On March 1, 1990, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and Michael Frith recorded a video to discuss various aspects of the creative process that goes into producing projects for The Muppets. Labelled "For Internal Use Only!," the discussion was for the benefit of industry professionals during a time in which Henson was facilitating a sale of the Muppet characters to The Walt Disney Company.[note 1]
Divided into sections on some key Muppet characters, and using clips from The Muppet Show and other productions, the three men discuss the origin and disposition of the Muppets as individuals and how to properly depict aspects of their personalities not just in their puppet forms, but as illustrated on the printed page and translated for "walkabouts," as Oz refers to them.
Despite its instructions not to do so, the recording in its entirety (thirty-eight minutes, including clips) has been available to the public unofficially in some capacity on various online outlets. Elements of the video have been used in subsequent materials, such as the Muppet Stuff documentary produced by The Jim Henson Legacy in the late 1990s.
Appearing as demonstration pieces, Oz exhibits Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear, while Henson performs Kermit the Frog and Rowlf the Dog, and manipulates Gonzo (sans voice), normally performed by "Davey" Goelz. The other characters discussed are The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Animal (and other members of The Electric Mayhem), and Statler and Waldorf.
Sources[]
- ↑ Jim Henson: The Biography page 457 establishes Henson as "spending more and more time at the Disney facilities in Orlando" following the opening of The Witches in February of 1990.