Lessons Learned (film)

Lessons Learned
Film poster
Directed byToby Froud
Written byToby Froud
Produced bySherri Morgan
StarringWilliam Todd-Jones
David Skelly
Bryonie Arnold
Brandie Sylfae
Scott Woodard
Mark Lewis
CinematographyScott Tebeau
Edited byMargaret Lily Andres
Release date
  • April 1, 2014 (2014-04-01) (United States)
Running time
16 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Lessons Learned is a 2014 fantasy short film written and directed by Toby Froud. The film's visuals were achieved widely through the use of puppetry and animatronics.

Cast

  • William Todd-Jones as Boy
  • David Skelly as Digby
  • Bryonie Arnold as Spider Fate
  • Brandie Sylfae as Spider Fate
  • Scott Woodard as King
  • Mark Lewis as Grandpa

Production

Lessons Learned was written and directed by Toby Froud, son of the fantasy illustrators and puppet makers Brian and Wendy Froud. Toby, who had appeared as the baby Toby Williams in Jim Henson's Labyrinth, had developed an interest in puppetry from an early age. The film was executive produced by Heather Henson, daughter of the puppeteers Jim and Jane Henson, who financed the film as part of her Handmade Puppet Dreams series.[1]

To raise money for the film, Froud launched a Kickstarter campaign on July 2, 2013, with a goal of $25,000. The campaign closed on August 1, 2013, having successfully raised $53,330.[2][3]

Release

The film premiered in April 2014. It also played at the Portland Film Festival in August 2014.[1]

Awards

Year Organisation Category Recipient(s) Result
2014 Dragon Con Independent Film Festival Best Animated Film Won[4]
FilmQuest Best Art Direction/Production Design Scott Foster and Toby Froud Won[5]
Best Makeup Effects Toby Froud Won[5]
Best Fantasy Short Film Nominated[5]
2015 Pixie Awards Visual Effects (Gold) Stripey Pajama Productions Won[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Scott, Aaron (June 23, 2014). "Toby Froud's New Puppet Film Returns Us to the Magical World of 'Labyrinth' and 'The Dark Crystal'". Portland Monthly. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  2. ^ "Lessons Learned". Kickstarter. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  3. ^ Scott, Aaron (June 19, 2014). "Toby, the Baby from Labyrinth, Grows Up to Be a Goblin King—in Portland". Portland Monthly. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  4. ^ "2014 Film Festival Awards". Dragon Con. 29 September 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "2014 FilmQuest". FilmQuest. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  6. ^ "6th Annual Award Winners". The Pixie Awards. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.