Working with monitors

A subject that comes up a lot in discussion about film and video puppetry is the use of video monitors, which allow puppeteers to see their performance in real-time. Monitors are crucial to doing good film and video puppetry (a lot of the cringe-inducing bad video puppetry out there is done sans monitor). Two different types of monitors are used to do puppetry, “straight scan” and “reverse scan”.

Straight scan is the most common type of monitor and displays a video image the same way that the audience sees it at home or in a theatre. From the puppeteer’s perspective the image in the monitor appears flipped and when the puppeteer moves right the puppet moves left on screen and vice versa. Reverse scan monitors are less common and have their signals switched so that they provide a mirror image (unflipped) that’s easier for novice puppeteers to work with, but requires compromises in other areas.

There are also dual monitors that can work in either straight or reverse scan mode.

Straight scan vs. reverse scan can be a topic of hot debate among puppeteers, but it’s important to note that there’s no absolute right or wrong way to work. Personally, I’ve always worked straight scan and that is what’s used on virtually all film and video productions in North America (reverse scan is a little more common in the UK and Europe). British puppeteer Marcus Clarke has a great article about his experiences and the pros and cons of both types of monitors that makes for a good read if you’re interested in learning more about the subject.

Also, if you want to practice puppetry and need help working with monitors check out Leo Brodie’s excellent article Setting Up A Practice Monitor.