Being Elmo is the story of Kevin Clash, one of the most famous men you have probably never heard of. He gave life to Elmo, Sesame Street's beloved furry red muppet, and his story will delight you. Because it is very simply the story of a man who loved puppets.
Clash became obsessed with puppets from an early age, starting with his love for Captain Kangaroo and then an obsession with Sesame Street as soon as it premiered in 1969. He watched every TV special featuring Jim Henson, the genius responsible for the Muppets, and watched Henson and his colleagues discuss simple puppet-making techniques on various TV specials. Finally, one day he saw the fur lining in his father's coat and inspiration struck. Without further thought, he cut it up and fashioned a monkey puppet, the first of many. Terrified at what his father would say when he saw his decimated coat, Clash was shocked to hear his father's response, "You could have just asked!" In fact, his parents knew then and there that Clash had a gift and they supported him 100% as he proceeded to fill up the house with dozens of puppets. You can't help but admire parents like these - they were so excited to see his talent that it never once crossed their mind that puppeteering might be considered an odd career choice.
In high school, Clash continued to play with puppets and performed at various venues in Baltimore to entertain children. He was spied by a local TV producer and started appearing on a children's TV show on Channel 2 with his collection of puppets in tow. During his senior year of high school, he had a class trip to high school, and his mother made one of his greatest wishes come true. She got in touch with Kermit Love, one of Jim Henson's main collaborators and designers of many of the Sesame Street Muppets, and arranged a meeting with him at the Muppet Studios. This was in 1978 and it seems almost ridiculous to imagine such a thing happening now. How would you ever be able to call up a high-profile man like Kermit Love and just ask him if he had the time to see your son? But it was a simpler time and Kermit was a man brimming with good will and an eagerness to meet young puppeteers. Clash got to tour the studios, learn all about the Henson stitch, and find out what materials they used to make the Muppets. The next year, he was invited back to New York to serve on the Sesame Street float for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade as the puppeteer for Cookie Monster.
During the 1980's, Clash worked on various shows in New York, including his beloved Captain Kangaroo, and finally in 1984, the stars aligned and he became an official puppeteer for Sesame Street. One day, the puppeteer who was trying to make something out of a furry red Muppet named Elmo got frustrated and threw the puppet onto Clash's lap. Clash picked Elmo up, decided to give this character a second life, and the rest is history.
What is so remarkable about this documentary is how jam-packed it is with people who are supportive, encouraging, and determined to help Clash achieve his dreams. This is no sad-sack documentary about overcoming the odds. Instead, it fiercely champions the idea that if you love something and have a genuine passion for it, you can go all the way and realize your most impossible dreams. The mentors that Clash picks up along the way, men like Kermit Love and Jim Henson, are all the more remarkable because they just open their arms and welcome in this hitherto unknown boy. They recognize his immense talent and that is the only thing they care about. They teach him everything they know about puppeteering and designing the Muppets, and in return he gives them everything's he's got.
Elmo's defining characteristic is love. All he wants is to hug and kiss the kids and celebrities he meets on Sesame Street or around the world, and that is what makes him such a universally loved character. No one even seems to notice Clash as he works the puppet, their eyes are solely on Elmo. However, Elmo is simply an extension of Clash, his parents, and the people who have loved and supported him through the years. Elmo's unconditional love is just a reflection of the love that Clash has received through his journey to Sesame Street. And now that he's made it, we get to see how he passes on the legacy by inviting the future generation of puppeteers to the Muppet workshop and answering all of their questions about materials, stitches, or puppet manipulation.
Sesame Street has always been a warm and welcoming place. It is now clear that this is because the men and women behind those Muppets are every bit as warm, loving, and wonderful as the characters they portray.
Clash became obsessed with puppets from an early age, starting with his love for Captain Kangaroo and then an obsession with Sesame Street as soon as it premiered in 1969. He watched every TV special featuring Jim Henson, the genius responsible for the Muppets, and watched Henson and his colleagues discuss simple puppet-making techniques on various TV specials. Finally, one day he saw the fur lining in his father's coat and inspiration struck. Without further thought, he cut it up and fashioned a monkey puppet, the first of many. Terrified at what his father would say when he saw his decimated coat, Clash was shocked to hear his father's response, "You could have just asked!" In fact, his parents knew then and there that Clash had a gift and they supported him 100% as he proceeded to fill up the house with dozens of puppets. You can't help but admire parents like these - they were so excited to see his talent that it never once crossed their mind that puppeteering might be considered an odd career choice.
In high school, Clash continued to play with puppets and performed at various venues in Baltimore to entertain children. He was spied by a local TV producer and started appearing on a children's TV show on Channel 2 with his collection of puppets in tow. During his senior year of high school, he had a class trip to high school, and his mother made one of his greatest wishes come true. She got in touch with Kermit Love, one of Jim Henson's main collaborators and designers of many of the Sesame Street Muppets, and arranged a meeting with him at the Muppet Studios. This was in 1978 and it seems almost ridiculous to imagine such a thing happening now. How would you ever be able to call up a high-profile man like Kermit Love and just ask him if he had the time to see your son? But it was a simpler time and Kermit was a man brimming with good will and an eagerness to meet young puppeteers. Clash got to tour the studios, learn all about the Henson stitch, and find out what materials they used to make the Muppets. The next year, he was invited back to New York to serve on the Sesame Street float for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade as the puppeteer for Cookie Monster.
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| Man or Muppet? |
What is so remarkable about this documentary is how jam-packed it is with people who are supportive, encouraging, and determined to help Clash achieve his dreams. This is no sad-sack documentary about overcoming the odds. Instead, it fiercely champions the idea that if you love something and have a genuine passion for it, you can go all the way and realize your most impossible dreams. The mentors that Clash picks up along the way, men like Kermit Love and Jim Henson, are all the more remarkable because they just open their arms and welcome in this hitherto unknown boy. They recognize his immense talent and that is the only thing they care about. They teach him everything they know about puppeteering and designing the Muppets, and in return he gives them everything's he's got.
Elmo's defining characteristic is love. All he wants is to hug and kiss the kids and celebrities he meets on Sesame Street or around the world, and that is what makes him such a universally loved character. No one even seems to notice Clash as he works the puppet, their eyes are solely on Elmo. However, Elmo is simply an extension of Clash, his parents, and the people who have loved and supported him through the years. Elmo's unconditional love is just a reflection of the love that Clash has received through his journey to Sesame Street. And now that he's made it, we get to see how he passes on the legacy by inviting the future generation of puppeteers to the Muppet workshop and answering all of their questions about materials, stitches, or puppet manipulation.
Sesame Street has always been a warm and welcoming place. It is now clear that this is because the men and women behind those Muppets are every bit as warm, loving, and wonderful as the characters they portray.
You are so corny...almost leaked a tear! Definitely want to see it...how'd you do it
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