• Welcome to the Muppet Central Forum!
    You are viewing our forum as a guest. Join our free community to post topics and start private conversations. Please contact us if you need help.
  • Christmas Music
    Our 24th annual Christmas Music Merrython is underway on Muppet Central Radio. Listen to the best Muppet Christmas music of all-time through December 25.
  • Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
    Let us know your thoughts on the Sesame Street appearance at the annual Macy's Parade.
  • Jim Henson Idea Man
    Remember the life. Honor the legacy. Inspire your soul. The new Jim Henson documentary "Idea Man" is now streaming exclusively on Disney+.
  • Back to the Rock Season 2
    Fraggle Rock Back to the Rock Season 2 has premiered on AppleTV+. Watch the anticipated new season and let us know your thoughts.
  • Bear arrives on Disney+
    The beloved series has been off the air for the past 15 years. Now all four seasons are finally available for a whole new generation.
  • Sam and Friends Book
    Read our review of the long-awaited book, "Sam and Friends - The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show" by Muppet Historian Craig Shemin.

Flat Eric's fingers

SesameKermie

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2004
Messages
271
Reaction score
2
I think his fingers are 'gimmicked.' Basically a string is connected to his fingertip and then runs through the finger and down the hand to the control rod. On the rod, the puppeteer just has to pull the string. I think someone had a video of a gripping hand that works on this principle, but I don't remember where it was.

Edit:Here's the video: http://forum.muppetcentral.com/showthread.php?t=24123 I think all you'd have to do for eric is to add controls for individual fingers.
 

TheCreatureWork

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2006
Messages
544
Reaction score
39
Hmmmm...

It looks to me like they switch from glove (Puppeteer wearing a glove) to rod controlled- depending on the shot.:smirk: I think Sesame Kermit was right on the other shots.
 

fishbone

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2002
Messages
176
Reaction score
0
so wait..how are all the fingers connected to the string?..i need to get to the $$$ store..stat!!!
 

MGov

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2005
Messages
566
Reaction score
0
Well planned shots and editting. When the fingers are moving, it's a glove. The sausage shot is probably a blue screened sleeve.
 

puppetsmith

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2004
Messages
449
Reaction score
2
I only watched it once through, but my initial thought is that his first finger and maybe thumb is cable controlled through the arm rod which has been conveniently removed in post production. They probably planned on editing the rod/s out from the beginning either for aesthetic reasons, or based on the fact that the rods were probably thicker than usual to house at the most two cables for independent movement of the thumb and forefinger.

Just a guess.

Hey shtick...lot of questions lately...care to share what you're working on? :smile:
 

Punch'n'Judy

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 17, 2005
Messages
408
Reaction score
1
Spoke to Richard, the puppeteer, about it this evening. Apparently it was a seperate cabled arm, they detached and joined at the shoulder, with a handgrip with ringpulls for each of Flats' fingers at the end of the rod control to his wrist.

Hope that makes sense.

J
 

shtick

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2005
Messages
243
Reaction score
2
bezalel said:
Hey shtick...lot of questions lately...care to share what you're working on? :smile:
Hey bezalel,
I know this isn't usually done, but I'm trying to give my new puppet as many
features as possible, including the ability to "smoke" a real cigarette. In order for that to happen, he needs to be able to hold a cigarette he's asked for, ergo the flat eric question. I'm still in the planning stages but this should be cool.
 
Top