tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27135347328550878492024-03-13T19:08:53.202-07:00Blog d'ArthurUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-34982420489683952192012-06-07T22:11:00.001-07:002012-06-07T22:11:03.444-07:00An Example of a MarionetteWhile visiting the <a href="http://www.3barons.org/wiki/Main_Page" target="_blank">Three Baron's Renaissance Faire</a> in Anchorage this past weekend; I stumbled across the most amazing find. There was a wandering vendor that sold wooden things; among the various items was a single, hand-made marionette. Overjoyed to see our troupe's next project in front of me and open for intensive viewing, I took out my camera and introduced myself.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-aGic-JBCI/T8-BU0WRhaI/AAAAAAAAA80/eyx880ySu-0/s1600/DSCN4186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-aGic-JBCI/T8-BU0WRhaI/AAAAAAAAA80/eyx880ySu-0/s320/DSCN4186.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billy's version of Peter Pan, a seven stringed marionette.</td></tr>
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<br />I managed to talk with the creator of the marionette for almost an hour and we spent the time discussing all aspects of his marionette. I tried to glean as much information as possible so that I could work on this next aspect of <em>The Batty Puppeteers</em>.<br />
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<strong>The Joints</strong><br />
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From my closer inspection of Billy's marionette I was able to see how the joints of the legs and arms were pieced together. While this aspect of jointed marionettes had never eluded me, it was nice to see how somebody else had done it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KBLcAsRRobo/T8-Bx-cwULI/AAAAAAAAA88/X0vFBB-5O6I/s1600/DSCN4188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KBLcAsRRobo/T8-Bx-cwULI/AAAAAAAAA88/X0vFBB-5O6I/s320/DSCN4188.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The leg joint of the marionette.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PN4QIZKuHQ/T8-B5bPx9VI/AAAAAAAAA9E/P0U1omWW6U4/s1600/DSCN4189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PN4QIZKuHQ/T8-B5bPx9VI/AAAAAAAAA9E/P0U1omWW6U4/s320/DSCN4189.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The arm joint of the marionette.</td></tr>
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From the above pictures you can see that the lower portion of the extremity fits into the upper part. The two pieces of wood are then pinned together with a small dowel. Upon closer inspection and a little deductive reasoning, it can be seen that the hole of the lower part of the extremity that the dowel passes through is slightly larger than the dowel itself; whereas the dowel fits perfectly in the holes provided in the upper part of the extremity. This allows the lower part of the arm (or leg) to move freely back and forth.<br />
<br />This version of Peter Pan does not move his neck about easily; he is quite stiff in that regards (no pun intended). I tried to take a picture of the neck area but none of the pictures came out well enough to post. This is something that we would want to examine further. <em>The Batty Puppeteers</em>' group vision has fully articulated marionettes; so the head would have to move about as freely as any normal actor's would.<br />
<br /><strong>The Hands</strong><br />
<br />Traditional marionettes have always had relaxed hands. It wasn't until the resurgence of marionettes in the mid 1900's that different styles of hands or even <em>controllable</em> hands were used. However, for a medieval style marionette; the hand structure and style of Billy's Peter Pan is perfect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mxLmGr5Etcg/T8-CAZAkqII/AAAAAAAAA9M/MO6pOcW0Kxc/s1600/DSCN4191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mxLmGr5Etcg/T8-CAZAkqII/AAAAAAAAA9M/MO6pOcW0Kxc/s320/DSCN4191.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hand design of the marionette, a variation of the popular Czech marionettes.</td></tr>
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The hand is in a neutral position and can be utilized for just about anything the marionette may be doing. Obviously, the marionette may have a hard time picking up items or carrying around a sword; but those small problems can be fixed in later versions of the marionettes that we plan on creating in the future. For right now, Billy's style of hand is usable for any productions we wish to perform.<br />
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<strong>Stringing</strong><br />
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The marionette that I saw at the Renaissance Faire had a simple string arraignment. In fact, I was all too familiar with this system as it is what we use on our current marionettes. Strings control the hands and the knees, two strings control the head movements, and one sting was attached to the marionettes backside. The "seven-stringed" method is perfect for beginning puppeteers as it is easier to work than the "nine-stringed" method.<br />
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The controller was a simple T-shaped controller. This style is simple and effective but somewhat foreign to me as we operate our marionettes with an "airplane" controller. However, for his first marionette, Billy's choice of controller was perfectly fine.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOXrIhcfh2g/T8-CHpwTf2I/AAAAAAAAA9U/Hy97lScS0XM/s1600/DSCN4192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOXrIhcfh2g/T8-CHpwTf2I/AAAAAAAAA9U/Hy97lScS0XM/s320/DSCN4192.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<strong>The Head</strong><br />
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Billy confessed to me that the head was the hardest part for him to create. From my own experiences of extremely basic marionettes heads, I applaud his skill and ability for what he accomplished. Using a band saw to finish the main shape of the head, he then took chisel and knife to work out the additional features. The rough texture to the existing marionette adds medieval feeling to the whole project; which is what I feel the creator of this piece was working towards.<br />
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<strong>Clothing</strong><br />
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The clothing worn by this marionette is made of felt and is not able to be removed from the marionette without detaching the string connection points and roughing up the marionette. This is the main problem that I see with our own future marionettes. The plan is to change costumes for different performances and the clothing or string connection points will have to be designed in such a way to allow clothing to be put on, added to, or taken off throughout the lifetime of the marionette.<br />
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<strong>Final Thoughts</strong><br />
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Billy's marionette is a wonderful example of a Phase Three marionette for our troupe. The whole marionette, from the joints to the head, is a wonderful example of an early style stringed puppet. The close inspection that I was afforded has given me ideas of where to start and what parts of the process will need to be altered to fit our needs.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-58593866184080150482012-04-09T10:54:00.001-07:002012-06-07T22:12:46.582-07:00Shadow Puppet StageAfter ensuring that there was enough wood in the garage, we started making the plans for the stage. A lot of research went into this process; and a couple good resources were utilized. We first had to develop a plan then work on the actual construction. Ample time was given from concept to finished project so as to ensure that we could fix any problems that we ran across.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8nFh4UiZHo/T0Ay8aVdrCI/AAAAAAAAA54/nuAuDwpCbqQ/s1600/Shadow+Puppet+Stage+Design.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8nFh4UiZHo/T0Ay8aVdrCI/AAAAAAAAA54/nuAuDwpCbqQ/s320/Shadow+Puppet+Stage+Design.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basic plans for a table-top shadow stage.</td></tr>
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<strong>The Plans</strong><br />
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I developed the plans and measurements based on a working design by another theater company, one of which as soon as I find it again I will post it. The stage dimensions were larger than what I had wanted, so I took the liberty of adjusting the sizes to suit my needs.<br />
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Additionally, I found the idea of being able to fold the wings of the stage in to both protect the viewing area and to make the stage more portable to be a good idea. In both my plans and the plans of the theater company I found online, the wings fold over to completely cover one side of the viewing area. This helps make the stage transportable and protects the screen during transportation.<br />
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<strong>The Wood</strong><br />
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I used couple of 1" by 4" boards that we happened to have lying around. I cut them to the measurements I had decided on earlier and sanded them to prepare the boards for staining. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEo5iY_uVH4/T4EGuHyiqII/AAAAAAAAA7s/7I_OjmIsbIU/s1600/DSC00515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEo5iY_uVH4/T4EGuHyiqII/AAAAAAAAA7s/7I_OjmIsbIU/s320/DSC00515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Staining the wood helps out in several ways. First, the stain helps protect the wood from minor water damage and getting "dirty". The second reason is to cover up the dull look of new wood and give the shadow puppet theater a little more class.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zIVKgtTfWIQ/T4EF1t7u6FI/AAAAAAAAA7c/QEUFHOoPK-I/s1600/DSC00524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zIVKgtTfWIQ/T4EF1t7u6FI/AAAAAAAAA7c/QEUFHOoPK-I/s320/DSC00524.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the type of stain that I used; mostly because we had it and it was a color I could work with.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PMhDsGEICko/T4EGPDACk8I/AAAAAAAAA7k/oQsSsUZJCzw/s1600/DSC00745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PMhDsGEICko/T4EGPDACk8I/AAAAAAAAA7k/oQsSsUZJCzw/s320/DSC00745.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wood after the first coat...</td></tr>
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I ended up using three coats of stain on the wood frame. This allowed the actual color to become darker; effectively making a distinctive frame around what would later become a white screen.<br />
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After staining the wood, I used a clear Crystal Coat to help further protect the wood. While the additional coat gives the wood a shiny texture, it does help to protect the wood further in adverse weather. The Crystal Coat can be dulled using fine sandpaper, which I decided to use.<br />
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<strong>Construction</strong><br />
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Using L brackets and hinges, I constructed the stage. For the wings, I used 2" flat L brackets while on the main screen, I used 3" flat brackets. Since the main screen will see the most pressure against it, I decided that the larger brackets would work perfectly.<br />
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Since the wood wasn't very thick, and most of the holes were near the edge, I needed to pre-drill a small hole where the screws would go. After that, I carefully attached the boards together; keeping in mind which boards would lay ontop of others.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9zdkCTRYA0U/T4EHJJWg0lI/AAAAAAAAA78/YPn-tvmMOHw/s1600/DSC00775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9zdkCTRYA0U/T4EHJJWg0lI/AAAAAAAAA78/YPn-tvmMOHw/s320/DSC00775.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The hinges were a little trickier. I wanted to make sure that the screen folded in on itself and, as such, had to make sure they were all facing the right direction. After ensuring that the hinges worked the way I wanted them to, I attached the hinges in the same way that I attached the "L" brackets.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PAomLUw4wTc/T4EH2Un8ZoI/AAAAAAAAA8E/Xpl1wZ7RncU/s1600/DSC00778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PAomLUw4wTc/T4EH2Un8ZoI/AAAAAAAAA8E/Xpl1wZ7RncU/s320/DSC00778.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hinge and "L" brackets as previously discussed.</td></tr>
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<strong>The Screen</strong><br />
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The screen is made of white cotton fabric. The fabric is thick enough so that it is not translucent but thin enough to allow the shadows to play nicely on the screen. The fabric was cut in one long piece and stapled to the frame as tight as possible.<br />
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Making the fabric tight helps to create a crisp shadow and, at the same time, helps to make sure that the shadow puppets do not bulge the screen out when they are placed up against it.<br />
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<strong>Finished Product</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kHfnFGHd1ac/T4EJdaLsmLI/AAAAAAAAA8M/_K_fmxKubHk/s1600/DSC00930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kHfnFGHd1ac/T4EJdaLsmLI/AAAAAAAAA8M/_K_fmxKubHk/s320/DSC00930.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shadow puppet stage with light behind it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JA-lLkUndWw/T4EJpxdcWsI/AAAAAAAAA8U/EYmWUViXtug/s1600/DSC00935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JA-lLkUndWw/T4EJpxdcWsI/AAAAAAAAA8U/EYmWUViXtug/s320/DSC00935.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The addition of a light block behind the screen gives the puppeteer a place to hold the shadow puppet and frames the screen</td></tr>
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The shadow puppet theater wasn't able to be used at the event is was planned to be out. So, instead of shoving it in the corner and digging it out later, I invited the rest of the Batty Puppetters to check out the stage and play around with it. The results were quite a sucess.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R29DKxzEkeE/T4MRISZp5BI/AAAAAAAAA8c/OUABePFdrZg/s1600/DSC00936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R29DKxzEkeE/T4MRISZp5BI/AAAAAAAAA8c/OUABePFdrZg/s320/DSC00936.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shadow turn out perfectly for our purposes; here is a woman and a geisha talking to each other.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lih-SbtkQZ4/T4MRQNuzarI/AAAAAAAAA8k/TnmhFtO8Nx8/s1600/DSC00958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lih-SbtkQZ4/T4MRQNuzarI/AAAAAAAAA8k/TnmhFtO8Nx8/s320/DSC00958.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A samurai.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2gjf-RV4gs/T4MRYwnBLfI/AAAAAAAAA8s/SEGjEu9Bta4/s1600/DSC00966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2gjf-RV4gs/T4MRYwnBLfI/AAAAAAAAA8s/SEGjEu9Bta4/s320/DSC00966.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of mixing two shadow puppets; here a japanese devil mask sits ontop of a mountain range.</td></tr>
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<strong>Final Thoughts</strong><br />
<br />
While this stage was constructed with a single purpose in mind, it can be used for further activities of The Batty Puppeteers. Shadow puppets are very in period of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and I have no doubt that this stage will be used more than once. Because of its portability; we can take this anywhere we want to go. The only thing we really have to worry about is a light source.<br />
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Additionally, the completed shadow puppet stage can be used by children. The construction is strong enough to withstand most children so that isn't really a problem. A shadow puppet stage will also allow children to invent stories and tales so that they have something to do at events as well; something other than play with Monster High dolls.<br />
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In the future, I would like to use more medieval techniques of construction; either fitted joints or pegs to hold it all together. As this stage was a simple construction, I used metal bits that I probably wouldn't use in the far future. While I have never made joints to put two peices of wood together, I have used pegs and those are easy to do. Additionally, I would chose to make a leather hinge instead of using the metal ones again; simply for authenticity reasons.<br />
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Additionally, the shadow puppets themselves are currently made of cardboard. In the future, I would like to make thin leather puppets or laquered paper or parchment that are muli-jointed and painted. Leather puppets can be found in the Far East, and help add to the medieval aura around the stage and paper puppets are just as easy to find.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-31818529978146314162012-02-08T14:35:00.000-08:002012-06-07T22:13:02.859-07:00Project: A Shadow Puppet TheaterWhile I know that a shadow puppet theater has only a few things in common with a marionette theater, I have been asked to create on for a friend's event. One of the themes for the event is Japanese, and she wanted to be able to have people tell stories using this time-honored oriental tradition.<br />
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As with all my projects, I try to complete the research first. I find that understanding the traditions, stories, and methods surrounding a project make doing something like this more entertaining and educational instead of going out to buy the lumber first.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DYj9qWLWlr4/Ty3Db8smwTI/AAAAAAAAA5o/VbB6koJBrxk/s1600/stories_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DYj9qWLWlr4/Ty3Db8smwTI/AAAAAAAAA5o/VbB6koJBrxk/s320/stories_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of an elaborate shadow puppet scene.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>History of Shadow Puppets</strong><br />
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According to popular legend, the history of the shadow puppet originated in China during the Han Dynasty. The Emperor had lost his favorite concubine to illness and lost his desire to rule. A minister, often times referred to as a priest in some stories, was inspired by watching the shadows of dolls that children were playing with. Armed with this amazing idea, the minister created a cotton puppet and painted it to look like the Emperor's favorite concubine. From there, he performed behind a back-lit curtain regaling the Emperor with tales of his love for his favorite concubine. Eventually the art form flourished.<br />
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It is important to note that shadow puppets are not unique to China. In fact, the Island of Bali has an extensive cultural history of a unique style of shadow puppets often times used to tell stories of gods and goddesses as well as important historical stories.<br />
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The main difference between Balinese shadow puppets and the Chinese style of shadow puppets is the depiction of characters. These puppets are unique to Bali and can be easily identified due to their style.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3KIDHU6iS8/TzF9IjagimI/AAAAAAAAA5w/C0GcErMb4J8/s1600/shadow_puppet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3KIDHU6iS8/TzF9IjagimI/AAAAAAAAA5w/C0GcErMb4J8/s320/shadow_puppet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A style known as Wayang Kulit; a style mostly used in conjunction with cultural events.</td></tr>
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While I have no intention of creating a Balinese style theater yet, it is good to show that there are different styles of shadow puppets from our history. Shadow puppets, it would appear, are culturally unique even if the implementation is not.<br />
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<strong>The Research</strong><br />
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It is important to note that this project is focusing on the actual stage. There is currently no intention of creating the puppets themselves. While this may become an additional project later on, the person requesting the shadow puppet theater has made no mention of creating the props and puppets that would be used in such a production.<br />
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I found several good resources on the Internet regarding shadow puppet theaters. The design itself is relatively simple, and as such, the majority of the resources found are how to create a theater for children. These resources are still valid considering that the construction and basic parts of the shadow puppet theater are the same no matter what the material or venue; they just require some creative thinking.<br />
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A simple shadow puppet theater consists of three items; a proscenium, a light source, and the actual puppets. The proscenium, similar to that of of our marionette theater, has the opening covered by a cloth that allows light through. The light source in our project will be a lamp of some sort that can be positioned to throw light onto the back of the screen. As mentioned previously, the marionettes are not going to be worked on in this part of the project.<br />
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<strong>The Plan</strong><br />
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The first part of the plan is to understand where the shadow puppet theater will be placed. If it is a "table top" version, our measurements will be drastically different from a free-standing version. From there, it is a simple matter of developing measurements and getting the materials.<br />
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The next part of the project is actual construction. A simple free-standing proscenium (no matter what the height) will be one large panel in which the puppets are viewed from and two smaller panels that act as the wings; identical to the front proscenium we created for the marionette theater and discussed in our <a href="http://arthur-puppet.blogspot.com/2011/07/portable-stage.html" target="_blank">A Portable Stage</a> post.<br />
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Decoration in an oriental style would be desired to help solidify that this stage has a specific purpose and add a unique flavor to the whole project. Additionally, the wood should be stained or painted as to help lend to the medieval atmosphere of the event.<br />
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The last part of this project will be to attach fabric to the proscenium. Ideally, the use of silk would be used, but the cost of silk is prohibitive to our group. Linen is the next best choice, and finding a thin linen would be ideal in this endeavor.<br />
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<strong>Resource Links</strong><br />
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Below is a list of links that I found useful. They range anywhere from the history of shadow puppets to the construction of children's stages.<br />
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<a href="http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/focus/shadow-puppetry.htm" target="_blank">Chinese Shadow Puppetry</a><br />
Excellent article that discusses the history of the art form and provides examples of styles unique to the region.<br />
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<a href="http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/65100/65160/65160_stage.htm" target="_blank">Empty Puppet Stage</a><br />
A visual of a possible front of a proscenium. Collected only for the visual idea.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2182593_chinese-shadow-puppet-theater.html" target="_blank">How To Make A Chinese Shadow Puppet Theater</a><br />
Just a simple resource on the basic construction of the theater.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-58737237994710563892012-01-29T11:27:00.000-08:002012-01-29T14:30:13.731-08:002012 Project ListAfter speaking with the director of our group, I have decided that this would be a great opportunity to post some of our goals and ideas for the coming year. These goals will be chronicled in upcoming posts, but I need a way to list them out so that we remember what needs to be done.<br />
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These projects are intended to help push the group forward, something we as a group need since one of the main driving factors of our group (namely the Director) is away for a year.<br />
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<strong>Phase Two Marionettes</strong><br />
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Moving from doll accessories, namely the heads, and into real puppet pieces is the next step on our list of improvements. Wooden or paper mache heads might not be the easiest to complete this year, but it is a necessary step if we are to continue moving in the right direction. We have to remember that the goal is a worthy production, and we can't expect our audience to take us seriously if we still use heads from scavenged dolls.<br />
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Currently, the team has very little skills in wood carving, but I have contacted a friend who is knowledgeable in this area. If the wood fails, we have our back up plan of paper mache, which, I believe is a period technique that might be able to fit the bill. More research on this idea will be forthcoming.<br />
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<strong>A Shadow Puppet Stage</strong><br />
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A friend has asked us to create a shadow puppet stage for her event in March. While this type of project was not necessarily our main focus, it will be interesting to create such a contraption. Further study and creative ingenuity are required to complete this task on time.<br />
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The first step is obviously research. What would a shadow puppet stage from this culture look like? What types of materials are needed to make it? And, obviously the most important question; can it be completed in time?<br />
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<strong>The Guild</strong><br />
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While not as important as some of the other items listed above; creating a guild charter and heraldic device can be considered helpful in the long run. The director's views are important when creating the defining documents of the guild, and will require constant communication to make sure we get it right.<br />
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The first steps are, again, research. By looking at existing guild charters, we can easily see what is needed in the founding documents. From there, more information can be added to the document to make it workable for us. <br />
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A guild would be helpful in several ways, most notably by encouraging others to participate in our endeavors. With more people, we can produce more performances and items and move forward into more period styles of performances and artwork quicker.<br />
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<strong>Blog d'Arthur Revamp</strong><br />
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As we progress further and further into our goal, we have found that the need to stylize and freshen up this blog is important. We want to be able to communicate what we are doing so that other groups can learn from our experiences. This involves a clean forum of communication and, dare I say, more pictures.<br />
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Some people would say to create a website, however, we are not ready for this monumental task at this time. We have decided to keep up with the blog style until we have enough research and material to make a truly dedicated website to our process, style, and plans. What we can do is make the blog more user-friendly. <br />
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Expect to see subtle changes soon.<br />
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<strong>Performance Ready</strong><br />
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I won't say that we will have a performance within the next year. What I will say is that we want to be ready. This task, divided up throughout this year, includes script writing, tweaking the stage, marionette construction and styling, technical aspects of marionettes and stage, and practicing with the marionettes. It may seem like a very large list, and trust me it really is, but it is vital to our group to move forward (I think I mentioned this several times before).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-17341131954191170132012-01-20T23:52:00.000-08:002012-01-29T14:30:53.942-08:00A Few Good Examples: Beauty and the BeastRecently, I went to go see the Broadway production of <em>Beauty and the Beast</em>. While the show itself was fun and entertaining, it was the theatrical magic that captivated me. Understanding that this was high technology developed with an equally high budget; it is still possible to glean ideas and techniques from this experience.<br />
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All we have to do, then, is to render it in a medieval fashion.<br />
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The techniques of medieval theatrics, and in this case puppet shows, was usually a very well guarded secret. Only the troupe which employed the techniques and devices would know how they operated and what they actually were. This in itself isn't unique, many medieval techniques applied to guilds were secretive, but it does cause problems when looking for resource material.<br />
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However, not letting that stop me, I can suppose what <em>could</em> have been used in the time period I am looking at and make reasonable facsimiles without compromising our original goal.<br />
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<strong>Example 1: A Front Scrim</strong><br />
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A scrim is a commonly used device in theatre. The fabric has unique properties so that when it is lit from the front the screen is opaque. However, when the theatre is dark and objects behind the scrim are lit, the fabric is translucent. While scrims are often used as the backdrop for a performance, in some instances they are used between the actors and the audience.<br />
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Looking back at <em>Beauty and the Beast</em>, the stylized front scrim was used for several purposes. Mainly, it was used to frame a certain part of the story that was important; very much like watching a story book. Additionally, the scrim was used to add depth to the wooded scenes by projecting shadows on it. This made it appear that the actors were deep in the woods. Lastly, the scrim was used for special effects, such as rain.<br />
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Now the question is: Could we use something like this in our performances? I think the answer is a definitive yes. A stylized front scrim could be used when performing a fairy tale or an underwater scene. The trick, however, is not using modern equipment that would normally be used to accent the scrim itself. We would need to find another way to cast shadows or give it the blue hue to make it work. In modern times, this is done by powerful lighting systems with colored gels; but these things were not available to the medieval puppeteer.<br />
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Obviously, this idea requires more research and thought.<br />
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<strong>Example 2: Set Pieces</strong><br />
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Set pieces are important to have. They portray the setting in a three dimensional way that a simple painted backdrop cannot. Additionally, set pieces offer the actors or marionettes a way to interact with the world that has been created for them.<br />
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While <em>The Batty Puppeteers</em> has been good about set pieces, we haven't fully realized what can be done with them. Going back to my experience at the theatre, set pieces had one or two different sides. For example, the front of a house could be seen and when turned around, the inside could be seen.<br />
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Incorporating two sided set pieces would not only help cut down on cost of materials, but help alleviate space requirements for transport or storage. A castle wall, in this case, could be turned around and become something totally different, like a hedge of shrubbery.<br />
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This type of project would be rather simple to accomplish and would require critical thinking on what types of scenery could be grouped together.<br />
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<strong>Example 3: Basic Stage Magic</strong><br />
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The show, Beauty and the Beast, relied heavily on stage magic. Thunder, lightning, flashes, fog, and even a magical transformation. While we are currently developing a thunder machine, how do we incorporate other items, like fog?<br />
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This will obviously require more research and experimentation. We need to understand what could be used for these basic items of stage magic an if they could have been understood by medieval man. This topic will, undoubtedly, be commented on in further editions of this blog.<br />
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<strong>In Essence...</strong><br />
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In all, my trip to the theatre was a fun experience and I was able to walk away with not only a well told story, but thoughts and ideas of how these items could be incorporated into our own humble troupe.<br />
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The whole purpose of any performance, be it actors or marionettes, is to tell a story and have the audience walk away with an experience that they will remember. It is my belief that incorporating these few ideas that we can achieve our goal.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-48460779781888681922011-12-26T22:40:00.000-08:002012-01-07T19:37:10.364-08:00Stage Magic: A Thunder Machine<div style="text-align: center;">
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<em>This is the first part of a series that explores medieval special effects as used in classical and medieval theater. From the simple to the extreme, we will explore different examples of mechanical devices that could be used in our modern medieval marionette theater.</em> <br />
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Stage magic in a marionette theater can be done in several ways. For those who are modernly inclined the use of various technological gadgetry, like stereo systems, iPods, and electric lights; sound effects can easily be used in almost any situation.<br />
<br />But what about our medieval project? What if we wanted to keep a medieval feeling in our marionette performances but give the audience something more? In order to ensure that we have special effects without high end technology, we have to do some research and find alternatives to what was used in the past.<br />
<br /><strong>Heron of Alexandria</strong><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JPIrH0mOW6o/TwkFoOfx04I/AAAAAAAAA4o/wVP_qjPeM2c/s1600/Heron-213x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JPIrH0mOW6o/TwkFoOfx04I/AAAAAAAAA4o/wVP_qjPeM2c/s1600/Heron-213x300.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heron of Alexandria, known as "The Mechanical Man"</td></tr>
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Around 100 BC, Heron of Alexandria was busy making inventions; a lot of them. While much of his time was spent designing "miracles" for temples and weapons, Heron also developed mechanical stage apparatus which varied from the simple to the extravagant. Luckily, his work has been preserved throughout the ages and we can look deeper into the mind of "the Mechanical Man".<br />
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<strong>The Thunder Machine</strong><br />
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Looking at some of the works of Heron, we were able to find a Thunder Machine. Thunder would often be used in classical Greek theater whenever a god appeared or left. Heron's description of the device can be used to make on of our own, albeit a smaller scale.<br />
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But what did Heron's machine look like. Luckily we have a reproduction of one of his drawings so we can look at it in further detail.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K0BZ7CPVb4w/TwkNd7SBjdI/AAAAAAAAA5A/V4FoiPmpyTs/s1600/ThunderM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K0BZ7CPVb4w/TwkNd7SBjdI/AAAAAAAAA5A/V4FoiPmpyTs/s320/ThunderM.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reproduction drawing of Heron's device</td></tr>
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Brass balls would be released from a hopper by a lever. The balls would then roll down a series of shelves before finally resting on a tin sheet. The sound would be a deep bass tones that would, effectively, sound very much like thunder.<br />
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Luckily there a few people who have reproduced this machine in modern times, and we can see examples of both Heron's work and the modern equivalent.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2GSrzjR_uU/TwkMI8gC5QI/AAAAAAAAA4w/DTScYxfbD8Q/s1600/hsc19a%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2GSrzjR_uU/TwkMI8gC5QI/AAAAAAAAA4w/DTScYxfbD8Q/s320/hsc19a%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smith College Museum of Ancient Inventions reproduces Heron's work</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nuuV8Y6SKPo/TwkM1burRcI/AAAAAAAAA44/lwNMKinyExI/s1600/thunder%252520machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nuuV8Y6SKPo/TwkM1burRcI/AAAAAAAAA44/lwNMKinyExI/s320/thunder%252520machine.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By contrast, a modern thunder machine; commonly used in modern theater</td></tr>
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<strong>What Can It Be Used For?</strong><br />
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Incorporating the Thunder Machine into our marionette theater could serve several purposes. For example, the machine could be used for dark and stormy nights, the sound when the devil appears (or other nasty characters come on to the stage) or even for when a marionette casts a spell or breaks a curse. There are many different ways that thunder could be appropriate for any number of marionette performances.<br />
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<strong>Final Thoughts</strong><br />
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When The Batty Puppeteers creates this contraption, we need to be aware of the size issue. Unfortunately, we have limited space when we perform our shows, so the Thunder Machine cannot take up a lot of space. We will need to explore and experiment with different sizes to find the smallest size we can go while still getting the deep sound we desire.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-14416248399367744062011-11-30T15:10:00.000-08:002012-01-29T14:31:09.939-08:00Inspiration Found Online: The PuppetsLet's get inspired, shall we? After looking around the Internet for resource (more on that coming soon), I have found several videos and pictures of marionettes and productions that I have found absolutely inspiring.<br />
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<strong>The Rose Marionette</strong><br />
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While built in 1942 and not a medieval marionette by any stretch of the imagination; this marionette shows amazing human body expressions. Notice the intricate body movements that make the marionette appear to be a real person. The Rose Marionette is a gorgeous example of stunning craftsmanship. When I envision our plans for Stage 3 marionettes, this is what I see.<br />
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While I am sure that the controls are modified from the basic "airplane" style, it is the joints that help add to the realism of this marionette. Notice how the head moves forward, back, and from side to side. Additionally, play close attention to the hand movements and how the wrist joints work to create the illusion of reality.<br />
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<strong>How The Marionette Comes Alive</strong><br />
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An amazing example of how wooden marionettes are created, from conception to stringing. While The Batty Puppeteers are not at this stage of construction yet, however, this video makes a welcome addition to the inspiration list.</div>
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Note the control mechanism and how the joints are created; it looks like they were pegged with wood, a concept that I never put a lot of thought into until now. Although the clothes are sewn directly onto the marionette (a technique that <em>The Batty Puppeteers</em> may or may not do), the whole video shows what needs to be accomplished and in what order to create these Stage 3 marionettes.<br />
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<strong>Marionette, Italian c1500 by Matheus Bane</strong></div>
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This descriptive write-up on Italian rod puppets is full of inspiration. The author goes into moderate detailed research on types and styles of marionettes, and documents his creation of his rod puppet. The real treasure is in his notations on the creation of the rod puppet itself. Additionally, the detailed images of the joints of the author's rod puppet is a good option to incorporate when working on additional marionettes in the near future. The link to his article can be found <a href="http://www.currentmiddleages.org/artsci/docs/Champ_Bane_Marionette.pdf">here</a> (PDF).<br />
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<strong>Popular Science: The Art of Making Lifelike Marionette Bodies (Feb, 1936)</strong><br />
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This was a find that completely astonished me. Back in the 1930's, marionettes made a huge comeback in America. As such, the vast majority of resource materials, such as "The Beaton Bible", come from this time period. The article encompasses a lot of information from construction to stringing and is a good source of inspiration with all of the pictures supplied. The link to this article can be found <a href="http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/06/05/the-art-of-making-lifelike-marionette-bodies/">here</a>.</div>
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<strong>Inspired Yet?</strong></div>
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I know that I am. The goal is to progress to the next level; to develop and create an intricate marionette that is pleasing to the eyes and functional. Observing what other people have created and catching glimpses of how they do it will further my ability to create the next level of marionettes for <em>The Batty Puppeteers</em>.<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-18487208873810441922011-11-26T22:50:00.001-08:002011-11-26T22:50:36.688-08:00Where r the puppets?? <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left'>So, where have you seen puppets lately?? What have they been doing?</p>Von trier familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04619770687149757856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-77659931483735557812011-11-22T14:25:00.001-08:002011-11-22T15:08:38.096-08:00Understanding the PurposeA while back ago, I mentioned two reasons why we decided to work on our marionette project. The first reason was to entertain and the secondary reason was to preserve our group history. Keeping these two goals of <em>The Batty Puppeteers</em> in mind; I want to expound upon those thoughts for a moment.<br />
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<strong>Why a Purpose?</strong><br />
It is my belief that a purpose statement should be made when starting any endeavor. Why are you making this? Why are you doing this project that consumes your time and finances? People want to know "why". Even if you are the only person that knows the purpose of your project, this tool allows you to go back to it from time to time and become inspired to continue work on a seemingly endless project.<br />
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A purpose statement should never be static; it should always grow and evolve as time passes. The changes don't have to be earth-shaking; but they should reflect what keeps you coming back to the project from time to time. For example, you may be working on an illuminated promissory scroll because it needs to be done. However, over time, you may want to continue to work on illumination because you want to study a certain style or design concept that you became interested in during the creation of the first scroll. The marionette project is no different.<br />
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<strong>To Entertain</strong><br />
Some events can be extremely boring or need something to keep people occupied between activities. The events held by The Society for Creative Anachronism are no different. By producing a marionette play for these lulls, we can help make events fun and interesting to attend. If we can get the audience members excited about attending events, we can help all groups by enhancing the events they hold; which benefits everybody in the long run.<br />
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The idea is to entertain both young and old, and so productions that cater to all age groups is vital. While understanding that a new spin on "Three Billy Goats Gruff" or "Snow White" could keep adult audience members interested, we also need to provide different stories in our performances that aren't directly targeted to our younger audience members. This will allow <em>The Batty Puppeteers</em> to fit any need at events; be it Children's Hour or bardic entertainment.<br />
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<strong>To Teach</strong><br />
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Our group holds a high regard for history. However, our groups (an indeed, groups throughout most of the Society for Creative Anachronism) are loosing this history at an alarming pace. What happened at the first Knighting Ceremony in the Principality of Oertha? Who was the first Prince and Princess of that fair land? What was the First Birthday Party of the Society like? We can answer these questions by researching collected history; but what about those that don't know where to look?<br />
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Presenting our history as entertainment could be the best way to preserve that history. Early period bards did much the same thing. They told stories that both entertained and taught important concepts and ideas passed from one generation to the next. These early bardics were entertaining as well as educational; that is our goal.<br />
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<strong>The Mission Statement of The Batty Puppeteers</strong><br />
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Our mission statement, our purpose, is quite simple:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>To provide period entertainment using marionettes and puppets for all groups that desire our services. Additionally, we wish to preserve our local history and portray it in a way that is both educational and entertaining.</em></span>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-34349178735957656662011-11-15T11:35:00.001-08:002012-01-29T14:31:34.251-08:00Commedia dell'arte and Teatro HumbertoA while back ago I became fascinated with <em>Comedia dell'arte</em>. In essence, <em>Comedia</em> is a form of theatre that is characterized by performers wearing character masks. This type of theatre was popular in 16th century Italy and has its roots dating back to the Roman Empire and even Greek theatre. However, <em>Comedia</em> goes deeper than just the masks; as performers would be well known for playing a certain type of character throughout their acting career.<br />
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So, how does this apply to the marionette project? Good question.<br />
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<strong>Marionette Masks</strong><br />
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Our modest company has understood for quite some time that marionettes are not easy to create. Our company is limited in our production of an army of marionettes because they require skills and resources that we do not have at this time. Add this quandary to our desire to produce multiple plays with multiple characters, and we are left with a problem.<br />
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However, by creating different masks for the character roles that are to be played we can effectively produce entire performances using only four to six marionettes. Masks can be easy to create; clay being the preferred medium along with paint for decoration. Add the mask with quick costume changes and we can make the illusion of an entire cast of marionettes more believable.<br />
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<strong>But Lets Go Further...</strong><br />
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Taking this idea one step further, we can possibly create actor personas for each marionette. In essence, each marionette would have his or her own permanent look and style and wear masks when they play different characters in different performances. For example, the marionette Arthur, with dark hair and a muscular build, could easily play a beast, a knight, or an old man much in the same way that an actor plays different roles during his acting career; and this can be done just by adding a mask and changing out his wardrobe.<br />
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Eventually, the goal would be to have the marionettes be thought of as actors. Imagine for a moment that an expectant audience would be excited that the marionette Arthur will be playing their favorite roll, or the shock when they find out that in this performance he decided to play the villain. We could even include a playbill to hand out before events to get people interested in watching the production. This would help add to the illusion that the marionettes are actors, albeit small ones.<br />
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<strong>Benefits and Problems of Comedia Style Masks</strong><br />
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In reality, there is always benefits and problems associated with any idea. However, in this case, the problems aren't really problems but simply things that the members of <em>The Batty Puppeteers</em> would have to work around.<br />
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<strong><em>Benefits.</em></strong> Quite simply, we would have more character possibilities with a limited number of marionettes. Additionally, we would be able to develop a character familiarization with the audience; possibly adding to the demand for new performances.<br />
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<strong><em>Problems. </em></strong> Besides the actual task of making the masks, the designers would need to solve the problem of how to attach the masks to the marionettes and design it in such a fashion that it is easy to put on and take off the marionette and is easy to reproduce during the construction of the masks.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-49099103453126703432011-07-13T03:41:00.000-07:002012-01-29T14:31:54.766-08:00Choosing the Right Stage: Portable, Permanent, or Hybrid?Portability vs. Permanent: Choosing and Developing Your Stage<br />
In the theatrical world; stage types can be divided into two styles. The portable design is usually smaller and less intensive than its counterpart; the permanent stage. Choosing between these two styles can be difficult and easy decision for any performer.<br />
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<strong>The Ease of a Portable Stage</strong><br />
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Portable stages are perfect for taking to events and giving a performance for your local group. This type of entertainment at events demands a portable stage. These stages are usually smaller in appearance and made of lightweight materials. Canvas, wood, and few large pieces are crafted together to make a basic stage.<br />
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<strong>The Solidity of a Permanent Stage</strong><br />
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A permanent stage can be built into a room of a house or can be designed to be brought out on special occasions. A permanent stage usually features highly decorative features, rich draperies, an amazing lighting system, and can withstand a nuclear blast. While a permanent stage cannot be brought to social gatherings with ease; they can be utilized to provide entertainment at home quite easily.<br />
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<strong>A Blending of the Styles</strong><br />
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Our stage, <em>Teatro Humberto</em>, encompasses both styles; but quite by accident. The stage was originally designed to be portable. However, after a short amount of time the project quickly became more of a permanent theatre with some portability.<br />
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For example, the stage is portable because it breaks down into smaller sections, making packing an entire stage that much easier to fit into a trailer...yes, I said trailer. The permanent features are the shear size of the stage pieces; while strong enough to support our weight can be a hassle to transport to all events.<br />
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<strong>The Future of Humberto</strong><br />
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<em>Teatro Humberto</em> is in what we call, affectionetely, phase one. That is, it is our prototype stage. We built the stage and allowed it to evolve on its own. In essence, we understood what we needed and added what we thought we needed as well.<br />
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Eventually, the stage will become more portable. Our main goal is to take it to events and entertain our friends. Creating a pleasing portable theatre while keeping with the requirement that we feel make it safe and secure will require more planning in the future.<br />
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<strong>What are your needs?</strong><br />
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Do you need to travel to events with your marionettes or will you entertain guests in a "remodeled" garage? Do you have a large vehicle to haul things in or do you have a motorcycle? Do you want to spend a lot of money or prefer Free Cycle finds?<br />
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These questions are very important when determining the type of stage that you need to build. While you may have a very specific type of stage in mind; you may find that you need to alter and tweak it around to make it fit your lifestyle. For example; you may need a portable stage but only have the sidecar on your bike to transport it in.<br />
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The solution is to make alterations and change your preconceived notions on what the stage needs to look like or how it needs to be constructed. Make it smaller, out of more durable wood, or add hinges to make it fold up easily. Additionally, using colored fabric decorated with paint can help add to the style of a stage while keeping the weight down considerably.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-886763529452627872011-07-09T02:16:00.000-07:002011-07-09T02:20:22.206-07:00A Portable Stage<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pRRswtfvQKg/ThgdRZMbDgI/AAAAAAAAABE/t-V0eIZF0f8/s1600/IMG_0948%2B-%2BCopy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pRRswtfvQKg/ThgdRZMbDgI/AAAAAAAAABE/t-V0eIZF0f8/s320/IMG_0948%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627279919057407490" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6rrpkn1YR7Q/ThgdQ51-tsI/AAAAAAAAAA8/DAi1HaH-QNc/s1600/IMG_0954%2B-%2BCopy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6rrpkn1YR7Q/ThgdQ51-tsI/AAAAAAAAAA8/DAi1HaH-QNc/s320/IMG_0954%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627279910641776322" /></a><br />In the beginning there was a stage, or so we thought....Von trier familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04619770687149757856noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-46219675531817948522011-07-05T15:10:00.000-07:002011-07-05T15:25:01.413-07:00The Vision: Theatre to Entertain and Teach<div>Marionettes have been used throughout history in one form or another. The earliest ancestor of the marionette dates back to ancient times, from Burma to the Greeks and Romans. These puppets eventually gave birth to what we know as the marionette; a puppet controlled by strings from a person situated above the marionette.<br /><br /><strong>Why start a theatre?</strong><br /><br />For a variety of reasons we had decided on utilizing theatrical productions to both entertain and educate participants. The first reason was that theatre is fun and many of our friends were quite interested in one form or other of the stage. Another reason was that it would be a interesting project to work on; starting from learning the basics and creating the simplest of marionettes and gradually working our way up to the truly fantastic and extensive marionettes designed in the medieval fashion.<br /><br />The first goal was to entertain; for why else would somebody wish to see a show with dolls suspended from strings jiggling around on a stage? Performing stories such as the entertaining Quest for the Holy Grail, the moving Song of Roland, and snipets of the various fairy tales recorded by the Brothers Grimm reaches this goal. Entertainment in our corner of the Society for Creative Anachronism is sadly lacking and limited to bardic circles where songs are performed around a campfire. The entertainment of the masses has been and always will be the main goal of our modest troupe.<br /><br />The second goal, and one that I still feel is vital, is to transfer the oral tradition of our medieval-minded group into a visual form. As a group that believes in preserving the collected medieval past of our forefathers, our history is woefully neglected; crumbling into dust as the years pass by. Theatre could, in essence, help keep the stories and traditions of our group alive.<br /><br /><strong>So…why the marionettes?</strong><br /><br />Working with marionettes provides several benefits over traditional actors. Marionettes can perform many tasks that may seem magical or require special props with ease. For example, a marionette may fly through the air in one scene and swim under the ocean in the next without anything special besides imagination.<br /><br />Additionally, marionettes were preferred over traditional actors in our situation because of the shortage of the latter; at least in our area. One experienced puppeteer can, in essence, control two marionettes at a time, thus increasing the amount viable performers quickly.<br /><br />Also, using marionettes gives the puppeteer a sense of freedom, as only the marionette is being seen. This allows for even the shyest of people to pick up the controllers and perform the most outrageous and entertaining of performances.<br /><br /><strong>Where do we go from here?</strong><br /><br />This blog is meant to showcase our studies into this unique and entertaining art form. Precious few resources can be found on the Internet that further studies into medieval and renaissance marionettes or their applications into the Society for Creative Anachronism. It is our hope that other people who are interested in our field of study can find more information and create their own working troupe.<br /><br />Additionally, this blog will be ongoing as we continue to progress from the simple to the extravagant, from the amateur to the patient; and we invite you to come along with us.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2713534732855087849.post-62983096158395759272011-07-04T23:44:00.000-07:002011-07-09T02:16:26.301-07:00Arthur began Humbly and as an afterthought<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWRNxf_7kC0/ThgcXNH01tI/AAAAAAAAAA0/XXcFo8bZQFg/s1600/IMG_1136%2B-%2BCopy.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWRNxf_7kC0/ThgcXNH01tI/AAAAAAAAAA0/XXcFo8bZQFg/s400/IMG_1136%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627278919384487634" /></a><br /><strong>So where did Arthur get his big start? </strong><br /><br />Inquiring minds might want to know. Well, he had Hispanic origins and was an afterthought. Who is Arthur anyway? - A marionette of basic proportions and simplistic build.<br /><br />First came the inspiration to build a portable marionette stage....much like, "build it and they will come." <br /><br />Then came the scripts, three each - Scene 1, scene 3, and Beornkin. The first two scripts were inspired by bad copies of Monty Python and were tweaked for SCA audiences. <br /><br />On New Year's Eve, 31 Dec 2010, while looking at a marionette; "Pedro," brought back by friends who had travelled to Mexico, it struck me that 3 marionettes could be created very easily for a performance that night. <br /><br />Thus it all began. FathirVon trier familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04619770687149757856noreply@blogger.com0