Monster Direction

On the green screen stage for Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from The Dan Clark Company/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe, show creator/director Dan Clark blocks the movement of a complex puppet with puppeteers Felix Pire and Russ Walko.

Giving Direction

Dan Clark, creator of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from The Dan Clark Company/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe, gives puppeteer Russ Walk direction.

New Dan Clark Company Logo

Dan Clark and the Team Smithereen crew just shot a new logo for the Dan Clark Company, producer of the new stunt puppet show Team Smithereen. The little puppets were made by puppeteer Russ Walko and performed by Russ Walko, Patrick Johnson, Sean Johnson, and Brandon Minton.

Monster Puppet

In this photo Dan Clark, the creator of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from The Dan Clark Company/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe, and puppet captian/puppeteer/director, Sean Johnson set up a shot with the Team Smithereen specialty monster puppet.

More Puppets on the set of Smithereen

Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe depends on it's small but dedicated crew taking on many duties. Although the show has an in house puppet fabrication department, some specialty puppets were needed, so puppeteer Russ Walko, an accomplished puppet builder was tapped to build them. In this photo, one of Russ's creations observes the Team Smithereen shoot.

Puppets and Puppeteers

The puppeteers get a chance to perform all of the puppets on Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe, however some of the puppeteers click with certain puppets. Team Smithereen puppeteer Felix Pire bonded quickly with stunt pig, and usually performs that character.

Lighting Team Smithereen

Many of the shots in Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe, are shot against a green screen so director of photography Ivan Corona must light each set-up to match a live action background plate or a specific background image. In this photo from the set, Team Smithereen puppeteers Brian Clark and Russ Walko perform stunt pig in his special lighting.

Editor in da House

On the set of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe, show editor Cyrus Navarro observes the action while puppet captains/puppeteers Sean and Patrick Johnson perform Whoop.

Smithereen Spider Puppet

Aside from the main stars of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/WildBrain/Jetix Europe, the puppet fabrication department also created a hand full of speciality puppets. The spider puppet was designed by Smithereen character designer, Dave Pressler, and built by Smithereen puppet builders Mark Villalobos, and Ana Preciado.

In this photo from the set, puppet captain/puppeteer Patrick Johnson performs the spider, while puppeteer Felix Pire watches the monitor. The spider puppet was built around a custom made glove and then shot against the green screen. In the final composite, the spider will be shrunk down and appear to be just a few centimeters tall.

Smithereen Puppeteers Laugh it Up

On the set of the new stunt puppet show Team Smithereen from creator Dan Clark and producing partners Wildbrain and Jetix Europe, puppet captain/puppeteer Sean Johnson, and puppeteers Russ Walko and Jonathan Kidder share a laugh between takes. Thirll Kat, dressed in his black light, glow in the dark sci-fi gear, is not having as much fun.

Team Smithereen Dance Party

In this photo from the set of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe, puppeteer Jonathan Kidder helps Brave Little Francis strut his stuff on a very dangerous dance floor.

Smithereen Puppet Legs

Team Smtithereen, the new stunt puppet show from The Dan Clark Company/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe employs a brand new style of puppetry that utilizes latex puppets, hi-deff green screen compositing, and sophisticated computer animation. In this shot from the Team Smithereen green screen stage, puppeteer Jonathan Kidder prepares to perform Whoop's feet.

Team Smithereen Puppeteers

Team Smithereen's unique puppetry style demands the most from L.A.'s top puppeteers. In this photo, Team Smithereen puppeteers Brian Clark, Russ Walko, and Felix Pire puppeteer Brave Little Francis.

Smithereen Photo from the Set: 10/27/08

Starting today, the Team Smithereen Blog will be featuring daily photos from the set, giving you an exclusive peek into the Team Smithereen shoot. In this Team Smithereen photo from the Set, director Dan Clark composes a shot with Thrill Kat, Brave Little Francis, and Whoop. The stunt puppets are being performed by Team Smithereen puppeteers, Patrick Johnson and Russ Walko.