It’s SXSW day three, and this is the first moment I’ve had to write! Austin is buzzing, to say the least, and I’m currently hiding in an out-of-the-way Mexican restaurant having breakfast before returning to a full day of screenings. Luckily, it’s Austin, so the restaurant has free wireless.
Since I have so little time, I’m only going to focus on my favorite film so far: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey. The documentary follows Kevin Clash, the voice and personality of Elmo, from puppet obsession to national sensation. It’s a mesmerizing and emotional film, and it was clear when I saw adults run up to the front of the theater to be closer to Elmo (yes, Elmo) during the Q&A that I was not the only person deeply touched by the film. In fact, when I was in line this morning for advanced film tickets, a 20-something filmmaker also in line showed me the photo he had taken with Elmo. He said, “I’ve never been so excited to meet an inanimate object.” Part of the point is that Elmo isn’t inanimate. Elmo is Kevin Clash, and vice versa, and for children, Elmo is the literal embodiment of love—someone who needs and loves them as much as they love and need him.
Here’s a clip from the film:
This film seems especially crucial in the current political climate, as politicians prepare to slash funding for (or, God forbid, eliminate) public television. Kevin was a lower-class kid growing up in Baltimore when he first saw Sesame Street. He was immediately enthralled and inspired. When he started making puppets, his mother called one of the puppeteers on Sesame Street, who invited him to visit in New York City. When Kevin finally was able to go, another public television show, Big Blue Marble, documented his trip. (The program showcased motivated teenagers pursuing their dreams.) These shows indicate exactly how PBS can impact someone’s life directly through its programming.
It pains me not to tell you all about how I had to duck out of the Q&A to ensure I saw Pee Wee Herman, but I’ll save the Pee Wee recap for the next time I have a quiet and free 30 minutes. I’m currently off to the premiere of 96 Minutes, a thriller starring a bunch of teenagers I’ve never heard of but that are apparently names, followed by Werner Herzog’s 3D documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams. Then the Found Footage Film Festival party, then the Vimeo party, then… You get the point.
