How to make a Muppet

This content requires Flash

To view this content, JavaScript must be enabled, and you need the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player.

Video Transcript

Hello friends. My name is Erik Beck and welcome to backyard effects. The cool new show where I -- wait, why am I a puppet? No. I am supposed to be aâ€¦â€¦..noooooooo!!!!

If you have not noticed, this week's episode is all about puppets. We are going to build the best muppet style puppet we can on whatever budget the wheel of prosperity gives us. I am going to let Gary spin the wheel because he is my oldest and dearest puppet. I love him as though he sprang from my very own felt womb. Not that I have a womb, a felt or any other - let us spin the wheel.

(Music playing)

$25.

Now, I'm heading out of town to get some important puppet supplies. I am here in Fremont, California at Bob's Foam factory where I got all the foam I need for my puppet and an expert advise.

I got this cubic foot of foam at Bob's for less than $15. If you do not have a foam specialist store in your area, you can get a pretty good size chunk of Styrofoam at most crap stores. Either way, you're going to need this, spray adhesive. It is a great stuff but it is a little expensive at $10 a can. We will probably only use a quarter of it for this project.

In order to start work on the puppet head, we are going to need a specialized tool and an electric turkey carver. No, I am not going to include the cost of this in our project because I know that there is someone you can borrow one from. Just make sure you clean all the foam off before you give it back to grandma.

Start hacking away that foam block. Once you got the basic shape, you'll need to cut his face for the mouth and then the neck for your hand to go. Next, using our spray adhesive and some fleece from the fabric store, we are going to make some puppet skin. Lastly, I have some felt hair and ball cap eyes, and you got this.

Stay tune up for the break, we will finish our puppet project and see what happens when Erik goes over budget.

(Music playing)

The best place to get puppet clothes is at your local dress store. I got all the clothes for our new puppet for $4. That brings the total cost of our do-it-yourself puppet to 26.50. 26.50 is over budget. Yes, but it is like a dollar fifty. You know the rules.

[beating]

If you have any questions about the build, log on to indymogul.com. For now, enjoy the test film.

[test film]

So Gary, Eugene, how was school?

It was okay, coach makes me run extra laps for practice.

Eugene?

School is lame as usual especially since you made me join Math club, dad.

Well, hard work instructors are good for young puppets.

Puppets? Puppets dad?

Well, that is great. You know we are not all puppets. And by the way, my date school is great. Thanks for asking.

Okay, Erik sounds like you got something on your mind.

Shut up, dad. Do not try to act like you give a crap. All you care about is your precious puppet sons. Well, I am sorry. I am not a puppet and I never will be.

Now boys, it is not Erik's fault he is such a little b****.

Backyard effects is serious about connecting with his viewers. And the best way to do that is by going to indymogul.com and uploading new videos today. We want clips of your special effects, video comments from the show or even ideas for future projects. Every month, we will take the best videos and feature them in our own podcast.

You can use an old TV like this one as an external monitor. It is great for color correcting and of course shooting of puppets.

Hey, my name is Daniel Reeve and you are about to see a clip for my first high definition short film from "Prick" which I wrote, directed, filmed and edited myself. Enjoy it.