Jason Lust has joined the Jim Henson Co. as svp, Feature Films. In his new role, Lust will oversee and expand the companys strong film development slate by continuing to pursue strategic creative partners as well as tap into the companys dedicated development fund for optioning existing properties, such as childrens books, comics and video games. In addition to developing live-action features, he will also focus on animated projects that can either be produced with third parties or created internally to take advantage of the companys proprietary realtime animation technology, HDPS (the Henson Digital Performance System). He will report to the companys co-ceo Lisa Henson, who shares the title with Brian Henson.
Current titles on the companys slate include HOUSE OF THE SCORPION, based on the award-winning novel by Nancy Farmer, and THE WITCHS CHILDREN, both set up at Warner Bros. At Sony Pictures, Hensons development projects include THE STAR, ONLY HUMAN and THUMB. And feature animation projects include LET IT RAIN at Fox Studios and GAME OVER at Warner Bros. Lust will also look for ways to further develop existing titles retained in Hensons catalogue such as LABYRINTH and FRAGGLE ROCK for feature possibilities.
Jason is a perfect fit to lead our film division, said Henson. His experience in acquiring and developing highly visual and fantastical projects makes him uniquely suited to nurture our feature slate and bring in new talent and properties.
Lust said, The Jim Henson Co. is known for telling stories full of exciting and interesting characters, as well as working with highly creative individuals. I am looking forward to finding that next new world and helping to visualize that next adventure.
Lust comes from the management and production company Circle of Confusion, where he was the founding partner of the organizations west coast operation. During his time there, he focused on developing visual material such as childrens books, graphic novels and videogames into feature films, including OUTCAST: THE UNMAGICIAN at Universal, THE AWFUL END for Warner Bros. and THE SUFFERING for MTV Films, a project with Stan Winston based on the videogame.
The Jim Henson Co. (www.henson.com), currently celebrating 50 years as an established leader in family entertainment, is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and computer graphics. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets (the rights to which are now owned by The Walt Disney Co.), Henson is the recipient of nearly 50 Emmy Awards, nine Grammy Awards and two Oscar Awards. Recent projects include the Saturn Award-winning FARSCAPE: THE PEACEKEEPER WARS and the features FIVE CHILDREN AND IT and Mirrormask. The company also produced the television feature THE MUPPETS WIZARD OF OZ for Buena Vista Television. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices and production facilities in New York and London, the company has just completed post-production on its first fully-animated project, FRANCES.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
