Dec
31
2008
Fraggle Update
It’s the last day of 2008 so I thought I’d give you any sort of update I have. Which is not much of one.
My third draft was met with much happiness and satisfaction from both the Henson and Weinstein camps. They had very few notes, and I turned in a fourth draft a week later, based on those notes. This was just after Thanksgiving. I am told that the big man himself, Harvey Weinstein, is reading it now. Once I hear his response and any notes he might have, I could be getting the blessed green light for production.
That’s when a lot of new cool stuff can start happening. Production crew hired, songs written, characters built!
I was very encouraged by the latest Muppet Christmas Special. Produced by Martin Baker (a guy who may very well produce this Fraggle movie), it was really cool to see all the characters together again. The look of the special achieved that classic “old school Muppet” vibe. And I like-a-me the Pepe the Prawn, hokay?
I have also taken myself to “Muppet Movie School,” rewatching every Muppet movie I can. Some I hardly remember. The Muppet Movie is still my favorite, but I think the nostalgia carries it a long way. Looking at it objectively, it has the thinnest of plots… it’s more like a “variety show” of scenes and songs, strung together by a premise.
But it proves that the right songs can make any movie twice as emotional. I can NOT get through the ending (“the lovers, the dreamers and you”) with a dry eye. Can not DO IT!
I was amazed at how funny and sarastic Muppet Treasure Island still is, and how much I enjoyed watching Tim Curry chew the scenery. Tim Curry is an awesome pirate, I don’t care what you say. He is an honorary Muppet, in my book. There is a sequence in Muppets Take Manhattan with rats in the kitchen that is pretty amazing! Every gag is done with on-set puppet techniques. Watching rats unicycle with egg beaters and skate on butter pads made me realize that, if they could pull off that stuff fifteen years ago, we can do anything I’m thinking up.
Anyway, watching a lot of old Muppet movies, watching more Fraggle episodes, waiting on Harvey. Come on, Harvey. Call me up and let’s make this movie! Let’s go!
Please. When it’s convenient for you.
