Confessions of a Circus Composer

Puppet Found

I found a shadow puppet artist to direct my silent film, Joel Baker. I know him from Circus Bella and originally thought he was out of my league, so I emailed him and asked if he could recommend another shadow puppet artist who might be interested in something dark and squirmy, and he said, “Me.” We talked via video chat yesterday and he is ripping, roaring and coughing with enthusiasm. I’m also paying a pretty penny for his services, because like I said, he’s out of my league. If his shit doesn’t blow minds then there will be a knife in the dark. Not really. Just a bat to the shin. I’m kidding. Only a choke hold. Too soon?

Confessions of a Circus Composer

Save the Scary

Deep discussions with puppets can go on for weeks, and this one did. Back and forth we went daily with emails. We talked about everything: wardrobe, physicality, hinge points, unicycles, feet/no feet, and then I explained the story and musical score to him and … crickets. Either he is still running for the hills or he is locked in a closet with piles of someone’s dirty clothes on his face. Saving the scary only makes people more afraid for whatever else could be looming around the next corner. I’ll give him until Friday and then I’ll smoke him out.