JenPonTon at TriBeCa

I couldn't be more thrilled to share MORE cool, great news: 


My first film (the highly-anticipated Jack and Diane) is having its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this April!





We shot J+D in the summer of 2010, and since then, this quirky, supernatural love story has been in post-production. I had the pleasure of playing opposite Juno Temple, and getting to work with Broadway actor Blake Daniel and indie star Lou Taylor Pucci. And it was all run by a lovable, incredible director/producer husband-and-wife team!


J+D has been one of the most talked-about indie films over the last 2 years, and with good reason--it's going to be a GREAT story, a great melding of genres, and (what I understand) is an AWESOME use of SFX and animation!


So, the best part? I won't be at King Kelly's premiere at SXSW (unless my fairy godmother steps in with plane tickets), but I *can* make it to Tribeca with no problem--and wouldn't you know it?--I have a dress! ;)


<3
Jen



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Dreams, Actually

No, ACTUALIZED DREAMS. :D I'm on a bigger kick than usual. Why?

I visited the Henson exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image. Yes, I know--Jen, why didn't you see this in July? Jen, you did the Sloane Readings there--why didn't you go then? Well, it was snowing. But it all worked out, you see, because I went with 2 good friends on a day that they were screening *ALL 3 MAJOR '80s MUPPET MOVIES* in their theater!

But what this really boils down to is the last point, here. This incredible exhibit hosts a plethora of not only Muppets and Muppet artifacts; what I found most compelling, actually, is all of Henson's WRITTEN NOTES, storyboards and proposals. You guys, he proposed and pitched The Muppet Show for SIX. TEEN. YEARS. Before it got accepted. He proposed, pitched and designed all his ideas--and he was rife with them! There are cover sheets for proposals that are sketched, doodled, and colored with markers, not printed from a machine. (Your point, Jen?) Jim Henson is passion and drive, personified.

And as an only child, I was literally SUBMERGED in almost 100% Henson--Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, the Muppet films, Fraggle Rock, Muppet Babies, Mother Goose Stories, Hey Cinderella!, The Frog Prince, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal... My only other entertainment was My Little Ponies and Care Bears, so it was nearly all-Henson, all the time.

It hit me like an anvil--the biggest reason that I possess all this drive and passion is *because* of Jim Henson!

I always knew my tie to him was strong, but for him to be the crux of my life's mission statement? What an incredible, inspirational man. He always knew he was born to create and share this world of whimsy, and his vision never faltered. AND--he DREW to him a dream team of like-minded geniuses. I shall not fail you, sir!

<3

Jen

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It's Good to be the King

After a terribly rough week, I'm delighted to emerge with good news--

"KING KELLY" is premiering at SxSW (South-by-Southwest) this March! :D

My first film to have emerged from post-production, and I'm so excited that it will be showing at this fun, quirky festival!

SeeThink Team, Susan Shopmaker Casting, and the phenomenal cast--CONGRATULATIONS!

Follow "King Kelly" here. Deets on the film and its festival showings here. :)

This is very good news...and hopefully just paves the way for a bunch of great festival appearances!

<3

Jen

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I Stand

Spoiler Alert: I'm a fat girl. Always have been. It took me a VERY long time to be cool with that and even embrace it, but now that I do, it's one of my most steadfast core beliefs--that no one's body is 'wrong,' and that you're given what you're given for a reason.

I'm very into body love, size acceptance, and the belief of Health at Every Size, and I am super proud to know and stand with a WHOLE lot of wonderful people--big and small--who feel the same way. We believe that bullying and shaming people about their bodies will never be 'helping them.' This is especially true for kids.

Georgia is trying to fix fat kids with ad campaigns that shame, bully and insult--they call it 'Strong4Life.' So we body lovers? We're standing with a different message:

You can encourage health, nutritious food and joyful movement without shaming bodies.

Do you want to stand, too? Go on and send a picture with your 'I Stand' statement to the legendary Marilyn Wann: Marilyn@FatSo.com

I stand for less people believing they're 'less than.' <3

<3

Jen

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Superbly Embarrassing (but Hilarious) Photos

"When did you first know you wanted to be an actor?"

Most actors say that they discovered in high school when they did their first real show, but I knew WAY before that. Like, at age 3. But how do you quantify that? Oh, I know! With RIDICULOUSLY APT PICTURES.

For your perusal:

Me and my cousin, Ruby, when I was 4 or 5.

Interpretive dance as my dad accompanies me on the keyboard. 5 or 6. (The skirt was my grandmother's square-dancing garb.)

Probably the most chic that I will ever be.

How do YOU celebrate the new year? Clearly, for me, pants-less.

On our first cruise, the cruise director interviewed 'a princess,' and apparently I nearly did stand-up comedy for 10 minutes.

"Oh, it's cool, Mom. I'll host Christmas. I got this."

Jen Ponton premieres in 1987 with "The Littlest Christmas Tree"! 1 afternoon only!

(Extra bonus: The girl in front? Totally my NY actress friend now. INSANE.)

Yeah, my mom and dad TOTALLY saw this coming MILES away.

<3

Jen

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Steppin' Out

No better way to actualize a dream than to take action, right?

When you put big, bold moves out into the universe, success comes back to greet you!

I bought my tickets for LA, and then I booked a starring role in a film.

I made TV my goal, and a month later I was working on "30 Rock."

Well, our collective goal for FRANNY is to have it premiere at next year's Sundance! How do I take action to fulfill THAT goal?

1. Sundance research--who's going? Who's getting accepted? What kind of work are they doing?

2. Big ol' vision board that's loaded with 'for your consideration' verbiage!

3. Got myself a premiere dress.

That's right, a premiere dress. What am I wearing? Oh, this old thing.

It's got long sleeves for those Utah winters, it's classy, AND it has purple sequins. And I can't wait to wear it alongside Frances Fisher, Steve Howey, Annaleigh Ashford & Ash Christian next Sundance!

There ya go, universe. ;)

<3

Jen

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Better than Gifts of the Magi!

Happy New Year, friends!

I am SO READY that I hit the ground running! (No, seriously--I tried to work on Monday, and apparently it was a 'bank holiday.' What kinda hogwash is that?!)

But aside from being PUMPED for the next 12 months, I have to share with you like a 5-year-old.

!!!!I GOT PRESENTS!!!!!

Here were my top *2* this year!

2. A Melodica.

What is a melodica, you ask? It's a delightful merging of a recorder and a piano. It's AMAZING. AND it can do this:

Yeah, I'm gonna learn a lot of bizarre songs and play them. All the time. THANKS MOM!

1. MY VERY OWN STAR IN URSA MAJOR, SNITCHES.

My bestie got me a STAR immediately south of the Big Dipper. She's big into meanings, and this was her logic: She didn't want to get me a zodiac star, because that seemed too cliche and predictable. So she looked into the other major constellations (Cassiopeia, etc.), and she discovered that the Great Bear constellation (Ursa Major) is seen as the strongest and most powerful in the sky.

She's immensely supportive of me and my career, and she knows exactly how to motivate me even more than I already am (nearly an impossible task)! She got me a powerful star in a powerful, fame-laden constellation. :)

To add more Awesome to this? She was able to send up a message for me. She asked me about my favorite Living Mantras, which are gracious tools from my career coach, Dallas Travers, and sent them up in a satellite.

And her message was this:

Yeah. It's EPICALLY awesome, just like her. :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

<3

Jen

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