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Puppet Strings Help

Delta Shout

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Dec 6, 2009
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I'm designing a couple of puppets for my Bro's self-funded short film 'The Botanist'
(It's an amazing script, I'll try and post at least a snippet of it when it's finished)

I've been figuring out how to work it - one of them has to be worked from above as a marionette - and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what kind of string to use:

I thought of Fishing line, except one of the scenes it features in is a fireside scene and the light catches on the string and shows it up
But the other scene is a morning shoot, so any black/dark would be visible.
It was suggested to use 'Invisible thread', I've been looking at it online and it doesn't seem strong enough to manipulate the puppet.
Will I have to swap over the strings for each scene?
Any ideas?

Thanks,
Delta Shout
 

Face Ache

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You can buy metal fishing line.

The original Thunderbirds puppets used tungsten wire, and those puppets are quite heavy.

Maybe you could use metal line for the supporting strings, and invisible thread for the limbs.
 

Delta Shout

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Thanks Face Ache!
The fishing wire did just the trick!

We've just finished the first two days of filming - And we're watching the results of it now.
An enthusiastic Scott (The title character) mucks around while the camera rolls

I'll try and get some scenes with the puppets up in the next couple of weeks!
 
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