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Clip description
Keith the Koala (voiced and operated by Mal Heap), Kylie the Kangaroo (voiced and operated by Kelly Wallwork) and Robbie (Kylie Hogart) perform an appalling rendition of ‘Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport’ at the talent show hosted by the Ferals’ new landlord, Joe (Miguel Ayesa). The Ferals are on next to perform 'Do the Rat’. The band rocks the house — until Modligliana (voiced and operated by Mal Heap) turns off the Digital Volume Enhancer to get back at Rattus (voiced and operated by David Collins).
Curator’s notes
The technical complexities of filming The Ferals are obvious in this scene featuring puppets performing as a band, fronted by a human singer. The set is cleverly constructed with drums and instrument platforms forming natural barriers to keep the puppeteers out of sight. The presence of several puppets interacting in a scene makes framing shots a challenge.
Director David Evans told australianscreen that a new concept of head room is needed when filming with puppets, especially in wide shot as can be seen here. The puppet characters sometimes appear lower in the frame than you’d expect, but Evans and his team have otherwise done a remarkably seamless job of making a fast-paced show where puppets and humans believably interact.
The Ferals’ musical performance is lively and entertaining, thanks to quick editing, the camera zooming in and out, and inventive camera angles. Not to mention a funny song, written (like the title music) by NZ-born composer Peter Dasent. The songs are performed by fellow New Zealander Dave Dobbyn, who wrote the soundtrack music for animated feature Footrot Flats: The Dog’s Tale (1987).
