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Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey

4.9 out of 5 stars 55 customer reviews

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Product Details

  • Actors: Kevin Clash, Whoopi Goldberg, Frank Oz, Rosie O Donnell, Cheryl Henson
  • Directors: Constance Marks
  • Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated:
    PG
    Parental Guidance Suggested
  • Studio: Docurama
  • DVD Release Date: April 3, 2012
  • Run Time: 76 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0064NLPV0
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,831 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

By A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com VINE VOICE on March 2, 2012
"Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" is about the rise and success of Kevin Clash, Muppet Elmo's puppeteer. One of the best documentaries I have ever seen.

Clash was an unlikely puppeteer, but went at it with diligence at an early age. Confident, yet he faced the scorn of his classmates in school who questioned his "playing with dolls." He took risks, asked questions, and was humble throughout.

The craft of puppet making is looked at as Clash had meetings with Sesame Street's expert puppet maker Kermit Love (no relation to the frog), who took him under his wing as both a craftsman and as a professional learning show business. Also examined is how Elmo was taken from a lesser character almost removed from the show by his previous puppeteer, to being the most popular Muppet.

We meet Clash's supportive parents, his early employer who knew he had someone special, and various Sesame Street people who explain what makes Clash's work different. We see him train puppeteers for the French version of the show, help a young girl who is much like him, and Clash himself in extensive interviews.

What does this have have to do with art? Watch how lifelike Elmo is, and how deliberate every movement and vocalization is. He is not a mono-personality entity like Punch or Judy, but a complex, rich, yet specific persona. There are unexpected layers, nuance and strategic quirks. Beyond the sing-song childlike laughter, Elmo is as complete of a person as a puppet can be. Kevin Clash is the reason why.

While comparing him too much to the finer arts would be amiss, the challenge to think about the completing of our work through our audience's reception is clearly there. Clash knows who is audience is, and what he wants to communicate through his character.
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Those who watch this documentary will get merely a glimpse of the incredible manual dexterity of puppeteer Kevin Clash. His expressive fingers communicate things that a mouth is unable to, as my 16 year old son learned first hand (as it were). As the Amazon review puts it, "his charmed life unfolded like a grownup fairy tale"--and what a fairy tale it was!

Starting in a pitiful and squalorous local television station, Kevin's hands firmly climbed the rungs of the career ladder, his confidence rising with each grip, until they manipulated the body and mouth of a childlike puppet beloved of five year olds everywhere. How many young people has Kevin Clash personally tickled with his fanciful touch? We can only guess, but I imagine it's probably in the high teens.

One of the thrills of this story is seeing Kevin's eyes bulge with joy as he puppets Elmo. His hands have found their true place inside the felt body of an innocent, childlike being. It's a performance that can be appreciated not just by children from 5 to 18, but by middle-aged adult men as well, particularly those without children.
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Having come of age before the entire Elmo phenomenon swept the world, I can honestly reveal that I just had no particular love for our friendly red friend. I loved Sesame Street, the Jim Henson legacy, The Muppets, and almost anything associated with that world--but Elmo's allure eluded me. Therefore, I am giving Constance Marks' documentary "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" my highest ranking for one simple and undeniable fact. Now, after all these years, I finally "get" Elmo and why he has become such a beloved creation. So consider me a convert who just needs a hug! "Being Elmo" tells the story of Kevin Clash from his humble beginnings to his prominent position in the Sesame Street dynasty. This is a surprisingly low-key tale of following your dreams and, as such, it has enormous charm and an important family-friendly message likely to inspire the next generation of aspiring artists. As opposed to the modern era of kids seeking instant stardom, it proposes that one must have talent, ambition, fortitude, and a willingness to work to achieve success. What a rare notion in this reality TV culture filled with indulged and entitled youth!

This is, perhaps, not the most sophisticated documentary that you're likely to encounter in terms of its technical presentation, but its simplicity and heart are what distinguish it. There is quite a bit of footage from Clash's youth to incorporate into the film as he took his puppet-making passion to a public local stage from an early age. From community events, to local TV, to Captain Kangaroo--every step of Clash's journey drove him closer to the goal of working with Jim Henson. And just as interesting as the pursuit of this initial dream is when he takes a cast-off Muppet on the Street and makes history.
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Elmo is an instantly recognizable icon that brings joy to people all over the globe on Sesame Street, but who is the man behind the lovable red puppet? This inspiring and award-winning documentary film tells the story of Baltimore native Kevin Clash, who dreamed of being a puppeteer as a child. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, Being Elmo traces Clash's early beginnings from backyard puppet shows to working with his idol, Jim Henson, and creating one of the most famous puppet characters in the world.
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