storytelling in spaces
creating portals to impossible worlds
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Chimelong Spaceship
2025 Thea Award, Marine Park
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My first project in themed entertainment lined up precisely with the 2020 Covid pandemic outbreak.
A few unique challenges to this project and how I tackled them:
1. As the puppetry director for a series of animatronic shows, directing characters I couldn't see presented an unthinkable challenge. Beyond that, the puppets (animatronics) had changed drastically since original design, with a completely different vocabulary of movement.
2. I had directed voiceover in English and Spanish, but this time I needed to direct Chinese-speaking talent. I had to make sure the comedic beats landed.
A few unique challenges to this project and how I tackled them:
1. As the puppetry director for a series of animatronic shows, directing characters I couldn't see presented an unthinkable challenge. Beyond that, the puppets (animatronics) had changed drastically since original design, with a completely different vocabulary of movement.
- Solution: an elaborate spreadsheet blending dramaturgy, emotional intent, and meticulously itemized gestures that resembled coding more than choreography
2. I had directed voiceover in English and Spanish, but this time I needed to direct Chinese-speaking talent. I had to make sure the comedic beats landed.
- Solution: lean into universal themes and classic archetypes. Enlist the help of a native-speaking translator and film director to co-direct the VO sessions, resulting in a joyful, laughter-filled studio - during and outside of takes!
