Jon's Java - The Mad Puppeteer

Sunday, April 26, 2026

Welcome to the Jungle

Me in my element. A puppeteer at work.

Not a lot of pics of me with a goofy smile while puppeteering. But Nick got a good one today. And it's even a pic of me that I don't hate.

Elmwood Productions is officially in production of the third Jungle Man short film. It's crazy to think we're doing a third one in less than a decade, and it's crazy to think we've been at it as Elmwood for 25 years.

I have such love for all the Elmwood gang. These people are family to me.

And you know who you are.

Thank you for joining the dream, and believing in it.

So do you know where you are?

"You in the jungle baby...."

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Sometimes it snows in April

Friday, April 17, 2026

This Velvet Cookie

Cookie Monster

Velvet painting by Kiko

This thing... I love it. I have had it my whole life. Literally for as long as I can remember, and it has been hanging in every home I have ever had starting with my bedroom as a kid.

Who is Kiko? I have no idea. But if I have see more art on velvet my Kiko I will buy it!

Monday, April 13, 2026

Take a bow.

Sweet dreams to the legend and pioneer.

Job well done.

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Bottle Cap Wisdon

Friday, March 27, 2026

MJB

Happy Birthday.

Enjoy some music...

Thursday, March 26, 2026

Weirdly good...

I was thinking earlier today about where we all were six years ago.

The lockdown was in effect. I remember doing curbside pick up at Jo-Ann's. Spending a ton of time on my own with my cat, Penny. Nights spent writing. Days spent making puppets. Or watching movies to help pass time. I remember the first few weeks it was raining and gloomy a lot, which added to the feelings of dread.

And I felt weirdly good. Weirdly alive. But also alone.

And in some weird way it was OK. I knew it would end and "normal" would return. But then, what is even normal?

A new normal for every aspect of life happened.

Be good to each other. And as Lenny says: "Let love rule."

Sunday, March 22, 2026

Sam Keith

Sam Keith, sweet dreams - job well done.

"The Maxx" is still one of my all time favorite comics, and Sam is one of my favorite artists.

He was so much more than "The Maxx" as well. Co-creator of "The Sandman", did amazing work on Batman and Hulk/Wolverine. And his two series "Zero Girl" and "Four Woman" are also amazing.

Always wanted to make a puppet of "The Maxx".

Monday, March 2, 2026

Oopsie...

Thursday, February 5, 2026

"It's The Muppet Show"

So I've watched it a couple times now...

And it is "The Muppet Show"
Felt both like a time capsule of the original show and also fresh and funny.

Thumbs up.

As a Muppethead I hope they keep this momentum going!

Also...
Watch "Bernice, Too" too...

Free on YouTube!

Sunday, February 1, 2026

25...

Today is the day we as a team at Elmwood Productions call our anniversary. We don't really have a set actual day. Elmwood existed before it was called Elmwood, but under a different name

Sometimes between summer 2001 and summer 2002 we started calling it Elmwood Productions.

It was just Pete and I. He came up with the name after we found out another puppeteer was using a very similar name to what we were using.

Since we can't remember exact when the name was created we chose right in the middle for an anniversary date.

So we here we are, starting our 25th year. Wow. Holy cow!

We've got some fun stuff on the burner and I'm really excited to get all your eyes on it all!

I love the folks I get to make all these crazy movies with... I'm a lucky man for sure

Stay tuned!

And until then make sure to catch up with all our work on our Elmwood YouTube Channel here-

https://m.youtube.com/elmwoodproductions

And thank you all so much for all the support and love over the years!

There is so much more to see...

Dear fellow puppetheads and Muppetheads...

I'm seeing some posts pop up with folks being negative towards new works featuring the Muppets.
Let it go. If you're unhappy with it look for alternatives to bring you joy. Keep it positive and share and praise good work. There are so many other groups of puppeteers and puppet makers and film makers carrying on their traditions that Jim Henson and his team began 70 years ago. And in some cases maybe even truer to the innovation and storytelling paths they were paving...

And I'm not just talking about Elmwood Productions and what we do. But, I totally am as well!

So I'm here to share some alternatives to the "big guys".

Links below are to the YouTube Pages for these folks...

Take some time and check them out, maybe you'll find you new favorite puppets somewhere in this list! And most of these cats have no corporate funding, independent artists... These folks need your t-shirt and merch sales way more than the big companies!

In no particular order and by no means a complete list:

Of course we have Elmwood Productions, I'd be a fool not to mention us.

Los Titeres TV - The Senor Loco Show

Paradiso Puppets Patrick McNeal's Stuff

Jellybean Jungle

Scraps TV
Transylvania Television

This is just a very tiny list, just a taste of what is out there. Take some time, expand our horizons...

Also - remember - the people unhappy are usually the loudest. It doesn't make them a majority. These folks need to sit back, be happy with the years of entertainment they can look back on and continue to enjoy, and let the rest of the world like what they like.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Monday, December 22, 2025

"Bernice, Too"...

Well, it's over?

Hahaha...
What is?
The journey of "Bernice, Too" is.
What started as the idea to make a weird art film parody and a separate a sketch comedy film that got merged into one has hit it's last stop, for now at least, and that stop is YouTube!

Watch the flick HERE now!

I could write paragraphs and pages about this movie, the making of, and how much if means to me, and how much everyone who worked on it means to me...
But instead I'm just saying a simple, honest, and loving
THANK YOU.

Thank you everyone who worked on the flick, donated to the Kickstarter, came to screenings, bought DVDs and digital streams, and who in general were there as a friend to support me the whole time.

Love you all...
Gonna take a little vacation after this from social media and such, so make sure to stay up to date with all things Elmwood on our sites!

So... have you figured out
#whoisbernice
???