Caffeinated Clint
Saw a terrific documentary a couple of weeks ago called “Being Elmo : A Puppeteer’s Journey”; goes without saying the film focuses on the life and career of the man who gives, er, hand to the popular “Sesame Street” character, Elmo. The guy’s name is Kevin Clash and he’s actually done a ton of stuff (remember “Not the Mumma!” from “Dinosaurs”!?), but this documentary lets you in on the man beyond the arm – it’s terribly engrossing.
Anyway, ACMI here in Melbourne want 5 Moviehole readers to come down and check out the film on it’s opening night, which is Tue 27 Dec 2011, 7.15pm.
Guess it goes without saying you must be a resident of Australia, and preferably (for the sake of your petrol tank) be based in Melbourne, to be eligible. But if you want a double-pass to attend the opening night, email me here with “BEING ELMO” in the subject header.
BEING ELMO chronicles the life story of puppeteer Kevin Clash – the multiple award-winning persona behind the furry red monster Elmo of television’s Sesame Street. As a teenager growing up in Baltimore in the 1970s, Kevin had very different aspirations from his classmates—he wanted to be a puppeteer. More specifically, he wanted to be part of Jim Henson’s team, the creative force responsible for delivering the magic of Sesame Street on a daily basis. With a supportive family behind him, Kevin made his dreams come true.
Combining amazing archival footage with material from the present day, filmmaker Constance Marks explores Kevin’s story in vivid detail and chronicles the meteoric rise of Jim Henson in the process. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg and including interviews with Frank Oz, Rosie O’Donnell, Cheryl Henson, Joan Ganz Cooney and others, this insightful and personal documentary offers up a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Sesame Street and the Jim Henson legacy.
