Ask the Optimist!
About the Project
To promote acclaimed satirist and MacArthur Grant recipient George Saunders’ latest book, “The Braindead Megaphone,” and to help him break into the mainstream, publisher X wanted to do something unique. To that end, they enlisted the help of acclaimed radio host and podcaster Jesse Thorne, host of “The Sound of Young America,” to help them out; Jesse set about creating a dramatized version of the short story “Ask the Optimist,” a darkly comic tale of a call-in show host who always offered the worst possible advice. In addition to assembling an array of staggering vocal talent from the likes of John Hodgman, Xeni Jardin, etc, etc, Jesse also wanted more. So Jesse turned to Hoggworks Studios, commissioning a video production of “Ask the Optimist,” using the recorded audio version (which was heard on nationally syndicated radio). Reconceptualizing the puppet cast of dotBoom as an acting troupe, Hoggworks recast the various puppets into roles in “Ask the Optimist.”
The rich style of George Saunders was an excellent fit for the puppetry of Hoggworks Studios, and all parties were thrilled by the resulting production.
The resulting production was met with wide acclaim, receiving focus on a variety of prominent websites, including the world’s most popular blog, Boingboing, and also a front-page feature on Youtube, the world’s most trafficked video website. Despite being twenty minutes in length, the video received well over a half-million views.
What we Did
Hoggworks used the existing dotBoom puppets and sets, and staged the performance of the piece, using the audio recorded for the radio version of “Ask the Optimist” as a guide. That audio was laid on top of the video recording, making it look like John Hodgman, Xeni Jardin and others are accomplished puppeteers.
Which they may be, come to think of it, but I don’t know if they are.
Credits
Puppets designed and Constructed by Brian Hogg and Madelyne Hilker. Puppet performances by Brian Hogg and Nicholas Cumming. Filming and Editing by Brian Hogg.
Part 1 on Youtube:
Part 2 on Youtube: