A marionette is negatively controlled by it’s Master. The puppet has spent years being used as a performer by the Master and one day decides to break free. After a performance, the Master tosses the puppet onto a hook and leaves, with no care or concern. Fed up, the puppet makes drastic movements to tear the strings from its body, pulling and tearing indiscriminately. Eventually, the puppet sees scissors and can not get to them to break free and so decides to pull the painful strings from it’s hands. Finally free, the strings drop from the ceiling and the puppet looks up as it ascends upward showing ultimate control over it’s situation.

This short was shot on a soundstage in only 6 hours. We used one 400ft roll of Kodak 5222 Black and White film rated at 160.