<![CDATA[CMA LA After Hours Tour: Jim Henson Company]]>On October 9, 2017 the Children’s Media Association’s Los Angeles chapter hosted their first membership event with an after hours tour of the Jim Henson Company. The evening started with a special Q & A with Executive Vice President (now President) of Children’s Entertainment, Halle Stanford! Halle talked about how Jim Henson Company doesn’t just work to create powerful children’s media, but first friends for young children around the world.

fullsizeoutput_62e

fullsizeoutput_630

Halle eloquently answered questions about what it takes to become a part of the Jim Henson team, the trials and tribulations of how Splash and Bubbles came to be, and how to turn your ideas into relatable media for kids. Halle was open about her team’s creative process as well as what it’s like to work at Jim Henson Company.

fullsizeoutput_643  fullsizeoutput_635  fullsizeoutput_63f

Director of Children’s Entertainment, Ashley Griffis, lead us on our after hour tour of the fun and innovative company that created Fraggles, Gelflings and the Goblin King. The Henson Company Lot was once an orange grove before it was purchased by Charley Chaplin in 1917. Ashley showed us the famous Henson Recording Studio as well as The Henson Soundstage, which was formerly where Charley Chaplin performed and filmed his comedy skits.

fullsizeoutput_644
fullsizeoutput_64c      fullsizeoutput_637

 

Bethany Boles gave us an inside look at the offices of Brian and Lisa Henson, Jim Henson’s children who help run Jim Henson Company. We also got a peak of the board room where Jim Henson Company’s magical programs come to life. Naturally everyone wanted a picture in front of the famous Muppet Mural!

fullsizeoutput_648

DSC00755    fullsizeoutput_659

fullsizeoutput_64d

We ended the evening with our usual wrap up discussion and group photo session. Everyone at Jim Henson Company was so open and kind to us here at the Children’s Media Association. We were really able to get an insider’s view of the company recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation for children media.

Paige

]]>