Help with Performing a Female Puppet Character

[darkkira]

im a male in high school interested in doing a web show about a female puppet. is there anything i should know about using a female puppet or preforming puppets in general

she is along the lines of lucy from avenue q. i need tips on being a puppeteer for this is my first puppet and puppet of different gender. anything about being a puppeteer for a female would work here...movement, voice,and performance tips are great

 

[darkkira]

anything?

 

[jomama]

As far as personality for the puppet, you need to develop the character. What is her name, where does she live, likes, dislikes, friends, family, quirks, age, etc. Once you have written out this information she should start to come to life for you. Think about what her voice should sound like, start building the personality on paper and in your head. Once you have this done you can start practicing the movements she will make. It is all part of developing a character. You can't act like a specific character unless you know who the character is. Does any of this make sense?

Good luck

Sue

 

[Super Scooter]

Frank Oz always spoke about having to get in touch with his feminine side when performing Miss Piggy. You really have to dig down deep for female characters (when you're male, anyway). Sue's advice is extremely important when developing female characters, especially if you want her to be more than just a stereotype or a one-note character.

 

[Onath]

Not sure if this helps but all of the following female characters were voiced my men

http://youtube.com/watch?v=P4NT1UUCZV4

Watch the awesome manurisms and acting in this one
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QaLxXI1sovc

The two girl pigs were played by Steve whitmire and Dave Goelz
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6sGh9llxDEE

This one is Jerry Nelson
http://youtube.com/watch?v=04Zz-GRPAzA&feature=related

Again all dudes
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gujQJFCB558

and more
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gvzTpCFBX6Q

Here are some we did
http://youtube.com/watch?v=djKx40omGgM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ar-b6giTyY4

I hope this helps give you some stuff to watch and I'm sure you can make a believable lady if you try.

 

[wes]

Try not to offend women in general, When I first started my girl puppet I got some ladies that were offended by it, they thought I was making fun when in reality I wasn't (partly was making fun but i didn't tell them) but i need to keep it in check.

The voice is hard, guys voices are not supposed to sound like womens. be prepared for you throat to bother you, I drink lots of water, some how it mess with your throat.

 

[Super Scooter]

Try not to offend women in general, When I first started my girl puppet I got some ladies that were offended by it, they thought I was making fun when in reality I wasn't (partly was making fun but i didn't tell them) but i need to keep it in check.

There's a fine line with that, I think. Often times, characters a person creates will be based on a personality flaw. After all, we can draw comedy from our flaws. But it's more difficult to do that with a female character without accidentally offending someone.

 

[wes]

yes I agree, I was just explaining to a friend, that Cecelya ( thats my girl puppet), I was telling all the attributes that make Her and I was convicted and realized that it was me magnified but i digress, we are talking about Female characters.

 

[darkkira]

thanks for the help! the videos are helpful. if there are any more please post them.

 

[Redsonga]

Some people are just touchy and you can't really help but offend someone. Even Miss Piggy is hated by some
I don't think it would be that bad to have a girl play a female character as well, we're sort of talented at the voices you know .
As for movements it depends if the character is a tomboy, very feminine, hyper, etc, age also plays into things....