Santa
Claus Switch screening in Beverly Hills
Henson's
Santa Claus Switch from 1970 and selections from Heather Henson's
Handmade Puppet Dreams will highlight a holiday screening at the
Fine Arts Theater
Courtesy
of The Fine Arts Theater
December
14, 2006
A rarely
seen Henson special, "The Great Santa Claus Switch" and
several selections from Heather Henson's "Handmade Puppet Dreams"
will be viewed at a special Christmas screening this upcoming Sunday
December 17 at the Beverly Hills Fine Art Theater. Tickets
are $5.
THE
GREAT SANTA CLAUS SWITCH
This
collaboration between Jim Henson and Ed Sullivan stars Art Carney
in a dual role, playing both Santa and the wicked magician who schemes
to replace him. This special has only screened one time since the
December 20, 1970 airing on CBS.
Conceptual
designs and sketches from Santa Claus Switch will also be on display.
Jim
Henson's Muppets had made many successful guest appearances on The
Ed Sullivan Show and in Christmas of 1970, when Sesame Street was
was beginning it's second season, Ed gave Jim Henson and the Muppets
a whole hour of his show, becoming the very first Muppet Christmas
TV special.
The
Great Santa Claus Switch was written by Jerry Juhl, music by Joe
Raposo and puppets by Don Sahlin. It was the debut of Muppeteers
Richard Hunt and Fran Brill who auditioned at a workshop earlier
that summer. The puppets of Thog, the Frackles and what would become
The Great Gonzo made their debut in this special.
HANDMADE
PUPPET DREAMS
Handmade
Puppet Dreams is a touring festival of independent artists films
exploring their handmade craft specifically for the camera. These
films have allowed artists to build their vision, then breathe life
into their dreams.
The
following films will be screened on Sunday.
HARKER
Tony Giordano, Jason Murphy & Scott Shoemaker
15 min (2005)
www.harkermovie.com
This
retelling of the story of Jonathan Harker was fashioned as homage
to German Expressionist silent films. It recreates the mood and
feel of these films by using expressionless puppets and exuding
their emotions with camera work, lighting, music, and skillful
puppeteer.
Tony, a performer/writer,
Jason, a photographer/cinematographer, and Scott, an accomplished
artist and puppet builder all reside in Orlando, Florida. By taking
these strengths and putting them together, the trio has been able
to form a strong team that can accomplish something that they
all have in common... the need to entertain.
OLA’S
BOX OF CLOVERS
Genevieve
Anderson
10 min
(2004)
www.puppetropolis.com
Told with
rod-manipulated puppets, this simple story takes place in the
interior world of an old woman after her death, and follows her
granddaughter's journey to understanding her unfulfilled dreams.
Genevieve
Anderson has made three short films with puppets that have played
at over 75 festivals worldwide to critical acclaim. She received
her Rockefeller Media Artist Grant in 2004 to develop her first
feature with puppets an adaptation of Czechoslovakian novella
about a book crusher.
PRELUDE
# 2
Hoku
Uchiyama
1:17
min (2003)
www.rosethemovie.com
Two
teenagers leave a party drunk, for a frightening drive home. A
visual collage of hand and shadow puppetry mixed with flesh and
blood actors.
Hoku Uchiyama is a
graduate of the Art Center College of Design. He's directed eight
short films, two documentaries and two commercials, collectively
winning over nine film festival awards world wide, including 2nd
place at the Cannes Young Directors Awards for "Prelude #2".
EVERLOVING
Steve
Johnson
3:36
min (2003)
www.edgefx.net
Shot in reverse at
double speed, the characters were puppeteered upside down. The
entire piece was filmed underwater, then the physical puppets
were composed into the digital environment. Inspired by the paintings
of Beksinski and the music of Moby.
Steve Johnson
founded Edge FX, Inc. in 1986, bringing it to the forefront of
the prosthetic and animatronic effects industry. Johnson's effects
can be seen in "THE CAT IN THE HAT", "SCOOBY TOO"
and "SPIDERMAN 2."
THE
AMAZING, MYSTERIOUS & TRUE STORY OF MARY ANNING & HER
MONSTERS
Laura
Heit
8 min
(2003)
www.lauraheit.com
When most children
were afriad of monsters Mary sought them put. She had an eye for
the unexplainable and in the end her discoveries would change
more than she bargained for.
Laura Heit received
her MA from Royal College of Art in London. She has recently completed
a new animated film "Look for Me" commissioned by Channel
4 Television London. She has worked with Redmoon Theater (chicago),
En Fuego (Chicago), and was seen in puppet festivals performing
her one woman piece "The Match Box Shows"
GRAVEYARD
JAMBOREE WITH MYSTERIOUS MOSE
Directed by Seamus Walsh & Mark Caballero
4 minutes (1999)
www.screen-novelties.com
Inspired
by an old record by Harry Reser and his Radio All-Star Novelty
Orchestra. Three techniques were used in this film including,
live action puppetry, silhouette animation and stop motion animation.
Seamus Walsh &
Mark Caballero have been working together since 1995 with Chris
Finnegan. They formed the company, Screen Novelties. Their unique
approach combines the whimsy of classic cartoons with the texture
and dimensionality of puppet animation. Currently they are directing
the animation for Cartoon Network's "Robot Chicken".

FINE
ARTS THEATRE
8556 Wilshire Blvd - Beverly Hills 90211 - (310) 360-0455
Admission
Prices:
$5.00 per person
Validated Parking at the Flynt Building - $2.00 per car
Childrens shows, no children under 3 admitted
For
more info, please visit:
Indie
Cinema Showcase

MORE
HENSON NEWS
• Sid the Science Kid special airs October 26
• Jim Henson's Dinoaur Train premieres September 7
• Dark Crystal and Labyrinth arrive on Blu-ray September 29
• Emmet Otter musical debuts at Goodspeed Opera House
• Houston Henson screenings December 5-7
• The Christmas Toy comes to DVD
• Henson announces Emmet Otter musical
• Henson's "Sid the Science Kid" coming to PBS in September
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