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Gordon Smuder's Discussions
Your help appreciated... nominate TVTV for a "Streamy" award!
Started Dec. 18, 2009
Ever been blown away by a puppet or puppet performance?
8 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Leslie Jan 6.
Gordon Smuder's Page
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Latest Activity
I'm getting a very strong "Sparky the Firefly" vibe from him. The character played by Billy Barty on The Bugaloos! Love Krofft stuff!
Profile Information
- Gender
- Punch
- Location
- Minneapolis, Monstersota
- Relationship to Puppetry
- Puppet builder, puppet performer, creator and producer of Transylvania Television
- What First Got Me Interested in Puppetry
- There was a time when I wasn't?
- My Puppetry (or Puppet) Hero
- Jerry Juhl, Sid & Marty Krofft, Kosmo Allegretti, Rod Hull.
- If I Were a Puppet, I'd Be...
- hanging on a peg, probably.
- More About Me:
- Capital letters: ATHEIST. "Puppet ministry" drives me bats. Also, I sympathize, but I'm not about puppetry for philanthropic purposes like saving the rainforest or preventing teen pregnancy. Its about entertainment for me. Drama, comedy, whatever. but I'm not into "message" puppetry. If I was, trust me, I'd be making subversive liberal puppet videos all day long.
Now that you think I'm a complete bastard, get to know me and find out how nice a guy I really am!
- My Company/Troupe/Group
- The Puppet Forge is my DBA. The Puppet Forge is all about puppetry on video. I absolutely despise doing live shows. If I could do video puppetry for the rest of my days, I would.
To see some of my work, go watch the episodes and extra web content we've done at www.transylvania-tv.com OR subscribe to Transylvania Television on iTunes (its FREE!) under "podcasts".
- Affiliations/Professional Organizations
- Lets just call this the "day job" category. In my day job I run a special effects company called MINNEFEX, Inc. We've done movies and TV commercials and still photography jobs for the pst 20 years. If you'd like to see some of the coolest stuff we've done, go check out the adventures of the retro-startrek web show called Starship Exeter at www.starshipexeter.com We did most of the special effects for the episode "Tressaurian Intersection".
- Website
- http://www.transylvania-tv.com
- 2nd Website
- http://www.mnfx.com
Gordon Smuder's Photos
Gordon Smuder's Videos
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Added by Gordon Smuder
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Gordon Smuder's Blog
Intellectual Property and the Muppets
It is sometimes boggling how willfully ignorant some folks can be.
I used to frequent Muppet Central as well as a board called Replica Prop Forum. I still hang at the RPF on occasion, but the "spread" of conversation there is much broader than at MC. And I'm not slamming on MC here... just some of the posters there.
And what's wrong with the posters there?
Well, some of them think they have the right to reproduce and sell replicas of the Muppet characters.
Anyone even remotely familiar with… Continue
I used to frequent Muppet Central as well as a board called Replica Prop Forum. I still hang at the RPF on occasion, but the "spread" of conversation there is much broader than at MC. And I'm not slamming on MC here... just some of the posters there.
And what's wrong with the posters there?
Well, some of them think they have the right to reproduce and sell replicas of the Muppet characters.
Anyone even remotely familiar with… Continue
Posted on October 6, 2009 at 6:43pm — 8 Comments
Transylvania Television available on iTunes!!!
Hey folks,
You can now get lovely views of TVTV on iTunes!
Just search "transylvania" under "podcasts" and hit "subscribe"!!
New puppet funny every friday through October!!
-Gordon
You can now get lovely views of TVTV on iTunes!
Just search "transylvania" under "podcasts" and hit "subscribe"!!
New puppet funny every friday through October!!
-Gordon
Posted on July 21, 2009 at 1:21pm —
EVER WONDER WHAT ITS LIKE TO AUDITION FOR THE MUPPETS?
EVER WONDER WHAT ITS LIKE TO AUDITION FOR THE MUPPETS?
NOTE: This is a body of writing that is quite old. Like seven or eight YEARS old. But I’m very proud of it. I think it’s not only funny but well written. That may just be me.
But when you read it, I hope it will give you a little insight as to what the more-than-average person experiences when auditioning for the Muppets.
Read on....
Yessir, it’s been one helluva week. Actually about a week and a half.
Get ready, folks… Gordon is about to… Continue
NOTE: This is a body of writing that is quite old. Like seven or eight YEARS old. But I’m very proud of it. I think it’s not only funny but well written. That may just be me.
But when you read it, I hope it will give you a little insight as to what the more-than-average person experiences when auditioning for the Muppets.
Read on....
Yessir, it’s been one helluva week. Actually about a week and a half.
Get ready, folks… Gordon is about to… Continue
Posted on March 9, 2009 at 4:10pm — 9 Comments
Jim Henson Exhibit sucks...
HA!!! Got you!! Made you look!
Actually, the Jim Henson exhibit currently at the Orlando History Center in Florida is pretty darned cool.
There are several original "vintage" puppets on display as well as some professionally made reconstructions. There's an original Rowlf, and original Kermit, and several truly vintage pieces including Sir Linnit from one of Jim's cooler advertising gigs. There's an Ernie and Bert (possibly reconstructions), Gobo and Cantus from Fraggle Rock (I suspect they ar… Continue
Actually, the Jim Henson exhibit currently at the Orlando History Center in Florida is pretty darned cool.
There are several original "vintage" puppets on display as well as some professionally made reconstructions. There's an original Rowlf, and original Kermit, and several truly vintage pieces including Sir Linnit from one of Jim's cooler advertising gigs. There's an Ernie and Bert (possibly reconstructions), Gobo and Cantus from Fraggle Rock (I suspect they ar… Continue
Posted on March 4, 2009 at 5:47pm —
technology ticks me off
Okay, you know what I'm tired of?
I'm tired of technology moving faster than I can make use of it.
And moreover, I'm tired of people looking at what I'm doing and saying, "You know there's a new (blank) that works faster and more efficiently than what you're doing? Here... just go to www.(blank).com and download it." Meddling, smarter-than-thou, pain-in-the-ass busybodies.
Can you tell me, how does ANYTHING EVER get done on the internet? I mean, not a single house would EVER get built if the… Continue
I'm tired of technology moving faster than I can make use of it.
And moreover, I'm tired of people looking at what I'm doing and saying, "You know there's a new (blank) that works faster and more efficiently than what you're doing? Here... just go to www.(blank).com and download it." Meddling, smarter-than-thou, pain-in-the-ass busybodies.
Can you tell me, how does ANYTHING EVER get done on the internet? I mean, not a single house would EVER get built if the… Continue
Posted on February 20, 2009 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment
Comment Wall (18 comments)
- At 3:47pm on February 4, 2010,
Jon From Elmwood said… - " "Puppet ministry" drives me bats. Also, I sympathize, but I'm not about puppetry for philanthropic purposes like saving the rainforest or preventing teen pregnancy. Its about entertainment for me. Drama, comedy, whatever. but I'm not into "message" puppetry"
My response is AMEN and thank you... I sometimes feel like I'm the only one! Glad to see someone like minded!
Great work too!
- At 4:50pm on January 28, 2010,
Gordon Smuder said…
- Marty,
You ever catch up with the "Gang Of Five"? You mentioned being a collector.
-Gordon
- At 11:56am on December 30, 2009,
Gordon Smuder said…
- Martin,
I'm going to be attending the lecture/workshop being put on at the Center For Pupperty Arts in Atlanta by Steve Whitmire.
Any suggestions about how I might make the best use of the opportunity? Any "learning techniques" I might apply? Anything I should pay particular attention to? Any method I might employ to get the most out of the experience?
-Gordon
- At 4:43pm on December 22, 2009,
Martin P. Robinson said… - Gordo!....
I subscribe to the "make myself crazy with angst" form of Christmas...I really should probably like shop or something one of these days...with all my kids coming home soon.....thank goodness my babies don't have any expectations...
I will raise a glass of thick Merlot to the Count, and pretend it is blood.
....seeya...MPR
- At 1:59pm on September 14, 2009,
Martin P. Robinson said…
- We are providing content of a humorous slice of life parenting twin variety for the Sesame Parents website. Annie is writing, and I am making short films starring the kids, Telly and a helpful little puppet-like character named HandyMan. Launch is early Oct. We've been working on it since Jan. TELL THE COUNT!!!
- At 11:53am on September 14, 2009,
Martin P. Robinson said…
- ...I have my copy of the Transylvania Epitaph on my desk (volume 2 issue 1; "ghost writers on strike") but it has been ages since I went to www.TVTV.com. Please do not tell the Count... He would be displeased.
...And I would Love to guest on your show....as what?...me?...or a puppet? Annie's and my Sesame parents site will be up in a month, I'll give you the link...and my babies were 7 months old on Saturday!
Seeya man.....MPRobinson
- At 9:32am on September 11, 2009,
Sam Clemens said… - hey!? did you guys ever end up finding a puppet through your contest for TVTV? what ever happened to that? just wondering.
- At 1:10pm on July 21, 2009,
Angelique X said… - Thanks. For the add! I love your posting about "message puppetry" hear hear!
- At 11:09am on March 26, 2009,
Martin P. Robinson said…
- Heya Gordo...
Yes; when I conduct auditions for Sesame International productions, I am Absolutely clear what they are for...how many I am hiring, and after the eight hours a day eight days long training/audition session actually hire the puppeteers!
Dude...how can I see some of your Transylvania TV shows? ...if LeShoc new I had never actually seen one of his programs, i shudder to thing what HIS response would be.
eagerly awaiting...in an almost toady-like joy: Martin P.R.
- At 12:47pm on March 25, 2009,
Martin P. Robinson said…
- Smuder!...you Old Dog; great to hear from you....but more importantly how is our dear Count LeShoc? i still find myself thinking about HIM alot...alright; pretty much constantly....it's not like i'm in thrall to HIM or anything...but HE is the most fascinating creature...imaginable! ...and i had a good imagination before i met HIM. i hope HE still considers me a member in "bad" standing of HIS midnight Zombie Legion...cause goodness; i am striving to be worthy...
i'm not complaining or anything, but i haven't heard from the Count lately...and still only have issue 1 volume 1 of the Transylvanian Epitaph...i am not off HIS mailing list am i?
Anyhow Gordon...what's up with you? My dear wife Annie and I have brand-spankin'-new five week old twin girls; Lyra and Ripley...so my life as I knew it is pretty much over. As a funny friend of mine put it: when the girls graduate from High School; I'll be 107.
...anything you can do to ingratiate me to The Count would be greatly appreciated....
....the Dominion of Darkness rules!.....Martin Robinson
P.S...Forry Ackerman: rest in peace you old punster.
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* Visit the forum to meet, mingle, and join the discussion.
* Search the membership to see who else is here.
* View photos & videos from other members or add your own.
* Interact on a smaller scale with people with similar interests by joining (or starting!) a group.
* Let everyone know what's on your mind and what you are doing by starting a blog.
* Go to Ning's handy Help Center to learn more about how to do almost everything here (Puppet Hub is powered by Ning. Please note, our site uses most, but not all Ning features). Visit the Administration Forum here on the site if you still have questions.
* Be sure to read Ning's Terms of Service and our posts on privacy, copyright/license, conduct, and adult content.
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