Hi all,

I've been busy making videos to promote my new puppet patterns, and I need a critique of this one:



Basically, the other two videos I did of my other puppets came out ten times better. I tried all day today (and it's 3am) to get a good take of this puppet, but it just hasn't come out as well as I'd hoped. I'm quite sick of doing filming now, and have settled for this decent but not perfect take.

What do other people think? Is it good enough to show off my product, or should I try again?

It's ok.  A little slow, especially in the beginning when its most inportant to get the viewer attention.  I also found the lighting to be off.  You need to somehow get a diffuser so that you don't have a bright spot in the center and dim spots on the outside.  Your puppetry was good.  Just get into the action a bit quicker and even out the lighting.

Hi Na did you receave my second email in regards to the PDF? With this video I would say it's a bit long. That would be fine if there was a story. On eBay there are a lot of people that sell puppets and I always watch and book mark the ones that have a funny story attached. Here is a link to one of my faverot sellers that always makes a video that makes me laugh. Hope it helps.

http://au.youtube.com/user/russwalko

Sorry, I should have mentioned: I just wanted critique on the manipulation... I've never done shadow puppetry before!!!

But yet, the story's not that great. I'm sort of making it up as I go along. But then, I'm not trying to sell the puppet, rather trying to sell what the puppet can do (as it's for a pattern). As I said, my other two videos were much better.

I agree with the light - I tried a number of different lights at home, including a fluoro striplight that I have, but nothing works as well as this light. I don't have a way to set up a light to the top of my screen, so I'm settling for this at the moment. The lighting is additionally shocking because of the way my camera is adjusting to the changes when the light is blocked, or when it's in view.

Anyway, thanks for the comments, I'll take them on board for next time.

Hi Na did you receave my second email in regards to the PDF?

Yes, I did. Sorry I've been trying to get all of this done, and haven't been keeping up with my emails. Thanks for all the help - I'm going to fix up all of the things you suggested.

Something you might want to take in to account when you do the videos is the fact that if you are going to upload them to YouTube that there well be the watermark logo for YouTube in the lower right corner which is going to obscure the action. Perhaps setting the camera so that it there is a "black" strip at the bottom of the screen would help this so the logo is on that and not on the shadow screen.

You manipulation is pretty good I think but I would shorten the sequence so that more action of the shadow puppet is in the clip.  There are some times that Mr Strip seems to be stagnant on the screen. I am sure this is simply a result of the video tape inability to pick up your subtle movements but would be something you would want to consider I think.

Don't get discouraged. You well get it!

Thanks - I haven't seen the watermark image on the video before, but then, I'm not looking for it. I'll keep it in mind next time (actually, the way my screen is set up, I can quite easily add a "black strip" along the bottom - the bottom of the screen itself - but unfortunately the way I filmed meant that the video was slightly askew. Damn angled screens!)

Again, yes you're right. Too subtle for my own good. Ah well... I'm just glad the other two came out better.

I have to say though... it reminds me why I despise performing so much! I prefer to leave the perfection of that to someone else 

Still, good efforts considering I took one shadow puppet workshop (and it was just building, not performing!) and am now doing all this!

Oh yes I agree you did a good job on your manipulation.  You should be very proud!  Shadow puppetry is not something easy to learn. I am glad that you are doing the video's and performing though with your puppets, I think it gives you insight into the building of the puppets when you do this.

Thank you! I knew it would be tough, trying to avoid casting shadows myself, etc. I think I bit off more than I could chew. My initial idea was just to do a short video of what the puppet could do, but then I realised it would be more interesting (and marketable) if there was a storyline.

My first one was simple: a fish that eats something. Then the second one: a lady falls in love with a frog, a la a fairty tale. But then my tiger video just sort of... went a little overboard.

In terms of manipulation; I need to get a proper set up. My screen is some tracing paper mounted (with gaffa!) to some balsa wood. There's some balsa wood blocks on the back of the screen to act as braces; but it's still a bit precarious. Add to the fact that to get an angled screen, I had to mount the bottom of it to some angled pieces of wood, and it was even more precarious... And my lighting is terrible. I think I'll upgrade the screen at the next opportunity.

I do want to keep hands on in terms of performing, and do enjoy it. I think it's just that I hate filming. Theatre is so much more different: you can rehearse, and if something goes wrong you fix it or deal with it. In film, there's a subconscious need to make everything as perfect as possible - especially if you're doing a film to sell a product. I've never been good with that kind of stress of performing... Which is why I don't!

I'm hoping in the future to have some friends of mine help out, and do the films instead. They're already involved in filming short stuff, and have an interest in puppetry, so they're ideal guinea pigs!