Hanging around

I dug up some additional Rex and Boots CLA pics! Not tons more but, a few stragglers I thought you'd enjoy.

This is Sean attempting to dress the set with pictures and awards. He picked 'em up at a thrift store! Love that!

I hope you are all taking time to peruse the Frosty and Steve Podcasts and website! It's great! Hopefully, I can post some pics of the "behind the scenes" for that ASAP!

Last of Swazzle Workshop #2!

I'm off to LA for our Sat. show at the NoHo arts center (just scroll down to the next post for more info) but, before I fly away--I thought I'd post this, the final pic from the Second series of the Swazzle Workshop!

It's ME! Holding up a "The End" sign! (I actually made this sign--for those mini-puppet shows I mentioned in a previous post).

More when I return on Monday!

Polly Polar Bear @ NoHo Arts Center

Just a reminder that tomorrow, December 16th is the LAST chance to see Swazzle On Stage! We'll be at the NoHo Arts Center performing Polly Polar Bear and the Prince of the Sea @ 1:00PM ONLY. Tickets are $10.00 each and can be purchased here.

The photo above is from our Polly Polar Bear and the Prince of the Sea Swazzle Workshop puppetmaking segment.

In it, you'll learn how to make these little guys! Aren't they cute!



Watch the Swazzle Workshop segment , make a puppet, and then come see our LIVE show!

See you there!

Kevin Carlson

Here's a pic of Kevin Carlson (an amazing puppeteer!)check out his IMDB creds here. His Puppet Greetings website has offices at the studio we shoot our Swazzle Workshop segments at. Whenever we're shooting Kevin always swings by to see what we're up to and offers to lend a hand...or some lights...or his camera...or mics...In this pic, he's holding up a board so we can white balance the camera prior to shooting. He's just the greatest! Check out Puppet greetings and peep his puppet cards! Then join and send 'em to friends!

Now, hopefully, due to this shameless plug, I can convince Kevin to give me an interview! *hint*

Next time I see him, I'll have to ask!

Enjoy!

The not-so-glamorous-part of the job!

Here's Tim acting as "C" stand! Poor guy :-)

Actually, he's holding up Tiger and Pete to check the lighting and camera positions RIGHT before we call everyone onto the set to start filming (this was after a lunch break). Just a quick check to make sure nothing was moved or changed and then...back to filming.

See, it ain't all glamorous!

Prairie Dog Pete in the Swazzle Workshop

Patrick readies Prairie Dog Pete for his close up. In this Swazzle Workshop segment, Pete shows us how to make an entire puppet show in ONE session! It's a good one!

Invasion of the Garbage Monster!

Sean performs our Garbage Monster Rod Puppet from the "Ricky Raccoon and the Recycling Ray" Swazzle Workshop segment!

Behind him (but, not as visible in this shot) is the mini-set that Patrick made out of construction paper (for this one, a cityscape, with a street sign foreground element).

This segment was my favorite scripted piece (meaning I LOVED the scripted form of it). It turned into a bear to shoot! The directions for this simple puppet sounded very complicated (it is easy to make! I swear!) and required lots of shooting. There was a lot of cutting between Mayor Mole and Tiger and Mousedeer and THAT required lots of shooting (although the bit is funny! and hopefully, worth the extra effort!).

Looking forward to seeing it...along with the other newer Swazzle Workshops beginning next year!

Tim and Mayor Mole

Tim Sweeney rehearses Mayor Mole's entrance for our "Ricky Raccoon and the Recycling Ray" Swazzle Workshop Segment. In this segment Tiger and Mousedeer will show you how to make a garbage monster rod puppet. It's gonna' be cool!

If you noticed that Tim is very scrunched over in this photo--it's because he is SO tall! The sets are built to kinda split the difference between myself (who is SHORT!) and Sean and Patrick--who are just about right :-) Poor Tim is the tallest in our bunch! He's a good sport though and takes the time prior to the camera rolling to figure out the best position for his body to take (hopefully a moderately comfortable one).

Snakes! On a SET!

Tim and Patrick figure out how to move Louie the Snake puppet in our "Tiger and Mousedeer" inspired Swazzle Workshop segment.

Louie was not really designed with shooting a puppet video in mind (he was made for our live puppet shows), so he didn't really move well--at first. Patrick figured out how to position him (and I thought of how to attach him to the table :-) Tim moved Louie's head and I flicked his tail. It looked great while we were shooting it!! And I can't wait for the finished product!

...Of course, I'll have to wait! At least until NEXT year, when the new, IMPROVED Swazzle Workshop debuts!

All hands on Deck! Swazzle Workshop Shoot #2

In this photo from our "Hazel and the Dragon" Sock Puppet craft segment, just about everyone is needed to complete the scene (I ran over and snapped this pic before shooting). Sean is barely visible with Tiger (I think you can see a corner of his fur), Patrick is performing the Baby Dragon next to Victoria with Mousedeer. Just behind Victoria, you can spy Tim, standing on an apple box to achieve the height we needed for the Momma Dragon.

And Me? Well, someone had to snap the pic and turn on the Camera! :-)

Sock it to me! Swazzle Workshop "Hazel"

Patrick and Tim in the "Mini" show set. Patrick made these great little backgrounds with construction paper and a foreground element also in construction paper.

This one is for our "Hazel and the Dragon" puppet craft. Patrick is finding the best place for the dragon sock puppet to enter and Tim is giving Patrick a reference for the Sheep sock puppet (Victoria made that little guy--you can see that here).

It's all part of our new Swazzle Workshop format change! If you haven't watched it yet, be sure to check out the Finger Puppet activity from Polly Polar Bear and the Prince of the Sea, currently playing in the Swazzle Workshop!

A Fine Mess! Swazzle Workshop #2

Since I showed ya a photo of Tim with the Dragon puppet for our "Hazel and the Dragon" Swazzle Workshop segment, I thought it would be fun to continue with more photos from that particular segment. This one is a shot of all the mess we made on the floor to open the segment. The Momma Dragon flies into the screen and creates such a strong gust that she knocks everything off the table (including Tiger and Mousedeer). The Chiodo Brothers had a large industrial fan that we borrowed to make this happen. We tied a thin rope to a thread bundle (we tried it first with thread--to make it harder to see the pull string but, that snapped--too thin!), I stood off camera and when the fan kicked on, I pulled the pile of stuff off in a smooth controlled motion. Sean and Victoria did some great stuff before they too, fell offscreen. Tim and Patrick stood near the fan and tossed handfulls of paper onto the table in front of the fan, so you'd see even MORE mayhem. Doesn't that sound like fun?! I told you this was one of my favorite segments to shoot! I can't WAIT to see it finished.

Tim and the Dragon

This is the Momma Dragon from our puppet show "Hazel and the Dragon" for our Swazzle Workshop segment featuring those puppets, Tim Sweeney performed the puppet but, I provided the voice (my arm is just too short--along with the rest of me--to be able to perform this puppet). During the touring run of this puppet show, Patrick performed the puppet and I provided the voice...LIVE! That was a challenge! This segment was one of my favorite to shoot and I can't wait to see the finished product! Keep checking back for updates and the NEW format for the Swazzle Workshop--which debuts in the New Year!

Patrick Directs

Patrick explains the blocking and entrances for the next scene. This Swazzle Workshop segment is from our puppet show: "Hazel & The Dragon". It will debut sometime next year.

Victoria Making Sheep Eyes...

In the new format for the Swazzle Workshop (which will debut next year--January), we have a little puppet show short at the end of each segment, something that showcases the new puppet craft that was created. They are very cute!

Here, Victoria is making a little sheep sock puppet to use in the puppet show short. She used a sock (Patrick swears it was clean :-), some beads, hot glue, and some decoration. Keep your eyes peeled for it in the coming year!