In conversations with: Zack Buchman/ Founder of Furry Puppet Studio

Today, we're featuring Zack, After discovering his work, we knew we had to learn more about the artist behind these incredible creations. What we uncovered was both inspiring and fascinating, and we're excited to share it with you here.

Q- Please introduce yourself and what you do at Uncute INC. and Furry Puppet Studio?

Zack - I'm Zack Buchman, founder and Creative Director of Furry Puppet Studio, a custom puppet studio in SoHo, New York. We design and build custom puppets, mostly for television, advertising, and music videos, and I love to stay close to the process from the first sketch through the shoot.

Q - What first drew you to puppet making, and what inspired you to pursue it professionally?

Zack - I tried animation very early in my creative life, and it did not last long. What I actually craved was the physical side: something you can hold, touch, and watch come to life in the room with you in real time. Once the suspension of disbelief kicks in, it just feels alive. That is what pulled me toward puppets and never really let go.

Q - When starting a new puppet, what is your process from the initial concept to a finished, animation-ready character?

Zack - It usually starts with a bunch of loose sketches from a small group of us, thrown around until one sticks. Sometimes it is a scribble nobody meant to keep. From there we move into a hand-carved foam sculpture, hundreds of small decisions happen in that carving stage, more than people realize.

Q - How do you approach creating expressive faces, and how has modern technology like 3D printing influenced your work?

Zack - The vibe of a character comes from the composition and the general shapes; the face is only part of it. I look at the silhouette first, what it reads as before you can make out any detail, and build in from there. 3D printing has helped with the finishing stage: eyes, small parts. It can also be helpful with mechanisms.

Q- Can you share one of the most technically challenging puppets you've built and what you learned from that experience?

Zack - The Missy Elliott and Pharrell Williams video for "WTF" comes to mind. We built marionettes in their likenesses and worked with street performers who each had very distinct movement styles, and we had to reverse engineer that into the rigging. We actually did not use 3D printing for the marionettes or any parts. Everything was made by hand, including the face sculptures and all the body parts.

Q- How has professional puppet making evolved over the years, and what trends are shaping its future?

Zack - A lot of it comes down to materials. We used to make our own fleece because nothing on the market held up once it was stretched over a carved sculpture and moved. Now we also work with specialty textile partners, and so much more is available. Online communities have also helped democratize the field, and that has led to a lot of advancement in both design and technique.

Q- When filmmakers commission a puppet, what do you wish they understood before the project begins?

Zack - I don't really have a preference here. Sometimes a director comes to us with a very clear, defined idea of what they want, and I appreciate that. Other times they show up with something completely out there, barely more than a feeling, and I like that just as much. That openness lets us develop the character together and gives us more freedom. I would honestly rather start from an idea that's completely unrealistic than start from a list of limitations. I love the process, and I love working with people.

Q- Which artists, films, or creators continue to inspire your work today?

Zack - Jim Henson and the early Muppets and Sesame Street are still remarkable to me for their brilliance and humanity. I also love researching obscure subjects and forgotten artists of the past. I'm highly motivated by people, whether they show up in an old scrapbook, on a record, or right around me in real life. Shout out to Ben Goodwin, an artist who also happens to make the beverage Olipop, and to my cousin Alex Scharfman, who just released the movie "Death of a Unicorn." They inspire me.

Q- Could you please mention the clients you have made puppets for? And how were they used as the final product? (TV ads/ events/shows/exhibition)

Zack -

Apple, for the Apple Japan iPhone campaign (advertising)

Nike, a custom NIGO puppet for the Air Force 3 launch (advertising campaign)

CNN, Andy Cohen, and Anderson Cooper look-alike puppets for the New Year's Eve broadcast (TV broadcast)

New York State, Frankie Focus, a mascot for a school safety campaign that later showed up on Jimmy Kimmel Live (campaign, then TV)

Utah Office of Tourism, a pair of vulture puppets for a tourism safety campaign (advertising campaign)

Missy Elliott and Pharrell Williams, marionettes built in their likeness for the "WTF" music video (music video)

We hope this interview offered insights into Zack's approach to his creations. It was a pleasure learning about your process, experiences, and perspective on the craft. We'll continue sharing conversations with artists and makers from across the stop-motion community, so stay tuned for more.