Eric Generic

Back when I started making stop-motion films, I realized that it was a good idea to have an "extra"; a tabula rasa puppet that could be tranformed into whatever character I happened to need at any given time. Enter Eric Generic (who could also be Erica Generica if need be):


He/she/it was made in pale blue so that any character/creature could be portrayed. I prefer the odd colour as it gives a true puppet non-realistic feel to it. It was just felt worked around stuffing and an armature, and has no legs, so only good for close shots, but that's what I needed at the time. (I also use a small wooden "drawing" figure if I need to dress an extra for a long shot). His mouth (if he needed to talk) would be added in post-production.

His first incarnation was as a pirate (actually a bit actor pretending to be a pirate - it's a long story) in "The Voyage of the Golden Hind-er":

He was very easy to dress for this, obviously. His hands were a problem that eventually would get an update.

Next, I needed an automaton modeled on Friedrich von Knauss, an 18th-century inventor, in "Gonna Roll Them Bones", with a somewhat more complex costume:

His official portrait: somewhat fancier attire than the pirate, complete with powdered wig.

Just a typical Saturday night card game.

The most recent (to this date; February, 2018) is Eric as William Shakespeare. His outfits are definitely getting nicer! He also has new hands, much easier to manage:






His latest incarnation (March 11, 2018) is as the Prince of Denmark himself, to be featured in an upcoming super-short with Yorick:










Here he is in colour, looking like an Andorian from Star Trek!





AUGUST, 2018
Now Eric(a) has become my Doppelganger as "I" will be featured in my next film, "The Algebra of Aging", as a talking head...puppet..,  She doesn't look exactly like me, but close enough. I also get to use my own voice for part of this film, which will be a bit of a relief!
Now anyone who knows me knows I would never wear a woolen sweater (they are way too itchy), but artistic license and all, you know? Here we are together:


Stay tuned in the near future for the short film that will explain the effects of aging on older women, mathematically!

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