PUPPETEERS WANTED FOR STUDENT FILM JULY 14TH-22ND

Thu, 18 June 2009, 11:17 am

I’m Shelley, the producer of a VCA student short film being shot this July. The film, written and directed by Lauren Anderson (VCA Masters Student) is called “Vigilant! Healthy! Wholesome!” “Vigilant! Healthy! Wholesome!” is the story of Sylvie, a bride on the run. Sylvie has more problems than your average runaway bride. She’s a lesbian in a society where homosexuality is a much feared disease. Not only that, she’s trying to keep a handle on her carnivorous wedding dress which eats anyone who gets in her way. Much inspiration is drawn is drawn from 1950s horror films, in essence. We want it to appear slightly dated but in a period or location you can't quite place! Now, the "star of the show" is of course, the wedding dress with a mind of its own. We want to do our effects in camera and are seeking puppeteers to make our dress move. We are shooting on 16mm film (for black and white) July 14th to the 21st with a day off somewhere in between. As we are a student production, we are unable to offer a fee. But will be something quite special for a showreel. Plus we guarantee fun and comfortable working conditions!

Thread (7 posts)

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Shelley DresdenThu, 18 June 2009, 11:17 am

Shelley DresdenThu, 18 June 2009, 11:18 am

Contact Details

Please respond to this post or email me on shelley.dresden@gmail.com. Cheers!

NaThu, 18 June 2009, 11:48 am

Shelley, I'd appreciate it

Shelley, I'd appreciate it if you could update your post to include what kind of skills the puppeteers will require; are you looking for people with any specific puppeteering experience? I know quite a few people who might be interested. If you haven't already, also please send the info to UNIMA (www.unima.org.au), the Australian puppetry union, so they can forward the info to their members. (Pity, you'll be shooting while I'm oversea, otherwise I'd submit myself :) ) Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

Shelley DresdenThu, 18 June 2009, 12:51 pm

More Details

Hi, thanks for the response! What we are needing is for the dress to have a life of its own. It will move fluidly, almost like the dress has tentacles, or like a stingray. Not being puppet-minded ourselves, we thought the best way for the dress to "ripple" of its own accord and "rear up" and swallow people, would be to have strings attached to the dress with puppeteers out of frame manipulating the strings to make the skirts of the dress move. So in terms of having specific skills I would not be confident in saying necessarily what experience the puppeteers would need to have. I hope the info I have given enlightens people somewhat. However, we are more than happy to be corrected on this and would love to collaborate with whoever is interested! Please let me know what other specifics I can give. I will also forward my request to the union as you suggest. Thanks again!

NaThu, 18 June 2009, 01:50 pm

Thanks Shelley; silly

Thanks Shelley; silly question... Have you contacted the VCA puppetry dept.? I'm sure you'll have plenty of people to work with there. I've passed on the info to some people already, who might be interested. I will also pass it on to a friend of mine who works at Swinburne. They have a puppetry component, and many students would be keen to apply I'm sure. Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

Shelley DresdenFri, 19 June 2009, 12:57 pm

Unfortunately the puppetry

Unfortunately the puppetry school have their own production assignments and are all too busy. Darn it! But I am very grateful for you spreading the word 0 thanks so much!

NaFri, 19 June 2009, 01:39 pm

Well, that sucks - you'd

Well, that sucks - you'd think they'd jump at the chance since you're all at the same uni :) Anyway, I know it went out to the UNIMA members yesterday (I'm on their mailing list), so with any luck it should peak some interest. Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne

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