Puppet Project

The aim for this project is to examine a scene from a current TV program, news story, or drama and then recreate the chosen scene using puppetry.

We will have to make our own puppets that will represent the characters in the chosen scene.

After the Module brief
After this session the first thing I did was look at the different type of puppets you can have and I found these...

Ed Sheerans new music video, a puppet of him.

Shadow Puppets

The one thing I really love about these, is the amount of detail they go into cutting the shapes out, as you can only see the puppet as a silhouette. It makes something so simple look at lot more interesting and realistic.

Marionette Puppets

This is my Favourite type of puppet, as it is the first thing I picture when someone mentions a puppet. For me personally it reminds me of Pinocchio. I think this is the best way to make a puppet a you are able to move them however you need to. I also really like that they are made out of wood. You can but so many dolls/puppet today that are made out of plastic and I feel as though it just doesn't give the same effect.

The simple 'Hand Puppet'

Although this type of puppet is typically linked more toward children, you can get some that are more detailed than others. When you thing of a hand puppet, people tend to lean more towards 'sock puppets' or the simple flat puppet like the one the left. But, there are some like the one on the right that are much more interesting. These puppets are mainly just 'cuddly toys'.

File:Chilidasschaf-krappweis-haffner.jpg

You can also get a 'Human-arm Puppet'. These are the same as hand puppets, but involve at least 2 people as they are much larger. One puppeteer will then control the head an face, while the other will control the rest of the body.

Table Top Puppet

These have to be my second favourite puppets!! I love them because they are so realistic! the amount of detail that are put into them is amazing, especially the face!

These puppets are very similar to Marionette puppets, but they are normally made on a larger scale. The Video Above really interested me as it shows how they are made, and again; they are made out of wood!

'A table top puppet is a puppet usually operated by rod or direct contact from behind, on a surface similar to a table top (hence the name).'

And the very last one I looked at is...

'The Rod Puppet'

'A rod puppet is a puppet constructed around a central rod secured to the head. A large glove covers the rod and is attached to the neck of the puppet. A rod puppet is controlled by the puppeteer moving the metal rods attached to the hands of the puppet, any other limbs and by turning the central rod secured to the head.'

So which one am I going to make?!

We had our module brief on the 18th February, where we looked at a number of videos that showed us different puppets, from string puppets, to shadow puppets.

My favourite was the Jean Paul Gaultier videos.

I think that this type of puppet an video would suit the way that I work as a lot of my recent projects have been based on fashion.

My first idea was to make this sort of video, but with a clip from the Only Way is Essex.

After watching the Jean Paul Gaultier videos I thought that the type of characters in the video would link well to the characters in the only way is essax, as they are seen as the typical 'girly girl' characters.

My next step is to find a scene from The only way is Essex that I would like to base my work on.

Tutorial 1
So after my first Tutorial I have decided to make a doll/puppet that represents a character from the only way is Essex. The puppet will be made out of wood, so it is like the old fashion Marionette puppets, controlled by string. I will also make small accessories that will go along side the dolls, such at shoes, and handbags.
I will also make outfits for dolls, that will represent the type of clothes that they typically wear. I would like to make my own pattern to make it more original. I am still undecided at this point whether I will make these outfits of out wood, that would be attached to the dolls and hand painted, or whether I will make them out of fabric.
I will then make the packaging for this puppet , as though it is actually going to be sold as a product. I think that this is much better final piece for me as my one big downfall is making videos!!
On this packaging will be the name of the program the character is from, the original logos, a setting that represents the character, and maybe also a barcode that people can scan on their iphones to take them to a certain website, that I will possibly make to advertise the product.

The first thing I thought would be good to look at was a wooden mannequin. This helps me because it shows all of the joints that I would have to think about for my doll to be able to move freely once all the strings are attached.

The Character I have chosen to make is Samantha Faiers.

Sam owns her own boutique shop called 'Minnies'. This means that I can make the packaging for the puppet to look like part of the shop. I can then make mini outfits just like the ones for sale in her shop, along with small shopping bags with the logo on, just like the original ones you get from the shop.

As Sam has a tall slim build, I am going to bas my Puppet on a original Barbie doll, just like the one below.

Here I am looking out the different shapes I will have to make to make my puppet similar to a Barbie doll. I have drawn the basic shape but separated it, so I can see what separate parts I need to put together in order for my puppet to be able to move.

My next step is to cut out all of the shape I need for my puppet out of cardboard, so then I can use this as a template when I make the shapes out of wood.

So I drew out the different shapes I would need to make for my puppet in order for it to be able to move.

I then cut these shapes out of cardboard I would be able to use them as templates when I later cut the shapes out of wood.

Using a Band saw I was able to cut these shapes out, and then 'neaten' them using a dremel.

This is my puppet so far....

Alongside making my puppet I have had to think about the packaging for it. I originally wanted to print onto thick cardboard, but due to workshops being closed at university within the next week, this proved to be difficult.

So plan B! to make the box out of wood and hand paint onto it.

After looking into this though, i figured that if i am going to sell this a product, using wood for the packaging will work out way too expensive.

So i have now decided that i am going to get my packaging printed onto normal paper, and then spray mount it onto card.

Ive now painted my puppet :)

Designing my packaging

I started by looking at some box nets of other toy packaging so i knew exactly what sides i needed to deisgn and what goes where ect...

To design/make my packaging I am using Adobe Illustrator. This program already has an option on there to design packaging, as there are box net templates. I am chosen this simple net, but added an extra rectangle as I would like to make a window box packaging. This means that part of the front of the packaging will be see through, so you are able to see what is inside. i would also like to add wardrobe doors to the front so you can open then to see the clothes i have made inside.

I am using the colour purple because this colour is using in the logo of the TV program.

Logos I would have to think about putting on my design:-

-The only way is Essex

-Choking risk (child safety)

-recycling logo (as it is going to me made from cardboard

- Barcode

-Advertising ITV2

My final packaging design

After getting this printed onto A1 paper, I then spray mounting it onto mount board and cut it out with a knife, and scored along the lines in order for it to be able to bend. I then glued the box together with the tabs, with UHU glue. I then glued acetate on the back of the front of the box.
Here are some quick pictures of what it looks like so far...

I then had to think about how I am going to support the puppet inside the box, so using mount board I made another box, that acts like a draw so slide in and out of the box. My puppet will be attached to this using wire that will wrap around her neck, arms and legs and tie at the back.

My Puppet

Adding the hair was the most difficult part, so using a knife I cut the top of the head of a doll and the top of the head off my puppet and super glued it on. I then used wood filler to fill in any holes left and I think the final outcome was really good.

I painted the face on using acrylic paints and a fine liner to add small bits of detail in the eyes.

Adding the string

As i didn't want to you to be able to see the wire, I found the best thing to use that was clear was fishing wire. Using a very minute drill I made holes in the knees, hands, shoulders and head where i wanted the string to go, so i could thread it through and tie and knot in the end. I then attached the other end of the string to an extra piece of wood the same way. The bolts in the middle allow this to fold away to it is smaller to go inside of the packaging box.

Just a little video to show how the puppet moves...

Dressing my puppet

I made a blue dress out of a lace shirt. I came across a few problems when making this because of the strings on the puppet. So where i had sewn it up the back, i had to cut it and add Velcro to the back so it can be wrapped around the puppet, so it doesn't get in the way of any strings.