Ed Eyth Interview Part 10

Ed Eyth has had an extensive and diverse artistic career. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles and prior to that majored in Visual Communication at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He has served as a production designer, a set and costume designer and a puppet designer for a variety of film and television productions. His film credits include Hook, The Rocketeer and Captain EO.

For nearly 10 years Eyth was Director of Creative Services for the Jim Henson Company. While at Henson, he designed characters for shows like Muppets Tonight, Mopatop's Shop and Animal Jam, as well as the video feature Kermit's Swamp Years. I asked him to share his thoughts on puppet design.



PJ: You've designed characters for some projects that never made it to the screen. Do you have any favorites that were never seen by audiences?

EE: Hundreds. Often I'll get attached to one particular character that I think is perfect for a role, and he won't make it. I'll actually find myself sharing the tragic disappointment of this earnest little pencil sketch, since it's taken on a life of its own with me already. Weird, huh?

And sometimes the director, producer or creative executive will select one of the designs I felt was substandard. It's all part of the collaborative process, dealing with people who are really senseless or unable to grasp the genius of my perspective. Wait, did I say that out loud? Don't use that last sentence. Seriously.