The Academy Mastermind Program
A personalized program for the students of the Academy ready to unleash their full artistic potential.
The Academy Mastermind Program
A personalized program for the students of the Academy ready to unleash their full artistic potential.
The Academy Mastermind Program is closed for enrollment. If you sign up for the waiting list, we will send you a message and you will have the opportunity to register as soon as possible.
What is the Academy Mastermind Program (AMP)?
The AMP is a series of 12 Master Classes completing the Academy of the Wooden Puppet.
A key element is the active participation of the members of this advanced group. We have traveled far together, supported and nurtured each other, and now we step up together to the next level.
You will receive personal guidance and support in discovering your individual strength as a unique artist and continue the process in the encouraging company of the private Facebook AMP group.
You will get:
- Personal ongoing support with your existing Academy puppet-building projects
- A vastly expanded knowledge base concerning all puppet theatre-related subjects
While some classes guide you through all the fundamental steps to mount a performance, from script-writing, stage and lighting design to directing, you will also be introduced to new materials like "Worbla", learn the Art of Mold Making and Casting and dive into the World of Masks and Shadow Puppetry.
Puppetry offers a multitude of possibilities to express and share your talents and heart, and a desperate world is in dire need of you to step forward and make your voice count. We will assist you in successfully unleashing your full artistic potential!
The AMP is only open to participants of the Academy of the Wooden Puppet
It is specifically designed to assist you in your ongoing path to Puppet Mastery and taking this exciting journey to elevated grounds.
Until now we have focused on the construction of simple and highly advanced Puppets. Now we will also discover all the necessary tools and possibilities to apply the knowledge gained and enrich the world around us.
If you dream of successfully finishing your Academy project or mounting a full performance or using puppets to entertain your grandchildren or local community or creating a puppet piece for the screen, you will get the expanded knowledge and support in the AMP to make this dream a reality!
As we focus more on the individual needs and projects of each member, we equally encourage the active exchange of ideas and feedback among participants. We will be developing and honing our mindset for Puppet Mastery.
Together we will form a puppetry "think tank" for mutual support and personal achievement.
Maïté Agopian
"The AMP is like continuing the Academy, but this time it amplified your own voice.
From discussing with Bernd to help situate yourself, defining your personal goal for this program, and getting the ongoing online support from puppeteers that by now became close to your heart, you will be in charge of your dreams.
The focus of the AMP is not the making of the puppet, but how to put it on stage, and how to tell its story.
Each month, you get to watch and enjoy Bernd's beautifully made videos about various themes surrounding the making of a performance, with enough tricks, ideas, and options presented to keep you thinking until the following month (at least!).
For me, the AMP is like adding cement between the construction blocks of the Academy to build a stronger wall that can hold more solid puppet projects."
Maïté Agopian
"The AMP is like continuing the Academy, but this time it amplified your own voice. From discussing with Bernd to help situate yourself, defining your personal goal for this program, and getting the ongoing online support from puppeteers that by now became close to your heart, you will be in charge of your dreams.
The focus of the AMP is not the making of the puppet, but how to put it on stage, and how to tell its story.
Each month, you get to watch and enjoy Bernd's beautifully made videos about various themes surrounding the making of a performance, with enough tricks, ideas, and options presented to keep you thinking until the following month (at least!).
For me, the AMP is like adding cement between the construction blocks of the Academy to build a stronger wall that can hold more solid puppet projects."
What exactly will you learn?
A roadmap for your successful path to Puppet Mastery
We kick off the Academy Mastermind Program with a private, one-on-one consultation of 50 minutes with Bernd.
You will first receive guidelines on how to prepare yourself for this special meeting, which will then set the tone for your individual journey. This conversation will help Bernd and Mark to better assist you in your quest.
The 12 Master Classes that will move you up to the next level:
Lesson #1: Defining our Meaning of Success
From personal goal setting to Mission Statement and Business Plan, here is your down-to-earth guidance to true success.
Lesson #2: Conceiving a Performance, Installation or Other Puppetry-Related Project
Your guide to bringing your vision to life: from script-writing, voices, and music, choosing a potential audience and venue, to considering all the logistics of staging your vision.
Lesson #3: Stage Design
You will learn how to design and build the best stage for your precise needs and specifications by looking at and analyzing a large variety of Puppet Sets.
Lesson #4: Painting Your Puppets and Your Stage
We will explore the multitude of techniques and media to bring coloration and shading to your creation. From color- pencils, and acrylics to oils, using a fine brush, airbrush, or stencil, learning about base colors, and mixing colors … you will soon be an expert yourself.
Lesson #5: Lighting Design
Proper lighting is not only vital for making your vision visible to others but a powerful tool to shape and enhance your performance. You will discover the tricks of the trade.
Lesson #6: Mold-Making and Casting
Discover new worlds of possibilities by learning the process of replicating sculptures in various materials when accuracy is needed and mass production is necessary. We guide you through the intricate steps of setting up your sculpture for casting, how to construct a two-part box mold, and choosing the best molding and casting material for your next project.
Lesson #7: The Magic of Worbla
The invention of this non-toxic thermoplastic has been a game-changer in the world of puppeteers, masks, and props makers. We will teach you everything you need to know in order to make Worbla your new best friend and add another layer of possibilities to your work.
Lesson #8: The World of Masks
Witness Bernd's journey to a traditional mask maker in Bali. Discover the ancient history of masks around the world and learn about the versatile styles and techniques in creating them. The roots of puppetry and masks are deeply intertwined. Understanding their relationship and nature will add a new layer of possibilities to your own work.
Lesson #9: Shadow Puppetry
Most likely the oldest of all puppet styles and deeply rooted in spiritual applications. Nowadays shadow puppets are often used in combination with other puppet styles to portray visions, dreams, or memories. Our detailed Introduction to the Art of playing with Shadows will open a vast universe of prospects for you to integrate this powerful medium into your own repertoire.
Lesson #10: Animation - The Art of Performing With Puppets
There are many different traditions of bringing puppets to life. We will compare Eastern and Western Methods, Ancient Traditions, and Modern Styles and then analyze the techniques and understanding needed to become an expert Puppeteer. We will hone your manipulation skills, so you will be truly able to serve and mesmerize your audience with all the magic Puppetry has to offer.
Lesson #11: Directing for the Puppet Theater
The help of a good director is the final and vital ingredient to a successful performance. It takes a deep understanding of both the nature of the puppet as well as the effective dramaturgical build-up of a story in order to become a good director for the puppet theater. It also takes the wisdom of firm kindness to manage, direct and support the sensitive, creating artist.
Here everything you have learned and experienced in our journey will climax and come together. You will be able to step into your full authority as a highly advanced puppet artist and our journey together will be completed!
Lesson #12: Overview, Conclusions, and Possibilities
From being a puppet builder to a puppet performer, utilizing puppets in parades and slams, television and film, politics and therapy, you might soon feel inspired to branch out into completely new fields.
Love from our students:
Yael Kandelman
"The AMP program so far is very enriching and more exciting things are about to come.
I really loved the opportunity to talk to Bernd personally and hear his thoughts and directions about my specific challenges.
Some really good tips there, and on the zooms and Q&As it seems like the group is growing together, and getting more professional and serious.
About the lessons themselves – Wow, what a goldmine!
It is packed with so much information – and encouragement to keep exploring by yourself, because puppetry is so broad it cannot really be all covered – but it gives ideas and inspiration and a feeling that really everything is possible, just let yourself imagine and believe!
I love it, I am happy that I signed up, and totally recommend it to anyone that wants to learn deeper about puppetry <3 "
Ayala Danoch
"The AMP program is different from what we have done until now in the Academy.
For me, this program is important because it actually takes everything I learned and amplifies it.
I can definitely say that this is "money time" for me.
After I learned to carve (still learning). I take everything I learned, so far, and apply it in a solo performance show that I am working on these days.
The AMP program advances me towards this in a professional way, such as the essential fifty minutes of one-on-one conversation with Bernd and the follow-ups on what we discussed.
Also, the monthly lessons that are released once a month help to go deeper and deeper on important topics such as set design, lighting, script, what to do with our artistic choices? etc. The Zoom meetings also took a nice turn, the conversations are both practical and philosophical. There is a very strong feeling of stepping up.
The AMP program brought me to a high level of seriousness, persistence, and focus in my work. Undoubtedly joining this program is doing good for my career and enriches my life."
Love from our students:
Yael Kandelman
"The AMP program so far is very enriching and more exciting things are about to come.
I really loved the opportunity to talk to Bernd personally and hear his thoughts and directions about my specific challenges. Some really good tips there, and on the zooms and Q&As it seems like the group is growing together, and getting more professional and serious.
About the lessons themselves – Wow, what a goldmine!
It is packed with so much information – and encouragement to keep exploring by yourself, because puppetry is so broad it cannot really be all covered – but it gives ideas and inspiration and a feeling that really everything is possible, just let yourself imagine and believe!
I love it, I am happy that I signed up, and totally recommend it to anyone that wants to learn deeper about puppetry <3 "
Ayala Danoch
"The AMP program is different from what we have done until now in the Academy.
For me, this program is important because it actually takes everything I learned and amplifies it. I can definitely say that this is "money time" for me.
After I learned to carve (still learning). I take everything I learned, so far, and apply it in a solo performance show that I am working on these days.
The AMP program advances me towards this in a professional way, such as the essential fifty minutes of one-on-one conversation with Bernd and the follow-ups on what we discussed.
Also, the monthly lessons that are released once a month help to go deeper and deeper on important topics such as set design, lighting, script, what to do with our artistic choices? etc. The Zoom meetings also took a nice turn, the conversations are both practical and philosophical. There is a very strong feeling of stepping up.
The AMP program brought me to a high level of seriousness, persistence, and focus in my work. Undoubtedly joining this program is doing good for my career and enriches my life."
Our Team
Our team needs no further introduction, as you have been traveling on this path with us for such a long time already.
Bernd started this online school in the summer of 2020 with a small team, but since then a growing crew of about 10 specialists make sure that all operations work smoothly and efficiently.
Most importantly though, Mark Blashford has joined us full-time and has since been poignantly named the "Mr. Rogers" of the Academy.
You might have also been in contact with Emily, our finance wizard and talented coordinator.
You are an essential ingredient for our success. Together we share this ongoing adventure. We support each other with feedback, encouragement, and sharing vital information.
It is this amazing community spirit we all appreciate so much! It is our sanctuary in times of incredible turmoil and insanity out there in the world!
As a member of the Academy of the Wooden Puppet, you are now invited to join our Mastermind Group:
Our Team
Our team needs no further introduction, as you have been traveling on this path with us for such a long time already.
Bernd started this online school in the summer of 2020 with a small team, but since then a growing crew of about 10 specialists make sure that all operations work smoothly and efficiently.
Most importantly though, Mark Blashford has joined us full-time and has since been poignantly named the "Mr. Rogers" of the Academy.
You might have also been in contact with Emily, our finance wizard and talented coordinator.
You are an essential ingredient for our success. Together we share this ongoing adventure. We support each other with feedback, encouragement, and sharing vital information.
It is this amazing community spirit we all appreciate so much! It is our sanctuary in times of incredible turmoil and insanity out there in the world!
As a member of the Academy of the Wooden Puppet, you are now invited to join our Mastermind Group:
What's included in the AMP:
- The program runs over twelve months starting in January 2024
- 1 new lesson is released at the beginning of each month
- You will share the experience in a private well monitored AMP Facebook group
- 1 private 50-minute consultation with Bernd in January at a time of your convenience
- 1 Q&A session in the middle of each month
- 1 Live Zoom session at the end of each month
- +1 year: One additional year of access to all the teaching material of both the Academy and the Mastermind Program until January 2026
- Certificate of Participation in the Mastermind Program
BONUSES
➡️ Free access to a 6 month interim Facebook group with all of the support of our online community and an additional monthly interactive Zoom meeting with Bernd and Mark
➡️ How to build Bernd's "Remote Operator Mechanism"
IMMEDIATE ACCESS UPON REGISTRATION
➡️ Opportunity of participating in a "Puppetry Retreat" in Iceland in the future
Questions that might be going through your head right now:
When does the program start?
The Mastermind Program starts in January 2024. If you sign up for the waiting list, we will send you a message and you will have the opportunity to register as soon as possible.
I'm already struggling with the workload of the Academy, is it wise to enter the Mastermind Program?
The Mastermind Program is your best supporting network in actually finishing the Academy projects. The additional lessons aren't directly adding to the workload as they are more focused on conveying additional tools and information.
The 12 Master Classes don't need to be completed at a given time in order to move to the next step. They are adding to your repertoire of possibilities, while you keep working on your projects in your own good time!
I'm not planning to become a professional Puppeteer. Why should I join this advanced Mastermind Program?
It's not a question of being professional. It's the question of answering your heart's calling, and the importance of releasing your artistic vision.
If you want to nurture the world around you, may it be an auditorium full of educated theater guests or your grandchild that needs your attention, you need to make sure that you are consistently nurtured yourself. This is what the Mastermind Program offers to you.
If you have any other questions concerning this program, please send our team an email at info@worldsofpuppets.com and we will answer as quickly as possible.
Rise to the next level on your path to Puppet Mastery
We have traveled far together already. Our journey has prepared you for this moment. Like always, it is a question of how much you are willing to invest in yourself and this group of like-minded creators.
There is always something in life that seems to want to stop us from pursuing what is truly important to us.
Now it is up to us to keep up our spirit, to find strength and inspiration where we know that we can find it. We are here for you. Let's take on this world with gusto, kindness, daily inspiration, and encouragement! The Academy Mastermind Program is your Sanctuary.
Rise to the next level on your path to Puppet Mastery
We have traveled far together already. Our journey has prepared you for this moment. Like always, it is a question of how much you are willing to invest in yourself and this group of like-minded creators.
There is always something in life that seems to want to stop us from pursuing what is truly important to us.
Now it is up to us to keep up our spirit, to find strength and inspiration where we know that we can find it. We are here for you. Let's take on this world with gusto, kindness, daily inspiration, and encouragement! The Academy Mastermind Program is your Sanctuary.
