Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey |
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Theatrical release poster by Scott McDermott
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| Directed by | Constance Marks |
| Produced by | Constance Marks Corinne LaPook James Miller |
| Written by | Philip Shane Justin Weinstein |
| Narrated by | Whoopi Goldberg |
| Music by | Joel Goodman |
| Cinematography | James Miller |
| Distributed by | Submarine Deluxe  Mongrel Media  Madman Entertainment  |
| Release date(s) | January 14, 2011 (Sundance) October 21, 2011 (United States) |
| Running time | 77 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey is a wonderful documentary film from 2011. It shares the true story of Kevin Clash, the amazing puppeteer who gave life to the famous Sesame Street character, Elmo. This film shows how Kevin became a rising star and helped Elmo become a global sensation, loved by kids everywhere. It was one of the most talked-about documentaries at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
Discovering Elmo's Story
This film takes you on a journey with Kevin Clash, the creative mind and voice behind Elmo. It explores Kevin's childhood dreams and his early career in Baltimore, Maryland. You'll see how he first met and worked with Sesame Street creator Jim Henson and puppet maker Kermit Love. The documentary then follows the incredible success story of Elmo.
The idea for the film started when Sesame Street camera man James Miller filmed Kevin Clash with Elmo. Kevin was looking at photos of Miller's young daughter. When Constance Marks saw this footage, she thought it would make a great documentary. She wanted to show the talented person behind the beloved Muppet. Kevin Clash loved the idea, seeing it as a chance to talk about his passion for puppetry.
Who Appears in the Film?
Many interesting people are part of Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey. Some appear as themselves, sharing their experiences. Others are shown through older video clips.
- Whoopi Goldberg - She tells the story as the narrator.
- Kevin Clash - The main star, sharing his own journey.
- George Clash - Kevin's father.
- Gladys Clash - Kevin's mother.
- Bill Barretta - A fellow puppeteer.
- Martin P. Robinson - Another puppeteer.
- Fran Brill - A puppeteer known for her work on Sesame Street.
- Joan Ganz Cooney - One of the people who helped create Sesame Street.
- Cheryl Henson - The president of the Jim Henson Foundation.
- Jim Henson - The legendary creator of The Muppets (seen in old videos).
- Caroll Spinney - The puppeteer for Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch (seen in old videos).
- Frank Oz - A famous puppeteer and director (seen in old videos).
- Oprah Winfrey - A well-known TV host (seen in old videos).
- Michelle Obama - Former First Lady of the United States (seen in old videos).
- Martha Stewart - A famous TV personality (seen in old videos).
- Ricky Gervais - A comedian and actor (seen in old videos).
- Rosie O'Donnell - A TV host and comedian (seen in old videos).
- Regis Philbin - A popular TV host (seen in old videos).
- Kofi Annan - Former Secretary-General of the United Nations (seen in old videos).
- Princess Diana - The beloved Princess of Wales (seen in old videos).
Film Release and Awards
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey first showed at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. This is a very important film festival. The movie was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize. It then won the Special Jury Prize, which is a big honor!
A review from The Hollywood Reporter about the film said, "Being Elmo is a rare documentary that will connect across generations and cultures to delight viewers worldwide for years to come." This means the film is special and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and from all over the world.
See also
In Spanish: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey para niños
