Summer Puppetry Program
Geppetto Dreams Puppet Company is looking for 20 kids between 12 and 16 for their Stop Motion Puppet Program, “Ghost Stories.” The kids will be split into teams of five; each team will work on their own 2 minute short stop motion film based on the ghost story theme. This program is designed to teach a full range of stop motion puppetry arts. Storyboarding, scripting, puppet design/construction, music, set design, filming and editing. The project runs 10 weeks, starting June 11, the workshops will be held Wednesday/Thursday from 11am to 5pm. The first week will be an orientation and brainstorming sessions the next six weeks will be devoted to production, puppet and stage design and construction, the final three weeks will be editing and DVD transfer. We intend to make sure that everyone gets a chance to work all aspects of their production. The end of the program culminates with three showings of their films, which will be offered free to the public. The showings will be held at a local venue, preferably the Long Center, and each participant will receive a copy of their film.
It is our hope that this program will provide an artistic outlet for kids giving them a chance to try a variety of different art forms at one time. Drawing, sculpture, painting, and movement are all incorporated into the program. It also teaches them to work together as a team. All our programs are an exercise in the teamwork between director, stage techs, puppeteers, and puppets. Like a machine all parts must work in unison in order to turn out the best product possible. The educational benefits include writing, science, and math skills. Finally it provides all the participants with a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment when a project comes together and you take your bows in front of an applauding audience. The program is provided free of charge to kids from or visiting the Austin Community. Spaces are filling up fast so interested kids should write a short pitch (idea) for a two minute ghost movie and send it to admin@geppettodreams.com by the deadline May 30th, 2009. If you have any questions please feel free to email us or call 512 358 4632
This project is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art
2008 Puppet Program
Tribe is the culmination of our Kids Summer Puppet Workshop. The 8 week program was funded in part by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division and Geppetto Dreams Supporter Steve Spencer. Tribe is a multi- disciplinary piece incorporating shadow, black light, and Hand/Rod Puppetry.
The workshops were designed to give each child a chance at hands on to experience a full range of puppetry theater arts, design, construction, scripting, music, stage design and performance.
The kids perform a series of vignettes utilizing the different puppetry forms, showing the earth evolving, plants, animals of land and sea and of course humankind. Showing how the original two became millions and more importantly how the millions came to forget that they all are direct decedents of the original two.
Tribe's goal is to show that in this time of social upheaval and destruction over each others differences; we should really be looking at what we all have in common; in a way that accepts all social, political, and religious beliefs. It is our hope that this program will not only give the kids a look into a wonderful and ancient art form but also a better understanding of how changes can be made to better the world... around them.
“The Tribe Of Two”
A Geppetto Dream
Written by
Madison, Squeek, Geppetto
Pre-Production Crew
Blacklight Puppets
Madison, Hailey, Katy, Rory, Camille,
Squeek, Geppetto
Shadow Puppets
Camille,
Madison, Hailey, Katy, Rory,
Squeek, Geppetto
Alpha Puppet
Katy, Madison, Squeek, Geppetto
Computer FX
Rory, Madison, Hailey, Katy, Camille,
Squeek, Geppetto
Puppeteers
Madison, Hailey, Katy, Rory, Camille,
Squeek, Rosalyn andGeppetto
Special Thanks To:
Steve Spencer, The Austin Cultural Arts Committee,
Tammie and her amazing staff at The Long Center,
And
The Puppet Lovin Folk of Austin!
