Not Exactly…

Unlike Vanessa, we’re not seeking fame and fortune. But we could use your help! We are raising money to complete the project.

The Last Puppet Show: A documentary film (within a film)

The first time we made contact with the WVU puppets was 2022. We had heard of the Puppetry Program through our producer, Kyle Frazier, a WVU alumni…but until we read an article about the puppets, we didn’t realize the program was in danger of being shut down.

After forty years of service, the puppets were being shown the door. Forty years of dedication to the students, their school and their community. The puppets thought they could make a difference, and when we heard their plan, we were intrigued. Puppets performing classic Shakespeare? This we had to see…and film. We set out to make a short documentary about the program, but it got…much weirder. Part documentary, part narrative, pure fun, and much like Hamlet itself: a play within a play.

Why now?

The WVU puppets have spent their lives creating art and enriching the lives of everyone they meet. If this program goes away, they worry about what will happen to them next: sold at auction to become a prop or a toy, shoved away in a storage room, or (shudder) disassembled and used for other purposes. The options aren’t appealing. We want to help save the puppets and keep them doing what they do best, performing for their fans and teaching the next generation of puppetry students.

Exactly what do you need the money for…?

The puppets assured us that time was of the essence, so we began filming after our first contact with them in 2022, and completed filming in Spring 2023. Now comes the fun part, we need to raise $15,000 to bring this project over the finish line. Every cent donated will go toward our post-production expenses, including:

• Sound Design
• Editing
• Music Licensing
• Color Grading
• Legal Expenses