back to the States to cross the country. There may even be a few Canada dates, eh. As of right now, I don't have a definitive schedule, but you can bet I'll be posting as I find out more information.

Uke Gotta See This!

2010-08-30T17:36:00.000-04:00

In addition to creating puppet videos, we also travel with a ukulele. Its amazing what a little jam session can do to perk up the room... but adding puppets makes it even more so!

We Played in Peoria!

2010-08-18T13:25:00.004-04:00

Another round of footage yet unseen to the world is from an excursion we had way back in February - in Peoria, IL. In the theatre world, Peoria has always found itself to be the butt of many a joke (dating back to Vaudeville!), but this adventure took us on a journey through the cosmos...

The Lakeview Museum Community Solar System!

Recognized as the "largest complete 'to-scale' model of the Milky Way" by the Guinness Book of World Records, this solar system is no small-scale diorama! Spanning over forty miles from the sun to Pluto (yes - I still consider it a planet, Scientists!), this model accurately represents both size and distance of the planets and lesser space bodies.

With limited time to explore, we made it all the way to Uranus before having to call it a day. I have been sitting on this footage for several months trying to figure out what to do with it, and recently found some inspiration after contacting the creator of the exhibit, Sheldon Schafer. Over the next several weeks we will also be visiting Huntsville, AL (home of the infamous Space Camp) and Houston, TX (where they deal with problems).

Hopefully we'll be able to have some more space-themed adventures in the near future... As you can see from the picture below, we're ready!

Puppets Are Muggles, Too!

2010-08-10T17:24:00.005-04:00

Hello virtual community!

Recently we were given a three week break from traveling with the monkey, which allowed me time to go through hours of footage we've accumulated over the past few months. I'm happy to say that some of it is usable!

Right before our break, we were able to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Due to the high volume of muggles trying to partake in the magical atmosphere, Yancy wasn't able to see too much of the streets of Hogsmeade, or the halls of Hogwarts... but we were able to have a quick chat with the Conductor of the infamous Hogwarts Express!

Exit Row: A New Puppet Heap Web Series

2010-07-20T18:58:00.003-04:00

If you haven't heard of it yet, check this out:

It's a new web series called Exit Row, created by the folks over at Puppet Heap. We've been following their work since we started building puppets, and recently Kyle even worked with many of their gang at the O'Neill. They are an inspirational group of designers, builders, puppeteers and all-around puppet geniuses who also happen to be a very helpful group of guys and gals. They've been there to answer questions, give guidance, and even a tour or two when Kyle stopped by their place outside NYC a while back.

What's funny about this series is that a few months ago, we started drawing faces on air plane barf bags, both as a cute little joke, and a way to advertise for free. Here's a example of a couple of those little guys:

The caption we leave reads some variation of this: "Sorry you don't feel so hot. Too bad, this would have made a great puppet." And then we add our web address.

It's cool to see how creative minds can take a similar idea and run with it. Hope you enjoy their series.

Our Latest Dirty Habit...

2010-07-12T18:02:00.009-04:00

Our newest creation was commissioned by FantasyLand Theatricals out of Orlando, FL. I was contacted a while back regarding the possibility of building them a puppet for their upcoming productions of "Nunsense!" and "Nunsense A-Men!" After much discussion, we concluded that this design would be a departure from the traditional Sister Mary Annette - and more toward a saucier, edgier, sexier nun... And thus my ticket to Hell was purchased.

As women of the cloister seldom expose themselves, we were able to let our imaginations wander beneath the habit. After the initial jokes were made, I realized I would soon have to create breasts for a lady of the lord... Now, I know it sounds juvenile and shallow, but there have been a few past projects where I have avoided anatomy for fear of not doing them justice. However, I am proud to say that I have conquered that challenge and am quite proud of what I created!

So if you happen to be in the Orlando area, check out "Nunsense" and/or "Nunsense A-Men!" opening this week at the Pointe!

Fishin' for new Puppet Pics?

2010-07-05T21:17:00.006-04:00

I must admit, for a while here on tour, it seemed that Kyle and I were lugging around huge suitcases filled with puppet supplies for nothing...

As we've stated before, building on the road can become very difficult without sufficient time and room to spread things out. It often depends on how long we're in a city, what time commitments we have for the show, and a big one...if there is a place to use contact cement since we have to use it outside.

The past couple weeks though, we're feeling good! Despite an abundance of storms here in Florida, the rain has stopped at all the right gluing moments. We've also had a couple full weeks in large rooms, and Kyle came back with a big boost of creative energy after the O'Neil...all of this in time for a few custom builds.

I took on this one:

I call her Pearl...originally I thought she was a Lolli, but I take it back.

And this is Brutus...originally Brutus. Both fish are for excellent magician and friend, Jason Hudy who has recently decided to incorporate puppetry into his work.

You can see I went for a more raw, fish-scaly look with the combination of reticulated foam and acrylic paint.

Right before I had left for tour I built a fish in the same style, very similar to the same basic shape as Brutus here. I really loved the bright colors I could find in the acrylic paint and had always wanted to give this method a shot. The original fish turned out well, but I learned back then what I should do for the next time...

See, I had tried to paint the foam after the main shapes were completely glued, which is not really the best way to get the paint on evenly. Now in my defense, I was using a head that had been made over a year prior to it's last minute conversion into the body of a fish, but I learned. This time around, I cut the foam shapes out, but before contact cementing I took the paint and went at it like a kindergarten art class project...skipping the paint brush and just pressing it into the foam with my hands, essentially dying it with the paint. By painting before gluing, I cut the build time by AT LEAST half...pumping these two puppets out faster than I've ever created any ONE puppet (at least that I've liked).

Dyeing, you say? So why not dye the foam to begin with, with actual rit dye?

Well to answer the question I'm pretending that you just asked: Because we don't want the room charges for staining the hotel bathtubs. And because the colors really pop with some of the acrylic paints I've found. Rit dye is definitely a future venture for us, but I'm glad to have tried it this way too.

Note: If it's something you plan to do yourself in the future, just keep in mind, there will be a stiffness to your puppet that you wont have with rit dye. It actually adds a certain solidity to the character if you use it to your advantage.

O'Neill Withdrawal...

2010-06-25T21:24:00.009-04:00

Having recently returned from the 2010 O'Neill Puppetry Conference, my mind is racing with inspiration from being surrounded by so many creatively ambitious souls. Without knowing I was missing it, it was nice to be welcomed home!

The atmosphere surrounding the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center is a constant buzz of potential, powered by people and resources beyond measure. They are dedicated to the art of producing new art - and they are damn good at it. There is a reason they earned the Regional Tony Award this year!

The Puppetry Conference, headed by Artistic Director (and resident Muppeteer) Pam Arciero, strives to provide the nurturing and challenging lead-by-example approach to the world of puppetry arts, aiming for every student to exit

the conference having created something that didn't exist

previously. In addition to conjuring new work, the conference is about creating a community of artists - and this particular aspect blew me away. Never before have I born witness to - much less been a part of - such a raw source of life-giving spirits. Puppeteers are (by their very nature) artists who give life to the world around them and can see beyond the surface to the inborn potential below. I feel honored to be a part of their world and can not wait to see what else is in store.

Our time spent at the O'Neill was only twelve days in the real world, but with everything we managed to pack into every nook and cranny of time it felt like months. We were suspended in a bubble ready to burst at any moment - and when the moment came where we all went our separate ways, that bubble could no longer be contained. So now we find ourselves back in the real world cleansed and renewed by this giant bubble, and ready to take it all on.

After a week of giving life to the inanimate, the real world seems so full of possibilities!

BALTIMORE: Rich In Culture - Poe In Spirit

2010-06-05T01:10:00.008-04:00

A few weeks ago we took in the sights around Baltimore including an Orioles game at Camden Yards, enjoying the tourist-laden Inner Harbor (which included witnessing a street performer unexpectedly stabbed by his volunteer - don't worry, he is ok), visiting the Curious George exhibit at Port Discovery, and absorbing the city's rich history by visiting Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum!

Jeff Jerome, member of the Poe Society and curator of the House & Museum, graciously invited us into Poe's former residence at 203 Amity Street. Over the course of the afternoon we had a fantastic time with Mr. Jerome as he enlightened us about the house and Poe's ties to Baltimore. Not only did we learn a great deal about this famed author, but we made a friend as well.

Mr. Jerome was an amazingly knowledgeable host and his passion is evident. We couldn't have asked for a better experience! As a performer, he was unbelievably easy to work with and even offered his own thoughts on what would make for good video material.

As you can tell, we can't say enough about how pleasant an experience we had that day. As if that weren't enough, I'm nearly done editing the video, so soon we'll be able to share that with you as well... but in the meantime, enjoy the pictures!

Oh, Yes - O'Neill!

2010-06-03T18:40:00.005-04:00

For fear of jinxing my chances, I haven't announced some of the biggest news to come our way in a while...

In just under a week I will be attending the

O'Neill National Puppetry Conference!

(Check out my submission here)

So many things happened just right to allow me time off work and the ability to make my way to Connecticut, so I was hesitant to say anything until everything was finalized - but arrangements have been made, time has been taken off, flights have been paid for, and I will soon be surrounded by pure, unadulterated puppety goodness! I will be taking extensive notes and video and will be working closely with Jonathan Little to make sure we both catalog as much material as possible over the ten day intensive.

In other news, we have recently been hired for a few quick builds - one for a magician friend (and repeat customer) and another for FantasyLand Theatricals out of Florida!

Speaking of Florida, the monkey will be bringing us to your good graces soon...

And we can't wait!

Another Ambiguous (but slightly more fulfilling) Update

2010-04-26T15:48:00.006-04:00

Today we find ourselves on a wifi-enabled bus en route to Baltimore!

Contrary to our recent blogging habits, these past few months have been anything but idle. In addition to now having two puppeteers on the road, we have also made significant purchases to improve the quality of our puppet performances, modified our puppets, met with other puppeteers, and shot videos in Boston, Atlanta, Morgantown (WV), Springfield (MA), on the bus, and a number of other locations. Coming up in the next few weeks we plan on taking our puppets out to see the Orioles vs. Yankees, taking to the ocean for another go at whale watching, and returning to our summertime stomping grounds of the White Mountains of New Hampshire to bring you the views (and possibly the rambunctious weather) from atop Mt. Washington!

With so much raw footage over the past few months, we are still sifting through it all in order to post more videos, but in the meantime feel free to enjoy a recent adventure we had in Boston!

But wait, there's more...

Yes... We crashed karaoke night at everyone's favorite prime-time pub - and it was awesome!

Let's Take it Back...

2010-04-05T15:13:00.006-04:00

It's time to rewind and recount because we've been going through some great changes and experiences in the past couple months that we have to share!

BIGGEST CHANGE OF ALL: David has joined Kyle on tour with Curious George Live!, the fun filled family musical...with the curious little monkey everyone knows and loves!

With that said, now both of the puppetFIX guys are on the road with suitcases full of supplies, their favorite puppet pals in hand, and FINALLY...the opportunity to work together in person again after a very long hiatus.

It's been about a month and a half, and that time has not been wasted. The only way to really get this out will be to break down the experiences in separate posts, some from David, some from Kyle, and now...even some from both of them at the same time, from the same room (or tour bus with wifi)!

Time together has been used to film, network, check out shows, hold impromptu performances...and you can bet this is only the beginning. Check it out, right here at the puppetFIX Blog.

Peter Cottontail

2010-04-05T01:46:00.004-04:00

Happy Easter!

Hey there friends, it's Wells. I had some time today to make this little video for you all...do you like my new look? I made the ears myself, I promise...no Easter bunnies were harmed in the making of this film.

OH!...

I've been meaning to tell you, keep your eyes open for new videos of me on my cross country adventure. I started in Chicago, but took a wrong turn somewhere back in the tunnels of the Red Line...good thing I bumped into a familiar friend to help guide me along the way...get ready!

A "Little" Something Special

2010-02-28T12:17:00.003-05:00

If you haven't already seen it, PLEASE be sure to check out our friend Jon's new tabletop puppet piece "I Hate Chores!"

Based on the arduous life of a little boy forced into performing hard labor by his Frank Oz-ian father, this video is just a fun little story with a cute hero and a few laughs thrown in for good measure. Do yourself a favor and click play!

LITTLE'S CREATURES

"I Hate Chores!"

Living Legend Strikes Again!

2010-01-14T16:06:00.007-05:00

Earlier this week I stumbled upon a notice about the release of an amazing new gift from none other than everyone's favorite number enthusiast, Jerry Nelson! His debut solo album Truro Daydreams is a catchy and very personal collection of songs Jerry has been carrying with him for "what seems like two lifetimes!" (Ah - Ah - Ah!)

Not only does the album sound like a trip through a friend's folk-laden mind, it also feels as though you've been welcomed home. The songs are fun and catchy with an immense amount of passion driving through. It really is an absolute delight!

Another amazing aspect of giving this music a listen is bearing witness to the crystal clear quality of Jerry's voice. I've grown up admiring and relating to Jerry's plethora of characters, finding myself singing along and replaying his performances over and over - and this brand new original musical venture has a few other familiar voices as well! Rounding out the vocal performances are appearances from Kevin Clash, Fran Brill, Tyler Bunch, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, and Stephanie D'Abruzzo!

Although not yet available in a physical manifestation, the album is available for download from Digstation (an independent artist distribution site) which can be found by clicking HERE!

New Fisticuff Puppets Website!

2010-01-07T14:28:00.004-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

We thought the perfect way to kick things off, was to give our old website a new look.

Check it out here:

www.fisticuffpuppets.com

We've got a good feeling some pretty big things are going to happen to us in the world of puppetry in 2010. Now might be a good time to bookmark this page.

A Day at the Beach with Wells

2009-12-29T11:25:00.009-05:00

Hey Yancy,

It's Wells!

I remembered how you enjoyed the beach last time you went, so I made you this quick video. Nothing fancy, just a little something spur-of-the-moment.

Hope you enjoy!

-Wells

Avenue Q Audition (part 2)

2009-12-28T15:50:00.002-05:00

When I got to the audition I felt ready and confident in what I had worked on. I had even found a consistent Nicky voice in the past couple days which has always been a hard thing for me. After hearing some pretty great guys while in the hallway, it was my turn. I walked into the room and actually felt pretty comfortable. There were definitely some nerves trying to work their way into the directors line of vision, but I was able to combat them with preparedness.

After realizing that I had a ton of material to do, Evan (the director) asked what I'd like to start with. I chose "Purpose" because it was how I had envisioned the audition starting for the last week. Whenever I have the choice to make something happen the way I've envisioned it, I take the opportunity. Tempo wise, I feel like I might have taken it slightly slower than I wanted, but I was able to hit all the acting beats I had been working on so I wasn't too worried about that. Next I did a Princeton scene which felt great. After that I did the scene between Rod and Nicky that sets up "If you were gay", first as Rod, then as Nicky. I was prepared to do "If you were gay" too, but we moved right on to "The Internet is for Porn". "I wish I could go back to College" was next and I was a bit worried what I would sound like after doing Trekkie, but in my search for placing his voice, I think I've found a healthy spot.

After "College" it was puppet time. They asked if I would rather put on Princeton or Nicky...a tough choice because Nicky is a cooler looking puppet, but Princeton is Princeton so I chose him. The puppet builder in me really wanted to sit and inspect the design but that's not exactly what you have time to do in an audition so I had to set those feelings aside. They had me start "Purpose" again, puppet in hand (or on hand) to check what kind of Puppet skills I might already possess and to see if I would be right to continue.

This is where the puppeteer in me started trying to reassure himself of all he's learned in the past. I'm not sure what I must have looked like but for you're reading pleasure, I've broken my though process down like so:

Purpose, ~wow, this grip is different from anything I've built before~

it's that little flame that lights a fire under your a*$... ~hmm, I wonder what it's made of...it's kinda like the king fish puppet built by Henson that I used in Elmo's World Live...

Purpose, ~that would make sense, Rick Lyon worked for Sesame Street~

it keeps you going strong ~ooh, remember the acting, I want to punch "full" tank because that's really the operative word, not gas just because it rhymes with the first line~

like a car with a full tank of gas ~yes, got it~

Everyone else has a purpose, so what's mine ~puppet acting, make sure he's alive, they don't care how good you sound right now, they just heard you sing...crap what do I do for the penny bit ~

oh look, here's a penny, it's from the year I was born ~watch your syllables ~

It's a siiiiiiii ~loosen the wrist, make it fluid~

iiii-iiii-iiiiii ~this new version of the music is good- oh crap what have I been doing with the arm rod ~

iiii-iii- ign ~do something with the arm rod ~

I don't know how I know ~ act!!! don't forget this means something ~

but I'm gunna find my purpo-

"Good, that was great"...

The second callback was a success!

On to the final, but with a quick stop along the way... Avenue Q Puppet School, a two day workshop involving puppet manipulation and character study to prep for the final callback. This means another trip to New York, and boy will it be fun. This is a chance to get to see how they teach puppetry and it means the opportunity to work on the material with the director. AND... I'm not sure if this is 100% for sure, but it is my understanding that Aymee Garcia (Avenue Q original cast member, It's A Big Big World tv show, and currently Shrek on Broadway) may even be leading the puppet workshop.

I can't wait! I'll let you know what I can after it happens.

Merry Christmas from Wells

2009-12-25T19:38:00.003-05:00

I just finished a new Puppet! A little Christmas present to myself...

Wells

It took me a while (I started him back in the spring) but here he is. I tried to do a little video on the digital camera my girlfriend and I got today. Hope it works.

Happy holidays to all. I hope everyone got what they wanted.

Expect more from Wells in the coming year.

Avenue Q Audition (part 1)

2009-12-21T14:20:00.006-05:00

Hello All,

There's a good reason why I have not been posting lately...

Now I don't want to jinx this, but since it's puppet related I feel like I couldn't NOT blog about it.

As Kyle mentioned I just recently made a quick trip to NYC to audition for Avenue Q! As you might imagine it's the ultimate dream show for us puppet loving musical theater majors, so when they said they'd like to call me back, it took everything not to jump through the ceiling. Adam, the casting director was great and upon realizing I had flown out from Chicago for the audition, offered to let me do the callback via video tape so I wouldn't have to pay the money to fly right back.

From the looks of it, they were mainly looking at me for Princeton/Rod which has been my dream role since I first heard the soundtrack on a car ride a few years ago. They included, however, material for Nicky/Trekkie too; in case I could be considered for an understudy position.

As much as I would have liked to tape and re-tape, nitpicking until I got a perfect take of each part of the audition, there was not nearly enough time... nor would that really be fair since everyone else gets only one shot anyway. With that, the taping was complete. Kyle gave me a crash course in video editing over the phone and I posted it to a private youtube account that night.

Soon after, I got word from the casting director that I was invited to the second callback. This meant flying out to NYC again to do the material for Even Ensign, the director!

Adam gave me a lot of great notes to work on from what he saw on the video. Notes that would help with characterization, intent, voices, and so on. What was great, was that I had a couple days to take those notes and really work on them with some of the faculty at school here. Since it was finals week, there was more time to spare and the sessions I had really helped break down the acting beats of the songs. Being able to talk through the lyrics with different minds was really beneficial. Everyone was on the same page, they just identified with different lines in different ways and had a different vocabulary for articulating those ideas.

Since there is a lot to say (and hopefully more to add within the next month) I'm splitting this up into different posts.

Check back for Part 2 coming very soon.

Christmas Critter - Furry Puppet Studio

2009-12-21T14:20:00.005-05:00

Recently, Zack Buchman of Furry Puppet Studio brought this project to our attention.

Check it out. The puppet looks great, and what a wonderful feeling it must be to have your work in a national commercial!

Click here to find out more about it. There's even a video!

Congrats Zack!

David + Avenue Q Audition = Blog

2009-12-09T14:02:00.003-05:00

Today is a big day for one, Sir David Corris, who is attending his first Avenue Q audition in NYC!

By all accounts it seems to be going well - he got a callback!

So keep your fingers crossed and your eyes peeled... we're going places!

Serendipitous Media Exposure!

2009-12-08T05:16:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago I took Yancy to the National Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City. While unsafely filming inbetween lanes of traffic, our attention was suddenly drawn toward a frantic woman beckoning us to finish crossing the street for an interview. Not one to pass up an unbelievably well-timed opportunity (it was November 10 - the day Sesame Street turned 40), I traversed the remaining lanes and safely arrived on the sidewalk. Within moments I was given a microphone to wear and the camera was focusing on my cloth-covered hand!

We spoke for a few minutes about what I do for a living and what Sesame Street means to me, and as I settled into this impromptu interview I realized how crazy lucky the entire situation seemed. After a mere few minutes the interview was over and we parted ways... Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

A "Barrel" of Gratitude

2009-11-30T00:32:00.005-05:00

In the midst of a hectic week of shows fell the holiday that reminds us how distant we've become from our families...

Thanksgiving!

Being on the road, we were forced to go commercial for our celebration - thus we attended the illustrious Cracker Barrel in Southaven, MS. As a last minute decision, I grabbed some felt, Fabri-Tac, and Yancy to come along for the ride. Within half-an-hour Yancy had a new outfit, and an entire restaurant gawked at how rude it seemed to be to have a puppet at the Thanksgiving dinner table!

Forgive the lack of editing and obvious "puppeteers arm", there was not nearly enough room to get a nice angle. Enjoy!

A Meaningful Weekend to Come

2009-11-13T14:05:00.006-05:00

This may not be about puppets, but I have to share.

This weekend I'll be traveling home for a drama club reunion. The school finally passed a levy that allows for a much needed new high school to be built. This means that they are tearing down a beautiful old theater with generations of memories from shows that changed the lives of so many people, not just high school students, but community theater actors and small touring troupes too. This is the stage responsible for Kyle and I meeting in a community theater production of Oliver...Heck, even a young Tom Hanks came through while working for a small theater company years before anyone knew his name.

The biggest disappointment though, is the generation of thespians who signed their names on the green room walls upon initiation into troupe #946. To any visitor, the hundreds or maybe even thousand+ names would look like graffiti meant to deface school property, but to us the names mean an enormous amount of commitment to arguably the best organization that town has to offer. I think I learned more about myself and about professionalism within those walls, than I have learned anywhere else.

I worked with people there that put a ridiculous amount of energy and passion into creating art together... something I've missed about performing anywhere since. We might have been a poor Ohio high school, but some of the most professional artists I've ever worked with were right there on that stage, too busy battling puberty and high school hormones to notice how good they really were.

This weekend is the last chance 40+ years will have to visit their old stomping ground before it is knocked down and the new space is built up. It will be the last time for us to touch the walls (and ceilings in my case) where we proudly painted our names. It will be the last time to visit the prop room and catwalk where we snuck away with girlfriends and boyfriends. It will be the last time to climb up on the roof, or up through the secret hole in the ceiling... so many memories were shared there, so many lines, so many laughs hang in the auditorium air.

It's hard to believe it will actually be gone.

I'm so thankful there will be a new one in it's place though, so that generations to come wont miss out on the same kinds of experiences that changed our lives. It's a horror that theaters everywhere across the country, especially high schools, are forced to be abandoned because of budget cuts. I can't remember a thing about any of my gen-ed classes in high school, but I can remember performing in that space years before high school in community theater...The Sound of Music was my first show ever. I remember 60+ performances (if you count band, choir, and orchestra) that shaped who I am today and for a town with a fast dying economy- even before the recession- I can't imagine life without that theater.

While I'm excited to see what the new school will look like, I'm not sure what it will be like to visit once there's nothing to call my own. The only part of the building that will be left is the oldest, which cannot be torn down since it is considered a Historical Landmark having been built in the 1800s as the "First Chartered High School West of the Allegheny Mountains". Of course this was the part of school I tried hardest to avoid as it was where I had most of my English classes, so it doesn't mean as much. Perhaps it will now.

I'll always have a strong sense of pride for that school. I have so much to be thankful for because of it.

This Little Piggy Caught Swine Flu

2009-11-10T02:15:00.003-05:00

Happy Swine Flu Season!

In commemoration of all of my friends who have been blessed with H1N1 in the past few months, I have made this little piggy friend. Kyle was fortunate to get it at the beginning of the summer, and recently my friend Jordan (Kate Monster performer in the review show I just did) was hit by the same flu bug (err...pig) the day of opening night, causing her to miss the whole run of the show. Now that she is over Swine Flu- and without ever having gotten to perform Kate Monster in front of an audience after working so hard for a month to learn it- I figured I'd give her something to remember the show by.

"Flu" the swine as Jordan now calls him, is the first puppet in my new GOAL for the next few months. This may be a bit more ambitious than time will allow, but I'm going to try to post a puppet each week until an undetermined time that will be determined as soon as the determining time can be determined.... My goal is - at least - to make it through Christmas and into January before my GRADUATING semester of school starts.

First, I'm going to start by physically completing past projects that were put on the back burner. These are mainly puppets I created for practice or for my own collection. This is not only to save time (because that's definitely part of it, what with a conservatory schedule that sucks about 20 hours from my life everyday) but to find that sense of completion for my own projects. A lot of times as artists, it's easy to put our own projects off, in order to complete what other's have commissioned us to do, or we let work or school dictate our lives...

Well, school's almost over. I'm on my last year and provided it all goes as planned, graduation is getting closer than ever and it will be time to start searching for a way to pay back loans. This is the other reason for setting the goal. After a couple emails back and forth with Sean over at Swazzle, he made the good point that I should build up my portfolio now if I want to look for work as a builder after school instead of waiting tables. It was essentially - and indirectly - his idea for "Puppet-A-Week" as I'll now call it, so that when I'm ready to apply for build jobs after school, I have something to show for myself.

Here's hoping time and I become besties.

The End! hah.

Some days are diamonds...

2009-11-05T22:20:00.003-05:00

Kansas City has been a really cool place. The city is a vibrant example of a place that really cares about their image and cares about the arts. Crossing the campus of the Art Institute of Kansas City, we were surprised to see a tree with doors, which is an obvious invitation for exploration. Opening the creaking wooden doors we found a set of oil pastels and a notebook mounted within. Not one to argue with an opportunity to play, my friends and I took turns adding a bit of ourselves into the tree. Although this post has nothing to do with puppets, it was a refreshing example of how inspiration is everywhere.

I hope all is well!

New Puppets!

2009-10-23T20:25:00.001-04:00

Take a look at the newest puppets on the block. Or "AVENUE", I should say...

I just closed my first show of the semester, Once, Twice, Three Times a Tony, the third installment of a Tony Award winning "Best Musicals" review trilogy. Starting with winners from the first Tony telecast and ending with this past May, the three separate reviews have been performed over the course of three different years here at the Chicago College of Performing Arts. This season included best musicals from 1991 on, so I was able to be a part of some pretty great shows, all of which won in my life time! I was fortunate enough to be featured in Jersey Boys and my personal favorite, Avenue Q.

What was also great, was that my crew assignment for the semester was to build Kate Monster and Princeton for "Mix Tape" and "Purpose". I quickly decided not to go with replicating what the original Broadway puppets looked like, and got to work on my own designs for the puppets.

Check back for more about the build process soon!

Coming Soon

2009-10-21T22:52:00.002-04:00

I have new puppets to share, but I can't find the cord to upload them from my camera to my computer!!!

I have literally torn my entire apartment to shreds looking for this cord. It looks like I'm going to have to go buy a new one if it doesn't turn up in the next couple days.

Check back soon.

Hopped Up on the Q

2009-09-16T23:55:00.003-04:00

Recently Broadway lost a golden gem of puppety goodness. After more than six years and over 2,500 shows, Avenue Q concluded it's Broadway run this past Sunday. Have no fear, however, it will soon reopen in a new home Off-Broadway at New World Stages!

It is expected to be a pretty close transfer in the production aspect (I guess we will see), but in this version Gary Coleman will actually be portrayed by a man! If you have no idea why this is news, you NEED to get in gear and dive headfirst into the world of Avenue Q, where puppets are just as messed up as we are!

In my efforts to find more information on the move, I found some other interesting tidbits about Avenue Q...

The first translated version of Avenue Q played in Stockholm, Sweden and has played in at least 15 countries to date!

In fact, Avenue Q won the Israeli Theatre Award for Best Entertainment Show - and was nominated for Best Translator and Best Choreography!

In the lyric "George Bush is only for now!" in the show's final number, some productions have toyed around with alternate lyrics - including "Swine Flu is only for now!" (tee hee!)

In Hungary, they don't have Gary Coleman at all - instead they feature Michael Jackson as the down-on-his-luck lovable martyr... (lost his estate after being sued by two six year old boys)... Hmm... Just check out this promotional video!

I have no words...

Yancy and Obama!

2009-09-15T22:02:00.003-04:00

Recently Yancy and I attended a rally at the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN, at which President Obama addressed the health care reform situation. Seeing as how neither of us had ever been to a political rally, let alone see a real live President, it was a big day for us both. Being a little guy, Yancy relied on me to hold him for most of the event, which left my other hand to hold the camera... Now think about that!

After figuring out the logistics and having several failed attempts at making smooth videos I finally found a decent procedure that I hope to be able to perfect over the next several months. As my friend Jonathan Little once told me, "As a puppeteer, you will eventually run out of hands, which is why its nice to have friends."

A Furry Friend

2009-08-25T17:03:00.003-04:00

Recently a friend of ours updated his magnificent puppet site.

Zack Buchman of Furry Puppet Studio, just put a lot of work into updating his new site. We've been huge fans of his for a while, having frequented his blog for quite some time now, but the new look is even more of an inspiration to puppet builders, new... and experienced. There are a ton of great puppets to check out on his site and on his blog so get there, now.

PROOF!!!

2009-08-17T03:40:00.003-04:00

See?! He has been working on puppets in addition to actually working!

With only a few days left in New Hampshire its hard to believe that we'll soon be splitting custody of our puppet supplies again... but such is the life.

Its been fun experimenting with different techniques this summer and comparing things we've learned in our more recent builds - but somehow it all flew by much too quickly.

We're discussing an update to our website - which is LONG overdue (we know) - and are looking forward to posting more short video projects in the coming weeks. Dave is looking to start on his own puppet adventure upon returning to Chicago... hence the picture above... and Yancy has been stocking up on some cool footage that I have not yet had time to edit.

As always, thank you for checking in on us. I promise things will pick back up again really soon!

Hello Again!

2009-08-04T12:14:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone!

It's David...Yeah, the guy who hasn't posted in a ridiculous amount of time. I thought that summer would bring gobs of free space in my schedule...posts every day, sometimes more...

Anyway, in my time away from the computer, I have been building quite a bit and will have a bunch of puppets to share starting next week. Check back soon.

~David

A Little Update

2009-07-31T00:33:00.001-04:00

Recently I made a last minute daytrip to Boston where I was able to meet up with Jonathan Little, founder of Little's Creatures!

To say that we got along would be a severe understatement - and what transpired in the midst of that business cafeteria can only be described as hilarious, enlightening, and educational!

Not only was it nice to be able to meet face-to-face, it was so much fun just geeking out and trading stories.

It was great to hear how far he has come based on the strength of his passion, and he continues to grow exponentially. I am proud to be able to call him my friend as opposed to a facebook connection. Life certainly has a funny way of bringing like-minded people together!

Thank you, Jonathan, for a fantastic day. I look forward to seeing your continued growth and can't wait for the opportunity to work with you someday!

Check out Little's Creatures here:

Website

Blog

Youtube

Here Comes the Sun...

2009-06-20T13:32:00.001-04:00

So... I had a dream about blogging. I guess it has been too long!

Tour ended beautifully in Miami, FL, as you can see above. We took Yancy to the beach to see the sunrise and the shuttle launch (which was scrubbed due to a hydrogen leak) and it was absolutely breathtaking.

Although we had three shows that day and I was sure to be exhausted, I am glad I woke up early. Seeing something that majestic really got me thinking:

As puppeteers and puppet builders, we strive to create life out of the inanimate world. In some cultures puppeteers are even considered direct messengers of their respective gods due to their ability to breathe life into nothing. Yet no matter how hard we try, our work pales in comparison.

That early morning was a nice reminder of the beauty we have surrounding us constantly that most of us don't really take the time to appreciate. Not to get all hippy-tastic on you, but I recommend taking the time to wake up early and witness something that we can never recreate. Why stop there, though? Stay up late with some friends and take the time to stare up at the stars - get your hands dirty and go digging for bugs - at the very least turn on the Discovery Channel!

Understanding movement, connections, and emotions in the world around us can only improve us as people, performers, puppets, and any other array of "P" words... but lets keep it G-rated.

You're right Yancy... Earth rocks!

puppetFIX on flickr

2009-06-12T21:15:00.016-04:00

We're on flickr!

Take a look to the left of the posts, you'll see the new link to our flickr photos. There, you can check out pictures from past and even current builds. We've posted a lot of construction pictures and will be adding more soon.

Home Stretch

2009-06-12T16:36:00.001-04:00

So - only a few days left on tour, which means that I will soon be joining the rest of the crew in New Hampshire for the summer!

So - if you are in the Miami area, let me know and I will gladly get you tickets to our show!

And don't forget...

Sew - some more puppets!

I realize this is a very slim update, I may even post another later today... We'll see!

Virginia is for [Sesame Street] Lovers!

2009-05-31T03:17:00.002-04:00

Recently I was invited to take a tour of the newest addition to Busch Gardens, Williamsburg:

Sesame Street Forest of Fun!

It was really interesting to step into another world of Sesame Street after having worked with Sesame Place and Sesame Street Live. The characters are built by a company called Animax and as you can see here, they differ from the VEE built characters (used in Sesame Street Live).

As a performer I'm not really sure how much I'm allowed to divulge... but, what the hey! The biggest differences between Animax and VEE Costumes is in the materials used. Especially with this particular set of Animax builds, they opted for a much more lightweight approach using high density foam instead of the rigid plastic molded heads we use on tour. This is completely understandable, as the workload in the park is not nearly as demanding as a ten-month rigorous run of a high-energy dance show.

Other inner workings were different as well, such as the mechs and the performer's bracing within the character heads... both of which are kind of hard to explain in words...

The biggest hazard of working outdoors (regarding costume integrity) concerns fading colors due to exposure to the sun. It was most noticeable on Abby Cadabby - whose hair, dress, and especially her fur bore stark differences when viewing their respective undersides.

Not all the characters made an appearance that day, but in addition to Elmo, Abby, Zoe, Cookie Monster, and Grover, the park also has opportunities to meet Bert and Ernie, Big Bird, Count Von Count, and Oscar (sadly no Telly). Along with the characters, some familiar attractions from Sesame Place also seem to have been altered for this Sesame outlet including "123 Smile With Me", and an upgraded version of the character dining experience.

As part of the Busch Gardens "KIDsiderate" initiative, there are also some very cute, family-friendly rides and play areas. For a complete list of attractions in the Forest of Fun via a nifty fact sheet, click here!

Overall, I think it is a cute little addition to the Busch Gardens theme park... although I'm not sure why they nestled it into England.

PS - I loved the bathroom signs...

A Formal Greeting: Yancy

2009-05-21T23:14:00.003-04:00

Yancy has peeked into the blog a few times over the past several months, but has never officially introduced himself. Well, wait no longer! Here he is...

YANCY!!!

[cue extraordinary applause]

SUMMER IS HERE!!!

2009-05-14T17:17:00.003-04:00

Not much blog action lately...

It seems like everyone is getting the springtime blues in anticipation of summer, and why not?!

College has concluded for Dave (until Fall), and tour will be ending in about a month for me... so what is next?

I am proud to announce that we are NOT lazy people! We are already hard at work on our next big project - and by "we", I mean Dave and the newly relocated New Hampshire crew! Rehearsals are underway for the three shows we'll be doing at Story Land (only one is a puppet show, however) and Dave held a workshop with the other performers this morning to go over the basics of puppeteering.

I can't wait to join them in a month, but I guess we'll just have to settle for pictures as our latest build develops! Believe me, this blog will be picking up steam again very soon... but in the meantime, friend us on Facebook!

On the Move!

2009-05-02T15:45:00.004-04:00

The time has come to say goodbye to Chicago for the summer and get back in touch with mountain life in BEAUTIFUL New Hampshire. We'll be doing shows at Story Land, one of the cutest, most friendly little theme parks ever created.

One of the hardest things about being a puppet builder on the move, is trying to limit what you can take. On tour, Kyle has had to limit his load to about a quarter of a suitcase, so at least I don't have to downsize THAT much. Here are SOME of the supplies I'll be taking...

Summer is definitely the best time of year for me to focus on puppet building...of course, it's really the only time of year I can really focus on puppet building. It is also the only time of year where Kyle and I are in the same place for more than a week, so as you can imagine, we have a lot we'd like to get done.

Speaking of which...

~NEW PROJECT!!!

We've been asked to build the puppets for The Three Little Pigs Go West, one of the shows we'll be doing at Story Land. (They picked the show before this whole Swine Flu dillio). This will be a fun show to design...3 cowboy pigs, The Big Bad Coyote, and Mother Goose (who serves as the narrator). We're hoping to have time to add in fun little props for cute bits too, but we'll share all that as it happens.

This may be my last post for a couple weeks...I've got to finish up at school, move out of my apartment, and start rehearsals in NH, so I wont have much computer time. I'll have tons of pictures to share, of the 3 Little Pigs project in the next couple weeks so keep your eyes open for that.

Kyle has just started playing with editing video. He may have some fun examples of his test runs to share in the mean time.

HE'S BACK!

2009-04-24T00:52:00.003-04:00

Dr. Cortex is finally back!

He must have had a pretty rough time in that box! I'll get him out and moving around a bit before I take some final photos to share. He may need a few days before he'll let me take his picture again, but I'll have some up soon.

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-22T15:52:00.007-04:00

Happy Earth Day!

Recently, we took Yancy to a butterfly garden to learn all about some of Earth's most vibrant and beautiful creatures. He was even lucky enough to have some butterflies land on him!

Check back for some quick videos we took! (that I haven't been able to edit yet)

Where is Dr. Cortex?!?!

2009-04-18T20:04:00.004-04:00

Hey all! It's David.

Dr. Cortex was supposed to be on his way back to Chicago from Pittsburgh after the LAN'ded reading, but after numerous attempts, he has managed to find his way back to Pittsburgh each time...

This hurts.

I'd love to show you the rest of the Dr. Cortex build process, but that will have to wait. I only got through this much with the camera before it was buried by the puppet supplies and building materials...

This is the state he was in when I made the sneak peek video.

...I found my camera during the clean up after I shipped him off, and had every intention of getting him back in time to finish this blog series. He must have made a pretty great science lab inside the cardboard box I shipped him in, though. I'm not sure he'll ever be back.

I'll let you know if he returns...in the mean time, we may move on to other things.

A Wallaby, A City, and a Man With A Plan

2009-04-16T23:48:00.000-04:00

Talk about a busy week! Whoo!

I just got back yesterday from a whirlwind adventure in NYC where I was able to meet up with some old friends, some new friends, and hopefully life-long friends! I hope to be able to fill you in on some of the wonderful things I was privileged to experience this week - I just want to wait for approval from my gracious hosts.

To finish up the process of Wally's first build, here are a few pictures we used as promotional shots at the reading last month.

I really like this picture. It says "I'm adorable,

well-built, AND friendly!

He's so cute when he thinks!

I feel like I'm being watched...

and they're hungry...

Luckily, proximity won out over patience,

and I live to see another day. Goodbye Aaron!

Thanks for following along. In the future I will be able to show more of my process when I receive my fixed digital camera. As you can also see, there haven't been any recent changes to the Fisticuff Puppets website... but expect that to change soon!

Feature...Feature

2009-04-10T00:48:00.005-04:00

Hey Everyone!

It's David. Sorry I haven't been faster with the posts. I'm in rehearsal for a show right now at school, so I've been short on time.

I wanted to you show a couple of Dr. Cortex's features, so here goes...

I've never carved foam before, nor do I have blocks of foam to carve, but I really wanted a specific shape for the nose. I decided that the easiest way to accomplish the carved look, would be to actually carve some foam (who would have thunk it?) so I made my own block. I just took some really old scrap foam I've been keeping in a bag for who knows how long, contact cemented about 6 half inch pieces together, and gave it a shot. Above is what came out of the attempt.

I haven't really explored ear building much at all. Usually I have time for two very basic flat pieces, but this time I wanted to try for a more 3D look. They looked ok in foam form, but once I covered them, I lost a lot of the definition that was intended. (You'll see that soon.) I'll keep trying though. I know I can get a cleaner look in the foam in the future, but it's actually the fabric I'm more concerned with figuring out for the next attempt.

I love making hands! I'm not a fan of covering them, but I really enjoy this stage of the build process. As you may be able to tell from the picture, I opted for wire armature. Time permitting, we really try to make sure all of our designs incorporate this. While it adds to the cost, I think it's so important to add expression wherever you can.

It's no secret that puppets have a harder time showing emotion. Subtle differences like this though, help bring real life to your puppets. We as humans store emotion in our hands that we release constantly as we speak (at least those of us born with some Italian blood...). Why not transfer this to puppet building?

Just like Kyle mentioned... We would love to hear what brings you to the blog and what keeps you coming back. Let us know what you enjoy and what you'd like to see more of. We can't wait to read your responses!

Wally: Shaping Up

2009-04-06T19:18:00.008-04:00

I wanted to continue showing my process with a series of "Before/After" pictures...

The nose isn't exactly what I had planned, but I made do with available materials I had in my suitcase... I have a slew of obscure knick-knacks!

Originally, I wanted the eyes to look a little wacky to play up his nervous nature, but then I decided to just add wire to the eyelids, allowing a wider range of expression and not getting locked into a static face.

I love how expressive he can be!

Next up is Dave with more on Cortex' bits and pieces...

Also - PLEASE feel free to leave us feedback! What you would like to see - what you don't want to see - more pictures - more videos - more good news - etc... We would love to hear back from you!

Belly Time!

2009-04-05T01:20:00.004-04:00

Hey, it's David.

Here's what Cortex's belly ended up looking like...

As you may be able to tell, I used the wedge method again (just like with Toby), however this time I played around with it a bit. I made the wedges too big so I decided to use 7 instead of the 8 that it would have taken to make the sphere.

A little secret: When using the wedge method to make bodies, play around with the angles at which you cut the arm holes. You can control how much BELLY you want your character to end up with.

I decided to take in the bottom of the belly because I didn't like how big the hole was for my arm. I really like the way it turned out after doing so. It just goes to show, the more you play the more you learn.

Wally: The Beginning

2009-04-03T16:02:00.010-04:00

So you have already seen some of Dave's construction process in building Dr. Cortex. As he mentioned, part of the head was adapted from a Project Puppet pattern purchased a few years back. In all honesty, we learned an invaluable amount from those patterns - most of all, how to simplify...

When I start to think of character designs, I create a few sketches to try to capture an essence of the character. This time I am able to draw from an endless library of images online to get a feel for these exotic creatures. As I feel more comfortable, I start to really dissect the 2D design into 3D shapes.

The first decision to be made is deciding on hand placement. Every good design keeps in mind the shape and placement of the human hand for optimal manipulation. With Wally, we knew he needed to be very expressive and have the ability to communicate a variety of emotions - so we quickly realized a rigid mouthplate would not do the job. Being my first time venturing into a "soft palate" puppet, I was curious to see how different it would be and how well it would hold the supporting shape.

One of the most notable features I found with wallabies in general is a strong rostrum bridge - taking note of this I simplified it down to a simpler shape - like a "T" wearing a superhero mask.

Check back again to see how it developed as more foam was added...

PS - I can't believe how practical Math and Science are to the artistic process... Maybe I'll write more on that later.

Back to Business

2009-03-30T22:59:00.006-04:00

Now that the LAN'ded reading has officially happened, it's time to go back and talk about the puppets we created for the process.

We know these posts may seem a bit out of order, but this build was a fast one for us and we'd still like to share some of the steps we took along the way...even though the official reading is over. We've also been saving the better quality pictures of the final products so that you have a little something to look forward to.

I'll HEAD things up with DR. CORTEX!

I built this foam head two summers ago when we were really getting into using this kind of foam. I know it was one of the first I built, not only using reticulated foam, but with a PROJECT PUPPET pattern. Unfortunately I can't remember for the life of me which pattern of theirs I started with. I'm about 89% sure Cortex (as I often refer to him because Dr. is just soooo hard to say/type) stemmed from the Roly Puppet Pattern.

Check them out. Really. You'll learn a lot, even if you know a lot to begin with. If you need to, go in on it with a buddy like we had to. I know times are tight, but if you're still aching to build and eventually sell puppets, you really can't go wrong with learning from Project Puppet. It's only going to help make your own designs more solid and visually pleasing.

So as I was saying before that brief commercial break...

I started the head two summers ago with no idea what it would ever turn into. It began as a way to modify the Project Puppet pattern and learn a little more about shaping foam. So after moving around the country with me and sitting on many a shelf in many apartments across the Greater Chicago area, the unused head found a purpose . I needed to create Cortex pretty quickly, so I proposed the character sketch including the preexisting shape and everything took off from there.

I decided that while I liked the shape, he needed a little more modification. With a bit more foam and contact cement, I ended up with this...

It's still pretty much the same shape I started with, but with the addition of a little more foam, I was able to make it more skull-like. You can't tell from the picture, but the original shape left the bottom jaw completely separate form the top of the head. I was looking for more of a connected head since I have more experience covering them when I get to the fleece.

The marker lines make things look more intricate than they really were. Some mean absolutely nothing and are just there as indications that make sense only in my head (at least they did at one time anyway).

Kyle's up next with the beginnings of Wally. We're going to switch back and forth for the next week or so and see how that goes over.

My next post?...Quit your BELLY aching, you'll find out!

RIGHT NOW!!!

2009-03-29T17:00:00.005-04:00

As of this post, the reading for LANded is officially underway!

Congratulations to the cast and crew at Point Park University, and (as always)

Best wishes!

Cortex and Wally: United!

2009-03-27T22:24:00.001-04:00

Well here they are! Built hundreds of miles apart by two different builders, we present the first official viewing of Dr. Cortex and Wally!

Cortex flew in from Chicago, while Wally trucked it from Syracuse, to join Aaron and the crew at Point Park University for this weekend's production of "LAN'ded".

We look forward to bringing you more news as it develops this weekend... so keep checking back!

Wally: Process With Pizazz!

2009-03-25T23:11:00.008-04:00

Welcome back!

As you probably know (because you've been following the LAN'ded blog as well), Dr Cortex and Wally will soon officially be unveiled! We decided to keep the final outcome a surprise for the cast and crew in Pittsburgh... which unfortunately means that no final pictures can be posted until next week (but believe me, it will be worth it).

As Dave mentioned in his post, we both have similar, yet drastically different styles of process and product. My design phase in this particular project was based on researching wallabies (quite interesting) and tracking down as many pictures as I could to create a profile of characteristic images.

One of the reasons Wally has been my undertaking is because I have had more experience in creature creation, while most of Dave's projects have been more humanoid oriented. With that differentiation in characters, we ran into the challenge of matching styles - especially in the eyes. Judge for yourself next week if we accomplished it 680.22 miles apart!

This project is also the first time I've ventured into the use of gasket rubber and a new type of wire for the hands. In addition to that I decided to recycle some old arm rods that I was unable to use until now... so, huzzah!

In other news...

Long story -> Short:

In addition to building Wally, I have been working on reclaiming Yancy (the blue guy - I'll formally introduce you next week) from the bus company from our trip earlier this week... The bag he was in got wedged out of view and in his rush, the bus driver took off without checking. So... In order to obtain him, I now must meet up with the bus driver on the side of the highway outside our hotel as he passes through Syracuse on his way to NYC with a high school band!

Concept Sketches: Dr. Cortex

2009-03-24T20:22:00.011-04:00

Hey, it's David.

We wanted to start taking you through our build process for the characters of LAN'ded to give you an idea for how each of us work. I guess no two projects are ever truly the same in this line of work, so of course, no two builders can be either. Even when they work closely with each other (I say this while we are 600 miles apart...) and learn the same techniques together, creativity and personal style come in to play to produce a different work of (hopefully) art.

There are a ton of different ways we go about designing a new puppet character. Sometimes we have a well planned out idea, while others (as was the case for Melody the Music Note) are constructed simply from scratch- grab the foam and glue and go!

I personally didn't know as much as Kyle about the LAN'ded project when things got started. I was invited in after the characters of Cortex and Wally had been established. I was a little apprehensive at first, because I didn't want to step on the toes of the artistic vision. Lucky for me, the toes handed over a blank canvas. Here are the original sketches I drew up quickly while we were chatting about Cortex and Wally my first night on the team...

While the two look pretty similar, for the one on the left I went with a bit of a Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future feel, without wanting to over doing it. For the one on the right, I started with the head shape and went from there since I already had an unused foam head (almost two years old actually) sitting around that I though might work.

The next guy may look a little familiar too. As I experimented with ages and shapes, something resembling Albert Einstein came out. I think a little too much Waldorf crept in too, which was completely unintentional. As you can see, I couldn't get away from a lot of the same ideas: big round eyes with eye bags, big ears, and the same balding hairstyle. I decided to trust my instincts and make them my major character traits.

With these traits in mind, this drawing became my jumping off point (below). The result will probably most resemble him, but of course things change as you start to build. Aaron (creator of LAN'ded) really enjoyed the idea of having a hint of Christopher Lloyd in the design so I went with that. I also opted to use the preexisting head, after all it was perfectly good and had been waiting long enough to receive a face and body!
There were many other versions of Dr. Cortex I discarded over the course of the design process. A couple of them were awesome characters (some of my favorite designs in a while actually) that I know we'll end up using in the future for other endeavors. They just didn't find their way into this particular project.

Check out tomorrows post for Kyle's original designs of Wally and his battle with the obstacles of building on the road.

Wally: Sneak Peek!

2009-03-23T17:21:00.005-04:00

Just arrived in Syracuse, NY, so I figured I would sit down and show you how my latest build is coming along.

While Dave is building Dr Cortex, I have been busy working on his wascally wallaby sidekick Wally! It has been quite a challenge so far due to my very limited supplies (I will have JUST enough foam!) and trying new methods, but I am quite proud of how it is shaping up!

The mouth and head shape work really well for allowing a wide range of characterization opportunity - and I can't wait to get to play with him more after the reading...

WHICH LEADS ME TO:

If you are in the Pittsburgh area, I highly recommend checking out the staged reading of "LAN'ded" this Sunday at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. For more information check out the blog and/or feel free to shoot an email to landedtheseries@gmail.com

We will be adding posts every day this week to show you a bit more of the quick build process along with bits of character information.

See you again soon!

Dr. Cortex: Sneak Peek

2009-03-20T02:06:00.003-04:00

Hey!

It's David. I've been hard at work on Dr. Cortex from the new project we mentioned called "LAN'ded," but I wanted to take a moment to show you what I've got so far.

"WHO IS DR. CORTEX?!?"...you ask...

Not to worry, all will be explained in the next week along with pictures of the build process!

Kyle is working on the other puppet character from the series as we speak...er, uh...as you read...Check out his video and pics soon to come!

WHATnot to do...

2009-03-15T13:55:00.009-04:00

You've read Kyle's adventures in the Whatnot Workshop Land, now it's time for my own experience...electronically.

For my birthday, Kyle and my girlfriend pitched in and got me a MUPPET WHATNOT of my own. They ordered the kit so I could design it online and have my little friend greet me by way of UPS Ground delivery.

I was so excited when I got the kit that I plopped down on the floor and started playing like a kid with the color forms for hours...days...weeks. I could not figure out which combination I wanted. Kyle and I seemed to want just about all of the same features and our goal was to get a good variety to see how everything was made.

Finally, on my girlfriend's birthday- exactly 10 weeks to-the-day after mine- I got so jealous of her getting presents, that I ordered one for me! Kyle already had the green body, which was my first choice. Then, he had just received the orange on in the mail. My second choice was blue so I went with that. I played around online and came up with something that looked like nothing I had chosen before. Then I clicked to finalize the order before I could change my mind...

This is the nightmare part for a puppet builder. You know what you designed and had in mind, but the fate of the features are up to the "puppet builder" at the Whatnot Workshop. I've got to admit, if I had dozens or hundreds of the same order go through my hands, I'd probably mix things up quite a bit and hope that the owner likes it when I'm done...but that's just it...what if they don't?

I got a call from my girlfriend that I had a surprise waiting for me after rehearsal. I knew exactly what it was and agreed to open it when we could both see it together...after a long rehearsal and a visit to a friends house, we were finally home together so I opened it!

He'll grow on me I guess...

I wish they'd show the side view of the heads online. Don't assume you know what the head shape is by looking at the picture. I wouldn't have picked blue, that's for sure...

I knew they used hot glue- as well they should with order sizes as large as they receive- but it just proved yet again why I stopped using it so long ago. This may not apply to any of you out there who consider yourselves "Hot Glue-rues," but if you insist upon using it with your puppets, specifically with the features, know that less is more. I invite you to give Fabri-tac and the gel form of Contact Cement a try though, as well as good old hand stitching.

The eyes themselves are great, however, they were places slightly too close together and slightly askew so instead of the Muppet focus, he's a little cross-eyed. The teardrop nose is...eh. The hair is what breaks my heart the most, though.

Something that I enjoy very much when designing features for a puppet, is taking into consideration the way that those features will assist the characterization. Movement is BIG! Hair is KEY! I love fluidity in hair because I happen to be a more fluid puppeteer. I love the side to side movements so the yellow boa was the perfect choice.

I see where they were going with the placement of the hair. He looks like a balding conductor, especially in the lounge singer type jacket. I wanted a younger character though so Kyle and I could trade clothes sometimes. With the boa placed so far back on the head, you can't really use it in the movement of the character because you can't see it. It may have stood a chance though had the glue not been so hungry for the frilly part. It is matted down and doesn't look as full as others I have seen.

So I'm a bit sad...

Don't get me wrong. I love that my girlfriend and my best friend went out of their way to buy me something they knew I'd love. It's a gamble when you do it online like so many of us have to do. It's even harder when you're a picky puppet builder and you've got to give over the creative control.

If you want a Whatnot, I'd recommend waiting until that trip to NYC. Bypass the online experience...unless you're feeling lucky.

The MuppetCast Celebrates!

2009-03-11T14:22:00.006-04:00

Earlier this week, our friend Steve Swanson gave us all a true gift. Sunday March 8 marked the 100th episode of The MuppetCast!

Not only is it a monumental achievement, but Steve also gave us a bit more of himself in this "Live" broadcast. Being a musician, he covers several Muppet-related songs from the numerous franchises - and it really is a joy to listen to. If you haven't already, I urge you to SUBSCRIBE right this moment!

Thanks for the memories, new and old - We look forward to your gift every week and cannot wait to see what you give us next!

Congratulation Steve!

For Good Fortune

2009-03-06T15:48:00.004-05:00

Looking for some good luck?

Here's our newest build.

Our magician friend, Jason Hudy was looking for a new cool trick. He came to us with an idea (maybe after some Chinese food) for a trick where he could throw an over-sized fortune cookie into the audience, and ask them to make up the fortune as they toss it around. Upon it's return to the stage, Jason will open it up, and reveal the fortune to be EXACTLY WHAT THEY JUST SAID!!!

We're not even sure how he's going to do it, but we can't wait to see the trick in action.

I decided to throw in a few more in case he got hungry.

Check out Jason's site here. He's excellent to work with!

...oh, and be sure to ask him about "Pierre."

We have LAN'ded!

2009-02-24T23:58:00.001-05:00

You may have noticed a certain ambiguity in some of our more recent posts. For the past several weeks we have been invited into the welcoming arms of a project currently in production at Point Park University in Pittsburgh (my alma mater).

Headed up by my good friend, Aaron Amendola, rehearsals have been progressing well on a future web series called LAN'ded (check out the blog here).

"LAN'ded follows Christian Bartholomew III, an

introverted young man who wakes up one day to

discover he is living with his imaginary friends

Izzy and Natalie. In this homage to childhood,

Christian must decide whether he wants to remain

comfortable and happy in his world of imagination,

or if he wants to risk it all and - go outside..."

As you may have guessed, puppets make fantastic imaginary friends - and we are extremely proud to say that we have been asked to create two characters for the series!

Be sure to check back as things develop - the design and build process will be VERY quick as the reading takes place on March 29...

Wish us luck!

Thanks Dan!

2009-02-23T22:48:00.001-05:00

A few days ago, I happened upon a puppet blog I hadn't seen before. It looked like it had been around for a while, but that it had recently been adding new posts more frequently. I quickly decided to follow and the next time I went back, to my surprise, there WE were...well, Toby the Zombie Baby, that is!

Check it out here. Puppet Builder, has covered some pretty cool topics including the Tally Hall video, Lucy Knisley, and those 22 ft. tall spectacle marionettes. (I love those things...) If you look back through the posts, you can see a lot of great topics have been covered.

I like where the new burst of blogs are headed and I'm really hoping that we'll get a look at some more of the up and coming puppet builders out there. We're excited to have been featured.

Dan from Puppet Builder, thanks from all of us here at puppetFix and Fisticuff Puppets.

This is Snoop Otter Otter, one of Dan's puppets we immediately recognized from the gallery on the Project Puppet website. I wonder if we'll be seeing any new creations in the near future.

Coming Soon:
-Kyle's Whatnot makes a video
-A New Puppet!
and...
-A BIG Announcement

An Epic Tale - Part 4 (the conclusion)

2009-02-21T02:03:00.000-05:00

Adoption is so much easier when dealing with puppets...

Soon I am presented with the subsequently named Duane Reade... He stares at me from inside his plastic backpack home, begging to come out and play. Sadly, however, I have no time to answer this call. We are in New York City - home of tourism, Broadway shows, and street vendor food.

There is much to be done!

We hurriedly continue our journey (with Duane Reade in tow) to the Broadway Theatre to see Shrek the Musical. After taking in the show - which includes John Tartaglia! (Avenue Q, Sesame Street, Johnny and the Sprites, etc) - braving the frigid elements we stake our post outside the stage door. Also in the show was Aymee Garcia (Big, Big World, Avenue Q, Les Miserables). Much to my surprise, also attending the show that night was none other than Fran Brill (best known as Zoe from Sesame Street)! Of course she had worked with "Johnny" before and had come to see his performance. After overcoming the initial shock of being recognized, Fran was quick to burst with pride at John's performance. I mentioned my current job and she insisted we all take a picture... and I could not have agreed more!

(John Tartaglia, friend Megan, Me, Fran Brill)

It was a wonderful end to an already momentous day.

_____ _____ _____ _____

Be sure to check back for video of Duane in action! We also hope to officially announce some exciting news next week... MUA HA HA HA HAAAAA!!!

An Epic Tale - Part 3

2009-02-19T01:57:00.003-05:00

It was a time of growth, a time of change, a perfect opportunity to GO GREEN! (at the time they were out of blue and orange bodies...)

My Magical Mistress of Muppet Mayhem brings forth the Colorforms (a childhood favorite) and we go to town. There isn't anyone else in the workshop at the time, so the creative process proceeds uninhibited. Small talk progresses into discussing my current occupation - which explains my inherent pickiness in the final product!

Having made my selection, I take a literal step back from the event. I would soon have a Muppet to call my own! She plugs in her glue gun and starts working her magic... inviting me, in the meantime, to try my hand with Whatnot Weird Al!

As the Adhesive Ace attaches my fleece friends features, I patiently wait... It is nearly the end.

An Epic Tale - Part 2

2009-02-15T16:56:00.000-05:00

I am greeted and overwhelmed by colors and characters abound. There are signed portraitures, witty signs, and - DISMEMBERED BODY PARTS?!

As I take in the displays around me I recognize bits and pieces of my childhood... There are Statler and Waldorf - dissected! Janice's leg, and her head - sans mouth and signature lips! Kermit's flipper! Gonzo's - well... shape? It was just too much to handle!!! But before I am able to rally the masses to free what is left of them, I am reassured by a familiar voice as Kermit explains what life is like with the Whatnots.

Taking a deep breath, I notice that I have been watched by a smiling young lady wearing an awesome apron! (I wish I had a picture of the aprons [which are NOT for sale], but I didn't want to seem that creepy) She beckons me over to her workdesk - fully stocked with everything needed to create your new best friend!

With the prospective of a new companion, my imagination is set ablaze... I put on my thinking cap - I crack my knuckles - and I go to work...

~To be continued... again...~

Happy ValentiNes/ValentiMes Day

2009-02-14T14:14:00.004-05:00

No matter how you pronounce it, we hope you have a mushy, gushy, love covered Day.

Here's a shot of a real heart Kyle and Joey built way back when...

An Epic Tale - A multipart adventure into a continuous childhood

2009-02-10T00:57:00.006-05:00

It was a cold, wintry day in the Big Apple... though not as many seeds as you might expect!

Among other adventures, this journey was a kind of pilgrimage... to a land of enchantment nestled in the hustle and bustle of New York City Streets... It was an expedition to -->

Amidst this overstocked kingdom of wonder stands a plethora of toys, games, and childhood friends... the perfect setting for our tale. For here we discover a most peculiar sight... Tiny clothing hanging from a rotating line. Dare my eyes fool me? NO - I have found it! As I approach the desk I find myself surrounded by some of my dearest friends, and some other colorful strangers. I am here:

The Muppet Whatnot Workshop!

a little bit of news

2009-01-25T04:14:00.004-05:00

You may have noticed a lack of posts this month, and I must say, it seems we've made the same observation with many of the blogs we follow...everyone must be very tired, or very busy!

There has been some talk of a possible build job that we hope to find out about within the next couple weeks. If it's a go, I'm sure we'll chronicle the process here for you, and I will say...that would include four puppets!

We are also in beginning stages of work on our first web show. As it will be a new process for us, we're anxious to share the journey. It will be an interesting feat to get production rolling when we're spread out like we are, but it is our hope that once it's time to build, our team will be assembled.

Stay tuned for cool pictures and stories from Kyle's trip to NYC. It's full of puppets, celebrities, and surprise guests!

Till next time, enjoy this provocative picture of these funny looking puppets I once had to use in a show. As stock as they may have been, I still kinda miss them...

WHATNOT to do!

2009-01-20T00:39:00.003-05:00

WOOHOO!!!

So, given my current proximity to NYC, I am making a day trip into the Big Apple! Among other things like visiting friends and seeing a show, I also plan to acquire our first Muppet Whatnot from FAO Schwarz!

This is all very exciting... and I am very anxious to come back and give a full report. I plan on including many pictures and amusing anecdotes... discovering and antidote... and of course a video...

MUA HA HA HA HAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-11T00:35:00.001-05:00

Well, Christmas Break has come and gone, and I'm sure we all had our fill of family fun, festive foods, and frivolous loss of funds... so you know what that means:

Time to get back to work!

We bid you farewell 2008 - the year we finally started getting organized!

Now make way for 2009 - the year something astounding happens!

In preparation for the new year, we have now outfitted ourselves with some pretty cool gadgets to help us streamline our creative process and allow us to better serve our clients. Much like you've already seen of Dave's work on Toby (who is still doing well... for being a dead baby) we hope to be able to bring you more in-depth coverage of our development process.

In the meantime, check out my awesome Christmas present!

Holiday Music

2008-12-30T13:50:00.004-05:00

Here's a little Melody for whichever Holiday you choose to celebrate this season.

Melody is the finished product from what I posted a week ago. She only took me two nights to finish. Of course, by "nights" I mean from midnight to 7 in the morning, but since school is out for the winter I figured, why not?

Melody- as I've named her since she is a music note- was built for my friend as a Christmas present. She works in a correctional facility where one of her jobs is to conduct a class that utilizes music therapy techniques. She thought it might be nice to see how the guys would react to the puppet.

It is my belief that you can appeal to any audience so long as you find what it is that they've come to see.

One of my favorite things as a performer is getting to do the same show multiple times a day with a completely different audience each time. I love the challenge of changing things up ever so slightly, in order to find the point where the audience and the performers all connect. Now I know Melody's use will be a little different, but I'm anxious to see how my friend will be able to use her in class.

As for the construction side of Melody...

I started off with no idea of what I wanted the finished product to look like...except for that I wanted it to look like a female music note. As for the shape of her head...I played. I thought I'd try a slight overbite, but nothing too drastic.

I considered lips but couldn't find the right color fabric that could avoid clashing with the inside of the mouth. At the last moment, I found the right color for the eye lashes. The pictures don't pick it up as well as I'd hoped they would, but I used a sky blue that really pops against the black.

My friend loved it and is excited to show it to her class. I'm pretty happy with the results, especially since the whole project only took about 15 hours (with a few hours of playing with shapes).

On my next project, I think I'm going to stray from the using the same dome eyes. I love them, but I don't want to get into the habit of producing the same work every time.

Let me know if you think our puppets all look to much alike. I'd be interested to know how they come across.

Hello!

2008-12-21T23:14:00.005-05:00

It's been a few days...Toby is with his new daddy, who took to him immediately upon introduction, Kyle is on break from tour now for Christmas and in route to our hometown by way of Pittsburgh, and I am getting ready to go home too!

Before I get going though, I have a little goal set for myself. When my friend was in town visiting, she mentioned wanting a puppet of her own. She works in a prison where she teaches a music therapy and appreciation class, and thought that a music note might be a fun way to go over some of the material with her inmates...so for her Christmas present, I've decided to take on her idea and hammer out a MUSIC NOTE puppet in a couple days.

I've sketched up some designs, but I think I might leave this one up to trial and error. Sometimes I find it nice to be able to play. I haven't settled on a specific style or shape to start out with, but I'm thinking about trying to find something new. Originally I thought about using the same template I used for Toby's belly, which I may still end up modifying, but not until I get a chance to play around with some new shapes.

I'll post whatever I have as soon as I have it. Now, it's time to go play!

A Toby is Born!!!

2008-12-17T21:27:00.005-05:00

Finally!!!

Toby the Zombie Baby is now complete!

Here's a little video intro:

Here are a couple last photos of him too...

I used a black elastic for the stitches. I didn't have a thick enough needle that was also sharp enough to sew the stitching in, so I had to improvise. I had to individually poke, pull, and cut the holes so that the elastic could then be threaded through. We talked about giving him a poopy diaper, but that would have probably had to take the place of the patch, and we decided that the patch helps give him more of a zombie look.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to do stitches or scars. I was worried about the fleece stretching if I cut into it and I almost tried it, but after seeing how well it covered to begin with, I couldn't chance it. I think going this way was a better idea anyway, and it ended up closer to the original concept.

There is also a ring of stitches around his brain!

Thanks for following the process. I've got a couple puppets to finish up in the next couple weeks so stay tuned for more to come.

Ping Pong Ball Eyes: A 10 Minute Tutorial

2008-12-13T17:51:00.006-05:00

Here's a quick project I've been meaning to do for a long time. I made two pairs for a "mock audition" I just did at school after getting a "mock call back" for Paul in Carnival the musical. You may or may not be familiar with this method of training, but it can really be great for improving different puppetry techniques. This is how the beginner workshops were taught when I started learning how to puppeteer in Disney World.

First, you start off with a couple of ping pong balls. I had a few sitting in among the box o' eyes, but haven't ever used them for a puppet. Grab two ping pong balls and make sure the logo is facing the back. Check for the darker line of white where the two sides have been fused together. Drilling into the line will give your eyes a cleaner look around the edges. It also turned out that the logo was only on one hemisphere. (You can always scratch off the logo. To do this, use a razor blade... very carefully) Take a Dremel or a drill and go ahead and make two holes on the line. The first will be where the ping pong balls will meet when touching side to side. (see the last picture) Follow the line down, and just slightly over a quarter of the way around make the second hole (see the small bit of elastic between the pointer and middle finger). This will make more sense in a moment.

With a piece of wire, make a hook at the end that is narrow enough to go in to the hole and come back out without getting stuck. Feed through a bit of elastic. I'm sure that string or yarn will do the trick too, but I like the snug fit of the elastic best.

Once the elastic has been fed into one of the holes, you may find it hard to get back out the next. Have no fear. This is why we made the hook! Stick the hook in and find your way around a center point in the elastic. It's a good idea to feed in 3 inches or so. Once you pull it out, and have figured out which eye you'd like that one to be, match up the holes (the ones that meet in the center of the insides of the eyes) and repeat the pulling through action again with the same piece of elastic.

Once you've got extra elastic sticking out the bottom of the eyes, tie them around the middle and ring finger on your puppeteering hand of choice. Now give him (or her) a couple of pupils. You can use anything from Sharpie to craft eyes. Important to note: the bigger the pupils, the easier it is to learn how to focus with your puppet. And... important for good focus is the placement of the pupils. Aim them slightly towards where the nose would be so that they seem to point towards the same object. Feel free to give him (or her) some hair or eye lashes.

Now for the fun part: Crank up some music and "lip sync" to your favorite tunes in front of the bathroom mirror.

Warning: I did this one night at three in the morning for about 40 minutes (one on each hand) and I was SO SORE the next day. It was great!

Let me know if any of this is unclear.

Toby work is nearing an end! Look for the finished product very soon...

Toby Time

2008-12-07T21:30:00.007-05:00

So I did what I thought I'd do...I hooked up the old computer and without further ado, here are some new shots-

Check out the hair that held up the process...

It's just sprayed wire, but in the future, I may try some acrylic paint to see how well that works if I'm going for a similar look.

Here are a couple of how he looked prior to adding the mouth fabric-

I like that he looks as though he is pondering life's theories.

Once the mouth fabric was sewn in, Toby started to smile. Actually, we discussed whether or not to go with smile lines or without. I had started getting used to the roundness of the uncovered head, but now that everything is in place, I really like the way it's coming along.

Here's a close up of the eye. It's not all fixed into place yet, so things may look a bit cleaner as I go, but this is roughly where I want it to end up.

Sorry for the delay. He's getting closer. I've got to cover the ears, add the neck fabric, the belly button, and start on the scars.

(random side note related to scars: I did joker make-up for a friend today, and having never tried it before AND a time limit of about an hour to figure it all out, I'd say it went well. Drop a comment if you are interested in seeing it. I'll ask him if it would be ok to show on here. I also realize you have come for PUPPETS, not stage make-up, so I understand if there's little interest)

Keep checking back this week for more updates. We've got some great stuff in store for the near future.

*D

Sick Computer

2008-12-07T11:18:00.003-05:00

Hey guys. I've gotten a few steps further with Toby the Zombie Baby but...my computer is sick (I'm writing this on my girlfriend's). It wont start up and the Apple Store is booked straight for as many days as they have available to sign up for appointments. I got by for a few weeks with letting it go a couple days, then trying to turn it on again, but for the past week+ it's decided on being done with working. This means I haven't been able to upload any of the pictures yet...(it also means I may loose half of this build process, but at least I backed some of the beginning, along with the rest of the files on my computer)

So instead, for your viewing pleasure...

Enjoy this very cute, very perplexing picture of a monkey wearing glasses! YAY!

I think what I'm going to do is bust out my old desktop, move it across the apartment to a spot where I can hook it up to the internet, and see if I can get things posted that way.

He's so close to done, and if it weren't for the fact that this week is pretty much finals week (the conservatory likes to get things done early) I'd be posting the finished product by the end of the night.

"School comes first..." Bah. I'm definitely in a place both mentally and physically where I am ready to be done with the school part so that life as a starving artist can start happening, but as I realized last night while responding to a blog on Puppet Hub- I'm pretty glad I changed majors a few years ago and went for the training in theater.

While being a little too infatuated with the art of movement and the inanimate may be a great jumping off point into a career in this kind of work; I find the involvement in acting/dance/music/clowning and BEYOND to serve well as a means of standing out as a performer. As is the case in most fields, the more well rounded you are the better chance you have at success. What I love though, is recognizing the connections between the things that make me who I am, and working to highlight them.

Bob Fosse did that with his choreography, although interesting to note, he did it with the elements of himself that others considered to be weaknesses. The fact that he had poor turn out, rounded shoulders, and premature baldness, revolutionized the dance world forever.

When I started this post I didn't realize I'd be discussing my dreams like this but hey, since I don't have any Toby pictures, I might as well...

One of my biggest dreams has always been to help other people realize their own dreams. That may sound quite a bit mushy...that's because it kind of is...BUT it's true. Since I have been lucky enough to have as many positive influences in my life, telling me that I can do the things I dream, I guess I've been inspired to continue promoting that campaign. (that word is spelled so funny)

You wanna know where I'd like to be in 10 years?
...if you don't, click away because I'm going to tell you anyway.

Along side the group of artists here at Fisticuff, I want to have television shows, films, and web media reaching the masses, that will positively contribute to the change people want to see in the world and themselves. I want to help children of all ages to hang on to their imaginations, and I want to create programs where students who's dreams have been disregarded or who have been forced to grow up too quickly, can discover their creative passions...free of charge!

I wouldn't mind a lot of money either so I can pay back all the student loans and spoil my parents rotten since they've always deserved but never been blessed with a lifestyle of such luxuries.

Wow, so yeah...there's more to all that, but that's probably enough to read right now. I'll get the new pictures of Toby posted soon.

*D

A Little More Official

2008-12-04T01:12:00.002-05:00

Well I haven't had much time for "Baby Making" but I did receive my business cards.

We decided it would be another jolt of organizational energy and motivation to make things more official, so we jumped on Vista Print and snagged some proof that we have a company. We decided to go with one of their pre-made designs from the premium business card selection and after searching through I believe a couple thousand, we narrowed it down to this one.

It's a great sight to check out and while I'm sure there are many good ones out there, I know for a fact this one loves their sales...long time! Check them out if you've been wondering about cards or any other type of tangible business STUFF. Sign up for an account (free) and make sure you get the emails...they send one just about everyday, but it's always about the sales. I suggest you go through the bajillion designs, bookmark your favorites and test your text on a few. Then once you have the one you want, keep it in your "shopping cart" or whatever they call it and keep checking your email until it says either 80% off or free premium business cards. You pay for shipping, and anything extra (glossy finish, color image on back). If you've got the change, it's not a bad idea to go for the color image on the back because as I've found today- people love to see if there is something on the other side of a business card, and when they see that there is, they get this giddy little excitement that makes it worth the extra money.

Sometime down the line, I'm sure we'll get the chance to incorporate a logo and design of our own into our literature to hand out, but while we wait for the day to come when rich people will want nothing more than to throw money our way, we hope these will do the trick. They really jumped out to us and I'm sure there will be plenty of good ones that will jump out for you, no matter what line of work you are in.

Kyle's are in the mail and should find him shortly (provided they find the right hotel, AHH!) Something you may notice is the lack of address...the lone "Chicago,IL" there in the bottom corner. Kyle's wont even get that since he's "found a life on the highway", but "movin' right along..."

...ok, that one was bad...and I'm not going to lie...I just did a search and read through all the lyrics to find anything I could use to punch up the joke...

Anyway, let us know what you think.

And I promise I'm practicing my Lamaze techniques so I can push this baby out a little faster.

He DOES exist!

2008-12-03T00:02:00.000-05:00

HOORAY!!! The internet here in Virginia is modern!

So, you've probably noticed a complete lack of my presence these past few weeks. Tour got a little crazy... enough said. Things are still moving forward on the blue guy - albeit slowly due to the nature of working and traveling. I could not have anticipated the difficulty of building on the road.

IN OTHER NEWS:

We are taking steps forward in the development of several web-based productions, talking with fellow puppeteers and consulting with other writers, etc... Some of them likely will not be able to come to fruition until we can assemble our team in one place. Even in this, the age of technology, it is so unbelievably difficult to virtually assemble a team considering the variety of schedules and stupid internet connections... Anyway...

I hope you all had an amazing family and friend-filled Thanksgiving. I won't inundate you with a long story - but suffice it to say I learned a few lessons this year about what is important.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for caring.

Getting There

2008-11-30T22:29:00.003-05:00

So I had hoped to be done today with my little Zombie friend, but as I projected, I have to wait until tomorrow to get some of the work done on the head which is holding up the rest of the process.

I also had to take a trip to the fabric store today since this is my last day of Thanksgiving break. That doesn't sound like something that would take too long, but when you live in the city with no car, it becomes a whole production just to get there.

Lucky for me today, I only had to walk a couple blocks in freezing rain, wait 15 minutes for the bus, take that bus, transfer to another bus, wait another 15 minutes in the freezing rain, get on the next bus, get of that bus, walk another block in the freezing rain and there we go. A small price to pay for a place with a pretty decent selection of faux fur...Their crafty selection isn't all that wonderful, but I did see a Michael's on the way back so I'll try there next time for that stuff. AND, there is a Home Depot close by that DOES carry the right kind of Contact Cement (some don't I've found) so that's good too.

Back to baby. I feel like I've put him in the corner...

Take a look at the wire coming out of his head in this picture, this is the basic idea for the hair.

This right here, believe it or not, is what is holding up the process. I have to spray it black and I can't do that in my building so when I go into work (building the sets as school) I can use the workshop to get that part finished. Once that part is done, I can finish the work on the inside of the head. I'm hoping that what I am using to secure the hair will double as more support for the hand relieving all tension for the puppeteer. Then it's on to covering the head!

Here's a picture of the body being covered.

So far I am really happy with this fleece. Even before picking out the stitches, it hides the seams pretty well which is one of the big things I was worried about.

Above is the covered body. I'm not sure how great the color shows but he's a pale green. I found it a very fitting color for a baby AND it should help to bring out his cuddly side.

Speaking of sides, here is his back side.

What is great about this shot is how well you can see the off-kilter placement of the arms. (Side note: I think I say "off kilter" a lot because I worked across for the band Off Kilter in EPCOT for a month and a half a few years ago. Great music, check them out on youtube.)

I couldn't be happier about the seams...You can kinda make out the one there running down the underside of the arm on the left but I haven't picked it out yet so it may disappear completely. I hid the body seams along the sides and at an angle that would be hard to see even if the fleece wasn't behaving so well.

The things we builders/perfectionists/(insert your craft here) go through...

I timed how long it took to sew just one foot. With possibly 4 minutes of interruption to instant message Kyle, it took 65 minutes to sew this ONE foot! The toes were such a...pain...it took all Saturday to complete both hands and feet, a task many people would skip and go straight to the sewing machine for. A task that would take 10 minutes at most on a sewing machine. (The same amount of time it took me to hand stitch one of the little toes.) This folks is why I enjoy the foam part more. However...I am very proud of the way they came out. I haven't even picked out the stitches so when I've done that, the hours will really have been worth it. That end result keeps me coming back to doing it by hand...Check out the Booties I found at Target too!

So now with school starting up again, I'm really not sure when I'm going to be finishing this guy. I was hoping tomorrow but unfortunately I have another sewing project that might have to cut in line. This one is all sewing machine though and just a whole bunch of straight lines, so it shouldn't take very long at all. Hopefully no later than Thursday I'll have some great pictures of the finished baby but we'll if not, definitely by this weekend.

There's that epic battle with time we've talked about on here, stopping by to say hello. I can just say that I'm glad we do projects like this right now so that when the time (and money) comes to do the big projects, we'll know exactly how much time to budget.

Wish me luck friends. I can't wait to show you how he turns out.

P.S. "Toby" seems to be taking the lead both on here and with friend's who have commented verbally.

Toby OR Edgar OR Jasper OR Boo Update...

2008-11-28T22:29:00.000-05:00

So far I've got Toby, Edgar, Jasper and Boo for possible names. Any thoughts?

The foam work is DONE!

Take a look. I'm pretty happy with the way he is coming out. The compact look is exactly what I'm going for. I also decided to play around with the idea of making the limbs different lengths. The way he was originally conceived, the limbs were all off-kilter so I decided to give it a try.

It's funny, when you get to try not to make them look exactly the same, you still battle with the fact that you've got to make it right. I've dealt with that idea when building and painting sets or doing stage makeup where things are supposed to be disheveled or dirty. I think of it in terms of the way people view a Jackson Pollock original. Even though it looks like a mess, there is still an art to it that can't be matched by just splattering paint on a canvas. There is still a clarity in the chaos.

Here is a shot of just the body. I like that everything is attached right there already. I've never tried to cover something like this, but I'm ready to try.

Here's a shot of what he looks like from behind, in case you were wondering...

It's time now to cover him...I realized in constructing the body how much I like the foam work part of building the best. Maybe it's just that I've done more of it (I have so many started heads I can't even count) but I've noticed how easy it is to ruin a great foam work with...not so great stitching.

The fabric is always the biggest factor in how clean the final product will turn out. When it comes down to it, no one sees what you've done on the inside. I've battled some pretty awful fleece in the past which may be what scarred me from the covering process. The fleece I am about to try is new to me. It is quilting fleece rather than antron (which has just been too expensive to try yet) but I got it from a place I've never bought from before so I'll let you know how it goes...wish me luck.

Maybe a Toby...?

2008-11-26T22:17:00.000-05:00

Toby came to mind as a possible name for the Zombie Baby. Now this may be because we watched a bit of the London launch of Sweeny Todd in class yesterday, but to me, the name Toby sounds like an eerie hug. A little random maybe but anyway...

I'm just about ready to attach his limbs! Here is a shot of what I've got so far.

I'm pretty happy with the size he is coming out. I'm a little nervous about covering him later on though, because I want as much mobility in the neck as I can get, yet I want a good flow between the neck and the body. Usually I'd just cover this up with a clothing item (I've thought briefly about using a bib) or I'd build it without foam to support the chest which allows the fleece that connects from the head to the belly to act as a neck and an upper body. In this case though, I really wanted a solid support for the arms, especially since the design involves the limbs being slightly out of place.

Here is what the hands will look like.

I made them pliable so he can suck his thumb, make different gestures, or even hang onto a "binky." I may actually have one lying around...I used to play Mr. Noodle at Sesame Place in "Elmo's World Live", so when people would leave their stuff behind (bottles, shirts, hats, sunglasses, etc...) I was told I could keep the lost items after they'd sit unclaimed for more than a week or so. Needless to say, I have a good amount of random prop/costumes for puppets now.

The rest of the limbs are almost ready. I'll post them soon.

Feel free to suggest some names still, I'm not sold on Toby just yet.

*D

Making Babies...or shall I say...a Zombie Baby...

2008-11-25T20:16:00.005-05:00

Here is a sketch I made from the design before the original made it's way through the laundry cycle. It is very close to the sketch my friend had made with a few modifications...the ripped booties and the outie belly button were a couple of my touches. I've been toying around with the idea to do a single tooth in the front on top but didn't add it to this sketch.

This is where I was heading with my comment in the recent post about having been inspired by the Puppet Heap dog. I love the compact look he has. It's so cute, and while I definitely wanted to stray from a carbon copy, I thought it was the perfect chance to mix a style I'd been wanting to try with the design I received (and a few thoughts of my own) to get the right look. It works so well with traits my friend was looking for...a cuddly yet morbid little friend.

I am also trying to figure out a good name for him. Of course once he's out of my hands I'm sure he'll get a new one, but I'd love to call him something other than "Zombie Baby" during the build process. If you have any good suggestions, feel free to leave a comment...I'd love to here some that I haven't thought of.

Body Building...

2008-11-24T17:12:00.007-05:00

Here is how the belly and upper body came out.

I kept going back and forth trying to figure out if I wanted the belly to be larger, equal to, or smaller than the head of the baby. I ended up with a smaller belly than I thought I might try originally because I had just recently had a conversation about head size to body ratio in actual human development. Basically, your head as a baby takes up more of the length of your body than when you are a fully grown human...a clear observation to be made, yet an easy one to slip the mind when analyzing a design.

As far as the construction goes, I decided again on the same wedge concept as the head but made the pieces smaller which took eight instead of six to complete the sphere. The top piece isn't anything fancy, just two pieces put together and shaped slightly.

I also drew out where I may be placing certain features once I start to cover him. I did this with the head as well. I feel like it really helps you get a chance to see how your ideas will fit on the same canvas, but the element of surprise is still there when you get started placing the features in 3D. The features of course help bring your creation to life...

Speaking of which, I realize I haven't made any "baby making" jokes just yet...

More pics to come...and you can be sure the bad jokes are on their way as well...

*D

So that's what a Zombie Baby's head looks like...

2008-11-23T22:53:00.008-05:00

My show closed today and with Thanksgiving break on it's way, that means a little more build time. So as I mentioned earlier, I am in the process of building a "Zombie Baby" for a friend in class. Here is what the head looks like so far.

The method I used for the foam work is pretty much the same technique Philip Hatter of Thistledown Puppets used in the videos for the Red Panda puppet he put out last summer-ish on youtube. I'm not sure if that is exactly where we learned it, but the way he is able to explain it can help a great deal if you are unfamiliar with it. If you haven't (or even if you have) checked that whole slew of videos out, go for it. There is something to be learned no matter how many times you go through the same resources. It may spark a creative genius of your own. As you can see, I went more for a sphere, and if you play around with the concept, I'm sure there are many more interesting shapes to be found.

I ordered the plastic dome eyes from the company I mentioned in an earlier blog post. They can really give a great clean look to your puppets, and to me that is very important.

I'm not sure if it would be considered an OCD tendency, but I definitely obsess over the clarity of line when I design and build. It's a challenge, especially when you are piecing together your unofficial certificate of build training from online sources and DVD special features. So much of this line of work is trial and error which is tough on a nonexistent budget, but when it's important for you, you find a way.

Stay tuned...more to come.

-D

Lack of Time and a Zombie Baby

2008-11-20T01:41:00.003-05:00

So you may have noticed the lack of posts this week, and there is a reason for that...

...unfortunately it's not any cool reason like, "we were busy shooting the coolest new puppet video that is sure to blow your mind!" Actually for me, building has been pretty much out of the question as I'm opening a show this weekend. (Completely unrelated to puppets though...I'm playing Tiny Tom in Urinetown)

OK, I lied a little. In my procrastination from homework and housework, I was able to start a puppet for a friend. He drew up the design on a scrap piece of paper in class (which I would show here had it not gone through the wash in a pair of my jeans). Never fear, I expanded on the sketch he made and will be posting the progress shortly so stay tuned.

I'll be trying some new techniques on this one as his original design for a "Zombie Baby" fits into a similar style that I've been wanting to try after having been inspired by a puppet that Puppet Heap just made.

A little side note...if you haven't checked out Puppet Heap in the past, go there now...I'll wait...I don't mind, really. It's good stuff that we all can learn from...

...Ok, now that you've checked them out and are probably confused as to what a dog puppet has to do with a baby puppet...I'll just say, check back soon to see the beginning stages of the "Zombie Baby" to find out, along with anything else we may post in the mean time. I hear Kyle's puppet is almost finished.

-D

Take Two: A Big Success

2008-11-14T02:35:00.000-05:00

So I wasn't able to go to the Muppets, Music & Magic showing Saturday night, but I must say I am very glad to have been among the lucky ones to get to join in the fun on Sunday! As I said in the previous post, David Rudman was there as the guest host for the event which was a real treat. He brought along a friend you might all know...who does in fact still love cookies...you guessed it, COOKIE MONSTER! And in case you were wondering, Cookie, will forever love his cookies...none of this Veggie Monster hub-bub that's been going around for the last few years.

The event showcased Jim Henson's early work as a film maker. Not only did it include some of his extremely rare commercials (as well as some you might have caught on youtube) but some of his even lesser known works which did not include puppets at all. What was great about some of these videos, is that you can really see Henson's artistic genius in a whole new light, and while many of you who may read this blog would already consider the works you have seen to fit in a category such as that, I'm sure it helped convince some of the people in the theater that his work was not just for children.

In case you were wondering what question I decided to ask him, here it is...you may not consider it to be the most original question, but not only is it an important one to us here are Puppetfix, but possibly to you...

"What advice do you have for puppet builders/puppeteers who seriously want to make the transition from amateur to professional?"

To which he replied, and I don't quote (because my inner-monologue was speaking simultaneously; unfortunately downing out some of these words of wisdom)...

Really get yourself out there. Find the people who are doing it and get your foot in the door. Find as much work as you can and get as much training as you can find...

Of course I'm sure there was much more but the inner-monologue was saying..."Wow, you just asked David Rudman a question. Why did you start the question looking at the popcorn box and not at him. He's going to think you lack all confidence in the world to actually be able to be a great puppeteer. Make eye contact. Good. Wow, David Rudman is answering my question. That's pretty cool...Wait, what was that? Crap, I missed that...see he can make good eye contact, why can't I when I asking a question?"

Something to the effect at least.

Afterwards, I was able to talk to him with my girlfriend. We both worked at Sesame Place where she had been "great friends" (wink wink) with Baby Bear, and I with Cookie Monster so we were able to share that with him. He was great to talk to and I really hope we have the chance to meet him again in the future.

I'm waiting for conformation from him to see if I can post any of the pictures I took. I don't want to get your hopes up, but you can understand my want for doing things the right way. Until then, enjoy this totally random picture I'll post instead...

This is why...

2008-11-13T11:07:00.008-05:00

This morning, a schoolbus of children happened to be driving by as Elmo and Cookie Monster came outside the arena for a newscast.

From over 100 yards away you could hear the cheers and screams of delight as the kids realized that they were actually seeing some of their best friends live and in person. The newscasters had to hold off taping until the bus pulled far enough away and the sounds of elation could no longer be heard.

Making dreams come true can be a daily thing... so why shouldn't it be?

This is why we do what we do... and we look forward to doing it for the rest of our lives.

So... I didn't quite make it...

2008-11-10T04:32:00.003-05:00

AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

It was a noble attempt... But due to me forgetting about our three-show Saturday and the fact that I have to pack - I was not able to complete the newest puppet...

BUT CHECK HIM OUT! I like him a lot!

Today is a travel day, so I may be able to do some more on the bus to San Antonio. Upon our arrival, I will likely find food first - but then I have a hot date with finishing this little fella.

Let me know what you think and keep an eye out for the final product!

~Kyle

Muppets, Music & Magic at the Gene Siskel Film Center

2008-11-09T00:45:00.007-05:00

Last night, I tried to go to the Muppets, Music & Magic event at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. Having missed it in NYC, even though I was coincidentally in the city for a mini vacation on the same day (long story, I'm still not over it yet)...I was excited to find out there would be an opportunity here in Chicago! With David Rudman (Cookie Monster/Baby Bear and more) here to kick off the festivities, I definitely wanted to go, especially since I live right down the street!

...it's not fun when the one thing you've been looking forward to for all of your loooooong week of school and work and rehearsals is SOLD OUT!

I got there and they were already having to turn people away. The venue is not the largest, but since I hadn't seen too much about it around town, I didn't think there should be much of a problem getting in.

Not-so-long story short: I have tickets now for today (where he will be hosting once again) and now all I have to do is figure out what I'm going to say when I get to meet him...

Challenge Update 1.1

2008-11-08T01:07:00.007-05:00

As you can tell by the limited number of posts here thus far,

this blog is Brand Spankin' New!

According to the previous post, I felt extremely ambitious and tricked myself into this present challenge... and thus sparking the idea for many challenges to come (more on that stuff later)!

If I can get this video thing to work, I made a short video to show you some of my progress... It may look like a step back from some of the pictures you may have seen - but as you may have guessed, these things take planning... and there are a lot of layers!

So, if there is NO video... I'm working on it.

If there IS... Grab your favorite snack, person, animal (real or stuffed), and ENJOY!

... although its very short so maybe you should just grab a small one.

... Snack, that is... Unless you prefer smaller people?

I guess what I'm trying to say is -

[Post edited - For some reason I can't load the video I actually wanted... I'll try at the next hotel]

Self-Induced Challenge!

2008-11-06T14:00:00.006-05:00

Ok...

Here's the deal. I travel for a living - limiting my life to two suitcases, a backpack, and a messenger bag - BUT I'M ADDICTED (hence the title of our blog). I NEED to be able to work on my craft while traveling, but its not easy! Essentially I travel with a mobile puppet workshop so that I can get my fix on the road -

Which brings me to the point of this post...

I started this week with just a head - then challenged myself to finish a puppet by the end of the weekend.

So keep your eyes open and strap yourself in - I wouldn't want you to fall off the edge of your seat in anticipation...

...unless you tape it so we can all laugh about it later.

The New Old Couple

2008-11-02T19:30:00.002-05:00

Here are the newest puppets we've created at Fisticuff Puppet Productions. Happy and Ethel were built for a client who performed a risque show all about sex. Through the beauty of song they addressed the common misconception that as you age, your libido wanes...

In case you were wondering

DON'T.

Try getting those images out of your head! At least now you can imagine this fantastic-looking duo instead of people you know...

Take One, Pass it On

2008-11-01T16:37:00.003-04:00

We're the kind of people that believe that, when something great happens to you, you should pass it on...So we're doing just that.

Today we received a shipment of white dome eyes from www.puppetminister.com. The order had been placed a few weeks ago but hadn't seemed to come in nearly as fast as it had when we ordered from them a couple summers ago. Only a few days ago, we got an email explaining that the order had made it's way into their spam folder instead of to their regular emails. Today when I opened the overflowing box, there was a little message saying, "I threw in a few extra pair. I hope this makes up for the delay." Some may say that's just good business. To us however, it is a wonderful example of an act of great kindness, an act that can and will easily be passed on.

If anyone has seen the movie Pay it Forward, the concept is not foreign to you. But for those who haven't (and if you haven't please check it out asap) I'll explain. One person does something great for three people who do something great for three more, and so on and so forth. The way we see it, those are not just a couple pairs of extra eyes. They will become great puppets that will be built for a company, puppet troupe or church group that will share their show with families, children, or anyone who may then be inspired to share something they love with the rest of the world.

It's the butterfly effect (which is not as good a movie so you don't have to check it out if you don't want to). Something so small can create something bigger than we'll ever know, and what's better than a little reminder to spread some creative energy?

Good luck with whatever it is that you choose to share with someone else today, and if you need some great eyes for your next project, don't hesitate to look them up.

Pepe!

2008-10-28T17:27:00.004-04:00

Well, you most likely find your news elsewhere, but I feel compelled to share that Pepe the King Prawn wrote a book - which was released TODAY!

He will also be on CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson."

I anticipate laughing heartily at his oft-racy antics and hiLARious accent.

In other news, pictures are starting to emerge from the first round of Muppet Whatnots available from FAO Schwarz. I am curious to see what kind of materials they use and which corners they cut to make their price so accessible. I plan on ordering one for myself in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out here as well!

And just for fun, here is an old school Sesame Place production...

So...

2008-10-23T17:05:00.006-04:00

Here's the deal...

We are two young puppeteers striving to be the best. We have steadily climbed into the world of professionalism and are now looking to get our work out there. Essentially this blog will serve two purposes.

- First off, we are being selfish and want a catalog of

our work that we don't have to pay for. It can be so

costly sometimes and we have other things to be

working on - which leads into...

- The real reason we created this blog is to give those

people who care (or fancy themselves our peers) an

opportunity to see our work(s) in progress.

- The third "surprise" purpose is to help ourselves

keep realistic deadlines, which as you might have

guessed, can sometimes be the absolute downfall of

artists and perfectionists alike. It seems the two can

not coexist, which makes life and work VERY difficult

sometimes!

We've got some fantastic ideas floating around inside our dangerously creative minds and would like you to enjoy them as well. They may not turn out to be as good as we originally conceived them to be (few things are), but this is where YOU come in.

We don't want to be the only ones with a say in this stuff. Heck! If you are reading this you should get a say in what you want to know and what you want to see...

SO HIT US UP!

We're open to suggestion(s) and look forward to having others care about these projects as well. Some of our ideas are dumb, some are quite sentimental, and most of them seem to lean toward ridiculous, challenging, and somehow meaningful - but we know that in order to realize our plethora of dreams we need to have something to show for ourselves and that will not be possible without you.

It seems like sometimes artists become disillusioned into their own brilliance - we have our parents to thank for constantly reminding us that we still have a long way to go - but without people to enjoy our work, it has no significance. Basically what I'm saying is

PLEASE read/watch/savor our posts (I promise there will be many)

PLEASE tell others about these two cool cats who are trying to make a difference in the world (more on that kind of stuff later)

PLEASE feel free to tell us how you really feel (we both have very good electronic ears if you need a virtual shoulder to cry on)

PLEASE DON'T forget about us (we NEED you...)

Wow... This is pretty long... If you made it this far leave a comment because you deserve a prize!

Lata!

Welcome To puppetFix

2008-10-15T01:39:00.007-04:00

Welcome to puppetFix, brought to you from the guys at Fisticuff Puppet Productions. What will be great about this blog, is the fact that a couple of us will be posting from different parts of the country. We'll bring you news on any puppet findings we come across, as well as give you a peek into some of our up coming projects. We are builders, puppeteers, enthusiasts and more so this blog will reflect that. Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to let us know what kinds of puppet paraphernalia you need for your fix.