NEW YORK CITY - Last night, Post editor Marc Loftus moderated a panel discussion featuring a number of creatives involved in the production and post of the Disney+ documentary
Jim Henson Idea Man. The project was directed by filmmaker Ron Howard and is nominated for eight Emmy Awards.
Jim Henson Idea Man was recognized with Emmy nominations for its Directing, Writing, Cinematography, Picture Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Music Composition. The biography is also contending in the "Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special" category.
Harbor Picture Company hosted the event at their Sixth Avenue location, which included a screening of the documentary in one of its large mixing theaters. Last night's panelists included Imagine Documentaries producer Sara Bernstein, PGA; producer Margaret Bodde, PGA; cinematographer Igor Martinovic; Harbor supervising sound editor Dan Timmons; sound designer Jeremy Bloom; Harbor re-recording mixer Tony Volante; and Harbor colorist Roman Hankewycz.
Photo (L-R) Moderator Marc Loftus with Sara Bernstein, Margaret Bodde, Roman Hankewycz, Dan Timmons, Jeremy Bloom, Tony Volante and Igor Martinovic
Bernstein and Bodde shared insight into how a project like this gets its start, what Ron Howard's vision entailed, and the importance of cooperation between Imagine, Jim Henson's family and Disney. Martinovic detailed his work on the shoot, which spanned multiple days, and how Jim Henson's early work inspired his framing and camera setup.
Timmons and Bloom recounted their trip to Jim Henson's Creature Shop in New York, where they were able to record many of the company's archival elements for use in the soundtrack. Volante explained how he was able to create a cinematic, multi-channel mix while still staying true to the documentary format. And colorist Hankewycz detailed his use of Harbor’s Baselight system to create a consistent look across elements that ranged considerably in their level of quality.
Many of the panelists expressed their excitement to attend the Emmys in Los Angeles in September. Volante, in fact, is also nominated in the Sound Mixing category for his work on Stax: Soulsville USA.