Ep560 - Mark Monroe, Documentary Writer ‘Jim Henson - Idea Man’ & ‘The Beach Boys’

Mark Monroe is one of Hollywood’s leading documentary filmmakers. He’s known for films like Lucy and Desi, Icarus, The Beach Boys, Shot in the Arm, Love Lizzo, Harry & Megan, Stutz, and Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose. Today we’re talking about his latest project, Jim Henson: Idea Man, a film that chronicles the story of extraordinary artist and visionary Jim Henson. In his 36-year career, Henson created some of the world’s most cherished characters, including classic Muppets like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy and all of Sesame Street’s iconic residents, including Big Bird, Grover, Cookie Monster, and Bert and Ernie. Henson also directed beloved fantasy films like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. In this interview, we talk about his career path and transition to documentaries; his filmmaking process; the role of intrigue, mystery, and emotional arcs in engaging the audience; the importance of having a clear vision for the documentary; and much more. Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on hundreds of interviews here at Creative Principles. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!