Film: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey
Cast includes: Kevin Clash, Whoopi Goldberg
Director: Constance Marks, Philip Shane
Genre: Documentary (2011)
For a six-year-old, Elmo is magical… and that’s how it should be. Adults may see Elmo as just a big red puppet… and that’s what Elmo once was. Being Elmo is a journey that shows us how Elmo got his soul. Puppeteer, Kevin Clash takes us to his old neighborhood, Chocolate City, on the outskirts of Baltimore. When Kevin was 9 years old, Sesame Street premiered on PBS, and Kevin had a dream of being able to work with the Muppets. When Kevin noticed that his father’s raincoat had a fleece lining, he took a pair of scissors to the fleece and created a puppet. Instead of getting angry, Kevin’s parents encouraged him to follow his passion. Kevin put on puppet shows all over the neighborhood, gradually creating almost a hundred different puppets.
Before he was out of high school, Kevin’s puppet shows became a Saturday morning staple on CBS’s local Baltimore station. But Kevin still had many questions about puppets and no way to get his questions answered… until his senior class trip to New York City. Kevin left the class tour and went to meet Sesame Street puppeteer, Kermit Love, who took Kevin under his wing and eventually introduced him to Jim Henson. Henson got Kevin an audition for the Captain Kangaroo show, and little by little Kevin became working puppeteer and a cast member on Sesame Street with many puppet characters to his credit. It wasn’t until another Sesame Street puppeteer became fed up with Elmo that Kevin took a stab at the big red puppet that just wasn’t catching on.
Elmo had been an occasional character on Sesame Street. With a gruff voice, Elmo was more of an extra than a star performer. Kevin not only gave Elmo his voice… but as we see, he gave Elmo his soul. It’s no accident that six-year-olds love Elmo. Being Elmo gives adults some insight into the Elmo phenomenon as well as the journey of an important puppeteer. It’s a fascinating and heartwarming story that gives us a greater appreciation for this art form… its past, present and future. Today Kevin Clash is co-executive producer of Sesame Street, but this story isn’t just about Kevin. Just as Kermit Love took Kevin under his wing, Kevin makes time to mentor the next generation of aspiring puppeteers. Being Elmo isn’t a kid’s movie. It’s a heartwarming story about life, love, dedication and spreading joy.
4 popped kernels
More than just a red puppet with a cute voice… Elmo has a soul
Popcorn Profile
Primary Audience: Young adults & Grown-ups
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Art house
Mood: Jubilant
Tempo: Cruises comfortably
Visual Style: Unvarnished realism
Character Development: Engaging
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Informative
