Hello! I've been having a terrible time with burnout and art block the past year or so, but I've finally bounced back from it! I do have a recent puppet video I worked on with my husband to show off, but for now I just wanted to start a thread about a show I'm developing. It's for the character Cadaver Dave, and I'm hoping to have the whole thing planned out and ready to film by February. I'm hoping it'll take less than that, but I've got a ton of things to take care of before then (Mostly helping to move my workplace! We'll be closed for December to pack up, move, and unpack in a new location. I also need to plan out some solid class ideas up to July of next year.)

Anyway, I've been learning about storytelling, and this is the project I'm working on for it. The basic story will be that Cedric the Sunflower mixed up different types of squash seeds when Dave asked him to help plant them. Dave will have to learn how to identify all the different types when they've grown. This will provide the backdrop for a thorough education on different types of squash.

This is in part for me, because I'm hoping one day to be able to have a small farm with a science education focus, and since I'll be learning about something that would interest the character anyway, it'd take care of two problems at once.

I am also developing a mad scientist persona to give science demos to kids, so I may make a puppet version of that character as well and put him in the show.

Sounds like  you have a solid plan.  Keep us informed on your progress. 

Thanks, will do!

That all sounds wonderful!! I can't wait to see your progress, definitely keep us updated !!

Yes, do keep us posted. Some behind the scenes on the prep would be good.

I like science experiments, I am a chemist, not mad yet.  Sounds like fun, I would come.

Excellent! Hope it comes to fruition - pun intended! Looking forward to seeing it!

Hi all! There has been progress, although nothing with video so far! I've developed a nice story world for my puppets and my robot persona to co-exist together, and I've sharpened my focus a lot. I'm developing two separate projects. The first is a video series about the scientific method, and the second is just generally developing my robot character.

I'm planning a series of 6 10 - 15 minute videos. I plan to produce one per month, starting 6 months before Halloween (Because that's the season that is most important for my Cadaver Dave character.) The basic story is that his friend Seedric (whose name has now been changed because puns are awesome!) the Sunflower mixed up all the seeds Dave saved from the previous year. Usually he meticulously organizes them, so he's not sure how to proceed. The lessons I want to put in this series are: What to do when things don't go as planned; how to get along with friends who think very differently from you do/who can't follow your instructions; all about different kinds of pumpkins; and finally, how to use the Scientific method. I've written out the basic script for each episode so far, minus what Seedric's puppeteer needs to help me with.


My robot character is named Auto Von Makenstuff, a robot created by a mad scientist to show people around the lab. The story is they got interested in making stuff, and are now super excited about the modern maker movement. I currently help plan events at my local maker space, so this is the perfect thing for teaching about different machines. I'm also planning on making Auto very glitchy, which might help people feel more invited to try stuff without being intimidated. (Especially kids!). I'm also hoping I can use this character to make videos about the maker movement, since people in general don't know much about it.

Since part of Dave's back story is that he finds new farms to work at, it works out perfectly that there is a garden/farm out back of Auto's laboratory, so the two can interact a lot together. That also provides plenty of excuse to bring both out at any storytelling opportunity.

The work is going well! Can't wait to post more!

Hope to know more about it. Do you have a developing blog? pics and videos? LOL

Yeah Dr Popet...totally agree. Sounds great.