Does anyone here worry.....?

[DirthNader]

Does anyone here think that the use of puppetry will fade away? I watch television way too much, and it occurs to me that the majority of muppet-like viewing is on PBS. Bear in the Big Blue House; Between the Lions; Sesame Street.

I never see movies where puppetry is in great use. CGI seems to be the norm anymore. Would Henson have gone to this medium do you suppose? It was used in Labyrinth for the owl in the opening credits. Is this the next level of puppetry?

I know that's a lot of questions for one topic, but it's a topic that I feel begs questioning.

Let me know how you feel, and if you can support ideas that challenge this one. I would gladly throw my arms up in defeat if you can.

Later

 

[Super Scooter]

Well, technically, CGI is a form of puppetry, but I understand what you're saying.

I think puppetry could make a comeback. I know several people who prefer puppetry to (his words, not mine) "the fake looking Jar Jar Binks crap you see today." (kinda liked Jar Jar) But, seeing Yoda go digital was an upset, (although, if I hadn't known better, I woulda sworn he was the puppet) but that's just because it's been proven you can do those things, and make it look GOOD, with a puppet. It just takes a little extra time, and fancy camera work.

 

[BoyRaisin2]

Originally posted by Super Scooter
but that's just because it's been proven you can do those things, and make it look GOOD, with a puppet. It just takes a little extra time, and fancy camera work.

Which I honestly hope to do in a few years. Hopefully, puppetry doesn't go out of "style."

 

[wolfy]

Well, there's a great ventriloquist known as Ronn Lucas who has just signed a big contract with the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas who works with puppets. His show is daily until December 2004, so some of you might be able to catch it...

He did a television show called "Scorch" in the early 1990s, and he always has "Buffalo Billy," "Chuck Roast" and other characters that he just does a wonderful job with both on stage and has, in the past, on screen.

So, no, puppetry isn't "dead." It just isn't noticed as much these days...

As a matter of fact, the most recent, beloved Muppetry-puppetry program that got the axe from Sci-Fi was "Farscape." LOTS of Muppet action in THAT show, and loved the whole world over, like Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and more...

No, I'd say it's alive and kicking; we just need more people to love it as thoroughly as we here at MC do...
wolfy

 

[Luke]

Originally posted by DirthNader
Would Henson have gone to this medium do you suppose? It was used in Labyrinth for the owl in the opening credits. Is this the next level of puppetry?

Jim Henson was very much looking to take things to this level - i'm not sure if CGI-wise it would have involved the classic Muppets but certainly other projects. He was always looking into breaking new boundaries - for instance with Muppetvision 3D he was taking a step forward with the Muppet characters in that genre and as you say, the fantasy movies he did. Getting the financial backing to explore new avenues and technology is documented as one of the major reasons he wanted to sell out to Disney in the early 90's.

I don't see CGI as ever completely taking over from Puppetry - i think that will always live on in at least some way - but it does seem to be the way forward in TV and Film.

 

[FellowWLover]

Originally posted by DirthNader
Does anyone here think that the use of puppetry will fade away? I watch television way too much, and it occurs to me that the majority of muppet-like viewing is on PBS. Bear in the Big Blue House; Between the Lions; Sesame Street.

And two of the three have been cancelled!

 

[DirthNader]

Re: Re: Does anyone here worry.....?

Originally posted by FellowWLover
And two of the three have been cancelled!

My daughter and I watch Sesame Street and Between the Lions almost every day(alright, my daughter is only 6 months old and has what I beleive to be a mild interest in these shows, leaving the question "Is it us, or just me that watches these shows with any real interest?"). Are you sure that two of the ones I mentioned have been canceled and if so which two?

 

[FellowWLover]

BITBBH and BTL... and I am pretty sure.

We don't get Disney, but we watch BTL too, so I am really bummed.

 

[Luke]

Yeah those two have been cancelled !

I remember the Ron Lucas show Wolfy was talking about - Scorch was cool !

 

[BoyRaisin2]

Before we start possibly bashing Diz for "cancelling" a show that's been on for 6 years, the world of puppetry does have Crank Yankers!

OK, bad example. I like it, but not very Muppet-esque I guess.