In 'Meeting Your Maker,' a Puppet Experiences an Existential Crisis.

      Gregory J.M. Kasunich realized his puppet film, “Meeting Your Maker,” was on the right track when he caught himself directing Otis, the troubled puppet, instead of Amanda Maddock, the skilled puppeteer controlling him. “Amanda’s portrayal was so compelling that I sometimes found myself talking to Otis rather than Amanda,” Kasunich notes.

      “Meeting Your Maker” will be screened on Saturday at the 35th annual Woods Hole Film Festival in Cape Cod. It’s part of a short film collection titled Summer Camp, which showcases narratives that highlight “the universe’s charm when things turn a bit peculiar.”

      The film indeed explores the peculiar, starting with a farcical tone before transitioning into darker and more empathetic themes.

      Otis, the puppet, has been featured in almost 300 episodes of a cherished children's program but feels lost, lamenting his missed chance to appear on The Muppet Show and feeling like he’s running in place without any progress.

      Woods Hole is celebrated for showcasing both daring and crowd-pleasing films, and “Meeting Your Maker” embodies both of these goals. We spoke with Kasunich, who both wrote and directed the film, about drawing on his favorite childhood shows to create Otis, the therapeutic role of puppets, and casting Jonathan Kite, who provides Otis's voice and operates him.

      **Gregory Kasunich on ‘Meeting Your Maker’**

      Gregory J.M. Kasunich directs the puppets and their human counterparts on the set of “Meeting Your Maker.” All images courtesy of Jordyn Moore.

      **MovieMaker:** What inspired you to use a puppet to address an existential crisis?

      **Gregory J.M. Kasunich:** I’ve always been intrigued by how puppets enable us to tackle complex ideas. They serve as tools to teach children about bullying, grief, divorce, and fear—there's a unique magic in puppetry that allows us to engage in discussions about topics we might otherwise shy away from.

      Puppetry has been a passion of mine since childhood. Growing up in Pittsburgh, I was influenced by Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and became a lifelong admirer of The Muppets and, more recently, Don’t Hug Me, I’m Scared. Those inspirations were all swirling in my mind.

      I began to ponder whether puppets could assist adults with their own significant questions. It clicked: what if a depressed and anxious puppet explored existential themes?

      **MovieMaker:** Otis appears to struggle with alcohol and suicidal thoughts, with his issues stemming from a stagnant career. Did you intentionally assign him a mental health diagnosis during writing? He seems to embody a type of depression that could be alleviated by landing a spot on The Muppet Show.

      **Gregory J.M. Kasunich:** I didn’t assign Otis a specific mental health diagnosis. Much of Otis's character stems from my experiences, from working in the industry and witnessing friends and colleagues grapple with uncertainty about the future. This sense of helplessness can resemble depression, while fears about the future can feel like anxiety. These feelings aren’t exclusive to artists; they’re something many face when they lose sight of their purpose. The film addresses both purpose and meaning alongside these emotions.

      I also believe that Otis's issues wouldn’t be resolved simply by getting on The Muppet Show. We often think happiness lies just beyond the next achievement: once I land the job, win the award, or finally succeed, then I’ll be happy. However, external validation is temporary. I believe it’s purpose and community that truly sustain us.

      To me, Otis isn’t just seeking success—he’s looking for meaning. He has lost his connection to what once provided his life with purpose and feels insignificant, which is the emotional realm I aimed to explore. Whether you’re a puppeteer, a dentist, or in any profession, we’ve all had moments of questioning, “Why am I doing this?”

      **MovieMaker:** Can you elaborate on the process of bringing him to life?

      **Gregory J.M. Kasunich:** Creating Otis was likely the most logistically demanding aspect of the filmmaking process. We had to develop a character from the ground up, beginning by determining his nature—was he an animal, a monster, or something more human? We collaborated closely with our puppet producer and principal puppeteer, Amanda Maddock, to refine Otis’s appearance, size, color, etc. Once we finalized the design, we crafted him from scratch, which included designing, sewing, rigging, and costuming. Joel Santos contributed significantly during this phase. Ultimately, we constructed multiple Otis puppets to accommodate different film requirements.

      During production, Tristan DeDe and Emily Müller built the set from scratch. It had to be puppet-scale and elevated for performers to work beneath it. The puppeteers required monitors displaying a live camera feed to see exactly what the audience would see while performing