Diary of a Marionette Maker

Puppetvision - The Movie

2011-12-08T14:20:00.001Z

If, like me, you have enjoyed reading Andrew's Puppetvision Blog then why not pop along here and help him make a film promoting the art of puppets and puppetry from around the world.

I can't remember when I first found Puppetvision but it must have been near its beginning which means I have been checking in for the last six or seven years. In that time I have found Puppetvision the be interesting, inspiring and helpful and I have been lucky enough to be mentioned a couple of times, the first time being with the Levi's puppet viral ad.

I was also able to say hello, albeit very briefly, to Andrew when he came to London last year.

So if, like me, you have enjoyed years of content (and the odd nod in your direction) FOR FREE then why not pay a little back and donate, you can donate as little as $10.

Joanna Wang - The Bug

2011-12-08T14:08:00.001Z

A few months ago the lovely Joanna Wang contacted me about carving a wooden mask for a music video. I was very busy at the time so wasn't really able to fit it in, but Joanna kindly moved the shoot date so I could finish what I was doing.

It was an interesting job, I'm always a bit uneasy about carving portrait style as it can often be a tricky affair, however Joanna wanted a slight caricature quality to it so that helped. The mask of Nixon was carved from Lime wood.

You can see the video for the song here:

Also take the time to check out more of Joanna's music on her Channels:
here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/newtokyoterror?feature=watch

And here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/joannawangVEVO?feature=watch#p/u

Puppeteering at Barefoot Books - New Oxford Store

2011-10-06T14:05:00.000Z

I will puppeteering at the Grand Opening of the new 'Barefoot Books' store in Summertown, Oxford from 7pm Friday 7th of October. If you are nearby come along for some fun.

Conducting Threads

2011-10-04T13:51:00.002Z

A year or so ago I made a couple of marionettes for a independent short called 'Conducting Threads'. I also puppeteered on the shoot but the puppets only appear briefly at the end.

Anyway, "Conducting Threads" will be screened this Monday the 10^th of October at "Choice Cuts" a collaboration between the East End Film Society & Cafe 1001.

The screening is at 7:30pm, Cafe 1001, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL.

Skagboys - marionette skeleton

2011-09-30T13:15:00.002Z

A few months ago I was commissioned to build a skeleton marionette for the cover shot of Irvine Welsh's forthcoming book 'Skagboys'. The novel is a prequel to 'Trainspotting', which if you remember the original cover had skull faces on it.

It took quite a while to hand carve this detailed marionette. Originally it was only for hire for the photo shoot but the publishers liked the puppet so much they decided to buy it outright.

I have been sitting on the images for a while but now I have noticed them on Amazon amongst other places so it it ok to show them now.

Puppets On Film Festival 2011 - Puppet Shorts Evening

2011-03-28T13:43:00.011Z

The Tree Man by Navin Dev :
Puppets by Tony Sinnett
Puppeteers: Tony Sinnett, Sara Kirkpatrick
and Raven Kaliana

As part of the 'Puppets on Film Festival' at the Little Angle Theatre there was a puppet shorts evening. I had been looking forward to this since it was announced, not only because one of the films showing was one I worked on as puppetbuilder and puppeteer, but also because I was interested to see what other people had been creating.

The range of film styles and techniques was varied and inspiring although stop motion was probably the primary technique employed. There were some very neat ideas and inventive uses of objects/body parts as puppets. Some films had bigger budgets than others but overall the quality of the films was very high.

Noesis - Directed by Sophie Klevenow

I hadn't realised that there was to be judging of the films by a panel until I actually arrived at the screening so was a little surprised but very happy for Navin and all the crew (including puppeteers Sara Kirkpatrick and Raven Kaliana who helped me bring life to Pinocchio and Burnt Pinocchio) when 'The Tree Man' was awarded the judges vote along with joint winner - 'Noesis' by Sophie Klevenow.

I really hope that this event will run again in the future and it has really inspired me to get a move on with my other projects in development at the moment.

Here is a list of the films in order of screening:
(text taken from programme - links and award winners added by me)

THE TREE MAN - Dir: Navin Dev - JOINT WINNER OF THE JURY PRIZE
Set between chapters 15 and 16 of Carlo Collodi's 'The Adventures of Pinocchio' The Tree Man is a dark interpretation of the classic novel with the use of traditional puppetry.
Watch 'The Tree Man' here: http://exposureroom.com/thetreeman

HICKORY DICKORY - Dir: James Baker
A mouse races against an unexpected clock in this film combining live-action puppetry with detailed compositing.
Watch the Film here: http://www.ourindiecinema.com/2010/07/11/hickory-dickory-by-james-baker/

DAMAGED GOODS - Dir: Barnaby Barford - WINNER OF AUDIENCE VOTE
Damaged Goods is a tragic love story played out by porcelain figurines. It explores notions of forbidden love, material wealth and class divides using the traditions value within ceramics.
Watch the Film here: http://www.barnabybarford.co.uk/image_gallery/damaged_goods

MICROPODIUM - Dir: Brian Hibbitt
Shot during the Buxton Puppet Festival this film shows the work of virtuoso Hungarian puppeteer Andreas Lenart.

DOG TAIL SOUP - Dir: Dave Reeve and Bronia Evers
In a storybook land of music and mayhem, Elwood has to find a new place to live when he is thrown out by his grandfather Dog Tail.
Watch the film here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fPArxOsdDg

INTO THE BLUE - Dir: Jeremy Bidgood
Frustrated by his election prospects, Gordon Brown infiltrates the magical world of the To'ri to steal their precious Electium.
Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9GdMQGIz6I

NOESIS - Dir: Sophie Kelevenow - JOINT WINNER OF THE JURY PRIZE
Noesis is an animated short about growing up and the changes and losses on the way.
Watch it here: http://vimeo.com/groups/1314/videos/16116972

THE PHANTOM COACH - Dir: Richard Mansfield
A young traveller finds himself lost one cold winters night. The snow falls and he encounters a terrifying supernatural force
Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPVEVunozv4

MISSING - Dir: Tariq Rimawi
A window opens on a child who lives in a war torn area where he longs for his past and peaceful life. Screened at numerous international festivals and Winner of the Best Short prize at 16th Franco Arab Film Festival.

PUNCH DRUNK - Dir: Ben Kent
Mr. Punch was a national celebrity- an icon of his time. But time moves on and when you've reached the top, the gutter is a long way down.
Watch it here: http://vimeo.com/12151860

FREDS MEAT - Dir: Robert D'Arcy
Foxes are on the menu in Fred's patch. But when change means dwindling supplies, Fred has to act..
Watch it here: http://www.behance.net/carolinestory/frame/538389

WORMS SONG 1 - Dir: Matilda Tristram
Worms singing popular ballads.
Watch it here: http://vimeo.com/6455124

ROUND - Dir: Kirk Hendry
A tale of death and rebirth in a jungle world of shadowy hands
Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-J9714e76g

INTERVAL

PINOCCHIO - Dir: Lesley Butler
In this reversal of the traditional Pinocchio story, instead of a puppet becoming a boy - a woman becomes a puppet.

DOG IN THE BURNING BUILDING - Dir: Fran and Will Krause
A music video for the Miles Kurosky song 'Dog in the Burning Building'
Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYjli42Rxwk

CLEMENTINE AT THE FILM FESTIVAL - Dir Mark Mander
Post Modern Plastic Pinocchio Clementine, the Living Fashion Doll, is delighted to be invited to talk about puppets at the Puppets on Film Festival. But perhaps she has more interesting things to think about - her own glittering career for example...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Judges for the Puppet Shorts Jury Prize

Cariad Astles is a puppetry Tutor for BA Theatre Practice at the Central School of Speech and Drama and also chair at Centre for Research into Objects and Puppets in Performance.

Dr Dan North is a Senior Lecturer in Film in the Department of English at the University of Exeter. He is author of Performing Illusions: Cinema, Special Effects and the Virtual Actor, and is currently researching a book about puppetry and cinema.

Roman Paska is a writer, director and puppeteer whose original productions, under two succesive company names, Theatre for the Birds and Dead Puppet, include The End of the World, Dead Puppet Talk, Beethoven in Camera, and Schoolboy Play, which was commissioned by Linz'09 European Capital of Culture and presented in 2010 at the National Theatre of Portugal. He directed August Strindberg's Dreamplay with puppets for its centennial at the Stockholm Stadsteater, and for several years was the director of the International Institute of Puppetry in France. His 'magical-realist' documentary feature, Rehersal for a sicilian tragedy, with John Tuturro, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2009.

Commissioning a Professional Marionette

2011-03-15T00:37:00.005Z

I am happy to take commissions for marionettes. I have made puppets for many professional as well as amateur puppeteers. Magicians have come to me for specialty puppets and my list of TV, Theater and Film credits is quite wide.

So what is a professional puppet?
Of course in reality there is no such thing but its often a term used by puppet makers - good and bad alike. you can be a professional puppet maker, an amateur or enthusiastic hobbyist but I'm not sure you could class a puppet itself as professional. Anyway people do search the web for 'professional puppets', I know I can see it in my site reports, so what are those people really looking for?
Well I guess they want a puppet that is well designed and made, constructed to withstand the rigors of many live performances as well as the travelling involved in such pursuits. Or maybe they need a puppet that can have very precise or specific movements or expressions if filming is of a priority. It may have a certain aesthetic to it and I suppose it must be made by someone with plenty of experience not only as a builder but also someone who has hands on (or in) experience.

So with that in mind how do you go about getting the puppet that you need?
Well you need to be specific about what you require the puppet for as these details will help me understand what materials or construction techniques are most appropriate.
There is always a trade off between construction techniques/weight and design. I think wooden puppets make for the best all round marionettes in terms of durability and consistent weight/balance but they can suffer from the problem of being too heavy for prolonged use if they are bigger than about 24 inches. Wooden puppets are also time consuming to make, carving is a skill and something that can't be rushed.
If a marionette is needed to have special features such as moving eyes/mouths then often it is better to make a hollow head using a casting process.

Marionettes for filming or portable theater story telling
If you require a marionette for filming, lets say for an advert or music video then the puppet will more than likely need to be smaller, perhaps between 14 and 18 inches tall, especially if it is to live in its own world (set) as obviously the smaller the puppet the smaller the set needs to be. There will of course be exceptions to this, if for example, the marionette interacts with with real people then it will need to be bigger (unless of course you are using a chroma-key effect)

If you have, or are thinking of creating, a theater with sets then again the characters don't want to be too large as the larger they are the larger the theater has to be and the less you can potentially have on stage at once. Also of course you may need to operate multiple puppets at once.
For this scenario 14 inches is a great size, especially for wooden carved marionette and you should think about commissioning one of these...

Cabaret / In the Round or Street Performance Puppets
If you are wanting more of a 'Cabaret' or 'Street Performance' style puppet then a larger size of marionette is preferable as the larger the puppet the easier it will be for the audience to see. However if you go over about 30 inches then marionettes can become hard to manipulate and can be heavy unless built with lightweight materials. For any type of 'in the round' or 'Variety' style performances a marionette size of between 22 and 26 inches is a good marker between being easy to handle, not too heavy and still very visible for audiences.

These type of puppets often have special functions such as moving mouths for singing or special stringing for dancing or playing musical instruments. Special features often add a lot of time and therefore cost to the build of a marionette so please keep this in mind. However if you are (or wanting to become) a paid performer then you should consider the marionettes as your tools(or instruments) and the quality of these will dictate (along with most importantly your skills) how good a show you can put on.

Clown Marionette - Hand Made from Limewood

2011-03-14T15:46:00.005Z

Clown Marionette - By Tony Sinnett

Here is the latest offering - a happy clown. Carved from Lime and painted with oils. He has pinstripe black baggy shorts and white sleeves with a red flower.
He stands around 16 inches (40cms) tall.

You can buy this marionette here, or if you like, commission your own, as they are all hand made you can change the design or colours on both the paintwork and the clothing.

Behind the scenes video with David Walliams Puppet Shoot

2011-03-05T15:18:00.000Z

David Walliams with puppets on the cover of Buzz Magazine

2011-03-04T14:44:00.000Z

A couple of weeks ago I hired out most of my marionettes for a photo shoot with David Walliams. Here he is pictured on the cover of Buzz magazine which is free with 'The Sun' on Saturdays. Hopefully there will be more pictures with the article inside, we shall see tomorrow. Out Saturday - 5th March 2011

Merlin the Wizard - Carved Wooden Marionette

2011-03-01T14:51:00.000Z

Here is the latest finished carved marionette. He is 39 cms (15 inches) tall, carved from Lime and with joints at neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and ankles. He is part of of my A series collection of characters. I can make any character you like in this style for the same price of £149.99 including stringing, controller and signed certificate.

Each of these A series marionettes are made by me an are one of a kind, although I may make a similar character again it won't be exactly the same. Because they are made of wood they are very durable and the joints and consistent weighting allow for great movement possibilities. This series of puppets are great for collectors and beginners learning the art of the marionette, why not get in touch an order your design.

If you would like to buy this wizard then click here..

Marionette Puppets on ' The Tudors ' - Showtime - BBC

2011-01-18T13:57:00.001Z

Some time ago I carved a couple of marionettes of King Henry and Catherine Howard for Showtime's series of 'The Tudors'.

They were made in June 2009 and whilst the show has aired in most of the rest of the world its taken a long time to get on the BBC schedule.

The marionettes I made feature in Episode 1 (season 4) to be shown on the BBC on Saturday 22nd Jan 2011. The sequence features (future Queen) Catherine performing a rather naughty little private show for the King. It appears about half way through the first episode.

Filming was in Dublin and puppeteering was by Noel and Eva Lambert of the Lambert Puppet Theatre.

Unfortunately due to the rushed nature of the job the puppets were on their way before the paint was dry - almost - so I wasn't able to get any good pictures of them, but here is Henry prior to final finishing and dressing.

King Henry VIII from 'The Tudors' - Showtime

And a couple of screen shots from the show

Puppet Show on 'The Tudors' Season 4 Episode 1

The Gadget Show - Marionette Puppet - Jon Vs Movie Maker

2010-11-22T21:23:00.003Z

The Gadget Show 22/11/2010

For Jon's Pro Vs Gadget Show challenge he was told to make a short film with consumer tech against award winning film maker Will McGregor and his top of the line pro digital camera. Jon had to use his modest DSLR to produce something that matches Will’s professional kit for quality. Watch the challenge segment here or compare the two finished films below.

The Gadget Show Marionette Puppet

2010-11-22T10:56:00.002Z

If you are in the UK you can see this clown marionette on the Gadget Show tonight at 8pm on Channel 5

It was hired from me for use in Jon Bentley's filming challenge.

Remember, you can buy marionettes from my shop here but please get orders in soon for Christmas to avoid dissappointment

Tulipwood Dresser Cabinets

2010-11-11T14:22:00.002Z

Here's is what I was doing with that Tulipwood mentioned last time, constructing a couple of bespoke fitted dresser/bookcase cabinets. I am quite pleased with how they turned out and I might make one for myself - if I ever get the time.
Anyway back to some puppetwork jobs now with hopefully some sales coming in soon for Christmas, don't forget to check out my shop (and forward the link to all your friends....please) for marionettes, there are a couple of new designs this year.

I also have a couple of potential projects in the pipeline but they are secret squirell at the moment and if this year has been anything to go by they probably won't happen at all, such is the nature of the business I suppose.

Tulipwood reminds me of Christmas

2010-09-13T22:51:00.001Z

Ok, so I have neglected this blog of late, what have I been up to? well quite a bit which is why I haven't had much to say on the puppet front. I have been working for various different people/companies refurbishing a house, making furniture and working for a structure firm on various events including some tests for the upcoming 2012 olympics.

Anyway lets get this blog back on track, well sort of. I will endeavour to keep this updated with news and new designs and hopefully some info on my own projects.

Today i have been machining Tulipwood (Poplar) for a furniture commission (more details on this soon). Tulipwood, when cut or planed, has a very distinctive smell, slightly soapy although sharp at the same time its difficult to describe but its not unpleasant and (to me) always recognisable.

A few years ago, before I turned more of my attentions to marionettes I made Rocking Horses. Tulipwood is a hardwood (although ironically quite soft) and carves quite well, is non oily (so accepts paint finishes) and is available in large sections so it is a great wood for painted rocking horses. Making a nice Rocking Horse, like a marionette, is a labour intensive process and there is a lot of cutting, shaping and sanding with various tools before you get to the finished item. Consequently the workshop was always full of the smell of Poplar especially around Christmas time when most of my orders would be taken.

Today, with a light chill in the air it felt like Christmas time, thankfully its not just yet as there a few more things i need to do this year.

Although I make marionettes now I would still take commissions for Rocking Horses,, particularly if they are something a bit out of the ordinary, maybe a detailed carousel style horse a dragon maybe, something really special.....I have my sketchbook to hand, lets make something unique....any takers?,

Dancing Mouse Marionette

2010-08-27T11:58:00.001Z

Approx 20 inches (50 cms) tall

Spider - Kirsty Almeida - Puppets and Puppetry

2010-06-01T22:45:00.003Z

The new video from Kirsty Almeida features some skeleton marionettes constructed and puppeteered by me and Sara Kirkpatrick. The Single comes out soon.

TIGI - Marionette Film

2010-02-16T01:43:00.001Z

Recently I was asked by the production company 16 oz to make 2 marionettes for a promo film for their client TIGI

They were to be wooden carved artistic marionettes which would be shown in the construction stage through to finished item.

The marionettes would appear on the film being constructed and then would transpose on the live show to 2 real acrobats during the hair fashion show by Anthony Mascolo.

Here is one picture from the shoot, I will add more if I get them.

Don't Fear The Reaper

2009-12-21T21:55:00.002Z

Here's my latest design, I will be making moulds for the parts and they will be in full production next year. If you would like to be the first to own then please contact me.

New Pelham Puppets - In Stock

2009-11-23T15:55:00.004Z

Pelham Puppets by David Leech
I have some Pelham Puppets added to my online shop. These puppets are made with the same skill and care as the original puppets that you may remember from your own childhood. Each face is lovingly painted and brought to life by a highly trained team of puppet makers and artists, so you can be sure that no two puppets will ever be exactly the same.

I only have limited stocks of these before christmas so order now:

UK Shop : www.tonysinnett.co.uk/marionettes.html

For Outside UK (prices in US $) : www.companyofmarionettes.com/marionette-shop/

New Marionette Shop Online

2009-10-24T17:47:00.002Z

I have now made the shop website for US and all International customers part of the company of marionettes site.

Marionettes are priced in US Dollars and include free shipping worldwide.

Visit it here:

www.companyofmarionettes.com/marionette-shop/

Its the same design as the UK version.

Some new marionettes may be coming soon - watch this space

Marionette Commissions - Custom Made

2009-10-20T21:09:00.000Z

I get lots of emails asking for a price for a custom made marionette.
The problem with this question is that more information is needed, there are too many factors which will affect the final cost.

Having said that I have decided to include a few different options for getting a marionette made to order.
There are currently 4 styles to choose from (more to follow) which start at £199 GBP for a wooden carved marionette.
Please see here for more details:

http://www.tonysinnett.co.uk/marionette_puppets/commissions/commission_style_a.html

The Tree Man - Marionette Film Out Now

2009-09-23T21:19:00.002Z

Last year I made 2 marionettes for an Independant short film by Navin Dev.

Set between Chapters 15 and 16 of Carlo’s Collodi’s classic novel 'The Adventures of Pinocchio', 'The Tree Man' depicts Pinocchio’s seemingly final minutes as he hangs from a tree. As he slowly dies, the wooden marionette spiritually journeys into an inferno of fear, guilt and hope through his encounters with key symbolic characters such as the Maiden with Azure Hair and the ghost of the Talking Cricket. As he falls deeper into darkness he learns the crucial dangers and virtues of the mortality he seeks.

I also puppeteered on the film along with Sara Kirkpatrck and Raven Kaliana.

It is now available to watch online at http://exposureroom.com/thetreeman

The Marionette Project

2009-08-06T17:55:00.001Z

For the last couple of years (maybe longer) I have been formulating various ideas for a marionette film. I have lost count of the number of ideas that have been worked through in that time and discarded only to return to what was my original concept.

I have always had a fondness for 'The Storyteller' and this has undoubtedly influenced my thinking towards shorter fairy tales and myths being an ideal subject for marionette stories.

So I have started on the pre production of my short film - 'Jack the Giant Killer'

It will be mostly marionettes with maybe some shadow puppetry mixed in.

I will update as soon as I have some construction to show which will be as soon as finances allow.

Work in Progress

2009-06-11T23:48:00.003Z

Glyndebourne project finished. Will write something about that soon but too busy this week making a couple marionettes for 'The Tudors'

More pictures to come

Dancing Skeleton Marionette (Wooden Carved)

2009-03-10T00:39:00.003Z

New

All Handmade Wooden Skelton Marionette.

Carved from Lime and Painted with oils.

50cms Tall

Price:
£299 (GBP)
Including free shipping worldwide

Oh look its the 'Ting Tings' as marionettes

2009-02-27T00:56:00.005Z

I'd been hearing the Ting Tings for the last year or so and always thought they sounded familiar. Whilst watching the Brits the other day I saw them as opposed to just hearing them on the radio and thats when it clicked. A few years ago I was asked to supply 3 marionettes for a photo shoot, the shoot was a promo as i recall for an upcoming band called Dear Eskiimo. They released a few singles and then split due to differences with their management. Two of the members went on to become the Ting Tings.

Anyway here are the pictures, sorry they are only very small but they are all I have.

New wooden marionettes offer

2009-02-21T23:05:00.006Z

New offer:
14 inch wooden carved marionettes, the character of your choice done in the style pictured below for £149 GBP including worldwide delivery.
I have a King and Jester ready to go, other characters will take approx 14 days to make.
For commissions firstly tell me the type of character you want and I will then send you a sketch. If you are happy I will request payment and start on the construction of your puppet.
This offer applies to marionettes 14 inches approx tall, 9 strings. single piece body, joints at head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips and knees.
If you require extra features such as 2 piece body, joints at ankles or more detailed characters then there will be a small extra charge.

Spam attack

2009-02-18T13:53:00.002Z

Today this blog, who very few people read, was assaulted by a spam attack linking to a very dubious Asian website. I have removed all comments posted by this person and have now implemented comment moderation on older posts.

Also you will not be able to comment anonymously at the moment.

I do find it quite sad that some people have nothing better to do.

Glyndebourne Education Program

2009-02-10T19:30:00.002Z

Hopefully I will be working with Glyndebournes Education Project this spring, helping them to design, build and perform marionettes.
The project is currently running in Lewes prison and is for young offenders (under 25s)
I have alot of security forms to fill on but hopefully I will be able to start in April.

Oak Bookcase

2009-01-27T19:45:00.003Z

Solid Oak bookcase made for a client in Lindfield. Actually finished this a while ago but the photo i took originally didn't come out very well.
Cupboard door panels are material to allow infra red remote signals to operate dvd player and satellite decoder etc.

Pelham Puppets on Ebay

2009-01-16T21:11:00.004Z

I'm trying to have a bit of a New Year clear out and have decided to sell some of my Pelham puppets. I have picked these up from various places over the years but think its time to let them go.
There are plenty of collectors on Ebay it seems and although these aren't A1 condition I'm sure they'll find a happy home.

String Puppets for Christmas

2008-12-08T19:29:00.003Z

Can't believe its that time again already. Orders for Christmas for overseas customers should be made in the next couple of days and UK customers shouldn't hang around either. See here for the current stock list ready to go.

New for this Christmas are this Pirate (pictured left) and also a Devil

THE SLEEPING DOLL by Jeffery Deaver

2008-08-01T17:42:00.001Z

Here's the book advert.
The lighting really brings out the detail on the face and hands.
The marionette was carved from lime and painted with oils.

Ooops

2008-07-19T18:54:00.002Z

Ok, so I've been slacking a bit on the blog again.

Well this is what i've been up to:

Widened the staircase and replaced spindles, handrails and newel posts.

Then made the two fitted cupboard/bookcases pictured above along with a similar two in a different room.

Then made a skeleton marionette into a mummy.

Marionette for book advert

2008-06-11T19:11:00.003Z

This is a marionette I made for the picture production company (www.theppc.com)

It's for a book advert. The book is called 'Sleeping Doll' I think.

Friendly Ghost Marionette Puppet

2008-06-10T11:53:00.004Z

Just arrived into stock are two 'friendly ghost' marionettes made by Miss Pavlickova.
Buy from my site here:
www.tonysinnett.co.uk

Skeleton Marionettes (again)

2008-06-09T20:16:00.003Z

Will be selling off some stock soon to finance a small project but for now have a these couple of skeletons. These were expertly made by Mr Mertl

Click here to buy

Marionette Controller Version 2

2008-05-06T19:13:00.002Z

Mark 2 marionette controller features:

Leg bar rotates in slot for one handed use but can be removed if preferred.

Bottom section (head control) can rotate independently of main arm. It has elastic to keep it centred. (it has provision for back string to head which gives much better head control) - It can also be locked in place if required

Optional bar on the back for strings to the heels.

Free flowing arm controls give up and sideways movement (they are a little harder to control but give much wider range of movement - even with one hand)

Hook for hanging.

Priced at £37.99 and available here

Skeleton Marionette String Puppet

2008-04-29T17:46:00.003Z

Yet more skeletons in the closet.

Working from the wooden carved skeleton I now have available a less expensive cast version with glass eyes and moving mouth.
He stands 14 inches tall and has 7 strings.
Available with free delivery (UK customers) he is priced at £99 and available here

'Tickle Me Pink' - New Version

2008-04-10T18:39:00.001Z

Full version of the video.

Tickle Me Pink - Johnny Flynn

2008-04-08T17:40:00.003Z

You can see a short edit of the Johnny Flynn video Tickle Me Pink here

Puppeteer Required

2008-04-04T10:30:00.002Z

Anyone interested in a couple of days marionette puppeteering?

I am involved in a little low budget short film project for which I have made 2 marionettes.
Shooting is scheduled for the week of 14th-18th April.
The project will require a second puppeteer for a couple of the days maybe wed/thurs but that will be confirmed next week hopefully.

Filming is in London so someone within easy reach would be preferable.

There isn't any budget for this so you would be working for free I'm afraid although travel costs will be reimbursed and you will also get full accreditation on the finished project.

Perhaps would suit a student of puppetry.

If you are interested or know anyone who maybe please contact me here or via email from my website

First Look

2008-04-01T19:22:00.002Z

I am working on a couple of marionettes for a short film, here's a look at the 'burnt marionette'. He's a dead marionette come back to life.
I've got more work to do on him yet but he's coming along nicely.

Kafka

2008-03-29T17:29:00.004Z

Nothing to do with marionettes but thought I'd post this picture of my dog.
Kafka (aka snafka,kaffy) passed away yesterday. She was always up for a game and would regularly interrupt tennis matches and football games in pursuit of getting hold of every ball on planet earth.
Outliving her sister by almost a year she did pretty well to get to her grand old age. It's going to be sad being without a dog for the first time in 16 years.

Filming day for 'Tickle Me Pink'

2008-03-20T19:25:00.004Z

Yesterday was the filming for the music video 'Tickle Me Pink' by Johnny Flynn.
It was a long day - as most studio days are - but very enjoyable, all the people were professional and friendly with everyone really working hard.
The video was produced by Chrome Productions who I really enjoyed working for as they were very supportive given the time frame for construction of the marionette.

I am really looking forward to seeing the final cut and will post as soon as it's available.
I will hopefully add some more behind the scenes photos if I can get hold of them.

Music Video - Marionette

2008-03-11T17:47:00.001Z

Don't know how much I can say at the moment but this week I'm working on a marionette to perform in a music video for an up and coming folk/pop artist.
It's going to be a bit of a rush but hopefully I will be able to post some photos as I go along.
I will also be performing the marionette for the shoot next week so I'll try and get some pics there too.

Shadow Puppets and Shadow Play by David Currell

2008-02-21T12:01:00.001Z

One of the presents I was lucky enough to receive last Christmas was 'Shadow Puppets and Shadow Play' by David Currell. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed his book "making and manipulating marionettes" - there's still plenty to enjoy and learn even when you make marionettes professionally- I was keen to get a look at this one. It didn't disappoint.

The book covers some of the traditions and history as well as design,construction and performance. There is even a great section showing how to make staging and screens, from small home versions to larger portable theatres. Not being as familiar with shadow puppetry as I am with marionettes I must say this book has inspired me to do more. I hope you find the same.

If you are looking for a start into puppetry you couldn't do much better than this book in my opinion.

Click the image and buy through my amazon store and you can support not only Mr Currell but myself too.

Hello Again

2008-02-19T11:06:00.002Z

Have been working for the last few months with a property developer doing various carpentry and joinery jobs on two hi spec properties in East Sussex. Although it has been on the whole enjoyable - I've learnt a lot to be sure - I have missed being at the workshop and being more creative. The blog has suffered too but we all have to pay the bills sometimes. I am back now for a while so will try to get the theatre on the go and post so more info when I can.

I will be restarting the marionette construction tutorial soon too hopefully.

Oh if you do stop by why not click on some of the google ads on the right hand side below and help support this site.

Mummy wrapped

2008-01-15T07:42:00.000Z

Here he is fully dressed and ready to scare.

Mummy Naked...

2008-01-12T18:33:00.000Z

...Mummy marionette that is.

I have made a few of the mummy marionettes recently. This latest version has poseable fingers and a three piece body.

I will post of a picture of the completed version soon. Here shown unwrapped and unstrung (3 piece body and classical joints)
These marionettes are available for £79.99 medium version and £99.99 large version.

Prop Marionettes in Cold Blood

2008-01-07T19:07:00.001Z

Someone has put together the clips of Russell Brand in Cold blood. You can see some of my marionettes as supplied as props for the workshop of John Hannahs character.

Skeleton Marionette

2007-11-26T18:33:00.000Z

I get more requests for skeleton marionettes than any other design probably because of a certain video which has been circulating the web for some time.

Nice carved skeletons are difficult and time consuming to construct, I am working on one that i can make moulds from but that is still some way off.

However here's a large wooden carved skeleton, he's 30 inches tall and has a jaw that opens and closes (if you really want him to sing)

He is £750 (UK pounds) and available from my website.

Leather Backgammon Table - Commission

2007-10-14T18:06:00.000Z

Haven't posted in a longtime. Working on some interesting things at the moment but can't publish them just yet.

Have recently finished a new commission though, a leather backgammon table.

I will post some better pictures soon.

Levis Giant Puppet, Freedom to move.

2007-07-26T12:46:00.001Z

Compilation of clips from the Levi's Viral Ad - thanks to Ronnie for the link

Puppetry for the King of Bling

2007-07-23T18:23:00.000Z

Spent the day in London filming a short introductory video for a jewellery designer.

Stephen Webster is widely considered to be one of the international scene's most exciting designers with his celebrity clients reading like a who's who of current stars.

I was puppeteer for the day for a short introductory film to be used as part of a pitch. It was a tight deadline so there wasn't much time for retakes. It was a fun day however taking the puppet on a tour of the workshops and offices.

Handmade Pine Kitchen

2007-07-14T09:52:00.000Z

I have finished the kitchen and will take some better photos when the client has decorated.

It's a handmade pine kitchen with dark green granite worktops. I fitted the belfast sink including plumbing and also fitted the oven hob and extractor. I also did the tiling.

The wall cupboards have lighting underneath , the Island has power outlets, cupboards, drawers, display shelves and a wine rack.

Sorry for the lack of information recently but there is some interesting puppet work coming up so hopefully some interesting posts.

Google Checkout

2007-04-15T16:28:00.000Z

Google has launched its payment system in the UK. For small businesses like myself who only run a small shop as a sideline this maybe a viable alternative to the Paypal option. Paypal is still untrusted by a lot of my customers who prefer to give details over the phone.

Will Google fair any better with customer trust online? time will tell i suppose, however it looks like a cheaper option for me (in terms of fees as Google is offering free transaction processing until the end of the year) so I'll be spending some computer time to updating the marionette pages to accommodate the new buttons.

New workshop - 3

2007-04-13T17:52:00.000Z

Have managed to put up the partition wall and move some tools in.
I will be kitchen making for the next couple of weeks but hopefully will get the odd bit of time to sort out the new work area.

Moving is always a good time to sort things out although it takes a lot of time. In the spare moments I've had in the last few days I've fixed a few things and cleaned up some of the machines.
I managed to aquire a couple of used kitchen units so have installed those in one end. Hopefully I can get some more soon and really tidy things away.

New workshop - 2

2007-04-10T18:18:00.000Z

Have managed to put up the partition wall and move some tools in.
I will be kitchen making for the next couple of weeks but hopefully will get the odd bit of time to sort out the new work area.

I appear to have lost some of the parts for my metal stall (which I am planning to make into a little marionette performance theatre) so won't be able to put that together until i get some new parts made.

New workshop

2007-04-03T19:36:00.000Z

Ok, so I'm in, here's the new workshop location. Look at the height of the roof, plenty of room to operate marionettes from above.

I just have to create the partition wall and then move some stuff in.
I've got a kitchen to finish first off but that should be quicker now I have more room.

Cold Blood 3

2007-03-25T16:42:00.000Z

So the kung fu master is back.
I can finish him with more detail when I get some free time.

The kung fu master, along with a few other marionettes, were out on hire as set dressing/props for an new episode of Cold Blood. I will post some pictures from the show when it airs sometime in the summer.

Anyway I am trying to move workshops again, closer to home and to a bigger space whereby I can start the construction of a small theatre/stage for marionette filming. Keep your eyes posted here although don't expect anything to happen very quickly as I have been trying to get into the new unit for about 3 months and I have a kitchen job to finish as well.

Kung Fu Master Wooden Marionette

2007-03-08T19:18:00.000Z

Here's a marionette i've been working on recently - the kung fu master. He's gone out on hire for a week(more on that soon) but when he's back I'll do some more work on him to finish him properly.

Marionette Controllers

2007-02-21T18:56:00.000Z

They are sometimes called 'Perches' or 'Crutches' and quite often are Heath Robinson affairs. Marionette controllers can be of any design and will vary enormously depending on what you want the puppet to do. However these controllers made to a traditional english/european? design will give all the normal movements required for a human puppet figure.

I am now offering these in 2 off the shelf sizes suitable for most puppets or I can adjust dimensions to your requirements for a small extra fee.

They are available here.

Custom Marionette

2007-02-15T20:23:00.000Z

Here, as promised, is the finished commissioned marionette that went off to Los Angeles.

He is approximately 24 inches tall and had an opening and closing mouth operated from the controller.

Does anyone know who made these?

2007-01-19T18:52:00.000Z

I was asked by a lady recently if I knew anything about the puppets pictured below. She acquired these puppets as part of an auction lot and would like to restore them.

I must admit I don't know who made them but they are certainly quite distingushed in character so I'm hoping someone out there may have some more info. You can see the pictures in more detail over at flickr if you click on them.

New Year

2007-01-10T17:55:00.000Z

It was a hectic work December with a sad Christmas time so apologies for not posting in a while.

So whats new? - well I have been asked to contribute to 'puppetbuzz' a great blog for puppet news. I will be posting any interesting puppet stuff i find over there so pop on over. This blog will stay as my work blog.

I will be carrying on with the 'Making a Carved Wooden Marionette' Tutorial soon but I am also trying to sort out a new workshop closer to home.

This week I am finishing a commissioned marionette for a customer in Los Angeles so I will be posting pictures here when it is finished.

Came To Do This - PQ feat. PB

2006-11-25T14:43:00.001Z

Found this on YouTube today. It's the music video that I supplied the puppet for. Ronnie was puppeteer

Marionettes

2006-11-21T11:07:00.000Z

Just a quick note to all of my mail out and existing UK customers :
All marionette puppet orders should be received by 28th November 2006 to guarantee delivery by Christmas.

Postal order forms are available for download from my site.
Payments online or by phone are available as usual.

www.tonysinnett.co.uk

Thank You

The Giant Puppet in Iceland

2006-11-15T20:09:00.000Z

Ok so word is out.

It was me who made the marionette for the viral ads featured on YouTube.

I couldn't post anything on this before as the idea was to make people believe it actually happened, or at least get people talking about it.
Now, however, Andrew over at Puppetvision has found out and posted about this, as too has smallmassive theatre (Fiona Mannion) commenting on the giant puppets myspace so i figure it's ok to say something about the stunt.

The puppet was solid lime wood and had an opening/closing mouth but this wasn't used in the filming. He was about 24 inches tall.

Ronnie Le Drew was the chief puppeteer. I was on set for adjustments of the puppet and as an assistant puppeteer, however Ronnie (pictured) did such a superb job of the puppeteering I was only needed to help out for a few takes.

Below are a couple of pictures of Ronnie with the marionnette.

It was good to work with Ronnie as I learnt a lot from him, he had used my marionettes before but this was the first time we had met face to face. He has been a puppeteer for many years and has worked a lot with the Little Angel Theatre.

The filming was a long and exhausting day, more so for me as I had been working all of the previous night getting the marionette ready for the shoot.

Thankfully for you readers you shall not be seeing the picture of me in the skintight green suit.

Making a carved wooden marionette - Part 1

2006-11-12T19:29:00.000Z

Introduction.

Over the next few weeks I will be detailing how to make a wooden carved marionette.
There are many different ways to make a marionette, no right or wrong ways, just variations in materials used, joint techniques and controller designs.

The type I will be making will be an all wood carved marionette. I will be making a human character however do not limit yourself, animals or abstract shapes can be marionettes too as we can see from the following picture of a simple lion marionette.

The detail of the carving can be varied depending on your ability, you may want to paint in details such as the face if you haven't got the skill to carve it. The marionette I will be making will be quite detailed but hopefully you can follow the principals and simplify where necessary

So lets look at some more examples of wooden marionettes.

Simple wooden shapes threaded with cord are used to create a character.(click on image to enlarge)

Below are some marionettes made in Prague, notice the angular shapes and in some of the puppets even the pelvis/leg joints are visible. (click on image to enlarge)

Here's a marionette from one of my favourite makers Antonin Muller:>

So there's some ideas for you in preparation for the next stage which will concentrate on the design of the character.

RISK (Parker Bros / Hasbro) the game of world domination

2006-11-10T13:07:00.002Z

A couple of years ago I approached Hasbro who are the license holders for the boardgame RISK and asked about getting the rights to make a version of the game as a piece of furniture.

Unfortunatley there didn't seem to be a big market for the game as a deluxe table, I'd planned to have 6 drawers (1 for each player), metal sculpted pieces etc.
I did however re-design the playing board and produce prints from this design which can be mounted, incorporated into a games table or just framed and hung on the wall.

The prints are quite large at 39 inches by 25 inches but printed on 170gsm paper.
I am currently making a cheaper coffee table version incorporating the print but I also have the prints for sale on their own.

These prints would be a great present for any RISK fan. They are available via my website or via my shop on ebay .

Laurel and Hardy Marionette Puppets

2006-11-08T17:56:00.001Z

The wooden carved theatre versions of the Laurel and Hardy marionettes are nearly ready but soon these cast versions will be available for purchase.
Should be ready early December - in time for Christmas !!

Oliver Hardy Marionette Puppet available here: (link removed- see update)

And

Stan Laurel Marionette Puppet available here: (link removed - see update)

Update November 2010:

These marionettes have now sold out but please see many more puppets here, or maybe commission something

Halloween Marionette (2)

2006-10-31T14:27:00.000Z

"zoinks!!! - run Scoob"

Halloween Marionette (1)

2006-10-31T08:54:00.000Z

Handcarved wooden skeleton marionette.

Sat 28th October

2006-10-29T13:03:00.000Z

For Cliff

I took the dogs for a walk on the South Downs, starting from the Jack and Jill Windmills and heading towards Ditchling Beacon.It was obvious from the start that the clouds weren't going to make for a fantastic shot, however after walking around the tracks for about an hour the sun started to set. As the sun began its descent so did the mist.

What could have been a fantastic sussex countryside sunset with possible views of Brighton and the sea turned into this:

And 10 mins later nearly back at Jack and Jill

Ok so do I win a prize for the worst sunset picture?

If not then I submit this one which was taken exactly one year ago just outside of Stowe in Vermont.

Ah thats more like it!!

Story Teller Marionette

2006-10-10T17:53:00.000Z

Here's a marionette I've nearly finished for a client. The character is an old storyteller. He has moving eyes, mouth and one moving eyebrow. The head is made from paperclay and is hollow to allow for all the mechanism for the moving parts.

Carved Hand

2006-10-03T12:11:00.000Z

Here's a hand I've nearly finished carving for a new puppet. Expect a picture of the right hand soon.

Carved from lime.

website tidy up

2006-10-02T18:19:00.000Z

Have tidied up the website, well some of the pages. Still a lot to do but it looks better already.

www.tonysinnett.co.uk

1000

2006-09-08T17:51:00.000Z

Finally back to normality(well almost) after a few crazy weeks. Some of the stuff I can't talk about at the moment but hopefully I will be able to at a later date.

Have reached 1000 positive feedbacks on Ebay - wooo hooo - which means I now have a nice little red star like this:

Games Table

2006-09-06T18:27:00.000Z

Packed and shipped this games coffee table to 'The Lands End Hotel', hopefully it will arrive in one piece.

Another Nice Mess!

2006-07-17T17:28:00.000Z

I have been commissioned to make a couple of marionettes of Laurel and Hardy. They are for a one man show entitled 'An evening with Mr Laurel'. The show will be an Off-Broadway production performed by Tyler St Mark.

Stan Laurel was given a couple of marionettes which he used to entertain visitors to his home

Will post more detail as soon as I have them as I am currently working through the design stage with Tyler.

Level Up

2006-06-25T17:30:00.000Z

Here are a few screenshots from the CBBC show Level Up. The presenters Sam and Mark were shown how to operate a marionette.

I supplied three marionettes for the programme.

As usual you can see larger versions over at Flickr if you click on them.

Update

2006-06-09T18:26:00.000Z

Hectically trying to finish a kitchen (will post some photos soon) so haven't had much time to update. Work was hampered today by the planer - breaking a chain yet again.
There are a few projects on the go so will be putting details here as soon as I can.

I have hired a couple of marionettes to the BBC for a childrens program called 'Level Up'. I think they will be on Thursday the 15th of June.

Making Marionettes - Reference Books

2006-05-07T18:17:00.000Z

I receive emails through my website now and again asking which books I would recommend for people wanting to make marionettes. I will be posting a step by step guide to making a wooden marionette soon but in the meantime here are some books which I have found useful

Making and Manipulating Marionettes - David Currell

This book covers wood, casting and modelling techniques for marionette construction. It includes sections on traditions, design and stringing as well as peformance. Probably the best all round book for making marionettes, it has a lot of good photos and illustrations. Click the cover to buy at Amazon.

Another good book from David Currell is this one:

Puppets and Puppet Theatre

Covering more than just marionettes this book gives details on rod, hand and shadow puppets and gives advice on staging and scenery.

Marionettes - Art, Construction, Play - Gmelin Schmelz

This book is aimed at performers, collectors and makers. It is a great example of the Art of marionettes along with details on construction, movement and balance. Particularily interesting is the design of the Pendel control bar. Contains a lot of fantastic photos. Pendel marionettes also have a great website here

If you're interested in traditional wooden carved marionettes as I am then a great book for learning woodcarving techiniques is this one:

Although it looks a bit daunting at first, this book may be all you need on the subject with a great section on sharpening your tools which is of course the backbone to good woodcarving. Chris Pye has written some more recent books which I haven't read so they may be worth checking out too.

Music Video

2006-05-05T18:20:00.000Z

Earlier on this year I hired out a marionette for a low budget music video. The video is currently being edited but should be finished soon.

I don't know who the artist is but I think the song is called 'came to do this'.
These are some production shots from the shoot. The puppeteer is Ronnie Le Drew

Backgammon Table

2006-05-03T19:13:00.000Z

A couple of months ago I received a commission from a young lady who wanted me to make a backgammon coffee table for her fiance as a wedding present.

I came up with this design:

click the picture to see a bigger version at flickr

When we were both happy with the design she chose the colours for the points - two shades of red. I then made the table from Ash and it came out as follows:

Ride to Brighton

2006-04-16T13:22:00.000Z

Have been running late with some marionette designs for a customer in Brighton so I thought I would take a cycle over there and deliver them by hand.

My fitness levels (and weight) are anything but consistent, in my best moments I have run a 3.42 Marathon, 1.45 half marathon and time trialled (cycling) a 27.55 10 miler.
Although I will never be an elite athlete, when I try I can put in some reasonable times but recently my fitness levels have gone to pot. So today was the start of a new regime (where possible) to get fit and drop a few kilos. The ride today with a few detours was 31 miles and I did it in 2hrs -3mins and while this is pretty poor as cycling goes it was a good start for me especially as there were a few hills to contend with including this one

In the afternoon, as a treat and to replace some of the expended calories we met friends at Dolly's Pantry for some tea and cakes.

Current weight: 91kg
Target: 78- 80kg

Dear Eskiimo Update

2006-04-03T21:24:00.000Z

Received some stills from the photo shoot for Dear Eskiimo (see previous post)

Sorry they are so small but they are all I have currently. Just have to wait and see if they make it to the album

Teaser

2006-03-13T08:47:00.000Z

An interesting opportunity arose over the weekend. Hopefully I will be able to post more info as soon as it's all confirmed but It will involve a couple of marionettes going stateside.

Dick and Dom in da Bungalow

2006-03-04T18:21:00.000Z

Have uploaded some stills from the BBC Dick and Dom show (see previous post). I also have the clip as a short movie file which I shall upload to my website soon. Click on the picture for a couple more stills over at Flickr.

The Virgin Queen

2006-02-20T18:30:00.000Z

Have finally managed to capture the shadow puppetry shots from the BBC Broadcast of The Virgin Queen

I think it came out quite well and had the added bonus of being right at the start of episode 3. For more details (see previous post)

You can see larger versions (at flickr) if you click on them.

Walnut Games Table

2006-02-19T18:26:00.000Z

Braved a drive into the west end today (Notting Hill area) to deliver a Games/Coffee Table made from American Black Walnut.

I got there in good time only taking about 1 hour and 25 mins. I decided to go home along the M4 and M25 which was a big mistake as there was a accident which caused a horrendous jam and the total time to home took 4 hrs - oh what joy!

The customer loved the table though!

2006

2006-01-31T18:07:00.000Z

Haven't posted in ages.

Christmas was busy with a rocking horse going all the way up to the North Highlands, a gamestable going to Ashford, Plenty of marionettes sold over the internet as well as work on the Malthouse Theatre.

So what's currently going on in 2006 for me.

A new company and website on the way just for marionettes.

A few interesting marionette projects including a low budget music video.

A handmade Oak Kitchen starting now.

Expect some more frequent posting hopefully!!

Dear Eskiimo

2005-12-21T23:28:00.000Z

Whilst having been very busy with christmas orders (marionettes, rocking horse, gamestable etc) I received a call from DRS Productions ltd. They were trying to organise a photo shoot for a band just signed to Mercury - Dear Eskiimo They wanted 3 marionettes made that they could superimpose the bands faces onto.
There was only a couple of days to make the marionettes but I managed to do it.
Hopefully I will get some promo shots from the shoot so I will put some here if I do.

Save the Muppets

2005-11-13T19:27:00.000Z

Go here

www.savethemuppets.com

Thank you

Malthouse Theatre - Day 5

2005-10-31T22:05:00.000Z

Day 5

Fitted Skirting Boards to Downstairs Bedrooms

Malthouse Theatre - Day 4

2005-10-28T18:36:00.000Z

Day 4
No pics today due to hard rain when I was leaving.

Anyway today I:

cut drip lines into the windows
fitted weatherstrip into frames
rebated hinges for all windows
hung 4 opening windows

Malthouse Theatre - Day 3

2005-10-27T21:50:00.000Z

Day 3

Coated all doors and (fitted) windows with wood preserver

Machined up some beading for windows that have yet to be fitted