GMA-7 Encantadia Imaw Trivia (Part 2)

This is the continuation of a previous post. To know more about GMA 7’s Encantadia’s Imaw, you might be interested to read Part 1

Q. How come the viewers don’t see the puppeteers?
A. Great care is taken that the puppeteers are very well hidden. Camera angles are chosen carefully to make sure the puppeteers are not seen. Also, if you notice, Imaw is usually beside some huge prop that covers the back effectively. If a prop is not used, then an actor is asked to stand beside Imaw.

On their end, the puppeteers wear an all black ensemble to ensure that the probability of being seen are greatly reduced, even going into very uncomfortable positions just to make sure that no part of their bodies are seen. A scene is shot again if any part of the puppeteers’ bodies is seen.

Q. What were the most uncomfortable positions the puppeteers had to do?
A. The hardest set-up is when Imaw has to be shot in his home in Adamya, because three puppeteers have to stay inside the igloo like abode. Three adults cramped inside the sweltering and stifling confines of Imaw’s home is truly torture. The heat is made worse with the presence of floating dust particles that can cause allergic reactions. Personally, I have to go into a Zen like trance to keep my composure.

Our head puppeteer, Mr. Marvin Choa, has to endure even more because he has to go into a face down position, use his lower back strength to lift his upper body, elevate his arms to control Imaw’s head and arm, and stay in that position while the scene is being rehearsed and when it’s finally being shot.

There was one instance when Imaw had to be asleep because his magical staff was going to be stolen. Our head puppeteer had to use his creativity to come up with a set-up that would allow Imaw to lie down and hide the puppeteers at the same time. The picture above shows the final set-up that he came up with together with the production design team.

Q. How do the puppeteers see what they’re doing?
A. Most of the time, a miniscule monitor is placed near the puppeteers so that they can see the camera angles while the scene is being shot. However, there are times when they have to work blind and do it by feel, because, with the strange positions they have to be in, they can’t even catch a glimpse of the monitor.

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