A trip to the Puppet Filming
Some of you may not know that Emily now has a job as a puppeteer for a local Puppet Company called ‘Puppetechnics’. We are very pleased that the years of training paid off for her.
Puppetechnics are making a film for the police. It is being kept under wraps at the moment so I can’t give any details. Emily had told them about us and that we made puppets so, as they needed some extra background characters, they asked if they could borrow some of ours. I sent some photos of the few we have left and they said that they would love to borrow them. We were then invited down to watch Emily at work. We were thrilled, not only to watch Emily, but to get involved with puppets again – even if only for a short while.
It is being filmed in a special set the police use for training youngsters about all sorts of dangers. We went to a reception area and was told that they were through the door on our right. As we entered I thought we had gone outside again. It was a large set that was rather like a TV set for a soap opera. Here are some photos of the set.
I took this from an angle to show that it is just painted on board!
Below is a painted a wall and only the camera flash picks out the different texture and colours it differently. The eye doesn’t see the difference.
None of this scenery is real. It’s all painted on a wall just in front of where Mo is standing.
Puppet props.
The two characters that Emily plays.
A character that had been ‘melted’ by a villain :O)
We arrived just as Emily was finishing up a scene – I might add at this point that she does her own, live voices too! There were some real live policemen there acting along with the puppets. It was great to see ;O) We went to have a hot drink with Emily while the crew got on with stuff. Soon after they had a break which left us free to wander around and take the photos.
They came back and David Thornton (the creative director) came and had a chat with Mo and I. They are doing exactly what we were going to do. All that stopped us was having someone like him on board! He told us what he was aiming for and he certainly has a vision, with plenty of drive and ambition. It ended up with him saying that maybe we would like to come on board for some projects in the future. A lovely thought :O)
They got back to work and Mo and I watched for a few moments and then made our exit, leaving them to get on with the filming without interruptions.
Below, waiting for the technical stuff.
Camera’s roll!
I will just add that we were really proud of Emily. Not just her puppetry skills, but the way she handles herself while working with a group of mature adults in a serious, hard working environment! Well done Emily.
The photos won’t enlarge as it makes my posting so much easier. Anyone who would like any larger photos just let me know.
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granny grimble | 13 February 2008 at 0:57
How interesting and imformative was this! And what a wonderful experience for Emily. Not to say for you and Mo. Who knows what it might lead to. It was fascinating to see all the sets, just like going on a visit to Coronation Street.
Thank you for that ‘Look behind the Scenes’
Spider | 13 February 2008 at 1:56
What a fantastic experience you all shared. It is not often we get to look behind the scenes like that.
I bet it wet your appetite for more Babs and Mo.
Well done Emily, I am very proud of you as I am sure you must be too, I know Mum Dad Grandma and granddad will be too.
Love you, Auntie Tinaxxx
weechuff | 13 February 2008 at 12:53
What a thoroughly interesting blog. Well done Babs! You were so lucky to have the opportunity to go round their set. Isn’t it realistic? I couldn’t get over it! Is it actually painted, or is it large photographs?
And well done to Emily. I am so pleased she didn’t lose interest in puppeteering, thank to the way you taught her:0)
weechuff | 13 February 2008 at 12:54
I just had a thought. Maybe them asking you if you would like to get involved maybe, could possibly lead to you getting a bit of paid work puppeteering as well?
Beetle | 13 February 2008 at 13:56
They were all painted! Even the brick walls were not real they were some sort of painted resin.
I think the idea was to be working with him in planning and making stuff rather than actual puppeteering. Who knows, we still have our project under wraps :O)
Sindie | 13 February 2008 at 17:38
Aaaaaaw, bless Emily! I really thought that as she got older she’d lose interest in puppets and I’m so glad that you found her this job Babs. The set looks fatastic and Emily was full of it when she got home. :0)
Sindie | 13 February 2008 at 17:46
Brilliant – What excellent set decoration! Emily is very talented with this sort of thing, and we hope she continues to develop her obvious natural ability to relate to others of any age, be it young children, her peers or elders.
WELL DONE EMILY, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU.
Love Daddy xxx
weechuff | 14 February 2008 at 0:51
I am just testing this oput, as people are telling me they cannot post comments on your blog:0)
Beetle | 14 February 2008 at 1:00
It’s all working fine, I checked.
emilyyy | 15 February 2008 at 8:45
Yay me. =D
It really is great fun on set. I play an old lady (think posh old spinster) and a little boy (think Ron Weasley!) I’m off to work in a few minutes. The people I’m working with are really nice; they’re the same people who created the grotto I worked in over Christmas. We have a few more scenes to do today, then some ‘green screen’ bits to film next week, and then the film will be available for your viewing pleasure by March!
Thank you to everyone who’s so proud of me. I’m really enjoying myself, being involved not only in puppetry but giving such an important message to children.
Lots of love
XXX
GoldAnne | 18 February 2008 at 20:13
gosh that was so interesting!!!!
thanks so much for posting all that really enjoyed it,
xxx