FRIGHTMARE ALLEY Puppets

Last week, my friend, Daniel Croxton, inquired about having puppets designed and built for an episode of the show he and his buddies have on YouTube, called FRIGHTMARE ALLEY - now, for those of you who don't know, or aren't familiar with it, FRIGHTMARE ALLEY is a showcase series that not only features old B-grade horror films, but pays homage to other horror showcases of yesteryears, such as ELVIRA'S MOVIE MACABRE.

FRIGHTMARE ALLEY is hosted by a trio consisting of Sebastian Hexx, Chip Whitley, and Master Deat_s. Daniel said that they were wanting to do a special episode of the series where the hosts are puppets; I had mentioned that as much as I would love to help them out, my construction skills are very lackluster at best, though Daniel had asked if I could at least provide some sketches and conceptual designs of what the hosts would look like, and how they would work in puppet form. That much I knew I could do, so managed to work up some designs for their consideration, to give them some ideas of how puppet caricatures of them could work out; here is what I was able to come up with:



Sebastian Hexx Design

Chip Whitley Design

Master Deat_s Design

So far, Daniel really likes them, though I haven't heard from the others, but I do hope they like them as well, and if they work up, I hope they'll be able to find some really great builders who will put these things together for them.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how this puppet episode will turn out for them. Of course, you should really check FRIGHTMARE ALLEY out for yourself, if you haven't already; you can see the show on their official YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/frightmarealley

There doesn't seem to be any real regularity to when new episodes are released, that's why you should subscribe to them, so you won't miss out on anything they have to offer.

Why Was This So Popular?

I'm honestly really, really curious as to why, exactly, this particular post from December 12, 2011 turned out to be so popular:

http://josephscarbrough.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post.html

 

There's honestly really nothing to this entry: all it is was a quick drawing I did, venting the frustration I had when the production of STEVE'S INEFFICIENT CHRISTMAS suddenly became plagued with all kinds of different artistic and technical difficulties, and yet, this single entry is always at the top of the Popular Posts widget in the side-bar menu, and to date has 35,572 views... no other post I've written before or since has reached THAT many number of views (my second highest is only in the 600s).

 

So I'm just really curious, what is it about this particular post that people seem to like so much? Do people just really like seeing an angry elf go into a chibi-esque fit, or am I just missing something else entirely? Because I really don't get it. At all.

New Page

You may or may not have noticed, but there is a new page in the top menu, under the heading "Programs"; this is essentially that: a page that collects the different posts that are written up pertaining to the various different programs and projects that are produced, for easy and convenient reference and information.

Also, Blogger has introduced a new and useful feature, so the page up there that says "YouTube Videos" will now redirectly you straight to my YouTube channel, rather that take you to a page with a blurb telling you to visit my YouTube channel (thank you Blogger).

Coming Soon: PUPPET POWER

I'll go ahead and tell you now: remember for the past couple of years or so, I've been talking about wanting to do a television series with Steve, Bethany, and The Squirrely Squirrels? I was going to call it STEVE D'MONSTER & COMPANY (well, it originally was friends instead of company, but I decided company worked and sounded better)? It was going to be a half-hour series with short segments in each episode of the different kinds of escapades they would get into? Steve and Bethany doing their own little thing, and The Squirrely Squirrels pestering them along the way? Steve and Bethany were going to have a little clubhouse for themselves, while The Squirrely Squirrels would live in a hole in a tree, completely furnished and everything?

Well guess what? Steve's new TV series is FINALLY going to happen! Except for a few things: it's not going to be called STEVE D'MONSTER & COMPANY. It's not going to be a half-hour series with short segments in each episode of the different kinds of escapades they would get into. It won't have Steve and Bethany doing their own little thing, and The Squirrely Squirrels pestering them along the way. Steve and Bethany aren't going to have a little clubhouse for themselves, while The Squirrely Squirrels won't live in a hole in a tree, completely furnished and everything. In short, it's NOT even going to be the show that I wanted to do. At all. I really don't want to talk about it, so, if you're really just itching to know just what Steve's new TV series IS going to be... well, then just make sure you're subscribed to my YouTube channel, because I'll be uploading the episodes of this new show there eventually anyway.

So, what is this particular post all about then? Well, I AM excited to announce a project I'm working on the side this year! Now, who else besides me, of Generation Y, is familiar with the old Nickelodeon cartoon, KaBLAM!? The "new kind of cartoon show", that was like a televisual comic book: different cartoon shows in a cartoon show, all in different styles of animation: hand-drawn, stop-motion, Chuckimation, etc.? Earlier in the year, I got to thinking that such a concept would work well with puppets, especially considering many people out there, who aren't necessarily followers of puppetry, tend to think of the Muppet style as being the only style of puppetry there is, when that is pretty much not the case. YouTube has been a wonderful tool for puppeteers, like myself, to showcase their work in puppetry, and I know there have been a few of these puppets who have expressed interest in some kind of a special project that would bring all of our different work together in one video, so I believe this is exactly scratching everybody where they itch. In short, this is going to be different puppet shows in a puppet show.

PUPPET POWER, as it is currently entitled, is going to be a half-hour webspecial, hosted by Steve D'Monster, featuring the work of various different YouTube puppeteers. My goal for this special is to not only help gain more exposure for myself and other puppeteers who post their work on YouTube, but to help spark more interest in the art of puppetry in general, and let people know that not all puppets are just like the Muppets. Who knows, if this does well, there may be more PUPPET POWER specials in the future.

At the moment, I haven't set an official release date for the special, but I'm thinking I'll aim for a late summer/early fall release. So far, three of my fellow YouTube puppeteers are on board for the project, and I'm really looking forward to seeing their submissions, and I certainly hope this will be a most excellent program.

So, keep your eyes peeled, and make sure you're subscribed to The Joseph Scarbrough Universe On YouTube!

Which Squirrely Squirrel Are You?

Time for a new kind of survey, to see which Squirrely Squirrel you might be...

    Jennifer                       Julie                         Justine        
1. How would you describe yourself?
A. Bossy
B. Hyper
C. Observational

2. When in a situation where trouble is inevitable, how do you usually handle it?
A. Instigate the trouble as much as possible
B. Go along with whatever anybody tells you.
C. Stand aside and watch it all come crashing down.

3. A little scheme comes to mind, what do you do?
A. Take charge, and make it the wildest and zaniest scheme possible.
B. Start putting it to work, even if you don't know what you're doing.
C. Nitpick about it, because you know it's bound to backfire anyway.

4. While putting a plan into action, what do you do to make it better?
A. Nothing, it's your idea, and is perfect the way it is.
B. Whatever happens to pop into your head at the spur of the moment.
C. Pay attention to all of the petty little details to make sure nothing screws up.

5. Hey, a little old lady is passing through the park, AND she has a bag of peanuts. How are you going to get her to give you some?
A. Try and con her out of whatever she's got on hand.
B. Endear yourself by acting cute and squirrel-like.
C. Make up an excuse that food is becoming harder to find in the park.

6. How would you best describe yourself?
A. Hot. Every other creature is in total awe of you.
B. A squirrel. What else?
C. Intelligent. You're detail-oriented, and you look before you leap.

7. But how would others (maybe even your own siblings) describe you?
A. There are certain words that are better left unrepeated.
B. Crazy, silly, weird, kooky, impulsive, and maybe even a little annoying.
C. Distant and reserved, but you're probably not even entirely sure what it is they really are thinking.

8. What is your claim to fame?
A. Your tail - it's your best feature.
B. An infectious (or rather irritating, probably) laugh.
C. You really know how to pack away the nuts and berries.

9. How do you feel about your life in general?
A. It's all about you, and that's how it should be.
B. You don't really think about it an awful lot.
C. You're surrounded by idiots.

10. Are you a sibling? If so, of what relation?
A. Oldest
B. Middle
C. Youngest

Now take a look at your answers.

If you answered mostly As on this survey, then you're Jennifer; you're a schemer and a dreamer who doesn't let anything hold you back, no matter what the consequence is.

If you answered mostly Bs, then you're Julie; you're a bundle of energy, and are always eager to join in on any shenanigans that may be going on.

If you answeres mostly Cs, then you're Justine; you're rather opinionated, even if nobody really wants to hear your thoughts on a subject matter.

Jane Henson Has Cancer **UPDATE*

I was rather saddened to hear this, but as of yesterday, it was revealed by Cheryl Henson, via Facebook, that her mother, Jane, has been diagnosed with cancer.

Even sadder still is from the looks of things, Mrs. Henson is not doing too awful well right now, aside from still retaining a high spirit.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Jane, as well as the Henson family.

 

UPDATE APRIL 2, 2013: Well, unfortunately, it would appear that Ms. Henson has succumbed to her cancer, as she has passed on today. Sad loss, really sad.

A Lesson to Be Learned

Here's a lesson in playing around on the computer: when you come across something random that says something along the lines of "You have 1 new message waiting for you"... DON'T CLICK ON IT! Here's why: