Not much of an update, I wrote a script for the Zombie puppet that I want to film.  but I needed a prop puppet.  Here it is:



I am building a puppet stage and hope to film it soon.   Just a little short, but will be my first attempt.  So... gulp!

Braaaaaains!  Good luck on your first short film!

Wow! how did I miss this post. Great job on the puppets!

Billy, I too have been away a day or two (This weekend past we did a Post Halloween function... went pretty well).... then all the recent posts disappeared on me, Shawn... anyone else have this happen?  Good work ArthurS. Good to see the ADD working for you. I agree with your philosophy. Keeps us slower guys on our toes.

Okay, here's the plans for my puppet stage:


It can either be 10 1/2 feet long:


Or a more managable, 5' length:


And packs down in 1 bag for the 5' and a 2nd if I want the 10':


Whew...

.... then all the recent posts disappeared on me, Shawn... anyone else have this happen?

Normally the recent list will hold till you view the post or close down your browser and come back later.  Not heard any one else mention they where having problems. Anyone?  Even if the unread resets you should always be able to then use the link that is displayed to view the post from most recent on back. Not as easy as the unread list but still workable.

Nice stage Arthur!

Arthur will you only be using the front of stage for show and the back as background only?  If you planned on having people manning both the front and back level you may need to stagger them or the back folks could be tripping over the ankles of the front row puppeteers...if they are on their knees. 
I saw a puppet team with similar stage who had an ingenious way of changing back drop curtains quickly. They had the different painted curtains rolled up at the top of stage in order held up with strings in the back, they could pull the string of the first scene and it dropped down fast with dowel in hem for weight.  Then they could progressively change the scenes quickly by pulling the next string in order. I don't know how the string release worked but it was pretty cool to watch the scenes change before your eyes.

Actually, I'm getting ready to film on it right now!  The puppets will perform behind the pink (which is now a deep red) with the black as the background.  The plan is the puppeteer will sit or stand behind the black piece and work the puppet at chest level in front of it.  The black is thin, so the puppeteer can see through it.  But the front is sparkled, so it should break up the vision of the audience seeing through to the puppeteer.

I have really bad shoulders so wanted to try to find a way to not have to work way above my head.  Plus, being lower, it helps with the angle for the audience.
Hopefully I will have a video soon!

8th take is a keeper!  Have to do some editing and I will post it in a day or two.  Pretty happy with it for a first-ever attempt.