Hard to read in Internet Explorer? Use View / Text Size
feature film puppeteer
I was lucky enough to take the skills and fitness acquired through several years work as an acrobat, juggler and magician, and re-apply them to a new and exciting field. Animatronics were still being done the hard way (often several puppeteers would operate a single creature). Now, of course, a lot of that work can be done by one (computer assisted) operator, or can even be done purely as cgi. They don't need me any more - how long before the live actors get simulated, too? After all, the stuntmen are already being done (but I still prefer Buster Keaton and Jackie Chan).
For some stories, go to Habidabad's Dark Crystal website and read an extended interview, mainly about The Dark Crystal, but also touching on my other film work. Also, here are a couple of other online interviews focused on Jabba.
 |
The
Dark Crystal (1982)
(The Alchemist, but also a Garthim, and the right-hand for several of Jim Henson's characters; as well as various background characters and effects). |
| Return of the Jedi
(1983)
(Jabba the Hutt - left hand, tongue, head and body) go here (or to the interviews) for more details of the work involved, and my current activities springing from those fifteen minutes of infamy. |
 |
 |
The Company of Wolves (1984) (Animatronic wolf and transformations)
|
|
Labyrinth (1986) (Firey 1, one of many Helping Hands, Junk Woman's eyes (Karen Prell's assistant) and background characters) if it matters to you, you can find an obsessively accurate cast list at this posting |
 |
 |
Little Shop of Horrors (1986) (leaves and tendrils for Audrey II) |
| Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Puppet Crew
|
Ian Tregonning; Toby; Christopher Leith (bottom row) Geoff Felix, David Barclay, Mike Quinn |
|
Please note: I have not been able to attribute copyright to every photo I found on the web, but I welcome any corrections: Dark Crystal and Labyrinth are copyright Henson Associates, Inc; Roger Rabbit and all related items are copyright of The Walt Disney Company and Amblin Pictures; Return of the Jedi ©1983, 2000 Lucasfilm Ltd You may be able to get DVD or Video copies of some of these films from your local library - or, if you want to have your own copy, try Amazon. (UK) |
you can email me about any of my film stuff at and I'll get back to you as soon as I can (Unless I'm in a REALLY bad mood...heh heh heh) |
