I'm a NPR producer from a first person storytelling show called Snap Judgment, and I am on the hunt for puppet stories 

Does anyone know of a true story of a puppeteer whose taken their love of puppets too far? Maybe someone is so used to controlling a puppet that they start trying to be the puppet master of their real life. Or on the flip side maybe there's a puppeteer out there who has no agency in the real world and therefore controls her puppets? Basically I'm looking for any kind of story where the lines between puppeteering and the world outside puppets blur, or any other interesting story for that matter!

Thank you so much advance for your help!

Ana

No offense, but I think you've been reading too much fiction. The concept of puppeteers being controlling maniacs largely stems IMHO from horror movies and public ignorance about what puppetry is. I don't know of a single puppeteer who is even remotely like your concept. Like with all subgroups, there are probably a few control freaks, but they would be that no matter what they did in life.

I'm sure we have zany stories but they likely include nothing less mild than what you'd hear about from an average stage performer's life, or a sculptor, or any other artist. While there are plenty of people who find using puppets helps them overcome shyness, this is also true of many actors, singers, etc.

I'd say the real story here is how, where and why there are so many misunderstandings about puppetry and the people who do it. Lines blur in the same way that most performing arts do, with an added bit of uncanny valley for fun. Far more fascinating and original than yet another tale about the mad ventriloquist with the murderous evil dummy who does their bidding that has nothing to do with reality.

PS. I recommend a viewing of this behind-the-scenes doco which discusses puppet theory and misconceptions, plus the difficulties of producing puppetry today:
http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1527710/

I cant say that I have ever heard ay stories of the sort of things you are looking for in real life, but I have heard of a guy who had schizophrenia that would carry around a puppet as if it was just another person and the puppet would often talk to people and get the other guy in trouble, but because of the guys schizophrenia he couldn't control what the puppet was saying or when he would say it!! I would say that in my own life as a puppeteer and ventriloquist that there have been moments on stage in comedy clubs or performances that involve the audience where its almost like my puppets come up with things on the spot that almost surprise me as if I wasn't that one saying it, or have rebutted a heckler with something so good or surprising that I cant think of how I managed to come up with it so quickly, that it feels like I didn't and that it was the puppets!! but then again that probably just down to the amount of time I have spent practising improvisation over the years.

I cant say that I have ever heard ay stories of the sort of things you are looking for in real life, but I have heard of a guy who had schizophrenia that would carry around a puppet as if it was just another person and the puppet would often talk to people and get the other guy in trouble, but because of the guys schizophrenia he couldn't control what the puppet was saying or when he would say it!!

Not to be all annoying () but this is exactly what I meant and think should be avoided. One, it's gossip, hearsay and most likely just an exaggerated tale of actual ventriloquism; in other words, more myth as I pointed out. Two, it conflates puppetry as some form of mental illness or 'thing that weirdos and crazies do'. Three, it likewise continues to add stigma to mentally ill people and minimises or laughs at those with genuine obsessive/control issues. Puppetry is a craft done by craftspeople and done by actors, not some power-play or form of acting out voices in our heads. We could talk about art therapy and its uses, or again, the myths and concepts portrayed by the media, but I'm guessing that's not what the NPR lady had in mind.

I know I can be said to be lacking in humour here but I really don't think we need yet another press item about those weirdos who do puppetry, as if we're some sort of zoological exhibition or freak show. Especially as the discussion about puppetry, its theory, its history, the whys of how we react to it, the whys of using it, and its actual uses, are so much more interesting and nuanced and deserving of a deeper exploration.

In my short-lived podcast I asked my interviewees (a mix of builders and performers) why they like puppetry. They all spoke of the magic and suspension of belief, the ability to craft a character with their hands or acting ability, and the enjoyment shared with their audience. In every conversation about why people do puppetry you come across similar sentiments; likewise outside of minimal art therapy uses, I have NEVER seen anyone go on about obsessively controlling the puppets or their closest friends etc.

I reiterate: why prop up a myth?

I'm sure Henson, etc had some good wacky tales about behind the scenes stuff, but I guess that sort of thing isn't juicy enough...

It sounds like she's looking for South Park Live, with Mr. Garrison and Mr. Hat.  In this case, I doubt there is much in the way of life imitating art.

In any event, it is bad journalism to have a point, and then go in search of stories to illustrate. The idea of journalism is to have a story, and let the reader/listener determine the point.

Regardless of what I have said, I do actually agree with both Na and Chris, this is our art and we do not need anyone tarnishing its great reputation for reaching the generations. I would say however that my 'hearing' about the guy with schizophrenia was actually from a good friend of mine who is a very well respected psychiatrist and who only spoke of this particular gentleman after the treatment was finished years later and because he thought I might find the story interesting, however I am sure the story was probably exaggerated slightly for humorous effect!!

Magician Harry Blackstone once said 'Magicians are actors playing the part of magicians, but ventriloquists are magicians playing the part of two or more characters, the ability to give life to an inanimate object is truly magic'

What we do is not to be ridiculed, it takes skill, patience and practice!!

Regardless of what I have said, I do actually agree with both Na and Chris, this is our art and we do not need anyone tarnishing its great reputation for reaching the generations. I would say however that my 'hearing' about the guy with schizophrenia was actually from a good friend of mine who is a very well respected psychiatrist and who only spoke of this particular gentleman after the treatment was finished years later and because he thought I might find the story interesting, however I am sure the story was probably exaggerated slightly for humorous effect!!

So you're saying the psychiatrist broke laws to do with patient confidentiality?

In either case, I am also exaggerating. I have no doubt that some percentage of people use ventriloquist dummies as some form of art therapy, as hinted at above. But obviously that's a minority, and you'll find plenty of subgroups doing odd things in any larger group.

The issue for me is that for some reason when it comes to puppetry that minority is painted as the majority. And worse it encourages stigma around mental illness, as well as continued ignorance of both things (puppets and people).

Magician Harry Blackstone once said 'Magicians are actors playing the part of magicians, but ventriloquists are magicians playing the part of two or more characters, the ability to give life to an inanimate object is truly magic'

I do like that. It's true, people forget that it's acting.

In any event, it is bad journalism to have a point, and then go in search of stories to illustrate. The idea of journalism is to have a story, and let the reader/listener determine the point.

To be fair, there were a number of times when I was writing that my editor came to me with an idea or topic and then asked me to go and research/write. In this case though, it was in that order, and I never looked for an angle (though I was told to 'find an angle' for the topic) when asking for interviewees or for a particular type of anecdote, I always just said "this is what I'm writing about, I'd like your opinion or experience with X, Y or Z". Having done the research first I knew roughly what I was in for and let the article go in whichever way those experiences went; but likewise I was doing arts writing, so I also knew something of the culture even if I weren't a dancer/publisher/whatever myself. This is more like me walking into a coal mine and saying "so, tell me all about your harrowing experience with canaries" despite not knowing whether or not they use canaries anymore. I'm guessing the miners would look at me like I'm an idiot who hasn't done her research and is basing my knowledge of mining on a reading of a Dickens novel.

Interesting.....Some puppets are kind of freaky you must admit. still,I do not see any harm done in asking for help on a lead for a story.....Have to wonder how mental illness became associated with puppetry in the first place?

If I were to hazard a guess as to why puppetry is associated with mental illness - because stereotypes start from a more reasonable, realistic place, and then end up somewhere over time as the stereotypes are built upon.

I have a mental illness, as do a lot of people I know. It's always weird hearing things being said about mental illness. I think the equivalent would be talking about anyone who has any type of illness as if they have a highly catching, flesh eating disease - which neglects that there is a variety of experiences that don't involve being violent, such as having the common cold.

Anyway, all kinds of people make art, so it makes sense that all kinds of people do puppetry. However, I doubt there's a lot of 'rock star diva' behavior going on.

Interesting.....Some puppets are kind of freaky you must admit. still,I do not see any harm done in asking for help on a lead for a story.....Have to wonder how mental illness became associated with puppetry in the first place?

In this topic, it was mostly me who introduced it. You'll find that a lot of stereotypes occur in the minds of people when it cones to puppetry and I'm guessing a large reason why people have a fear of ventriloquist dummies (and clowns) is due to horror movies. (I wonder if the conflation extends further back in time or is just a modern take) They take advantage of the uncanny valley concept but hardly anyone in the media talks about it. Add in a large misunderstanding about what puppeteers do, and the stigma that mentally ill people are violent (studies show they are no more violent than 'normal' people) and you have a huge group of people who conflate a bunch of movie concepts for real-world examples.

I am pretty sensitive to these things so I can be seen as over-reacting but at the end of the day it gets mighty tiring to see such stereotypes bandied about and people taking them seriously. As Mr Bumblepants points out, the response out there towards those of us who are mentally ill can be difficult and often incredibly wrong. Don't forget that modern medicine is quite a bit behind in terms of figuring stuff out about the mind; look up hysterics to see an example of just how 'far' we've come and how far we've got to go. Something misunderstood and strange would be easily associated with something else as easily misunderstood, and I wonder if it also has to do with some gender issues (puppeteers often get called out for 'playing with dolls') or maturity issues. People don't know sonething so they fill the gaps with their own ideas.

It's easy to be ignorant of a subject so I don't blame people for having the wrong idea. It's also easy to be a lazy journalist and not bother to do any research before releasing yet another misinformed article into the world. Where do people get their information from? The press. It's one thing for a movie maker to invent some violent fantasy of puppeteers, freedom of expression and all, it's another for the media to do it too.

/end soapbox