Henson Regroups in the US

[Luke]

This is a small article from the Autumn issue of License Europe magazine (a trade magazine for the brand licensing industry) that came out today. It's accompanied by a large picture of the Muppet Babies. It's a cartoon one with all the characters dancing around Rowlf's piano.

Text reads :-

Following it's aquisition of the Jim Henson Company, the Henson family has begun it's reorganisation of the company. All the offices have suffered redundancies, most heavily in the UK where only the Creature Shop now remains. The moves reflect a desire to get back to the core of the Henson philosophy of having a small company devoted to making entertaining shows.

Licensing for all territories is now run by a team based in New York headed by Isabel Miller. Veronica Hart is director of domestic licensing and Donna Bruschi is director of international licensing. The Henson family needs the company to be lean while it reviews its strategy for the future and is expected to make announcements concerning its vision for the company soon.

[scarecroe]

Not being wise or anything, but is this the original text as it appears in the magazine, or has it been altered?

[Luke]

It's original text straight from the magazine. I only made an exception last time because i didn't think the original was available. It doesn't list an author for the article at all, and if anybody is interested i can scan the photo and put a link to it (no uploads here) but it looks like a common old one. Doesn't tell us anything new i know but at least they got a mention.

[scarecroe]

It's a good summary of stuff we've been getting tricklings of for months. It kinda brings a little hope that we'll be hearing better news other than layoffs sometime soon.

[Phillip Chapman]

Nice read Luke. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[sarah_yzma]

It's a good summary of stuff we've been getting tricklings of for months. It kinda brings a little hope that we'll be hearing better news other than layoffs sometime soon.

I got that slight hint, too...

*hopes*

[dwayne1115]

There might just be a light at the end of the long dark tunnle for the mu[[ets and JHC this is very good my hopes are very high

[frogboy4]

It sounds like they are softening a blow to come so people don't freak out later. It is a smart move. Sounds like they are only keeping what they need. As long as we keep seeing top projects and products, I'm happy. :) :o

[Luke]

There's something else i noticed hidden away in the magazine in a small section that talks about staff moving companies, it kinda links back to something from the 'Henson Slashes European Arm' article.

Text Reads :-

Matthew Web, formerly with Henson, has formed a new company with entertainer Richard Digance and radio presenter Mike Osman. Creative Results is described as an 'entertainment broker' and will exploit rights to matierial it owns and also take on third party properties. It has the rights to The Muppets for advertising and promotions outside the UK and is also in discussion with Capitol Films for the rights to the film adaptation of E.S Nesbit's novel Five Children and it, scheduled for release in 2004.

The Muppet part is very interesting although (and it's purely my speculation) the "outside the UK" part is strange. It could mean that Henson have retained control of the UK and USA being the two biggest markets and this guy gets Europe and places like that, but then they haven't made it clear in the article the rights don't include the USA either and Creative Results are UK based and all the other stuff they do has been just focused here. I think it might actually be "outside the US" instead.

There is kinda a historical parallel you can draw here. I think it's a bit similar to what Peter Orton did when he broke off from Henson Associates and formed Henson International Television back in 1989. With him he had the rights to distribute Henson in the UK/Europe and with Matthew Web it seems he will do the same type of thing but with advertising and promotion. I'd heard about the Muppets being involved in some new things in Europe soon so it looks like they'll be getting a push whether it includes the UK or not.

[dwayne1115]

humm im not sure on all this maybe the hensons thought when they boguht back the compny that they would start from scach wixh makes more sence if thats the case then all we really need at the moment it would seem would be the LA an New york locations now becaus they are staring over. i dont think that when they slased the uk offices that it was for good money just must be going thin and they need more money to expand. i would say in the next 5 to 10 years they will have theUK back under there control. thats just my guses and thats the way it seems by this artical so we sahll see what we shall see :) The Show Will go on

[Super Scooter]

Well, it's kinda nice that the Henson company's sorta going back to that "small time operations" deal they had going on when the Muppets were at their best...

[BoyRaisin2]

Henson pulls strings, moves exex to prod'n
September 18, 2003 3:02pm
Daily Variety

LONDON --- The Jim Henson Co.'s two most senior U.K./European production execs, Martin Baker and Angus Fletcher, have been moved sideways to production deals with the company, which is cutting its operations.

Company described Wednesday's announcement as reflecting its continuing commitment to its U.K. operations.

The Henson family paid Germany's EM.TV $89 million to buy back the company last January.

Baker and Fletcher have played an integral role in the company's prolific film and television output over the past two decades. Most recently Baker was exec VP of production and Fletcher was president of Jim Henson Television --- Europe.

In his new role, Baker will be the company's primary contact for all U.K.-based film, television and theatrical projects. During his 24 years with the company, Baker has been involved in TV and film projects such as "The Muppet Show" and "Fraggle Rock" as well as "The Muppet Movie" and "The Dark Crystal," among others.

Jim Henson Pictures is producing two feature films in the U.K., "Five Children and It" and "MirrorMask," both for release next year.

Fletcher will co-produce a large slate of future projects that he initiated during his tenure at the company. A creator and producer, he is responsible for preschool programs including "Jim Henson's The Hoobs," "Jim Henson's Construction Site" and "Mopatop's Shop."

The company said the appointments are part of the restructuring of its global operations that will focus on its entrepreneurial and creative roots.

[dwayne1115]

well that says it all good report it is ver informent. i thought that was what they were doing .the light at the end of the tunnle is geting bigger by the day. the hensons are not as stupid as some of you may think they just need more time and money.

[BoyRaisin2]

the hensons are not as stupid as some of you may think they just need more time and money.

Duh. I don't know exactly what they're doing, but duh.

[Floyd23]

Hi folks, this is my first post here, but i've been reading this site for quite some time, from a different perspective.

I was one of the 'redundancies' (don't you love that word?) from the NY Henson office. I was let go at the beginning of august, so all of my info is dated by a couple of months. i just want to say that the people who work for henson (yeah, the ones that made me redundant) are good people, and are all very good at what they do. The problem with the company is the direction going foward. It's no secret that Brian H. really never had a business plan (let's face it, he's a creative guy, not a businessman), and it's showing. Kermit can't just do wayne brady and hollywood squares forever.

I can't deny that I fear for the future of the Muppets. When i left, there were about 4 people left in licensing, to handle oh, more than 200 licenses, intl and domestic. When I was let go, I can honestly say i felt worse for the people that WEREN'T let go. Everybody knew they were going to have some LONG days ahead of them. Isabel Miller will keep the Muppets licensing program alive by any means necessary (she's very VERY good at what she does), as long as the Hensons don't make her redundant, and she doesn't retire in the near future (which is a possibility).

Matthew Webb is a **** of a good guy, by the way, and i truly wish him luck in his new endeavor.

And I wish the rest of the company luck as well. The muppets should be a fun place to work, and i hope one day it is again. Because it sure as **** hasn't been in quite a long time, a fact that no henson employee will deny. "We're all getting fired," was a running joke for a long, long time in the office. we all expected it about 2 years before it actually happened. not a fun environment to work in. but hey, that's business.

[frogboy4]

I'm sorry to hear that. Welcome to the forum!

[Luke]

Matthew Webb is a **** of a good guy, by the way, and i truly wish him luck in his new endeavor.

I agree totally. Matthew and Angus were two crown jewels at Henson and i'm so pleased they will play a part in the future even if it is in a freelance kinda capacity. At least it keeps up the European side of operations in some small way which i actually felt was the one thing they were really doing right - keeping shows in production, building brands and licensing them successfullly. It must have given them a certain element of security when things weren't going great elsewhere. It's shame to hear what the situation is like in the NY offices though.

Sorry to hear you lost your job Floyd23. It's great to have you here giving insight from your point of view.

[danielromens]

Hi folks, this is my first post here, but i've been reading this site for quite some time, from a different perspective.

I was one of the 'redundancies' (don't you love that word?) from the NY Henson office. I was let go at the beginning of august, so all of my info is dated by a couple of months. i just want to say that the people who work for henson (yeah, the ones that made me redundant) are good people, and are all very good at what they do. The problem with the company is the direction going foward. It's no secret that Brian H. really never had a business plan (let's face it, he's a creative guy, not a businessman), and it's showing. Kermit can't just do wayne brady and hollywood squares forever.

I can't deny that I fear for the future of the Muppets. When i left, there were about 4 people left in licensing, to handle oh, more than 200 licenses, intl and domestic. When I was let go, I can honestly say i felt worse for the people that WEREN'T let go. Everybody knew they were going to have some LONG days ahead of them. Isabel Miller will keep the Muppets licensing program alive by any means necessary (she's very VERY good at what she does), as long as the Hensons don't make her redundant, and she doesn't retire in the near future (which is a possibility).

Matthew Webb is a **** of a good guy, by the way, and i truly wish him luck in his new endeavor.

And I wish the rest of the company luck as well. The muppets should be a fun place to work, and i hope one day it is again. Because it sure as **** hasn't been in quite a long time, a fact that no henson employee will deny. "We're all getting fired," was a running joke for a long, long time in the office. we all expected it about 2 years before it actually happened. not a fun environment to work in. but hey, that's business.

Sorry about your job man. I too fear for the state of the company and it's characters. You should post this at some of the other message boards as well, namely the Toughpigs fan forum (a link is at www.toughpigs.com), as well as the Palisadestoys Message boards (www.palisadestoys.com). there is a huge base of fans at both of these and I'm sure they'd appreciate what you have to say. Good luck and take care.