Hello:

I'm looking on some advice on video taping puppets for my online puppet satire www.hupdaditty.com. Does anyone have any tips or articles they could share? I've been doing some video tests and the focus of my puppet keeps shifting. I'm using a mirror now and a reference to help maintain the framing and that has helped but I wondered if anyone had any video specific tips to help me along. Thanks!

Well as with any puppetry practice helps but you might want to think about setting up a monitor instead of a mirror watch so you can better frame and set focus of the eyes on your puppet.

Sweet!

This is from a few years ago, but I have some good resources listed at http://puppetvision.info/2007/02/getting-started-in-video-puppetry.html

I do all my work myself so it can be difficult.  I edit a lot.  even when enlisting others people need to learn to turn their hand down so the puppet isn't looking up.  A monitor is the best though I haven't set one up yet. Expect to get worn out, and if you are kneeling get one of those gardening pads. If I could be two people to shoot the scene and play the part it would be great. Use your edit tools to make things move smoothly yet give good timing. I'd like to start filming outside which will be a new challenge but can add life to your subjects. I'm still learning and compulsively did my first projects so I can't say my work is a good example of the quality you are looking for.

Use a monitor.  We're in the middle of making a puppet feature film and it's been a life-saver.  The hardest thing to get used to is that everything is reversed.  If you move left the monitor moves right.  It's very strange and awkward but you get used to it. 

I recommend just filming and practicing.  I made a couple of music video-type vids as I was working through this.  Just take a song you're familiar with and sing along.  It's great for getting lip-synching down as well as watching how you move in relation to a visual frame. 

Best of luck.  It's not as easy as it looks, is it?

I agree with many...a monitor is a must for puppetry with video/camera work...a cheap monitor can be smaller size TV's 15", 19" you can find them on Craig's list, or second hand shops...refurbished TV's can be very cheap as well at discount centres...I also use portable DVD players that have a input video jack you can again get them for dirt cheap on second hand sites or yard sales.  Just make sure you video camera has a video output on the camera and the tv has a video input.  It will be worth every cent it will save you time and energy on filming.  I would not worry about quality just that it works and you can see a decent picture.

The last thing you need whitch is usually free...patience and practice...lots of both.

LOL

StiqPuppets

Thanks so much everyone! This is terrific advice. I'm off to go monitor shopping and practice, practice practice! Thanks again.

Also, don't use the monitor to determine your brightness, your colour balance, etc.  Use the viewfinder on the camera as it's closer to true colour.  The monitor can be adjusted so it looks great but not an actual representation of the final output.

Cool PoorFishy, what stage are you up to in your movie?
Hupaditty, make sure your audio records well. Bad audio  kills things. If you can't record with mic direct to the camera, record to a laptop or recorder and replace the onboard audio of the camera in the edit. Another thing that can kill a video is poor lighting. Even though puppets are smaller than people, you still need a reasonable amount of light,( except where you want it dark of course,) but don't overdo it as you  can  blast the image out and  get  harsh shadows and stuff.all the  other suggestions are  great... and practice is the  best school.