  | |
| Released | May 31, 2024 |
| Duration | 108 minutes[1] |
| Director | Ron Howard |
| Music | David Fleming |
| Studio | Imagine Documentaries Disney Original Documentaries |
| Rated | TV-PG |
Jim Henson: Idea Man is a documentary covering the life and career of Jim Henson, released by Disney+ on May 31, 2024.[2]
Ron Howard directed the film "with the full participation and cooperation of the Henson family" using never before seen archival material and notes from Henson's journal.[3] The film is produced by Imagine Documentaries, in association with Diamond Docs, for Disney Television under the "Disney Original Documentary" banner.
The film's title is borrowed from a three minute short created by Henson in 1966 called The Idea Man. In establishing a look and feel for the film, Howard notes, "I was constantly looking for ways to honor Jim Henson’s aesthetic and sensibility and playfulness in the original footage, whether they were interviews or some of the animations that we did to help tell the story." One element of Henson's career that was utilized was a set for interviews modeled after The Cube.[2]
Interviewees include Frank Oz, Rita Moreno, Jennifer Connelly,[2] Dave Goelz, Lisa Henson, Brian Henson,[4] Heather Henson, Alex Rockwell,[5] and Fran Brill.[6] The Henson family gave filmmakers unprecedented access to The Jim Henson Company Archives maintained by Karen Falk to feature rare home movies, photographs, production documents and personal effects.[3] Steve Whitmire contributed some of his own personal footage to be used in the film.[7] The film utilizes extended excerpts from interviews with Henson on The Orson Welles Show and during his photo session with Norman Seeff.
In addition to Howard, Imagine Documentaries' Brian Grazer, Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, and Margaret Bodde served as producers, with Michael Rosenberg and Marjon Javadi as executive producers. Also attached were Mark Monroe as writer-producer and Paul Crowder as editor-executive producer.[3] David Fleming composed the score for the film.[8]
The film premiered prior to its streaming release at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival on May 18.[9] It also received a limited theatrical release through AMC Theatres (in Los Angeles and New York City) from May 24 to 30.[10] The film aired on ABC on August 11, 2024 as part of The Wonderful World of Disney.[11]
Official Description
“Jim Henson Idea Man” takes us into the mind of this singular creative visionary, from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard captures Henson's restless creativity, ambition, and artistic evolution in the style and spirit of his complex subject, an artist who revolutionized television, inspired generations, and created some of the world’s most beloved characters. Featuring new interviews with Henson's closest collaborators and children, as well as never-before-seen materials from his personal archives—including home movies, photographs, sketches, and diaries— Howard brings us an entertaining and insightful look at a man whose boundless imagination changed the world.Disney+ Press Kit
Interviewees
Filmmaker / Performer
Puppet Artist / Producer
Producer / Executive
Puppetry Arts Funder
Puppet Builder / Costume Designer
Actress / Singer
Creative Assistant 1988-1990
Puppeteer
Puppeteer / Director / Producer
Puppeteer / Actress
Creative Director
Actress
Note: In addition to the newly recorded interviews with Henson's children and colleagues, the documentary utilizes archival interviews with several late collaborators, including Jerry Juhl,[12] Jon Stone,[12] Caroll Spinney,[13] and Lew Grade,[14] plus material from numerous archival interviews with Jim and Jane Henson.
Trailer
Credits
- Directed by: Ron Howard
- Written by: Mark Monroe
- Producers: Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Sara Bernstein, Margaret Bodde, Justin Wilkes, Mark Monroe, Christopher St. John
- Executive Producers: Paul Crowder, Meredith Kaulfers, Michael Rosenberg
- Score composed by: David Fleming
- Score produced by: Hans Zimmer
- Edited by: Sietta Neal, Paul Crowder
- Limbo Puppet Built by Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- Limbo Puppeteers: Brian Henson, Neil Sterenberg
- Special Thanks: Brian Henson, Cheryl Henson, Heather Henson, Lisa Henson And The Entire Jim Henson Family
- Producers Wish to Acknowledge: Cynthia Barron, Peter Brooke, Pete Coogan, Melissa Creighton, Kourtney Day, Carla DellaVedova, Karen Falk, Nicole Goldman, Savannah Heller, Joe Hennes, Brian Jay Jones, Tomoko Kawamoto, Rollie Krewson, Chris Lytton, Nolan Marks, Barbara Miller, The Muppets Studio, John Nelson, Connie Peterson, Jordon Pritsker, Shannon Robles, Debra Shapiro, Craig Shemin, Amy Smith, Susie Tofte, Steve Whitmire
Promotion & Tie-ins
The release date for the film along with an exclusive "first look" was published by Vanity Fair on April 11, 2024.[2]
A trailer for the film was released on April 24, 2024.[15] The film was also promoted as the lead title in the May 2024 installment of "Next On Disney+" released on May 1, 2024.[16]
On April 20, 2024, Deadline released a video interview as part of their "Contenders Television" series with director Ron Howard talking about the film.
Ron Howard posted a Q&A video to his Instagram on May 28, 2024. (Instagram) The film premiered on May 18 prior to its streaming release at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival with Ron Howard and Lisa Henson in attendance.[9] Howard and Lisa Henson appeared in an extended video interview with Deadline Hollywood about the film from the festival.
On May 24, 2024, the Vidiots Foundation in Los Angeles's Eagle Rock neighborhood hosted a screening of the film followed by a panel discussion moderated by Jim Hemphill with Ron Howard (director), Margaret Bodde (producer), Paul Crowder (producer and editor) and David Fleming (composer).
On May 29, just days before its premiere on Disney+, Howard made appearances on Good Morning America and Live! with Kelly and Mark to promote the documentary. Following the film's release, Howard appeared on the June 2, 2024, episode of the "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend" podcast to discuss the film, and appeared on the June 6 episodes of The Beat, The View and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Howard and Cheryl Henson later appeared on the June 18 edition of The Kelly Clarkson Show. Howard appeared in a sketch for the June 19th episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote the film.
A soundtrack album of David Fleming's score was released concurrent with the film on streaming platforms. A reprint of Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal released on August 27, 2024, includes a promotional sticker advertising the film and a new foreword written by director Ron Howard.
promotional sticker
Accolades
Won
- Primetime Emmy Awards[17]
- Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
- Outstanding Motion Design
- Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program
- Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special
- Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program
Nominated
- Astra TV Awards
- Best Documentary
- Cannes Film Festival
- L'Œil d'or, le prix du documentaire — Cannes
- Primetime Emmy Awards[18]
- Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program
- Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
- Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program
- Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program
Sources
- ↑ Jim Henson Idea Man on Disney+
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Vanity Fair "First Look: Ron Howard Enters the World of Jim Henson" by Esther Zuckerman, April 11, 2024
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Deadline "Ron Howard, Brian Grazer Team For Documentary On Jim Henson" by Matthew Carey, March 30, 2022
- ↑ Official Trailer, April 24, 2024
- ↑ Jim Henson Idea Man | Official Clip
- ↑ LaughingPlace.com Movie Review: Ron Howard’s “Jim Henson Idea Man” Documentary Showcases the Life and Work of a Modern Genius May 18, 2024
- ↑ Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show: Steve Whitmire (Puppeteer) || Ep. 177 (00:19:50)
- ↑ Medium Composer David Fleming On “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” Hans Zimmer & More — “Paltrocast” Exclusive February 12, 2024
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Festival de Cannes "Cannes Classics 2024" Press Release, April 25, 2024
- ↑ The Jim Henson Legacy Newsletter #56
- ↑ Deadline "Ron Howard's Emmy-Nominated Jim Henson Documentary To Make Broadcast Premiere On ABC's 'Wonderful World Of Disney'" by Matthew Carey, August 1, 2024
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Footage originally recorded for the 1994 documentary The World of Jim Henson
- ↑ Footage originally recorded in 2001 for The Archive of American Television
- ↑ Footage originally recorded for the 1984 documentary Henson's Place
- ↑ "Jim Henson Idea Man: Official Trailer" - April 24, 2024 (YouTube)
- ↑ "Next On Disney+: May 2024" - May 1, 2024 (YouTube)
- ↑ @disneyorigdocs on Instagram, September 7, 2024
- ↑ Emmys.com
