Page 11 - ChildArt_2021.Q1_Global Creative Leaders

10 CHILDART GLOBAL CREATIVE LEADERS JAN-MAR 2021 11

FOSTERING

CREATIVITY

CHARLES RIVKIN

CHAIRMAN+CEO

MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Charles Rivkin has spent his life as an advocate Muppets. “I had just gotten out of business school unexpectedly when Charlie was only five years “About a week later I got lucky. Sam Jackson was
for good ideas. His vast experience includes and I was the only MBA at his wonderful puppet old. Missing his father and wishing to follow his in town and called to ask if I wanted to go to lunch.
serving as president and CEO of the Jim Henson company in New York. I was there working all example of service to his country, Charlie dreamed I said, ‘Nope! We’re gonna go out to the banlieue.’
Company (home of the Muppets), CEO of Wildbrain, night, downstairs trying to build a business. I kept of becoming an ambassador. “I thought it would I got into the motorcade of armored cars and we
US Ambassador, US Assistant Secretary of State, on seeing a shadow walk past me in the basement never happen, but it was a wonderful dream. When drove to places that most diplomats don’t go. We got
and currently, CEO and Chairman of the Motion towards the boiler room several nights in a row. it did happen, it was a wonderful opportunity to live out of the car and everyone started screaming
Picture Association. The six companies that make Eventually, one night I followed this shadow, and beyond my wildest dreams.” Charlie served as US ‘Big Mac! Big Mac!’ because that was a big line
up the Motion Picture Association are the largest it turns out it was Jim going into the boiler room. ambassador to France and Monaco from 2009- from Pulp Fiction with Samuel Jackson. They looked
producers of creative content in the world. He has When he left, I opened the boiler room door and I 2013. at me and said, ‘you are a man of your word.’ They
traveled the world and worked with puppets, people, saw the janitor, Matthew, standing there. Inside the “In government, if you can be part of the solution, sat with Sam Jackson and asked for advice. They
and presidents. He has gained wisdom from meeting boiler room, the pipes were decorated with googly then you’re helping to change the world for the said, ‘Mr. Jackson, you are a big movie star. We
people where they are, celebrating creativity, and Muppet eyes and fur, and fun graffiti and designs people of color here in France can’t be movie stars.’
serving his country. “I don’t consider myself to be and drawings. I said, ‘Did I just see Jim Henson better. When I was Ambassador, there was concern He said, ‘You know what? (and I could never say
a creative soul, but I do love being around creative coming down here?’ And Matthew said, ‘Oh yeah! that the unhappiness of those living in the banlieue this as an ambassador) Just stop complaining and
people,” he said. “I have such an appreciation for Jim comes down and bounces his ideas off of me.’ (the suburbs of Paris) would lead to terrorist attacks. get off the couch and do something with your life.
Many of the poor and disadvantaged communities
creativity, and I love being surrounded by it.” When this came up later in the day, Jim said to me, If I sat around in America when I was younger and
and he kind of sounded like Kermit the Frog when lived there. Many were of North African descent and thought about all the obstacles that were ahead of
It could be said that one of the hallmarks of Charlie’s he spoke, ‘You know, Charlie, creativity can be they didn’t feel integrated into Paris life. me and how I could never be a movie star, I would
success is found in these few lines written by poet found anywhere.’ never have been a movie star. You just gotta get out,
Mary T. Lathrap in 1895: I wanted to go meet these people and talk to them and believe in yourself, and go to work and fight the
“He is right. I think that some of the best ideas come about what America is. I went and met with the
Just for a moment, slip into his mind and kids. They said, ‘We don’t like our government; fight. The American dream and the French dream
traditions from people that are all the way down the line in an they don’t treat us like we’re citizens.’ I said, ‘Well, are the same in that you believe in yourself.’”
And see the world through his spirit and eyes organization—not necessarily the leadership, but you know, I’m the US Ambassador. What do you
Take the time to walk a mile in his moccasins. the people that are on the front line doing the work. like about America?’ They replied, ‘Well, we like “Whatever work Charlie is doing, he always seems
Good ideas come from anywhere. Jim taught me to convey the message of reaching out. His optimism
During his more than twenty years in the that and I won’t forget it.” Samuel Jackson and will.i.am and Will Smith and for the future is evident. He wants kids to know that
entertainment sector and his distinguished Jodie Foster and Woody Allen . . . We like all these the world won’t stay the way it is now, during the
government service, he has made a point to see As a child, Charlie spent time in the small European guys!’ I said, ‘You know what? I’m gonna come back COVID-19 pandemic. “Kids should want to be
the world through many eyes. country of Luxembourg and the west African here to this community with one of those stars.’ They around other kids. It’s just not natural to stay away
country of Senegal, where his father served as said to me in French, ‘you have a wooden tongue,’
Early in his career, Charlie worked at the Jim US ambassador in the 1960s. Charlie’s father died which is what they would say to politicians. from other people. And so, we will work. We will get
Henson Company, home of the colorful, vivacious through to the other end of this.”

CHARLES RIVKIN FOSTERING CREATIVITY https://icaf.org