I've been planning the components required for the parade float, but I've realized that; sized properly, the cycs can also serve as a presentation in both the parades and in Gnomefest (which is subject for other posts), but for some time I have had it in mind to open a storefront in New Hope that serves as a walkthrough display of both Volume One, an introduction to The Gnomes of New Hope and scenes from "Zach and Zebby's Grand Adventure".
Today, I had a discussion about this with a friend and the idea seems even more viable. Partly because, in addition to the cyclorama aspect, I have been building a traveling exhibition containing art panels, samples of the production & publishing materials and displays showing what is involved in producing a project like this. So a storefront gallery presenting The Gnomes of New Hope, seems like a good idea. Of course, the cost of set & operation hadn't been determined yet, although I am certain it will not be inexpensive. The potential return seems to imply that it could be viable, but there is also the publicity value for a number of markets. But add to that the range of product, which are already developed or are in process. So a gift shop would certainly be added to the walk through cyclorama. Now, animatronics are part of our puppetry work, so that may be included. As it stands now, we can build those cycs in the existing studio. So the plan is to make the cycs multi-purpose, in other words, parades, museum displays, walk-through scenario (as described) and other possibilities not yet considered.
One other application of the cycs is for claymation. I have spent a fair amount of time considering this aspect of the project. A 100% claymation effort, including both the characters and the setting is very interesting to imagine, but it is a massive amount of work. I did a stop action film in college, but nothing that even comes close to attempting the entire "Gnomes of New Hope; Zach and Zebby's Grand Adventure". That would take years to accomplish and only if I can find enough talented sculptors. My plan has been to create articulating figurines instead of using clay. One reason for that is the fact that the surface of clay changes when you attempt to articulate the figures. Things like fingerprints and such show up, whereas with costumed articulating figurines, the variables in positioning the characters no longer pose difficulty, or rather the difficulties are reduced. The other advantage of using articulating figurines, is that another ancillary market will be developed.
So, there are some thoughts on that subject. I'd post an image but attempts to do so always seem to cause problem from my phone.
AG
