the word at the heap

BIONIC LOBSTER!

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:07:12 -0400

Now that the website has officially launched, I guess I can tell you all about Leatherman’s Bionic Lobster. Just about everyone in our industry is walking around with a Leatherman Tool in his/her back pocket, so the opportunity to do something with the company was irresistible. We had a great time working with Stick and Move (the ad agency), Transistor Studios (production company), and Pete Rosch (director.)

To the right is the famous Jim Kroupa who performed the lobster and assisted with the build.

Due to time and budget constraints we basically built this puppet by cannibalizing and mechanizing a whole bunch of those cheap plastic display lobsters. We also altered a bunch of Leatherman tools to snap open and fan out. That’s Louay Assaf (above,) lead lobster builder and a great puppet-man.

Two Bionic Lobsters were made--one a performable puppet, and the other a posable stunt version.

Did I mention we performed with real live lobsters?

The whole thing was shot at Maracuja Bar in Brooklyn, owned by Charlie, the most patient bar tender in the world. They dressed the place up to look like a seafood restaurant. Since it was a bar, we had to start the shoot at 3 am to avoid interfering with business hours. We were all very tired.

The Heap HiTs iTunes

Mon, 2 Jun 2008 20:41:09 -0400

As of today, Puppet Heap Puppet Shows are officially available on iTunes. Just Click the link below to check it out:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=282012732

Thanks!

The Puppet Heap Podcast

Wed, 28 May 2008 22:30:54 -0400

A new addition to the website is the Puppet Heap Video Podcast. Now you can subscribe to original Puppet Heap content and download right into iTunes. We’ll try to keep new stuff coming--just click on PODCAST.

Veggie Tales

Wed, 28 May 2008 21:44:05 -0400

At long last the Veggies have finally shipped! We’ve had a wonderful time helping the good folks at Big Idea realize their next big show at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri featuring the characters of the Veggie Tales.
We have long been an admirers of the fantastic design work of Big Idea, so naturally we jumped at the opportunity to work with them when they called looking for puppet makers.
Check out the show if you are in the area--looks like it will be a pretty neat experience!

The Little Mermaid on Broadway

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 22:00:51 -0400

Well, another Puppet Heap creation hits the planks on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontaine Theater for Disney’s stage production of “The Little Mermaid” opening November 4th. It’s a brief appearance, but we think audiences will get a kick out of it. We had to make a little puppet version of the Sebastian character which pops out of a covered dish during a chase scene with the chef. It’s one of those ideas that’s borderline creepy, so it was a real challenge to keep it light. In the end, the project is another great example of a talented team coming together to make something great.

Ye Ballade of Ivan Petrofsky Skevar

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 23:01:18 -0500

The Heap commences production of “Ye Ballade of Ivan Petrofsky Skevar,” a shadow puppet show based on the popular song of the same title.

Mary Poppins

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:59:50 -0400

Working with producer Thomas Schumaker, the Heap has been commissioned to provide the character of Willoughby the Dog to Disney’s Broadway production of Mary Poppins which opens this month. Arf!

The Upside Down Show

Fri, 1 Sep 2006 23:00:44 -0400

Noggin launches its new children’s show featuring the peculiar stylings of the famed Australian performance duo “The Umbilical Brothers.” The show features puppets by Puppet Heap.

Omar’s Mother

Tue, 9 May 2006 22:58:55 -0400

The Heap has commenced production of its short film “Omar’s Mother,” the story of a boy, his Mother and the worm who brings them closer together.

Muppets

Wed, 1 Feb 2006 22:57:47 -0500

Puppet Heap is pleased to report that we have officially sealed the deal to take on the task of servicing the Muppets and “Bear in the Big Blue House” for Muppets Studio, the division of the Walt Disney Company that now produces the Muppets. Not only is this a great honor to play small part in the history of these treasured characters, but for some of us it represents an opportunity to return to work we had thought long since left behind.