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Frank & Zed: All Puppet Monster Movie (Feature Length!)

Created by Jesse Blanchard

The first all hand-puppet movie in 30 years needs your help. Practical effects, zombies, monsters, and tons of gore -It's 90% done!

Latest Updates from Our Project:

The Moroi's castle rises and Enamel Pins arrive
about 8 years ago – Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 10:09:53 PM

Hello there Friends,

A quick set of pics from Puppetcore Studios!

Jason starts roughing in the castle
Jason starts roughing in the castle

 And here it is with the first set of paint (still LOADS to do here).

Gargoyles are not yet in place!
Gargoyles are not yet in place!

 I've also been hard at work making a 'Charging Meter' for Frank. Here's a pic of my workstation. 

Note to self - No Steampunk!
Note to self - No Steampunk!

 

 And, last, our awesome Frank & Zed pins have arrived. Big thanks to George G. for making these happen. They look amazing.

More good stuff coming your way soon. Thanks for all your patience and support.

Jesse

Banging Away! Backerkit Store Online.
about 8 years ago – Tue, Dec 19, 2017 at 01:09:08 AM

Hello You Fine Fellows, 

I hope you are all settling in for a wonderful holiday break. We have been hard at work and I wanted to take a second and share some progress.

Erin C. (pictured above) has puppeteered, fabricated, costumed, and loads more on Frank & Zed. However, the very first thing we ever talked about was the 'Drunk dangling by his flaming intestines' shot and we FINALLY STARTED IT!!!

Working on a project like this, you live for these kinds of moments. 

This guy will bear the likeness of one of you fine people!
This guy will bear the likeness of one of you fine people!

 

The Stage is Cleared - Castle set put away. 

The castle set is wrapped and we're starting to building some miniatures.
The castle set is wrapped and we're starting to building some miniatures.

 Lastly, making more gargoyles to populate our Dark Maker's Castle. 

 Backerkit Store is live: Score more Frank & Zed stuff now. 

Click here to check me out!
Click here to check me out!

We are also close to getting the Backer Kit store online. This is how we will manage all our pledges for the campaign which should make the experience much easier. You have the added advantage of being able to add items to your pledge.

Check it out here: Frank & Zed Backerkit Store

Jesse

Extra Bits: We are working through the music as well. Here's one of the instruments I'm thinking of using for Frank. 

Frank's instrument (invented by Benjamin FRANKlin, ha!)

 

We did it!
over 8 years ago – Sun, Nov 19, 2017 at 09:17:11 PM

Hello All You Fine People,

Well, we did it! Thanks to all of you, we have the resources needed to finish Frank & Zed. We have been hard at work since the campaign ended. I wanted to take a quick second to share some progress. 

Gargoyles!

Two of the Nine!
Two of the Nine!

More of our Totem Gargoyles are arising from the clay. We've had our first meetings on how to best incorporate them into the Dark Maker's castle and it is gonna be awesome.

Video Diary: Getting the Shot

We have a host of video diaries that we have done. This one, from over two years ago, shows how we got Zed to pick and eat his own brain. 

Click to watch!
Click to watch!

 

Click here to watch how we got Zed to pick and eat his own brain. 

Frank & Zed in the news

We've had some excellent coverage including a great write-up on SyFy that's been shared over 2,000 times since Friday. 

So, momentum is building for the project and I am sure energized about taking this bad boy home.

Shooting Bugs!

We've started to knock out some of our specialty insert shots including this one of a poor, mutant spider approaching her doom. 

Thanks so much!

Jesse

Other Bits: 

I've been super into these guys lately (and my daughter loves them!)


 

Kickstarter Ends at 8pm PST Today - last chance on some goodies
over 8 years ago – Thu, Nov 09, 2017 at 03:53:17 PM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

F&Z Enamel Pins, Original Score, and KS Homestretch
over 8 years ago – Tue, Nov 07, 2017 at 09:40:38 PM

Hello There Friends, 

One of the best parts of Kickstarter is having a real dialogue with you as we make this film. One of the message that I head several times was that people wanted little Frank & Zed items. So, I am thrilled to introduce our Frank & Zed enamel pins. I hope you like them! (Fyi - we are still polishing the design)

Add the set for $9 to any pledge level!
Add the set for $9 to any pledge level!

 

Music!

Every shot, prop, and character in Frank & Zed starts out as a wish; a deep desire I have for something to become a reality. 

One of those wishes came true yesterday when I three of my favorite musicians signed on for Frank & Zed. I am still confirming the details but it looks like we will have world class musicians creating original music for Frank & Zed. 

Work Begins on Murder Village

At long last, Murder Village is beginning to take shape. I've been gathering reference photos and material for all of the houses, shops, and other structures within our cursed town. 

I love doing research!
I love doing research!

 

Our fullsize sets referenced this traditional stucco construction
Our fullsize sets referenced this traditional stucco construction

Kickstarter Ends in 3 Days!

We are in our final 72 hours for the Kickstarter campaign. We have had such a tremendous response. Thank you everyone for joining in on this leg.

Best, 

Jesse

Extra Bits: We demolished a ton of stretch goals. Check it out here!