Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey

Who doesn't love Elmo—the familiar, furry, red Muppet character from Sesame Street? But did you know that Elmo is the only non-human ever to testify before the U.S. Congress? That and other fascinating info-nuggets are related in this documentary profile of Kevin Clash, best known as Elmo's hand, voice, and soul. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, the story begins outside Baltimore where, after watching Captain Kangaroo, young Clash cut up his father's raincoat to construct a monkey character to animate for family and friends. Although initially mocked for playing with dolls, by the time Clash graduated from high school, he'd created more than 70 puppets and landed his first gig on Maryland children's TV. Supported by his parents, puppetry-obsessed Clash snagged a breakthrough job with Captain Kangaroo before working on PBS's The Great Space Coaster, which gave him a foothold into the Sesame Street universe, where Jim Henson became his friend and mentor (Clash would become the first African-American to join the Children's Television Workshop). Clash was not Elmo's first puppeteer, but he's the one who contributed the helium-infused, falsetto voice and developed the personality of a perpetual three-year-old, speaking in the third person. Adapted from Clash's autobiography My Life as a Furry Red Monster: What Being Elmo Has Taught me About Life, Love and Laughing Out Loud, director Constance Marks's engaging portrait is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include “Some Thoughts from the Filmmakers” (14 min.), a Sundance Q&A (9 min.), an interview with puppeteer John Tartaglia (6 min.), footage of ‘tween puppeteer Tau Bennett performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (4 min.), a text director's bio, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a winning profile.] (S. Granger)