Words by Alex Payne
Image from ÔÇÿOne Kiss by Calvin Harris ft. Dua LipaÔÇØÔÇÖ music video

Try and think about all the people that go into creating a music video. Performer? ThatÔÇÖs the obvious one. YouÔÇÖll likely manage to remember the director and the camera operator, and at a push you might spare a thought for the bloke with the fluffy stick that handles the sound. What most people forget, however, is that there is a small army that toil tirelessly behind the scene to produce the glitzy performances that accompany our favourite bangers. We sat down (virtually) with Emily Morus-Jones, a Welsh puppeteer and ÔÇ£monster-makerÔÇØ, who has worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris and Rag n Bone Man, to find out what it’s like being a puppeteer in the music industry.

YouÔÇÖd be forgiven for forgetting about the puppeteers; itÔÇÖs likely not a career that youÔÇÖve ever even considered. ÔÇ£Most people start with a lifelong love for puppets, but for me, everything just sort of fell into place. I didnÔÇÖt choose the puppets, the puppets chose me!ÔÇØ she laughed when I addressed this. ÔÇ£I started off building monsters for a circus!ÔÇØ ItÔÇÖs not just the public that overlook puppeteers. Emily fell into her first music video through the art director, but when she turned up ÔÇ£the directors, Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa werenÔÇÖt expecting puppets at all!ÔÇØ Later, when recalling some of the funniest moments sheÔÇÖs had on set, she said that Calvin Harris was notably startled, exclaiming ÔÇ£whatÔÇÖs that!ÔÇØ as she was piloting one of the puppets that make an appearance throughout the video.

ÔÇ£It was people working together to make puppets happen, and it turned out to be one of the things that people liked most about the music video.ÔÇØ

Is it a coincidence that One Kiss has gone on to be his most successful hit to date? ÔÇ£The song was already a number one. I think that they didnÔÇÖt expect it to be as successful as it was, because they hadnÔÇÖt got the video readyÔÇØ Emily explained. What was her takeaway from the experience? ÔÇ£It was people working together to make puppets happen, and it turned out to be one of the things that people liked most about the music video.ÔÇØ SheÔÇÖs not joking. They were such a success that she was invited to create upscaled versions of them for Calvin Harris and Dua LipaÔÇÖs Brit awards performance. ÔÇ£Sadly, the giant puppets didnÔÇÖt make the final cut for the Brit awards. I think they needed someone to help the director to get them on and off stage, and they didnÔÇÖt have that support.ÔÇØ Ultimately, as music videos compete to capture our attention, it appears that thereÔÇÖs still a market for practical effects. Since then sheÔÇÖs gone on to work on promo for Ed Sheeran, and her characters featured centerstage in Jam BaxterÔÇÖs video for Mask, which featured Rag ÔÇÿnÔÇÖ Bone man and OG Rootz. ItÔÇÖs clear that in the latter she had a lot of creative freedom. ÔÇ£They originally wanted me to puppet inside the tripe. I explained that wouldnÔÇÖt work, so then I had free reign to design and build these monstersÔÇØ.    

This yearÔÇÖs pandemic has thrown a wrench into the plans of creatives worldwide, but Emily has used the opportunity to create Pop Up Palladium, a virtual show that is both supporting puppeteers, and acting as a brilliant stop-gap for theatre. Featuring a wide cast that includes a Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, Drew ColbyÔÇÖs shadow puppets, The Puppet BargeÔÇÖs marionette puppets and even the original voice of Zippy, the performance debuted earlier this month, and will return Friday the 18th of September. But, as with many Coronavirus success stories, itÔÇÖs been a double edged sword. ÔÇ£My mum is shielding so we have to be really careful, so for me work might be tricky. If I go into a production, IÔÇÖll have to move out of the houseÔÇØ.

Finally, I had to ask: what are her favourite puppets? ÔÇ£I mean, will I get judged if I donÔÇÖt pick Kermit? I think the best practical effects that weÔÇÖve seen were on John Carpenter’s ÔÇ£The ThingÔÇØ and also on Little Shop of Horrors with Audrey II. Little Shop of Horrors (1986) was directed by a puppeteer and I think that really comes across.ÔÇØ Emily isnÔÇÖt limited to existing characters however. ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm creating a new character for Pop Up Palladium, which is like a new challenge for the show, and itÔÇÖs going to evolve over time. ItÔÇÖs a Welsh dragon called Ddraig, so thatÔÇÖs good too.ÔÇØ 

Check out Pop Up Palladium here.