THE CHALLENGE
OF PUPPETS
When it comes to fi lming with
puppets, and especially with pu
of different scales, the sets need to be
fl exible. Each set needs to have lower
rostrums, or platforms, built into them
at different heights in order to allow
the puppeteers to be able to operate
while hidden in a trench.
“The Skeksis, who are fi ve foot,
need a two-foot rostrum, because
of the way [the puppeteers] stand
inside [the puppets],” explains Gavin
Boquet, the production designer.
“But the Gelfl ing need a four-foot
rostrum.” So each set is built four
foot off the ground as standard,
with sections and levels of the set
then being removable via a system
of “squashed hexagons on wheels,
which meant Louis [Leterrier] could
quickly move them apart.”
The top level of the set – the bit
visible on camera – also needs to be
strong enough for people to walk on,
and so lower rostrum levels aren’t
needed. So if you take all of that into
consideration, and the fact that many
sets are occupied by both Gelfl ing
and Skeksis, and then if you throw
the even-smaller Podlings into the
equation – well, you can imagine the
headache it’s given the set designers.Many more Gelfl ing characters had to be
created for the fi lm, but expect to see some
old favourites as the Skeksis return. Brian
Froud was on hand to advise and help
create some brand new heroes and villains.