HopperFan
"It's a bug-eat-bug world out there, princess."
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2003
- Messages
- 27,797
April Fools Night attended "Affectionate Anarchy: Muppet Prank Culture" at the Center for Puppetry Arts. It was a panel discussion (audience of about 300 / online viewers 200) with some of THE top Henson folks followed by Q&A. It lasted about 2 hours and was just incredible to be in the room with these folks. They talked how working at Henson studios was an environment of laughter, teasing, pranks and incredible bonding. They showed home movies of them at work, playing pranks, of Jim ... things that are not in general circulation. There was also a special exhibit of things they brought, some of the prank items they made and hearing the stories ... it was VERY COOL!
Dave Goelz - aka Gonzo, Honeydew, Waldorf, Fraggles and more. I went to a discussion with just him before, sat in front of Disney Muppets execs. He is a wonderful storyteller.
Bonnie Erickson ~ a Broadway costume designer that went to work for Jim. She created Miss Piggy, Waldorf & Statler.
Fran Brill - LONG term Henson person. Sesame Street Puppeteer (Prairie Dawn & Zoe). Just won Lifetime Achievement for being Muppet performer.
Steve Whitmire - Went to work for Henson as a "kid". He became Kermit after Jim passed, for 27 years. He CREATED Rizzo basically by making a small rat then photobombed scenes. He was Ernie, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Wembley Fraggle and Sprocket. He was in almost every project for 40 years like Dark Crystal and Labyrinth and more.
Rollie Krewson - Started as intern in the 70's and was is a designer, builder, project leader, wrangler and performer.
Frank Oz was there virtually - He is Miss Piggy, Yoda (in movies) and lots of other movies even Inside Outs. His video kept freezing with weird faces but audio worked. Added awesome humor to show especially since he and Dave go back and forth with each other.
If you ever are coming through or staying in Atlanta you really should visit the Center for Puppetry Arts. The front new part of the building is green and has a huge exhibit all about Jim Henson and so many great pieces there. The family is a huge supporter.
During the Q&A the first question was about Muppetvision 3D! First they said hurry to go see it. Then they began talking about making it. How difficult it was. How it was the hardest project they ever worked on. One guy in audience was actually Bean Bunny and he said that when the bubbles start, he actually was blowing the bubbles. Took 2 days because the heat from the 3D cameras kept popping them. He had a tube from his mouth to mouth of Bean and he had to force air out to blow, while awkwardly moving the arm with the bubble wand. They said there was two cameras (each eye) and they were huge and so loud that they couldn't hear each other talk. They had to go back and retrack the voices. They were also very hot and they were all so miserable. AND they could not cut and edit scenes because the 3D at time couldn't. So they had to shoot from start to finish each scene - and if they messed up, the whole thing over again. Talking about Muppetvision was icing on the cake. Great night!!!
This was in the special exhibit of things from Henson studios.
Dave Goelz - aka Gonzo, Honeydew, Waldorf, Fraggles and more. I went to a discussion with just him before, sat in front of Disney Muppets execs. He is a wonderful storyteller.
Bonnie Erickson ~ a Broadway costume designer that went to work for Jim. She created Miss Piggy, Waldorf & Statler.
Fran Brill - LONG term Henson person. Sesame Street Puppeteer (Prairie Dawn & Zoe). Just won Lifetime Achievement for being Muppet performer.
Steve Whitmire - Went to work for Henson as a "kid". He became Kermit after Jim passed, for 27 years. He CREATED Rizzo basically by making a small rat then photobombed scenes. He was Ernie, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Wembley Fraggle and Sprocket. He was in almost every project for 40 years like Dark Crystal and Labyrinth and more.
Rollie Krewson - Started as intern in the 70's and was is a designer, builder, project leader, wrangler and performer.
Frank Oz was there virtually - He is Miss Piggy, Yoda (in movies) and lots of other movies even Inside Outs. His video kept freezing with weird faces but audio worked. Added awesome humor to show especially since he and Dave go back and forth with each other.
If you ever are coming through or staying in Atlanta you really should visit the Center for Puppetry Arts. The front new part of the building is green and has a huge exhibit all about Jim Henson and so many great pieces there. The family is a huge supporter.
During the Q&A the first question was about Muppetvision 3D! First they said hurry to go see it. Then they began talking about making it. How difficult it was. How it was the hardest project they ever worked on. One guy in audience was actually Bean Bunny and he said that when the bubbles start, he actually was blowing the bubbles. Took 2 days because the heat from the 3D cameras kept popping them. He had a tube from his mouth to mouth of Bean and he had to force air out to blow, while awkwardly moving the arm with the bubble wand. They said there was two cameras (each eye) and they were huge and so loud that they couldn't hear each other talk. They had to go back and retrack the voices. They were also very hot and they were all so miserable. AND they could not cut and edit scenes because the 3D at time couldn't. So they had to shoot from start to finish each scene - and if they messed up, the whole thing over again. Talking about Muppetvision was icing on the cake. Great night!!!
This was in the special exhibit of things from Henson studios.
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