Some puppet designs/ experiments

I have been struggling with the designs of my puppets for my 'Rabbit's bride' project. Drawing and design in general are not my strong points, so I have made these rough maquettes (or 3-D sketches, as they really are) to help me get an idea of what my puppets might look like. I think I still have a way to go with this, but here is what I have been messing about with...

Firstly, I have been looking (again) at the idea of masks, creating an illusion of character. So I have been playing with the idea of the girl being a rabbit and a girl all at once, or in fact neither, someone who is pretending to be both girl and rabbit but in truth is just acting, or playing at these roles. I really like a series of photos by Pamela Klaffke entitled "Bestia Parvulus" (animal child)- check out the link here, as this was part of the inspiration for this idea.

So,  the pictures above show someone pretending to be a rabbit, and below the same 'person' is pretending to be a girl...

However, I think these are pretty creepy, and not really in a good way. Plus the idea the the girl changes ages and changes between rabbit and girl, at the same time the rabbit changes between rabbit and man might be a little bit too confusing.

Ok, so next up is another puppet idea. I think the girl is still a bit doll like though. So I am still very much working on these designs. I am even considering scrapping the puppet idea all together and using live action and green screen...

                                         
                                              And here is the same girl but in a rabbit mask...

Urban exploring- abandoned and derelict buildings/ forgotten spaces.

I have never (since a few fairly unwitting adventures as an adolescent) done any ‘Urban exploring’ (described by Wikipedia as “... the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities.”) myself. Nor have I any real desire to, although I am fascinated by these spaces, I am also a terrible coward. However, there are countless online resources of the sometimes astonishingly beautiful photographs of Urban explorers on the internet. While researching the set design for my “Rabbits Bride” project I have been using these pictures as a reference. I am captivated by the residual memory in these spaces, the loss of function, the destruction/ alteration as nature begins to reclaim these man-made structures, the sadness and beauty that coexists within each frame. In my film I am exploring the idea or memory and perception (within the context of a relationship), as well as creating a dream-like, nightmarish quality. I want to use derelict buildings as sets but through the film the level of dereliction will alter, suggesting a changing time. Although time will go backwards and forwards, the set becoming progressively less derelict (rebuilding), the character of the girl will become older. The photos I have seen by Urban Explorers have been a large influence on creating the concept and look of my set design, so below are some links to a few sites, and a couple of pictures...

   

Some amazing photos of an abandoned school in Belgium (including the one below) at

http://www.talkurbex.com/2009/08/chateau-de-noisy-abandoned-school/

People have posted loads of fantastic pictures from all over the UK (and beyond) here:

http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk

This photo is from derelictplaces.co.uk...

It was taken at ‘Barnes’ hospital in Manchester. Which I think might have been the venue for a rave I went to in 2005. But I am not sure. It was a long time ago and my memories were hazy at the time. But I do remember the building being amazing.  A really interesting and slightly sinister location for anything, let alone a crazy drugs party...

Here is another good website:  http://www.28dayslater.co.uk

Again, a forum for people to post photos (and histories) of all kinds of spaces around the UK, really fascinating and some really beautiful amateur photography can be found here as well...

This blog entry ( http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/25-bonechilling-photos-of )has some fantastic photos, such as the one below...