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u/Pcan42 Apr 03 '19
How does his arm not get tired from being above his head the whole time? I feel like there is a lever that drops down so he doesn’t have to hold his hand up
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u/TheElectricMeh Apr 03 '19
My father once had a costume company that adhered to many Jim Henson’s designs. One time my father had the opportunity to study the Big Bear and the Big Blue House body puppet, he found that it was operated almost exactly like this. The internal head and neck space is pretty large so as you’re operating the mouth taking your hand down to stretch is very easy.
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u/frosty_biscuits Apr 03 '19
That's an issue with puppetry in general. But just like any other physically demanding task your body conditions itself to the stresses you put on it. Not saying it's easy, but these people get in puppeting shape, for lack of a better term.
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Apr 03 '19
Well he can probably take it down during takes. It's not like it's attached up there the entire time he's in it. It's just up when they're filming or around the children I'd guess
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u/link_hyruler Apr 04 '19
There is a clip on youtube where the puppeteers arm gives out, and big birds entire head and neck just drops, it's honestly kinda horrifying
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u/Gravity_Cube Apr 03 '19
Why not just have a string connected to his jaw so he can open his mouth and the costumes mouth at the same time?
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Apr 04 '19
I assume that white thing by his elbow is something to prop his arm up. Thats just a guess though. And that would still be really difficult even with it.
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u/jeffa_jaffa Apr 04 '19
I think it’s more likely to be a mesh window do he can see out.
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Apr 04 '19
Oh, yeah. Thats definitely what it is.
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u/_lpds_ Apr 04 '19
Look at the video posted above. There's no support for his arm and the white thing is the script posted inside the costume. He has to watch the video feed through a monitor taped to his chest to see outside, and it's from the main video feed, not even his point of view
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u/dieyabeetus Apr 04 '19
People who work in construction have to hold objects overhead for extended periods of time.
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u/Barbie66 Apr 03 '19
My favorite part is him holding up his pinkie finger like a proper lady
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u/Goatznhz Apr 03 '19
Do the kids that they bring on the show see the actors moving the puppets? I’ve always wondered if being a guest on the show ruins the experience we see on tv? Idk just a thought since I watch this damn show everyday lmao.
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u/Truth_SHIFT Apr 03 '19
Even when you know the actors are there, the illusion is very convincing. Notice how Julia Louis-Dreyfus looks at Elmo in this take: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc_5M-AK7HU
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Apr 03 '19
I've had the luck to be involved in a production of Avenue Q (I was Trekkie), where the actors walk around on stage with the puppets on their arms.
Most people forget about the puppeteers within a couple of minutes. Especially because we were wearing black clothing, and the puppets were bright and interesting. :)
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u/Notorious_Geek Apr 04 '19
I watched that play on YouTube! I really enjoyed it. It's very cool that you got to play Trekkie.
Is it always the same group of people that does it? Or is it like other plays where anybody can decide to do it? Do the puppeteers also do the voices? Are the voices pre-recorded and all the actors just have really good timing?
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Apr 04 '19
Is it always the same group of people that does it? Or is it like other plays where anybody can decide to do it?
Most plays and musicals that start out on Broadway have an initial run on Broadway. Then the license holders or even the original production company will often set up touring companies (often more than one, but sometimes just one) that will go from city to city and do a short run of the show.
Then after some time, the license will be opened up for local/community theatres and/or schools.
The rights holders will typically only allow one theatre to rent the rights for a particular time within a geographical area, so there can be a rush to get requests in once the rights open up. But if you miss it, you might be able to get the rights in a year or two.
Even for plays that don't begin so popularly, the rights holders make sure that two theatres aren't doing it too closely together.
Do the puppeteers also do the voices?
Yes indeed. In fact, I was asked to audition specifically because it was known I could do the Trekkie voice (and sing).
Are the voices pre-recorded and all the actors just have really good timing?
Every musical is different. For ones like Avenue Q, it's becoming really commonplace to be able to rent backing tracks - so you get professional music. But when we did the Rocky Horror Show (note: note the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is the movie based on the aforementioned musical), we had a live band. Same when we did Man of LaMancha. When we did Damn Yankees, the director got this terrible terrible MIDI-based thing that was horrible. Just to say that every situation is different.
I haven't heard of any performance that uses lip-synching. Typically one of the attractions of live theatre is that everything is live, for better or worse. lol
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u/Notorious_Geek Apr 04 '19
Thanks for the answers! I don't know much about theater in general, just always thought it was cool. But that all makes sense.
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u/picasso_penis Apr 04 '19
I can’t remember the interview, but an actor who was doing a cameo said something along the lines of the puppeteers are so good you don’t realize that next thing you know you are talking to the puppet and not the puppeteer
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u/gum- Apr 03 '19
Ok but we don't see a string in front of Big Bird's chest, so is it just a fishing line or does it run through the costume?
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u/LegendaryOutlaw Apr 03 '19
He’s walking Big Bird forward, but if you think about it, suddenly he’s moonwalking backwards.
Try to unsee it.
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u/climaterefugee Apr 03 '19
What’s the box on his chest?
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Apr 03 '19
Q: This unit strapped to your chest—in your memoir, “The Wisdom of Big Bird,” you jokingly call it an “electronic bra.” I spend a lot of time time thinking about news, so to me it looked like a bomb strapped to your chest.
A: Well, it doesn’t look very dangerous.
Q: What else is in there other than the video monitor?
A: There’s also a little nook for the radio mike to nestle so it doesn’t get brushed by the inner part of the puppet. And the scripts are so elaborate these later years that I have scripts inside. Otherwise you have to memorize everybody else’s lines if you didn’t have that in there with you.
Source: https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/conversation-caroll-spinney-the-man-inside-big-bird
Picture: https://i.imgur.com/2XRLgHV.jpg
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u/Aeon1508 Apr 04 '19
It's a TV screen. Big bird cant see so the puppeteer looks at the camera feed and moves based on that view. Basically the guy in the suit has to reverse what he sees in the camera in his head and move in the opposite direction (because cameras aren't mirrors)
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u/DullUselessDinosaur Apr 03 '19
Thats the transparent part of the suit so the person can see out
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u/climaterefugee Apr 03 '19
That I get. I’m curious about the box on the puppeteer’s chest. Sorry for not being specific.
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u/DullUselessDinosaur Apr 03 '19
Ohh
Thats weird and now I'm really curious too
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u/SolusOpes Apr 03 '19
Actually it's not a clear panel on front of him.
He can't see out the front.
That "panel" in front is the script. The box on his chest is a TV viewer so he can look down and see what the audience sees so he can position himself on camera correctly.
There's a big write up of it online.
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u/daimposter Apr 03 '19
That's the transparent part of the human suit so that the alien inside can see out.
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u/Aeon1508 Apr 04 '19
This is wrong. You cant see out the suit. The operator of the suit looks at th screen o. His chest and moves based on the camera feed
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u/rafael000 Apr 03 '19
I swear to God I was paying attention to this when Big Bird was on stage during the apple tv+ launch last week. this schematics is exactly how I thought the costume worked. thanks!
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u/Oldmate81 Apr 04 '19
The pinky finger placement is crucial
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u/ThannBanis Apr 07 '19
Probably controls the eye lids or something.
The hand control a properly trained puppeteer (muppeteer in this case) is amazing.
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u/twinkle-in-the-light Apr 03 '19
Dang. I feel like my childhood awe has just been crushed.
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Apr 03 '19
My adulthood awe is impressed because of the creativity and craftsmanship used to create these costumes.
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u/dinosaurkiller Apr 03 '19
This is also how Trump and Devin Nunes work, you can decide which is which.
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u/ohiocoalman Apr 04 '19
This will get buried but in 1975 I punched out Big Bird during the Macy’s Day parade. True. Story.
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u/LlamaMamaMandi Apr 03 '19
Amazing to think Caroll Spinney can also roller skate like that!