Jon Bristol and the Warped Humor and Puppets of Elmwood Productions

The original run of Head DVDs entirely sold out, and the second batch is poised to as well. Clearly, your work is resonating with fans all over. Why do you think that is, and what is your response to the fans’ reaction and the cult status the film has achieved?
I think there is an honesty to our work. We are making movies we want to see. If we’re entertained by it, then there has to be someone else out there who will be as well. There is always a piece of who we really are and what we love in each project — a puppet bearing one of our likenesses, or the story might have a biographical element, whatever it may be. We make the movies we want to make. I think people relate to it and appreciate the honesty.

I love that people have gravitated to our work, especially the output over the past six or seven years. And we’re accessible to the fans. If you email Lucasfilm, George Lucas would never be the one to read it or get back to you. If you email Elmwood Productions, you’re going to hear from me, more than likely. I love meeting and chatting with the people who keep us going. It reminds me that we can make a difference.

“…we’re accessible to the fans.”

Elmwood Productions is celebrating 20 years now. That is a long and impressive journey. Looking back, what is your proudest moment and what are your hopes for the studio’s future?
The friendships I have made, the love I get from the team, and the love I can share with them. We were all misfits in some form or another, and we found each other through puppets and movies. We’re a family in a sense. That is what I’m most proud of.

Although, that first night of a screening is always awesome. Watching people react to a flick is always fantastic, even if they hate it! For the future, I do hope we keep moving forward in quality and awareness. I believe we’re on a great path that Head set up for us and want to keep the momentum going. I would love to have another 20 years ahead of us, or more!

Finally, seeing as you’ve had some degree of success and lasted this long, what advice might you have for any future artists, be they puppeteers or otherwise?
Make it. Go out and make it yourself. No one is going to do it for you. Want to make a puppet? Do it. Who cares if it is ugly or not what you wanted? You made a puppet. Now make another. Each one will be better.

Wanna be a puppeteer? Practice, reach out to other puppeteers and learn. Each time you do it, you’ll get better. Want to make a movie? Do it. Who cares if it is technically great or even good at all? Get some people together and make a movie. All of this is what I did, and it became Elmwood Productions. The first step, that leap, is always the hardest. But go for it! Once you have done it – boom! You’re now a filmmaker, puppeteer, or whatever it is you want to be. Then keep going!