Jim Henson Revealed

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Added: Tue. Feb 17, 2009 2:31pm
Posted in: Television

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Hard to believe that it wasn’t a statesman, scientist or philosopher that was one of the most influential people of our lifetime, it was a puppeteer! How unlikely is that? Can you name anyone else famous for their puppetry? Mention Jim Henson and people still shake their heads. It’s been nearly 20 years since his untimely death and his loss is still greatly felt, partly for what he did, and partly because of what he might have done.

After searching for her own path, Jim’s daughter Heather Henson also made the choice to develop the centuries-old art form. She’s an accomplished puppeteer in her own right, with her own company and her own vision. She still thinks of her father every day. In a rare interview, she talks about his life, his death and his legacy. And the more she studies his works, the more in awe she is.

She still feels the pain of her loss. She still struggles to understand the reason. But her purpose has become crystal clear. She wants to use her passion for puppetry to help other talented puppeteers along. And she wants to bring it to the attention of a culture that has turned the other way.

That was her father’s legacy, but not his goal. He was a filmmaker, communicator and storyteller. Puppetry became his medium, but his message was optimism, intellectualism and humanism.

And his methods are revealed in a fascinating touring exhibit created by the Smithsonian Institute and the Jim Henson Legacy. It’s a rare opportunity to see into the mind of a genius, from pencil sketches to scripts to storyboards, from commercial spots to art film to actual muppets. Check it out in a unique, fascinating must-see video.