If it were face book, I'd "Like" that...
There is always waiting around on film and TV shoots, but it's great to have catering as a standard! =) as opposed to Theatre.
Happy to hear about it...

Oh yes, I knew there'd be lots of waiting around. And I'm not complaining, there's lots to be done and plenty to be set up and checked and tested. It's just very different to theatre where you can't afford to be building sets the day you bump in, or spend 2 hours talking about frame speed instead of getting on with rigging (I'm assuming part of it is that with theatre everything has to be pre-planned in order to get everything done in time for opening, whereas with film you can be more flexible with a schedule and have more details finalised last minute). It's a very different way of doing things... mainly it just weirded me out because I'm a trained techie and being the performer meant I was watching everyone else run around doing stuff. It's not in my nature to just sit around watching everyone else work especially when there's so much to do and so little time to do it in.

Catering is a nice addition, especially since we were all working from about 9am til late (they shot my stuff morning-eve, but were still going when I left at 10pm). Understandably having food/drink available for such a long day is something you'd want to do just cause it helps break up the day and makes everyone less grumpy

Actually it was really awesome to have lots of food and drink. Rehearsal day I had lunch provided, and shoot day lunch/dinner and snacks. I have to say I know how hard film work is just because it's common sense, but I'm far more appreciative now of runners, general crew, etc. While I was busy trying to get a scene right, someone else was making dinner without me realising that's what they were doing. They cleaned up afterwards so the rest of the crew could get on with setting up and shooting... It's some serious dedication to art to do stuff like that, especially when you're not getting paid.

... In terms of theatre, there's less of that done, but in general you're trying to get 10 hours worth of stuff done in 2. I've been given bottles of wine as a thank you, or treated to an occasional meal/snack, but that's been more from people who I've worked with on a profit-share basis. You definitely don't get that sort of comaraderie from pro theatre crews. Unless it's "buy you a beer after the show" kind of thing.

Well it's a long time in between...

As you guys know I was thinking of chucking the project in. Basically I just got to a point where I just felt a bit overwhelmed by life circumstances and thought it was best to put everything puppetry off until it resolved. It hasn't, but some other things happened since (some explained above, re: music video).

The other thing was I spent about 2 weeks not doing any puppetry of any kind. Normally if I'm feeling a bit burnt out I'll simply move on to another puppet project, switching back and forth between School of Puppetry or Puppets in Melbourne or two projects for either site. I've been doing that for the past 2 years. Finally I "took a holiday", where I simply watched TV, did a few other jobs - see below - and occasionally kept up with emails. I put everything else on hold. That helped get me out of my head.

The other thing I did was sign up for a freelance website and got myself a couple of paid jobs writing articles. That helped ease my financial worries (seeing as how I've got a puppet sale this month, I knew my income was going to take a dive) as well as giving me something new to do for once. It's kind of nice to write on subjects that I normally wouldn't, and happily got some great feedback from the client. Plus it had the added benefit of making me feel like I can go out and get paid work without necessarily committing myself to some dull temp job in an office which leaves me no time or energy for puppetry pursuits.

I'm trying again to push myself to get through it, though I really do feel as though I need a proper break. I'd love to just do some sewing for a bit instead. However, I'd still like to meet the deadline and try to present something - with any luck to a lot of well-known puppeteers. So I've started building.

Part of the reason why I stopped is sort of a mental block on building the shadow puppet screen. I really didn't have enough money to do what I want - buy some PVC tubing for a frame - and the aluminium framing I have currently sh*ts me no end. In a conversation with Shawn I mentioned doing everything in miniature to make the whole presentation easier on me and make things less frustrated. So I've gone with that idea and am making a screen using leftover materials I have at home.

Surprisingly the screen itself is hardly miniature. Instead of making a huge self-sustaining frame I'm making something that sits on a table-top. However, due to the nature of the flying backdrops, I've needed to make the table-top frame taller than normal. Once the whole thing has been built I'll post some pics/video, but for now...

I had a whole bunch of black foam core pieces leftover from a past show (see the PIM website/blog, look under 'City Head'). I only had small pieces so I've cut the edges into jigsaw shapes so now all the pieces fit together. In the centre will be a piece of clear plastic which will act as my screen. The idea is that the whole frame should be easy to put together and will fit in my car. Initially I thought I'd plan all this out, but I'm kind of just making it up as I go along.

You may be thinking 'how is this a frame?' Well, it's not. Not really... the foam core pieces will act as a hide for the fly/backdrop structure as well as hiding me. The plastic screen will obviously be the area of play. But attached to the back of the foam core will be some of my aluminium frame which will hold up the heavier backdrop pieces. They'll be in a backwards C shape, with the top and bottom of the C sticking out from the back of the foam core to hold up the backdrops and the straight edge of the C attached to the foam core itself (It'll make more sense when I post some pics) Because the foam core is only held together in jigsaw pieces, I will most likely use some velcro or tape to secure it all further.

I have no idea if I'll even get it all made before the summit which is at the beginning of July.

Finally.... thanks to everyone who posted supportive comments. I think in the end pushing through was just making more frustrated and a proper long step away from everything was all that I needed to get back into the right headspace. It just goes to show that holidays were invented for a reason

Knowing absolutely nothing about shadow puppets, I can't really visualise the screen Na. I look forward to seeing it and understanding the techniques you've used.

I am so pleased to hear you're feeling re-energised/inspired/making progress! There is nothing worse than being stuck in a rut and it's awesome you've managed to shake it! Oh and kudos on the freelance gigs!

I wouldn't really call it inspired. I'm considering this a 'last hurrah' before taking time off to do other things - aka earn more money. I'm certainly not going to stop doing puppetry, I just need a longer break from it all. After July I'm thinking I'll spend most of it sewing (technically Puppets in Melbourne plans include selling plushies, but at least sewing suits my mood right now) and doing more freelance stuff. I won't be surprised if this time next week I'm feeling crap about it again. Puppetry for me, no matter how passionate I manage to sound about it, was always something I could take or leave... so I go through periods where I don't know why I keep doing it and periods where I'm so inspired I can't sit still.

... Oddly enough the freelance thing was very relaxing. I've technically only had one gig, the person just rehired me for some extra work... I've only applied for about 13 jobs, most of which I've not gotten, but it's great to see so many jobs available where all I need is internet access and a computer. The added income for what amounts to a day or two's work is great, and I don't have to feel guilty for having little on my CV outside of theatre jobs. It just suits me so much more than other things I've tried.

As for the screen, even if you knew shadow puppetry I doubt it would make much sense. It is literally a jigsaw puzzle and I'm not even sure how I'm making it even while I'm doing it. I don't even know if it will stand up! I guess just for the moment, imagine a false wall with a small window in the middle of it... And then some braces at the back to keep it up. Or something

PS. I bought my registration for the summit last week. Been meaning to ask you how your plans are going... I'm all excited about seeing some of the Oscar winners. I wish they'd actually release a proper program with dates/times. I really can't tell whether or not there's one workshop/whatever per time slot or more. When I registered there wasn't any program selection process, which is what I expected from past festivals. Even the first of these summits that I attended had several things in each time slot, so I'm not sure how this one is going to work.

(Blah, I'm obviously verbose today.)

More updates:

I've gotten a bit stuck on the frame: not design-wise, just I don't have any velcro and need to pick some up. I'm waiting to take a trip to a new arts supply place I've heard about which sells discount offcuts of various materials. They also offer a pick-up service for scrap materials you don't want, so obviously this is a place I *need* to visit sometime soon.

In the meantime I am working on the designs of the puppets. I now know the size of my screen, so I am using my computer to develop scale images for landscape pieces and so on which I can use to help me figure out what everything will look like before I build.

So far I have the below. It's the design for the male puppet, as you can see it's in the same style as my new designs that I've been prototyping (see my logo!). It will have one moving arm, the other is on the same piece as the head. The puppet will be 2/3 the size of the screen, because the screen is very small - 28.5cm. I'm trying to make the puppet as big as possible because the bird will need to be in scale too.

The colour of the body/legs is not decided yet, I just picked something at random for testing purposes.

From here I'm kind of stuck again, as I need to order something for my super-secret effect before designing other things. However, I can design the speck-man, and the bird, so I'll probably be spending some time thinking out how I can make a puppet that is all specks. I'd like to avoid lamination, but that's probably the only way to make it work as the plastic I'm now using doesn't stick to any glues nor itself.


scene by puppetsinmelb, on Flickr

I'd love to say there's been more progress made, but alas no. I was all set to go pick up some materials yesterday when I realised this new art supply place is not open on Mondays. I went out to pick up some mail and a few hours later had a f*ing awful cold. I'm now hoping I'll be well enough tomorrow to try again. What's frustrating is that without these items I can't really start building stuff...

... I think I may not meet the deadline... sigh...

Although the good news is that lying in bed sick allows me to think of how to make those exploding speck things. I think I have it worked out, but a prototype will need to be made. Preferrably when I'm not sneezing all over it

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Thanks

I am getting a bit better each day, but still not well enough to do much. Hopefully it'll clear up by next week!

I'm finally feeling good enough to sit still and work on the project. I've just worked out my first piece of landscape, measurements and design. I should be able to post a pic later...

Hmmm... I have a question for you guys...

I have to give credit for the music and for one other thing that I'm using, and I also want to have a credit for who is doing the performance (you know usual stuff) but I don't know whether to have them before the song or at the end. I know giving the credit for the 'other thing' will partly give away some of the effect before the song even begins (although there will be scenery in view which will also give it away: the nature of doing things miniaturised sadly), but having it at the end also seems silly given the way the visuals end (spinning galaxies, fade to black).

Which way is better?

I really wish I could help Na but that has gone totally over my head!  For what it's worth, in my mind credits should always roll at the end. To do it first would deter from the performance/concept/your work, but again, I can't actually visualise in any real terms what you're doing and therefore don't know whether my views are of an value at all. I'd be interested to hear what you decide though and why.

Haha, yeah it's kind of hard giving advice on something that is a secret

Maybe this will clarify:

In order to introduce the piece, I must invite the audience to do something. This is a necessary credit, so it just made sense to me to have
"Show title, performed by..." at the beginning too. It works to introduce the piece, leaving the song itself to run and the final event is that spinning galaxy/black out.

However, as I want to minimalise the amount of the effect that will be seen during credits it may make more sense to have the song credit and 'other' credit at the end (and therefore take the others with them). And remember the audience *will* see some of the effect/landscape because of that must-have credit at the start, and that the 'other' credit will clue people in on the effect anyway (although only a small amount if they're paying attention).

Now the thing that I'll ask the audience to do will *totally* clue them in, which is why I kind of want to keep the credits minimal...

But I really like finishing the song as BO (theatre-speak for black out) rather than rolling credits.

Does that make more sense?

PS. Long time no hear! Hope all is well for you

Does that make more sense?

Um, no?!! I'm trying to see what you're seeing in your head as you formulate the explanation and yet... no joy! I'm having one of those Homer moments where every time I try to visualise it, the circus music starts and my brain monkeys start absent mindedly preening fleas from one another.

I will re-read this with tomorrow's fresh eyed and well groomed brain monkeys in the hope to better understand it. Sorry dude!

Oh, and things have been hectic in my world but pretty good. I'll PM you for a decent catch up soon. 

Haha, I thought as much. Trust me, knowing what the effect is makes all the difference

Good to hear you've been busy! Look forward to getting the PM