“Lessons Learned" is a short film about a young boy receiving an intriguing birthday gift from his grandfather. This gift will stay with him for the rest of his life as he stumbles from his grandfather’s cottage to a layered world of trials and danger. “Lessons Learned” was directed by Toby Froud and executive produced by Heather Henson for her Handmade Puppet Dreams (HMPD) film series.
“Lessons Learned” will screen alongside two other HMPD films; “Colosse,” by Brooklyn/Paris-based filmmaker Yves Geleyn and “Melvin the Birder,” produced by Portland’s own Beady Little Eyes Productions.
TOBY FROUD (DIRECTOR/ PRODUCER)
Toby Froud is a sculptor, fabricator, puppeteer and filmmaker based in Hillsboro, Oregon. His love of puppets began at a very young age after playing Toby, the baby abducted by David Bowie’s Goblin King in the Henson classic,
Labyrinth
.
Toby, the son of renowned artists/designers Brian and Wendy Froud (
Dark Crystal
and
Labyrinth
), has a natural tendency toward puppets and works of fantasy. Together with Heather Henson (daughter of Jim Henson), Toby brings new magic to the world of characters and creatures familiar and beloved by fans of both their parents’ work. Toby’s new film, “Lessons Learned,” echoes with the wonder and charm of yesteryear while telling a fantastic Froudian tale for a new generation of filmgoers.
Toby graduated from Wimbledon School of Art in London and his resumé includes the Muppet Workshop, WETA Workshop, Michael Curry Design and Legacy Effects. He works at Laika Entertainment in Hillsboro, Oregon, as a puppet fabricator for the feature film,
ParaNorman,
and as a sculptor on the new film,
The Boxtrolls
.
HEATHER HENSON (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER)
Heather Henson is Creative Director of IBEX Puppetry and founded the Handmade Puppet Dreams (HMPD) film series in 2005 to celebrate
the fresh voices of independent puppetry in the medium of film. Heather encourages her artists to pursue their creative visions as storytellers and serves as executive producer on all HMPD films. Heather, daughter of Muppets creator Jim Henson, grew up with puppetry and has a passion for promoting puppetry arts. "Lessons Learned" has very special meaning for her as part of the family legacy and continuing collaboration with the Froud family.
Heather is also well-known for her Environmental Spectacles - original performances designed to provide a transformative experience for the audience through the use of non-traditional storytelling. With her company IBEX Puppetry, Heather also oversees The Puppet Slam Network, tours galleries of puppet art, and sponsors live puppetry presentations through her series IBEX Presents.