Statues of the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea...
Historical Landmark... Hotel Roosevelt... photo taken from the studio parking lot...
The Jim Henson Company Studio...
I was invited my MomLogic.com to attend a private movie screening in the studio theatre...
The movie starts off with the story most of us know... the classic fable of the Tortoise (Danny Glover) and the Hare (Jay Leno) and the moral "sure and steady wins the race." Then... fast forward 15 years and meet the new generation. This time the tortoise is a girl (Keke Palmer) and the hare is a boy (Drake Bell) and the competition is on again... but with a few twists and some modernization.
This movie is enjoyable for parents as well as children. There are issues most of parents can relate to. The stay at home mom vs the career mom... what is right for you? Should you condemn either one? Should you push your children into competition? Why do you have your children participating in certain events... is because they want to... or you want them to? Do you force your ideas onto your children without listening to want they desire?
Ok... Fifi... lighten up... tell them it's FUN, enjoyable and full of laughs! Yes... it IS all those things too! You will laugh... you're children will laugh! The animation is adorable and musical score is delightful. This is a must see feature!
The End... Credits...
Following our viewing... a little conversation with Lisa Henson, producer and daughter of Jim Henson along with Howard E. Baker, director ensued. They both seem very excited about this project. They gave us some background as to casting, animating, and modernization of an old fable.
The screening was followed by lunch in the courtyard... pretty florals on the tables...
Yummy Cobb Salad with creamy balsamic dressing and homemade chocolate chip oatmeal cookies... sorry, I did not take a photo of the food... but I did take a photo of one of the WONDERFUL storyboards that were displayed nearby while we ate...
As a special treat after lunch we received a tour of the studio... The Studio is a historical landmark... it was originally built by Charlie Chaplin in 1917... later it became A&M Record Studio and was taken over by the Jim Henson Company in 1999...
This is evident with the addition of Kermit the Frog on the lot... 
and a couple other animated creatures
History... animals, animating process, and great architecture made for a wonderful tour... BTW... the studio does not give tours to the publc... so this was an amazing treat!
Bungalows in front of the Sound stage... entrance next to Charlie Chaplin on the wall
Fabulous fixtures
At the end of the tour... we were given a gift bag... Tortoise vs Hare and 3 Pigs and a Baby...
Thanks to this perk... my two boys were able to view Tortoise vs Hare... they really seemed to enjoy it.... they were glued to their seats... watching intently... these are the comments I received from them... My sweet 10 year old - " I liked it because it was funny and exciting." My cool 13 year old - "The parents were so annoying."
Ok... Tortoise vs Hare is available on DVD... TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th... purchase a copy... have a family movie night... or if you don't have children, but love animation or just have see the SEQUEL to the old fable... get your all time favorite candy... pop some popcorn... and ENJOY!
Now... I'd like to thank the Academy... lol... seriously... Thank you to MomLogic.com for inviting me, thank you to Jim Henson Company for your hospitality and to everyone else in attendance; you are all such lovely people... I enjoyed spending the day with you!
