This video was one of the first "proof of concept" tests of my live performace animation sytem. It is in fact more of a puppet than a cartoon and was designed, created and performed by Antubert.

It is based on an old process used in the 60's. I could never find any info on how this process worked, so after years of being "on the back burner" a light bulb turned on above my head and in that instant I swa the complete system in my head. With a fever similar to Richard Dryfuss in "Close Encounters" I began tearing up things around the house such as mouse pads, paper towel holders, Pez dispensers and other stuff to realize this vision as a tangible item. Eventually I constructed a production model in which I used latex castings, custom brass actualtors and other custom reproducable parts made from basic materials. As I was developing this model I often used old songs to "lip sync" to, in order to work out the possible expresions and emotions available.

This video is one of the first tests on what was to become the working road model. The live video signal is reversed, making black white and white black (and yellow becomes blue). I made a rig from an old A-frame keyboard stand shrouded in black cloth. This housed the puppet, video camera, lighting and microphone. I convinced some comics to write Shecky into the act. For a live performance I would set up somewhere in the back of the room so I could see the audience, but they couldnt see me ( hidden in the shadows). On stage was either a TV set that I brought with me to the club, or the house big screen set up on stage. The video camera used to process Shecky was transmitted to the TV on stage and my microphone ( the one currently used on The Live Test Show)was patched into the house PA system. Then on cue the TV went from black screen to Shecky and he started interacting with the comic. At this point most folks think they were looking at a video tape and the comic was just timing himself to it. Then Shecky would start talking to someone in the audience directly and making references until the audience realized they were watching something live. Kinda like a cross between comedy, puppetry, animation and magic.

This led Shecky to a regular gig in a small comedy room near 5th and Broadway where he would be host each week and introduce and interact with the lineup of comics. After some time I opened my own comedy club and had a large video screen built right into the stage curtain, where Shecky hosted each week and often made apperances during the show when the comedian on stage called "Shecky, where are you?" Right now the answer to that question is "On the top shelf of the linen closet"