Poster conceived by Dave Goelz[1]
Muppet GuysTalking Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World Watched (Trailer)
trailer
DVD Menu.
Muppet Guys Talking is a documentary film directed by and featuring Frank Oz, along with Dave Goelz, Fran Brill, Jerry Nelson, and Bill Barretta.
The film was initially shot in 2012[2] and the final, 65-minute film was edited from approximately nine hours of footage.[3] Steve Whitmire was invited to be in the film, but was unable to participate.[4]
Release
- Muppet Guys Talking premiered at the South By Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas where it screened from March 12-15, 2017.
- One year later, the film was released to the public exclusively at MuppetGuysTalking.com on March 16th, 2018. Two options were made available for purchase: "see the film only" for $9.97 or the "below stage pass" granting access to a web chat and deleted scenes for $97.00 (available only until March 21).
- For a limited time, a DVD copy of the documentary was available for VIP members, each copy of which was signed by Frank Oz.[5] The DVD also included the same "Extra Footage" (minus Extras! The Great Muppet Caper and Jerry Nelson solves a mystery about all the Muppet guitarists) clips which were also released to the "Below Stage Pass" holders.
- The film was screened at the Museum of the Moving Image on October 6, 2024, as a part of the museum's "Magic of Oz" film series. Frank Oz and Victoria Labalme appeared to present the film in person. [6]
Extras
- During the lead-up to the consumer release of the film, a number of videos were shared on the official website and social media accounts. Included among them were a series of "show and tell" segments in which Oz, Brill, Goelz, and Barretta shared a story about a visual item from their career. (Videos: Dave, Bill, Fran, Frank)
- An online premiere party was held in a Facebook live video which included Oz, Brill, Goelz, and Barretta, as well as special guests Adam Savage, David Arquette, Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson, Death at a Funeral actors Alan Tudyk and Andy Nyman, and In & Of Itself writer Derek DelGaudio. (Facebook Live video)
- In an online Facebook live video, Frank Oz interviewed Victoria Labalme and members of the Muppet Guys Talking production team about working behind-the-scenes on the documentary. (Facebook Live video)
- An hour and twenty-four minutes of "Extra Footage" was released to "Below Stage Pass" holders (the $97 purchase package) on June 4th. The material consists of behind-the-scenes footage, special outtakes, and moments with the cast. (At launch time, only a 1½ minute "deleted scene" video about the filming of the hot air balloon sequence in The Great Muppet Caper was available.) The extra clips include:
- Dave and Traveling Matt (1:28)
- Famous Directors Lend a Hand (0:33)
- Fran Gets to Sesame Street (3:48)
- Frank on Acting (0:50)
- Frank's Early Days (1:48)
- Gonzo's Voice (1:37)
- Helicopters and Balloons (1:30)
- Jerry is Upset (1:39)
- Jerry's Favorite Character (0:45)
- Jim's Generosity (1:02)
- Jim Surprises Frank (0:50)
- Jim was not Trusted (0:51)
- Letters from Jim (1:22)
- Mah Nah Mah Nah (1:08)
- Muppet Treasure Island (1:06)
- Mural Mural on the Wall (1:04)
- One Shot Characters (0:41)
- Orson Welles (1:15)
- Peter Sellers (2:04)
- Rizzo and the Rats (1:03)
- Staying Alive (1:48)
- Tony Bennett (4:29)
- Trial by Fire (1:35)
- Two-Headed Monster (0:59)
- Bill Barretta (6:23)
- Dave Goelz (8:46)
- Fran Brill (8:24)
- Jerry Nelson (4:39)
- Frank Oz (9:48)
- Extras! The Great Muppet Caper (1:30)
- Jerry Nelson solves a mystery about all the Muppet guitarists (0:47)
Credits
- Muppet Guys: Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Fran Brill, Bill Barretta, Frank Oz
- Directed and Produced by: Frank Oz
- Conceived and Produced by: Victoria Labalme
- Co-Producer: Leslie Converse
- Edited by: Zana Bochar
- Production Manager: Emilie Deschamps
- Drawings by: Joe Craig
- Camera Operators: Oliver Curtis, Rob Hahn, Hilda Sealy, Martin Brierley, William R. Pace, Dexter Brierley
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Ron Bochar
- Sound Editor: Alexa Zimmerman
- Sound Assistant: Sarah Streit
- Post Production Sound by: C5 Sound, Inc.
- Sound Recordists: Shwn Axmn, Tom Rondinella
- Assistant Camera: Dan Farmer, Andrew Nowack
- Media Manager: John Stuyvesant
- Digital Intermediate provided by: Running Man
- Colorist: Troy Thompson
- DI Producer: Ryan Cunningham
- Assistant Colorist: Sean Sullivan
- Big Thanks to: Joel Behr, Oliver Curtis
- Special Thanks to: Debbie McClellan, Kyle Laughlin, Dominic Griffin, Mary Beth Scalici, James Benjamin, D A Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus, Hilary Bradley, Gregg Goldston, Andy Nyman, Sean Smith, Jeff Fager, Warren Lustig, Kristen Hahn, Jim Angelo, Pat Hazeil, Procam NY, Claudia Weinstein, Remy Bochar Craig
- "Mah Na Mah Na" and "The Muppet Show Theme" courtesy of Buena Vista Records
- Copyright © 2016 Vibrant Mud, LLC
Sources
- ↑ Screenrant "First Look at the Muppet Guys Talking Poster" by Kristy Puchko, March 14, 2017
- ↑ The AV Club "Frank Oz and the original Muppeteers torment one of our staffers" interview with Victoria Labalme by Alex McLevy, March 31, 2017
- ↑ The Austin Chronicle "The Wonderful World of Frank Oz" by Richard Whittaker, March 10, 2017.
- ↑ Below the Frame podcast Episode 8 (1:20:14 mark)
- ↑ VIPs to Get Muppet Guys Talking on DVD http://www.toughpigs.com/mgt-on-dvd/
- ↑ Muppet Guys Talking with Frank Oz in person