One of the most iconic BTS images from The Howling was for a prop never used in the final film! Bottin had a lot of woes when trying to decide how the final film's werewolves would be realized as, deciding to opt out of the 'man in a suit' method.
It was decided werewolves would be realized as a rod puppet, similar to those in Japanese theatre. The eight feet tall puppet was designed and constructed by Jeff Shank (along with Steve Shank), and impressed Dante and Bottin; the puppet had a clearly wolf-like frame, rather than clearly being an actor in a suit.
However, the rod puppet eventually was rejected due to being unable to walk (Dante wanted the werewolves to be seen walking) and also having potential problems they weren't sure they could sort out before finishing, meaning it was never used in the final film. Bottin wished to have another puppet built for close-ups, but this was shot down by Shank and Dante. The final film would have a return to the 'man in suit' method.
i think what i love most about avenue q is how the puppets can have different designs
ie in some i’ve seen kate has different fur textures, rod’s hue of blue varies, sometimes princeton has different head shapes too. i saw a production of avenue q by a college theatre program and they had the cutest version of the bad idea bears! one was pink and had a dress and bow
the fact that anyone can make their own interpretation of these characters and make them into something new shows off how beautiful of an art puppeting is
Adding to your character and having an audience are the best things about puppeteering.
I usually build characters off of a part of myself that I want to be more of, or I’m too much of. (Not cocky, too energetic, etc.)
I also usually perform in-front of children. Most of the time, they beg to see and talk to a puppet and love being around all the characters I play.
It’s up to you how you puppeteer, the fun of it is being something or someone your aren’t, and still being able to be you at the same time.
And don’t feel bad if your character gets love and “you don’t”. It’s still you who IS the character!
Your hand can be famous for something awesome! You can go to the store and no one needs to notice you unless you want them to! The world of positive manipulation is in your hands!
Don’t let anyone tell you puppeteering is “immature”! It’s your life. You live it. Do you.
as you can see, he isn't perfect - his mouth is a bit odd and his hair isn't big enough - but i'm very proud of him all the same! using lots of time, energy, felt, and love, i sewed up this little fellow in a few hours... and considering how he's my first real puppet (as opposed to a sock puppet), and how he was made with a non-standard method (not an inch of foam in his fuzzy body!), i think he turned out just delightful!! don't you? :)
At the end of the iconic transformation sequence, Kessler becomes a 'juvenile' and less furred werewolf, nicknamed the 'man-beast' by the crew. It is only briefly seen in the final film.
The man-beast was a rod puppet operated by someone underneath the set, created from two different moulds - the body was a recasting of the transformation body mould, and the head was a recasting of the final werewolf mould.
Fun fact. I could have been a professional puppeteer. As in Muppets level.
I started training as a child. Yes they start that young. We took classes after school. We performed. Competed.
In 5th grade after two years of training my group went and competed in Manhattan Beach, CA and won 4th place.
It's rigorous. A lot of arm strength, dedication, team work, and coordination.
By high school I was literally eligible to teach. I started training the "next round" of 3rd-5th graders and got to coordinate recitals.
I resigned because I moved out of state. But who knows where I would have been. There's a part of me who misses it. My right arm is significantly stronger than my left and not just because I'm right handed but because you literally hold your arm in the air for hours.
It's a weird thing but it'll always be a part of me.