Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey

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Documentary

Director: Constance Marks, Philip Shane

Release Date: April 27, 2012

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I decided to watch Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey before it gets pulled forever after recent scandals. It was kind of weird seeing this documentary & trying to read in between the lines regarding what was not being said: his wife & her family visibly annoyed at & not emotionally connecting with Kevin Clash doing the Elmo voice that made him successful during his off hours, the teasing in high school about his masculinity for making puppets and the immediate acceptance by other puppeteers & NYC. My fave part of the movie was realizing that our paths crossed in the past albeit quite distantly! I have tons of photos from 1979 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade & fond memories of that day, particularly the Sesame Street float & my dearly departed uncle & brother making sure that I had a good spot to see it. It is never easy when reality clashes with image, but after realizing that many of my beloved puppeteers were involved with Labyrinth, I shouldn’t be surprised when adults plunge into childhood entertainment that there may be a dissonance.

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