What We Do

Handemonium and Barry Gordemer been making puppets for television, film and theatre since 1983. Here's a sample of what we do.

Animal Planet News

In 1997, The Discovery Channel commissioned Barry to create two characters for a new show on its sister cable network, Animal Planet. Barry built Will D. Beast and Jessica D’Antelope, a well-dressed pair of gnus (wildebeests). As hosts of “Animal Planet News,” they introduce stories about animals making headlines.

Will D. Beast and Jessica

D’Antelope: “The Gnus

with the News.

Click here

to watch a clip

Will’s trainers, Brian Foster and

Barry Gordemer.

Will and Barry play hide and seek on the set.

The beauty behind the beasts: Brian Foster, Barry Gordemer, Ingrid Crepeau and Don Becker.

You Don't Say

Meet Kaz, TV's hottest, hippest

and hairiest host. In 2004, Barry

and a talented team created an

original television talk show for

children, titled "You Don't Say."

Kaz's guests for the pilot episode

were ABC's and NPR's Cokie

Roberts, teen soccer sensation

Freddy Adu and special effects

make-up artist Frank Rogers.

Click here to watch a clip.

Kaz and Cokie Roberts talk about the mysteries of politics inside Washington DC.

Steve Hildebrand and Barry

move Kaz into position for

his big scene with Cokie.

Roving reporter Tab Lloyd goes head to

head with soccer phenom Freddy Adu.

Freddy Adu goes head to head with roving

reporter Tab Lloyd.

Special effects make-up artist Frank Rogers

makes-over audience member Bruno Falcon.

The results were more than just a little gross.

Bruno's parents were very proud.

Director Will Meyer and Excutive Producer

Sally Heldrich.

A scene from Kaz's biography, "Kaz the

Early Years."

Write-On Dudes

In 2006, the Success For

All Foundation launched a DVD series that helps kids learn to write.

Barry created the Write-On Dudes, 4 characters that represent 4 styles of writing: from action-packed to flowery.

Mona has a dark outlook on life... So dark

that a black hole seems downright cheery.

Ms. Inkwell (Liz Demery) takes a peek at the

compositions of Tasha and Flash.

Gina Campbell brings the dark side of

the force to Mona.

Tasha stands tall... thanks to a little

support from Jan Johns.

Class, are you ready? Good. Ready, set, write!

Hooked On Phonics

In 2005, Barry created the Rattini Brothers for a couple of DVDs that help children learn to read.

The Rattinis, based on characters used in Hooked on Phonics books and CD's, are a high-flying trio of circus performers. They drop in and out of nowhere to introduce kids to new sounds and letters.

Barry helps the Ratinnis get into the swing of things. (My apologies for the bad pun).

Steve Hildebrand, Barry and Michael Cotter help with the Rattini's lounge singer act.

Popcorn in hand, the Rattini Brothers are

off to the movies!

The Sound and the Furry

In 2002 and 2003, Barry created a cast of critters for a series of awarding-winning DVDs titled "The Sound and The Furry." Barry performed the main character, Alphie the Alligator, and led a talented team of puppeteers in a series of skits that help kids learn to read.

Alphie the Alligator makes learning how to read fun.

The skits are part of a

curriculum created by the Success for All Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to improve reading education for at-risk students. SFA is the largest school reform program in the nation.

Click here to watch a clip

Alphie sounds out a toy he wants to

buy from Hal the store keeper.

Alphie is a contestant on the gameshow

"Hollyword Squares." with Bob Barker.

Finger Detective helps un-

cover the mysteries of reading

Monster and Michael Cotter rehearse while Richard

Gibson checks the script.

Sometimes it gets a little crowded. Squeezed in from left to right, Ingrid Crepeau, Michele Valeri, Barry, Michael Cotter, and Don Becker. Steve Hildebrand is buried somewhere in there too!

Lasktuwa

On the left is Eddie Fenech Adami, the Prime Minister of Malta. On the right is Alfrend Sant, the Prime Minister’s chief political rival. Together, “Eddy and Freddy” are the hosts of "Lasktuwa," a prime-time political satire program on Super1Television in the republic of Malta. Click here to see how Eddie and Freddie were made.

Politics Malta style: Head to head and

nose to nose!

Dinosaur Rock

In 1998, Barry created five puppets for the pilot episode of a children’s television show titled “Dinosaur Rock.“ Barry built and performed Alphie P. Alphadon a prehistoric possum. He also built Einstein, a talking bust of the father of relativity, Harry the Honker, a baby dinosaur, a talking stapler and a talking Rolodex.

Click here to watch a clip.


Alphie P. Alphadon, ready for his TV debut.	Harry the Honker whales with the best of them.

Barry tries some dino soft-

shoe in some big shoes.

Alphie and Barry check their performance on

a monitor.

The father of relativity with his father.

Click Here to See how

Einstein was Made.

Mouse Tales

In 1996, Nationsbank commissioned Barry to create “Frank the Mouse”

and the “Data Zappers”....seven puppet characters for a series of training videos. The Data Zappers were villains dedicated to compromising computer security at NationsBank. Frank the Mouse was the security guard who foiled their evil plans.