Three Puppets and an Author walk into a convention

[puppetmaker]

I think the first puppet I got to an actor was Peter Davison and I was not there for the event but my good friend Stephanie was and delivered the puppet to him. Since then I have over the years given puppets to various people that I have admired. Some good friendships have come out of it and a lot of stories. Somewhere along the way this became my convention ‘thing’ and I have people asking which puppet am I thinking of getting to who at fill in the blank convention.

This year at DragonCon with the help of all the lovely folks who run the show, I managed to get three puppets to three people.
Friday Wong to Wong

The first puppet up was Wong from Doctor Strange.

I think I said somewhere along the way that I did get Dr. Strange to Benedict Cumberbatch through some good people at BBC Wales.

Once the announcement that Benedict Wong was going to be at DragonCon this year, I knew I had to build a Wong for Wong. (If anyone knows how to get something to Chiwetel Ejiofor, I have a Baron Mordo puppet for him. And yes, if I had a way to get it to her, I would make an Ancient One for Tilda Swinton. I might make one anyway because it would be fun to do so.)



(For the Visually Impaired: This is a photo of Benedict Wong in his costume as Wong. The under tunic is purple. The outer tunic is brown and maroon. His eyes are brown and his hair is black but is in a buzz cut close to his head.)



(For the Visually Impaired: This is the Wong puppet on my ironing board. He is wearing his purple under tunic and maroon & brown over tunic)


(For the Visually Impaired: The final puppet with his book in front of him. The book has the Doctor Strange Eye of Agamotto on it. The puppet is the same as above. I have added the seven belts around his waist and his gold sling ring to his left hand)

Regina Kirby informed me that Mr. Wong had a panel on Friday and it slotted around my panels. At the end of the panel I sidled up the side and got Brian Richardson’s (the moderator) attention who knows me for the puppets I have done in years past. Caroline and I got backstage with Mr. Wong and his assistant thanks to Brian (Thanks Brian!)

I did my pitch and gave him the puppet. He was floored. It did take a couple of tries to get him to understand I didn’t want an autograph but only wanted to give him the puppet. I got lots of hugs and his whole face lit up. We got a photo taken. He put the puppet on once I took it off the stand and started talking to it in his normal voice then switching to his ‘Wong’ voice for the puppet. From what I hear he had a lot of fun over the weekend with the puppet at his table. I am glad I got it to him.



(For the Visually Impaired: From Left to Right; The Wong puppet, Benedict Wong, and me. Mr. Wong is wearing a hat, black glasses, black shirt and blue jacket. I am wearing a brown t-shirt with Jim Henson and Kermit done in the style of Calvin and Hobbs, a blue bowling shirt, and my badge. Photo credit goes to Heroes for Hire with all rights there in)

Saturday How long is that line?

Saturday was a bit of a bust in terms of getting puppets to people because the lines were way too long for me to be able to do what we needed to do and get to my panels. However I did get a great photo of the other two puppets that I entitled “Here’s to the Ladies who lunch”.



(This is the Donna Puppet and the Bill Puppet. Donna has red hair and blue eyes. She is wearing a white wedding dress and wedding veil with a pearl tiara. Bill has black hair and brown eyes she is wearing a blue jean jacket with patches and a black and white shirt with a stylized face on it)

That evening Peter was giving the Julie Award to Peter Capaldi at the banquet where I met his agent Diana who is a Peter David fan, which becomes important later. Peter C. and Peter D. got to talking about Peter D.’s work. He told Peter C. about a project he is working on that Peter C. might be able to help and his next novel which I cannot say anything about just yet. No photos because it was the banquet and you just don’t take photos there until it is over.

Sunday where I am able to get the rest of the puppets to their people

So Sunday early Caroline and I managed to get into the Walk of Fame through the magic of Pat Henry and DragonCon.

First up was the Donna Noble puppet I said I would get to Catherine Tate after we met in Raleigh.



(For the Visual Impaired: This is a photo of Donna Noble in her wedding dress on the TARDIS. The dress is white with beading on the bodice. The veil is attached with a white pearl tiara.)



(For the Visual Impaired: This is the puppet Donna Nobel in her wedding dress. I beaded the bodice with puffy paint and wired the tiara then attached it to her veil.)



We got in line for Catherine Tate behind two people and waited. I kept looking at my watch because I had a panel at 11:30. She arrived about 10:40 and got herself set up. Her assistant was a very nice gentleman named Jason who was at Raleigh so he knew about the set up for this puppet and was glad to see I got it done. Caroline and I walked up and she saw the puppet. She loved it. Absolutely adored it. She kept asking if she could give us something for it. I insisted it was a gift no string attached. She insisted that we had to get the puppet, her and us in a professional photo. We arranged the when with Jason, which was my slim slot between panels.



(For the Visual Impaired: On the left is Donna Nobel the puppet in her white wedding dress and veil. On the right is Catherine Tate who has red hair, blue eyes, and a white shirt on.)



(for the Visual Impaired: The professional photo with the puppet, Catherine in her white shirt, Caroline holding her sketch book and wearing a Hogwarts t-shirt with the logo on it.)

She loved the puppet. I know this because pictures of her and the puppet have been popping up all over the Internet. She used it in her panels too. I am so glad that I got it to her.



(For the Visual Impaired: Puppet to the left and Catherine to the right on stage with the DragonCon logo on a blue background behind her. Photo credit to Mandy Horeski with all rights there in)

Next puppet was Bill Potts to Pearl Mackie

Bill Potts is really up in my pantheon of favorite companions and Pearl Mackie made that happen. She’s Caroline’s favorite companion hands down. The minute I knew she was going to be there, I was planning the puppet in my head.



(For the Visual Impaired: This is Pearl Mackie as Bill Potts standing on the deck of a spaceship. She has black hair and lovely brown eyes. She is wearing a black crop top and a denim jacket with various patches)



(For the Visual Impaired: Bill Potts costume which was on display. The shirt is black and white panels alternating with a stylized face on the shirt. The denim jacket has patches on the top is the word WOW with a skull next to it. lower on the jacket is a rainbow with a robot under the rainbow.)



(For the Visual Impaired: Bill Potts the puppet wearing the above costume but puppet sized)



After we got our photo done with Catherine, which with the help of Jason was done in fine time, we went over to where Capaldi and Pearl Mackie were signing. I used Diana’s name, with her permission, to get past the guard so I could take just a moment and give Pearl her puppet. Again it was a hit. She loved the detail. According to others, she had it next to her for the rest of her signing.



(For the Visual Impaired: From left to right: The Bill Potts puppet, Pearl Mackie wearing a fabulous print dress, Me with my Dr. Who logo hat, bowling shirt and blue t-shirt, Caroline with her sketchbook)

So three puppets and three happy new owners. Not a bad DragonCon at all.

I am grateful with all the help I received in getting these puppets where they needed to go.

Comments

[dewline]

The joy on each of their faces...outstanding.