Bamcinématek and the Jim Henson Foundation Present the Third Edition of Puppets on Film, a Survey of Live Puppetry in Cinema, Oct 25—27
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BAMcinématek and The Jim Henson Foundation present the third edition of Puppets on Film, a survey of live puppetry in cinema, Oct 25—27 Special family programs Oct 26 & 27 include a shadow puppet workshop and live performance Free screening of Brian Henson’s Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars, presented by pivot Special guests include Rick Moranis, Brian Henson, Muppet performer Peter Linz (Walter in 2011’s The Muppets), director Frank H. Woodward (Men in Suits), creature effects coordinator Tom Woodruff Jr. (Aliens), and more The Wall Street Journal is the title sponsor for BAMcinématek and BAM Rose Cinemas. Target is the presenting sponsor of BAMkids. Brooklyn, NY/Oct 2, 2013—From Friday, October 25 through Sunday, October 27, BAMcinématek and The Jim Henson Foundation present the third annual Puppets on Film festival, following the highly successful second edition last fall. This year, the three-day festival celebrates the universal, magical art of puppetry and the myriad ways in which the art form has been incorporated into live-action filmmaking. The lineup includes nine features, 30 shorts, special guests, a family workshop and live performance, and a Little Shop of Horrors sing-along extravaganza. The series kicks off on Friday, October 25 with Frank Oz’s New York City-set Little Shop of Horrors: The Director’s Cut (1986), with Rick Moranis in person. Moranis stars as a geeky florist who discovers his precious plant Audrey II can talk and sing—and has an appetite for human blood. Puppet designer Lyle Conway produced six different versions of the rapidly growing, man- eating plant, with the final, monstrous creation weighing in at one ton and requiring 60 technicians (many Jim Henson Company veterans, including his son Brian) to operate it. The 8pm screening will be introduced by Moranis in a very rare public appearance and features an interactive, Rocky Horror-esque sing-along with a cast of actors (and the audience!) in costume, surprises and, of course, lots of singing.. On Saturday, October 26, Puppets on Film presents a special free screening of Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars (2004), directed by Brian Henson and presented by pivot. The epic finale to the cult television miniseries features alien warfare, a wormhole in space, and the earthling trying to keep the alliances together. Henson will appear in person to introduce this screening as well as Walter Murch’s dark sequel to The Wizard of Oz, Return to Oz (1985—Oct 26), for which Henson performed the character Jack Pumpkinhead. This year’s festival also features a variety of programs for kids, including puppet shorts programs, John Henderson’s Tales of the Riverbank (2008—Oct 26), featuring the voices of Jim Broadbent and Steve Coogan as river-dwelling rodents, and Jim Henson’s diamond heist mystery The Great Muppet Caper (1981—Oct 27), the only Muppet feature film directed by the creator himself. Muppet performer Peter Linz (Walter in 2011’s The Muppets) will introduce the screening. As part of BAMcinématek’s bimonthly BAMkids Movie Matinee series, the Puppets on Film Shortstack! Kids Shorts Program (Oct 26) showcases 14 films for a younger crowd, with two world premieres, two New York premieres, Sesame Street shorts, and a puppet adaptation of Aesop’s classic The Country Mouse and the City Mouse. For audiences 11 and up, the Live Action Puppet Shorts program (Oct 27) reflects many different puppetry styles and boasts five world premieres, two US premieres, three New York premieres, music videos, a shadow puppet short, and FITZCARDBOARDALDO, an all-cardboard tribute to the 1981 Werner Herzog film. Among the screenings on Saturday and Sunday are several exciting live performances and workshops for the whole family: a Shadow Puppet Workshop (Oct 26) in which children make their own creations with the help of master animator and puppeteer Laurie O’Brien, and Chinese Theatre Works: Tiger Tales (Oct 27), a live performance celebrating the ancient art of shadow puppetry. Puppets may be perennial children’s favorites, but they appear in a diverse range of films for adults, too. Among the screenings for older generations are two iconic monster movies: Ishirô Honda’s Godzilla (1954—Oct 27), which is brought to life by a stuntman in a suit (another form of puppetry), and James Cameron’s Oscar-nominated film Aliens (1986—Oct 27), whose 14-foot alien queen was operated by 18 puppeteers and a series of hydraulics and cables. Creature effects coordinator Tom Woodruff Jr. will introduce the screening of Aliens. Documentary highlights of Puppets on Film include the New York premieres of Frank H. Woodward’s Men in Suits (2012—Oct 27), which features the actors behind characters like Godzilla, Predator, and Res Balzli’s Bouton (2011—Oct 26), in which a Swiss puppeteer who confronts a severe illness with the help of her hand-made puppet. Puppets on Film is curated by BAMcinématek, Cheryl Henson, and Lindsey “Z.” Briggs. For press information, please contact: Lisa Thomas at 718.724.8023 / [email protected] Hannah Thomas at 718.724.8002 / [email protected] Puppets on Film Schedule Fri, Oct 25 4:30pm: Little Shop of Horrors: The Director’s Cut 8pm: Little Shop of Horrors Sing-Along Sat, Oct 26 10am: Shadow Puppet Workshop 11am: Shortstack! Kids Shorts Program 12:30pm: Tales of the Riverbank 1pm: Shadow Puppet Workshop 2:30pm: Bouton 4:30pm: Return to Oz 8pm: Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars Sun, Oct 27 11am: The Great Muppet Caper 11am: Chinese Theatre Works: Tiger Tales—live performance 1:30pm: Live Action Puppet Shorts 2pm: Chinese Theatre Works: Tiger Tales—live performance 3:30pm: Men in Suits 6:30pm: Godzilla 8:30pm: Aliens Film Descriptions Aliens (1986) 137min Directed by James Cameron.With Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn. In one of the greatest sequels in film history, Ripley (Oscar nominee Sigourney Weaver) returns to the alien world to battle the deadly Xenomorphs. Her mission to assist a marine detachment on a doomed space colony turns into a flight for survival as the lethal creatures display incredible intelligence and ferocity. Marked by breathless pacing and astonishing athleticism, James Cameron’s (Titanic) film is one of the “tautest, most provoking, and altogether most draining” action thrillers ever made. Sun, Oct 27 at 8:30pm Special introduction by creature effects coordinator Tom Woodruff Jr. Preceded by Radioactive, Directed by Syndrome Bouton (2011) 78min NY Premiere! Directed by Res Balzli. With Johana Bory. This award-winning documentary from Switzerland is a powerful confrontation with the realities of life and death. While battling cancer, Swiss actress and puppeteer Johana Bory finds solace in her handmade puppet Bouton. Together, they attempt to prevail and manage her illness’ severity with humor and heart. In French with English subtitles. Ages 13+ Sat, Oct 26 at 2:30pm Preceded by I Do, Directed by Jesse Garrison, Produced by Melissa Creighton Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars (2004) 182min Directed by Brian Henson. With Ben Browder, Claudia Black. In this epic finale to the cult TV show, an astronaut is thrust across the universe into an alien war, and a deadly new weapon emerges to threaten all life. Old alliances dissolve and new paths are forged—with blood and lasers! This action-packed film features amazing puppet creatures from The Jim Henson Company. Dress as your favorite character for this free screening with the director in person! Presented by pivot. Tickets are available on a first come first serve basis on the day of the screening. Ages 10+ Sat, Oct 26 at 8pm Special guest Brian Henson Godzilla (1954) 96min Directed by Ishirô Honda. With Takashi Shimura, Akihiko Hirata. In this iconic film, which spawned an entire genre of big monster movies and hundreds of sequels and parodies around the globe, American nuclear weapons testing produces a terrifying, dinosaur-like beast that demolishes everything in its path. Evoking the Japanese audience’s nuclear fears in the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this brilliant creature feature is as mournful and exhilarating as the day it was released. In Japanese with English subtitles. Sun, Oct 27 at 6:30pm Special introduction by Gregory Pflugfelder, Columbia University Preceded by Deluxe - Daniel (feat. Youthstar), Directed by Vignaud Alexandre The Great Muppet Caper (1981) 95min Directed by Jim Henson. With Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz. When a priceless diamond necklace is stolen from famous fashion designer Lady Holiday, reporters Kermit the Frog, Fozzie, and Gonzo travel to London to conduct an interview with her, but they are soon drawn into a crazy caper as they discover clues to the dastardly diamond heist. The problem is, no one will believe them, and Lady Holiday’s receptionist, Miss Piggy, becomes the main suspect in the crime. Chronicling the Muppets’ attempts to clear Miss Piggy’s name, this irresistible family comedy is packed with hilarious jokes and musical numbers. Ages 3+ Sun, Oct 27 at 11am Special introduction by Muppet performer Peter Linz Preceded by Not Alone, Directed by Trish Sie and Muppets Most Wanted Trailer, set to premiere March 2014 Little Shop of Horrors Sing-Along (1986) 103min Directed by Frank Oz. Sing-Along produced by Amy Rush. Dress as your favorite character and get ready to enjoy this outrageous musical with fellow fans and live actors performing Rocky Horror-style. Featuring an infectious score written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast), this beloved adaptation of the quirky off-Broadway musical features Rick Moranis, a sinister Steve Martin, and a monstrous, vocalizing plant that feeds on human blood. The director’s cut features the original, apocalyptic ending cut from the film’s initial release. Fri, Oct 25 at 8pm Rick Moranis in person! Little Shop of Horrors: The Director’s Cut (1986) 103min Directed by Frank Oz.