1.
GV PAN A.P. STUDIOS AT SLOUGH
0.04

2.
CV SIGN A.P. STUDIOS
0.07

3.
GV INT. SPECIAL EFFECTS STAGE; OPERATOR ABOVE WATER TANK MOTIVATES MODEL "THUNDERBIRDS" USED IN SERIES
0.11

4.
SV OPERATOR
0.15

5.
CV CAMERAMEN WEARING SAFETY HELMETS
0.17

6.
SV MODEL TAKES OFF FROM WATER TANK
0.21

7.
GV MODEL WORKSHOP
0.26

8.
CV MODEL BOAT USED IN SERIES
0.28

9.
SV MODEL ROLLS & ROYCE WITH CV HEADLIGHTS TESTED
0.38

10.
CV MODEL BOATHOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
0.42

11.
SV DOOR TO PUPPET WORKSHOP PAN TO INTERIOR
0.49

12.
SV GIRL MAKING PUPPET HEAD (2 SHOTS)
0.56

13.
DV "LADY PENELOPE" HAVING HAIR COMBED (2 SHOTS)
1.09

14.
SV PUPPETEERS' CONTROL BRIDGE
1.13

15.
CV PUPPETEERS WORKING PUPPETS (2 SHOTS)
1.20

16.
TV PUPPET SET ('DINING ROOM)
1.24

17.
CV CAMERAMAN
1.27

18.
CV PUPPETS IN ACTION
1.32

19.
CV TAPE RECORDER USED TO DUB VOICES
1.35

20.
SV SYLVIA ANDERSON & (L) DAVE ELLIOTT CV AND GERRY ANDERSON (R) TALKING
1.43



Initials RC/V/CR/SA RC/V/CR/K



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: "PULLING THE STRINGS" BEHIND BRITAIN'S NEW TELEVISION SERIES "THUNDERBIRDS" IS A TEAM OF PUPPETEERS, EMPLOYING A COMPREHENSIVE BOX OF TRICKS TO PRESENT A NEW, FASCINATING ADDITION TO FAMILY VIEWING.

"THUNDERBIRDS" BRAINCHILD OF HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM, GERRY AND SYLVIA ANDERSON, IS PRODUCED FOR ITV AT THE SPECIALLY EQUIPPED A.P. FILM STUDIO AT SLOUGH, NEAR LONDON.

THE NEW SERIES OF "THUNDERBIRDS" WILL COST GBP1,000,000 STERLING -- GBP38,000 AN EPISODE.

THE PRODUCERS ARE USING A BATCH OF TECHNICAL SKILLS NEVER BEFORE ATTEMPTED FOR A TV PUPPET SERIES. THE RESULT IS LIFELIKE REALISM FOR TINY MODEL CHARACTERS, CARS AND FLYING MACHINES IN THE WORLD OF SCIENCE FICTION.

THE "THUNDERBIRDS" MINI-WORLD IS BEING FILMED ON THREE STAGES, TWO HOUSED UNDER ONE FACTORY ROOF, THE THIRD IN A BORROWED TIMBER STORAGE DEPOT. THE FILM CREW WEAR SPECIAL CLOTHING AND HELMETS TO PROTECT THEM FROM EXPLOSIVES USED IN PRODUCTION.

IN ANOTHER WORKSHOP, DESIGNERS CONSTRUCT TANKS AND ARMOURED CARS, 18 INCHES LONG; MINIATURE CIGARETTES THAT SMOULDER WHEN HELD BETWEEN PUPPET FINGERS; 12-INCH HIGH CHAIRS IN VELVET AND RICH BROCADE, PADDED SO AS TO GIVE A REALISTIC EFFECT WHEN A PUPPET SITS DOWN.

THE CHARACTERS -- LADY PENELOPE, HER MAN PARKER AND THE TRACY AMULY TO NAME A FEW -- HAVE BECOME FAVOURITES WITH BRITISH TELEVISION AUDIENCES.

SO INTENT ON ACCURACY ARE THE PRODUCERS THAT EACH OF THE PUPPETS HAS TWO SPARE HEADS WITH DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS. AFTER A TIME, VIEWERS FORGET THAT THE STARS ARE MARIONETTES, VIEWING THEM INSTEAD AS "PEOPLE" WITH REAL PERSONALITIES.

MIRRORS -- ROCKETS (EACH COST 7/9) -- WATER TANKS -- ROCKET PLANES -- ALL GO TO MAKE UP AN INTRICATE "THUNDERBIRDS" EPISODE.

COLOUR IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR. THE SERIES IS ON COLOUR TV IN JAPAN, AND WILL SHORTLY BE SEEN ON COLOUR SCREENS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE SERIES WAS ALREADY BEEN SOLD FOR GBP350,000 IN CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, VENEZUELA AND MEXICO, AND APPEARED ON DUTCH SCREENS BEING SEEN IN BRITAIN.