The term 'PERSON PULLING THE STRINGS' can be summarized as a 'PUPPETEER', which is a 9 letter word. A puppeteer is a PERSON who manipulates an inanimate object, called a puppet, to create the illusion of life. Puppeteers have been around for centuries, and are often used in theater, television, and film. They use their hands, arms, and sometimes even their feet to control the puppet's movements. Puppeteers also use their voices to give the puppet a personality and make it come alive.