The Background
In January 2014, puppeteer and film-maker, Gary Friedman began documenting a journey around the globe, capturing interviews, television shows, street protests and theatre performances reflecting political events taking place on the world stage, reflected through the eyes of the puppet.
The documentary film will utilise Gary’s vast knowledge of political puppetry, archival interviews and images and his extensive networks in the satirical puppetry domain to explore the role of the puppet in political provocation across time and culture.
In Syria, a group of young artists, who call themselves “Masasit Mati” discovered the power of the puppet in late-2011. They started a series on You Tube to express their opposition to the Assad regime. The results are quite astounding, although they had to flee Syria, with the Assad regime, Isis and Hezbollah all after their heads.
“Artist Ali Ferzat had his fingers broken for drawing cartoons of the president. People are shot on the street almost every day simply for asking for freedom. So for us to mock the dictatorship we thought the best way was hidden behind a box using finger puppets,” said Jameel, the Syrian group's director.
"It took me more than two-years to finally track down and interview, Jameel, last year. This story makes fascinating television and is just one of 28 different stories I have covered from 18 different countries, including Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Kenya, South Africa, United States, Australia, Netherlands, Spain, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Northern Ireland, UK, Turkey and Indonesia." Gary Friedman, Director
The documentary film will utilise Gary’s vast knowledge of political puppetry, archival interviews and images and his extensive networks in the satirical puppetry domain to explore the role of the puppet in political provocation across time and culture.
In Syria, a group of young artists, who call themselves “Masasit Mati” discovered the power of the puppet in late-2011. They started a series on You Tube to express their opposition to the Assad regime. The results are quite astounding, although they had to flee Syria, with the Assad regime, Isis and Hezbollah all after their heads.
“Artist Ali Ferzat had his fingers broken for drawing cartoons of the president. People are shot on the street almost every day simply for asking for freedom. So for us to mock the dictatorship we thought the best way was hidden behind a box using finger puppets,” said Jameel, the Syrian group's director.
"It took me more than two-years to finally track down and interview, Jameel, last year. This story makes fascinating television and is just one of 28 different stories I have covered from 18 different countries, including Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Kenya, South Africa, United States, Australia, Netherlands, Spain, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Northern Ireland, UK, Turkey and Indonesia." Gary Friedman, Director
