It really is a workout. Irk is hard to manipulate. With the fast mouth movements in this song -- and my natural wimpiness -- I couldn't make it all the way through in one take, hence the internal edit.
Oh God, take it back, take it back! Please put the veil back!! Arg, it cannot be unseen!!!
So why are you sitting on an excercise ball while doing this? Are you actually building your core while you do this? More likely, it's just the right height, but props either way!
I know @matthew told us that Irk is bigger than we thought, but this still surprised me. I'm not quite sure how you stay focused and look that serious when puppeteering to Mad Ape Den.
Wow.. So Irk's body appears to be like the base part of some gallon jug, say like bleach or something? Guess that's why he doesn't have a new shirt everyday...
@matthew's bottom is blue too, just like Irk's, coincidence?? Question is then if Irk & @matthew are much more a like than we ever knew, who's hand is up.........
Would love to see a 3rd cam added showing the good vo take before being Irkicized. Even some out takes from the vo session. Gotta be some really good stuff there!
"So, what do you do?" "I studied videography and music ." "Yes, but what do you do?" "I stick my hand up a troll's ass and literally work him like a puppet."
I'm impressed, @matthew not only did you have to keep your arm up but I never saw your mouth move once. At least that will still be magical enough for me.
@caffeine_dude I've often wondered this, since some of the vids have noticeable chroma key artifacts. Flat chroma key lighting is considerably trickier than what their end result would be…
@brhfl@caffeine_dude Other videos take advantage of the green screen. The singing cowboy is usually in the desert. Hank Harlan is at the comedy showcase in the barn.
Given how much we pay for these almost daily videos, it isn't too surprising that @Mathew has not gone out and built custom sets for each character.
@hamjudo@brhfl@caffeine_dude - Also, that rod controlling Irk's arm is probably green so we never see it. Here's one video where he took advantage of the green screen. (presumably ;-))
You guys got it. It would look better to just shoot in front of the desired background. But given that the desired background changes daily, it's easier to shoot almost everything in front of the green screen than reconfigure the "set" (such as it is).
The grey wall is real -- when Dallas staff do Mad Ape Den karaoke, it's what they're in front of. Most of the puppet MADK videos have the same background keyed in for (arbitrary) consistency within the series.
Magic... RUINED!
Can't believe Irk has a hand up his ass. What the hell, Meh? IS NOTHING REAL ANYMORE?!?! Next you'll tell me Glen is just a sock on some guy's hand...
He got no legs!
@daveJay Irk lost his baby legs!
@Matthew, are you trying to tell me that Irk is not real???
I am not sure I can handle this news.
Love this! Had no idea there was so much involved. Your right arm really gets a workout.
All the behind-the-scenes stuff is fascinating.
It really is a workout. Irk is hard to manipulate. With the fast mouth movements in this song -- and my natural wimpiness -- I couldn't make it all the way through in one take, hence the internal edit.
@matthew It made my shoulder hurt just watching you work! It makes me appreciate both your talent and hard work all the more. Thanks for sharing!
Crap, Meh. You shouldn't have done that. Now Irk will never be the same. You ruined the magic.
Oh God, take it back, take it back! Please put the veil back!! Arg, it cannot be unseen!!!
So why are you sitting on an excercise ball while doing this? Are you actually building your core while you do this? More likely, it's just the right height, but props either way!
@mehdaf I'm thinking of taking up puppetry just to strengthen my core! I have the ball, just need a puppet.
@mehdaf - Seems like the ball allows more lifelike Irk motion.
BTW, Irk is bigger than I thought he was. Very stocky too.
Told you he was big!
@matthew Much bigger than I thought. Dont know why I thought it was smaller.
All of you guys saying Irk isn't real are wrong! Didn't you notice, he's really singing! - @matthew is just propping him up.
@KDemo I know ! And all this time I thought it was @matthew singing. Talk about veil being lifted .
Also, Irk's looking quite well considering all he's been through this last few weeks.
Damn, Irk. You fat.
Told you he was big!
So accurate.
I know @matthew told us that Irk is bigger than we thought, but this still surprised me. I'm not quite sure how you stay focused and look that serious when puppeteering to Mad Ape Den.
@Thumperchick Same here.
Told you he was big!
Wow.. So Irk's body appears to be like the base part of some gallon jug, say like bleach or something? Guess that's why he doesn't have a new shirt everyday...
@matthew's bottom is blue too, just like Irk's, coincidence?? Question is then if Irk & @matthew are much more a like than we ever knew, who's hand is up.........
(Would explain some of those faces he makes)
It's turtles all the way down
@matthew had said before we didn't realize how big Irk is. He is correct. Irk is much larger than expected.
Told you he was big!
Are the lyrics on the cell phone like Sound hound? Or were they previously memorized and Matthew is reading texts
I always thought the microphone was super imposed, and not really there.
And irk is a lot bigger than I thought. I have a feeling he'd make my toddler cry.
Told you he was big!
@matthew Please explain further. I've really watched closely and suspect you are holding Irk up by his big coat rack. Can we see under his kilt?
@matthew is Glen just as big too?
Would love to see a 3rd cam added showing the good vo take before being Irkicized. Even some out takes from the vo session. Gotta be some really good stuff there!
I had a sense of his size juxtaposed with a laptop, but I can't figure out how you filmed that one.
"So, what do you do?"
"I studied videography and music ."
"Yes, but what do you do?"
"I stick my hand up a troll's ass and literally work him like a puppet."
Actually, I studied painting and English. So these are much higher-level responsibilities than I was trained to assume.
I'm impressed, @matthew not only did you have to keep your arm up but I never saw your mouth move once. At least that will still be magical enough for me.
@Tystix yea I would like to see what he does when he doesn't know he is being filmed, I bet there is a lot more head shakin' going on.
I bet @matthew smells like leather and motor oil. Mmmmm
@medz - Probably because he's been working on the next drinking terrible drink.
I don't care. I still want an Irk doll! Make it happen, Meh!
I find it odd the plain grey back ground is a green screen. Why is that, wouldn't be easier/cheaper to use a grey back ground?
@caffeine_dude I've often wondered this, since some of the vids have noticeable chroma key artifacts. Flat chroma key lighting is considerably trickier than what their end result would be…
@brhfl @caffeine_dude Other videos take advantage of the green screen. The singing cowboy is usually in the desert. Hank Harlan is at the comedy showcase in the barn.
Given how much we pay for these almost daily videos, it isn't too surprising that @Mathew has not gone out and built custom sets for each character.
@hamjudo @brhfl @caffeine_dude - Also, that rod controlling Irk's arm is probably green so we never see it. Here's one video where he took advantage of the green screen. (presumably ;-))
You guys got it. It would look better to just shoot in front of the desired background. But given that the desired background changes daily, it's easier to shoot almost everything in front of the green screen than reconfigure the "set" (such as it is).
The grey wall is real -- when Dallas staff do Mad Ape Den karaoke, it's what they're in front of. Most of the puppet MADK videos have the same background keyed in for (arbitrary) consistency within the series.
@matthew This has 818 views on youtube - is that a record?
@KDemo for a video of me visibly working a puppet, yes
@matthew touché