Rewind: Build Your Own Shoulder Puppet

Here is a tutorial  mentioned three years ago that I think deserves a second look.  It's one of the neatest puppet how-to's out there.

Make Magazine has a neat mini-article on building your own shoulder puppet similar to the ones sold by Woodbaby.  Go here for more details.

A Primer on Puppet Building

Project Puppet now has a excellent primer on the design and construction of foam puppets.  It's fantastic for anyone interested in entering the craft of puppetbuilding or for those just looking for a bit of inspiration.

Go here for the primer

(found via Puppetvision)

Weekend Links: 8-13-11

Here are a few links you may have missed here or on the Facebook page:

Take a look at how forced perspective has been used in films from the past to the present

Discover how Silicone Paste can be used to create some nasty scars and wounds

Learn how to revamp a cheap plastic Halloween cauldron and turn it into something far more unique

Be amazed by this Wheatley puppet inspired by the hit video game PORTAL 2

Have your mind blown by this dragon puppet by the upcoming HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON live show.

Inspiration: A Treasure Trove of Behind the Scenes Videos of Ghostbusters 2

Much like the Steve Johnson Ghostbusters video are three more vids making the rounds  This time around for the sequel..  The first video showcases some optical effects alongside miniatire work and a bit of bluescreen puppeteering.  Not to mentiom a peek at Vigo.
The second video showcases the puppeteering involved with a far different made Slimer puppet.

The third video showcases how the Vigo painting effect was pulled off along with the real voice of the actor who played the film's main villain.

Check it out:

Jim Henson's Red Book Now Online

Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets et al, was obviously a prolific creator and he would often jot down notes and ideas into a notebook which was later nicknamed "The Red Book".  It was a book that he kept updating with ideas and whatnot up to his death.  

Now after all of these years, The Henson Company has been kind enough to start posting segments of The Red Book in a blog format for all of us to see, not to mention learn from.  The best part is that it's all for free! 

Go here to see The Red Book.

(hat tip to Puppetvision)

Movie Trailer: JACKBOOTS ON WHITE HALL

Here is something all of my puppeteer readers and friends might get a few chuckles from:


(via AICN.com)

Puppet Building: Supplies You Might Need

I found this fantastic vid on Youtube on puppet building and the supplies one might need to start on the right path. Hopefully we will see more of these vids since this one is labeled as episode one.

Inspirational Video: The Grimstones

Find the Grimstones website over here.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: BEHIND-THE-SCENES

Here is a collection of some neat behind-the-scenes vids on from the cult show Msytery Science Theater 3000.  What makes these videos so great is that we finally get to see a bit about how the puppets were made and worked alongside a look inside the props room.

TRANSYLVANIA TV BEHIND THE SCENES: BUILDING FAKE WALLS AND ARCHES

Here are two great links on the behind-the-scenes stagecraft that went into the creation of the fake walls and archways for the puppet web series Transylvania TV.  Lots of great tips can be found on each vid.

Video One
Video two

BERNIE THE BUNRAKU ZOMBIE

Here is a nifty tutorial on how someone built a bunraku zombie puppet. (via Haunt Forum)

COUNT SCHLOCKULA

Don't mean to interrupt the 31 Days of Halloween-related how-to's, but I wanted to show you readers the third monster puppet that I am working on for a project of mine: Count Schlockula.