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[Closed] Puddleglum: Actor, CGI, or Both?

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GlimGlum
(@glimglum)
Member Moderator

Some time ago (possibly on the old Narniaweb site) there was a discussion of how Puddleglum should be portrayed. I have tried to remember the various suggestions and have come up with the 3 in the poll selections.

Should be interesting to see what Silver Chair fans think of this very important character as he makes his way to a big screen debut.

As of this post, I have not decided on the best approach. Maybe my fellow NarniaWebbers will come up with some good reasons for me to choose one. Looking forward to your thoughtful posts. :)

Loyal2Tirian
There is definitely no "a" in definite.
The Mind earns by doing; the Heart earns by trying.

Topic starter Posted : October 5, 2013 7:35 pm
Impending Doom
(@impending-doom)
Adventurous Stranger Knight of NarniaWeb

"The children now sat down on each side of him. They now saw that he had very long legs and arms so that although his body was not much bigger than a dwarf's, he would be taller than most men when he stood up."

If your going to give Lewis' description justice , you need to use CGI. So I voted for Actor with CGI enhancement because an actor would not only make it easier for the people on set, but also for the people Post-Production . But BBC did very well with just Tom Baker.

"Tollers, there is too little of what we really like in stories. I am afraid we shall have to try and write some ourselves." - C.S. Lewis

Posted : October 6, 2013 3:07 am
fantasia
(@fantasia)
Member Admin

I immediately think of Mr. Tumnus where he was human from the waist up but with CG legs. I'd do the same thing with Puddleglum.

Posted : October 6, 2013 8:12 am
waggawerewolf27
(@waggawerewolf27)
Member Hospitality Committee

Either CGI or even makeup on a real live human. You need someone who is lanky however, all arms & legs, with big hands & feet, not someone who looks like they trained for Mr Universe. Tom Baker did a good job with the BBC Silver Chair, with makeup, some sort of green goo on the backs of his webbed hands and stringy looking hair.

Posted : October 6, 2013 12:08 pm
FriendofNarnia2
(@friendofnarnia2)
NarniaWeb Nut

My perfect scenario would be to have Robert Carlyle from Once Upon A Time, with digital enhancement to make him look a little more like a marshwiggle.

Check out "The Magician's Nephew" and "The Last Battle" trailers I created!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwWtuk3Qafg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrPxboeZqrA

Posted : October 7, 2013 5:13 am
fantasia
(@fantasia)
Member Admin

Wow, Robert Carlyle. I never would have thought of that, but I LOVE the idea of him playing Puddleglum. He definitely has the right look! I've only seen him in a couple things... Eragon (though I don't remember him at all in there) and Stargate Universe's pilot episode. My husband has watched a couple episodes of Once and I've walked by when he was on. I can't really judge him on his acting cause I haven't seen him in much but.... :-bd

Posted : October 7, 2013 5:53 am
EtJ
 EtJ
(@etj)
NarniaWeb Guru

I like this idea! I can only picture him in villainous roles, but I am definitely open to the thought.

"To the Great Western Wood, I give you...."

Posted : October 7, 2013 6:16 am
Meltintalle
(@mel)
Member Moderator

I think Robert Carlyle would make a good Puddleglum. He's got the looks and his voice seems well suited to marshwiggle-isms.

As for how Puddleglum should be portrayed on screen, I lean toward CGI enhancements--though as Wagga pointed out, makeup and a good actor could be fabulous too.

We have hands that fashion and heads that know,
But our hearts we lost - how long ago! -- G. K. Chesterton

Posted : October 7, 2013 6:23 am
thephfactor1
(@thephfactor1)
NarniaWeb Regular

I agree with you guys, i think some CGI enhancement is necessary. And Robert Carlyle, although I don't remember him from Trainspotting, looks like a great Puddleglum. Viggo Mortensen might also be a good fit. I think Sam Rockwell could also be good in the role.

Posted : October 7, 2013 7:21 am
GlimGlum
(@glimglum)
Member Moderator

I agree with the majority vote for an actor with CGI approach. I also agree that Robert Carlyle has the right look for Puddleglum. He is a little short (5'8" (1.73 m)) according to his IMDB bio. But I am sure that can be overcome in these days of making the unreal appear real. :)

There are other actors too who are already tall including Bruce Spence who is 6' 6¼" (1.99 m). He played Lord Rhoop in VDT and has been mentioned in past discussions about Puddleglum.

Loyal2Tirian
There is definitely no "a" in definite.
The Mind earns by doing; the Heart earns by trying.

Topic starter Posted : October 7, 2013 7:54 am
icarus
(@icarus)
NarniaWeb Guru

Doug Jones as the Pale Man in Pan's Labyrinth would be my main point of reference for Puddleglum - A naturally tall and slender actor in Doug Jones to play him, some creative use of prosthetics and practical vfx to make him appear otherworldly, plus a small amount of green screening on the legs to give him the unnatural physique required.

Even with an unlimited budget i'd still be inclined to go in this direction rather than full VFX, but given the likely limited budget I think its a no-brainer.

Posted : October 7, 2013 8:22 am
thephfactor1
(@thephfactor1)
NarniaWeb Regular

And Robert Carlyle, although I don't remember him from Trainspotting.

Wait.... he was that guy???

Posted : October 7, 2013 9:22 am
FriendofNarnia2
(@friendofnarnia2)
NarniaWeb Nut

In filmmaking height is not an issue. A director can make an actor look any height they want. While I do think Robert Carlyle looks the part, I mostly thought of him because based on what I've seen of him, I'm certain he could pull of the marshwiggle quite convincingly.

Check out "The Magician's Nephew" and "The Last Battle" trailers I created!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwWtuk3Qafg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrPxboeZqrA

Posted : October 7, 2013 10:16 am
Lilygloves
(@lilygloves)
NarniaWeb Junkie

I actually really love the idea of Robert Carlyle, but it might be too similar to his character as Rumpelstiltskin, who is often compare to looking like a crocodile. I know he would look the part extremely well, but I wouldn't want people to make the comparison all the time.
The most important thing isn't his arm/body/leg proportion, it's his webbed hands and feet. That's what makes him distinctly a marshwiggle, not a human. If there was a CG character that was basically a person with abnormally long arms and legs, it would look really awkward and kind of freaky. I'm concerned less with those and more with his hands, feet, hair, and complexion. They need to get that right for the arms and legs to work.

Posted : October 7, 2013 10:52 am
wild rose
(@wild-rose)
Member Moderator Emeritus

I was rather torn for a while, but in the end I opeted for actor with CGI enhancements. I think it won't do to completely do away with CGI because there are things about Puddleglum that will only look right if you animante them. I mean, makeup can only go so far (at least in my opinion) like in LWW when Mr. Tumnus was an actor with CGI, I think that would be great for Puddleglum as well. I actually always had a hard time imagining him when I read the book. I sort of pictured the long arms and legs, but could never give the character a face :p

always be humble and kind

Posted : October 8, 2013 1:44 am
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