Being Elmo, the story of how puppeteer Kevin Clash turned his 9-year-old dream into a reality, is melting hearts at indie film festivals this year.
Kevin Clash faced a lot of opposition growing up chasing his dream to work with Jim Henson and The Muppets. As a little boy he spent hours sewing puppets together, and in high school he was picked on for playing with dolls. But after graduation, he chased his dream to New York City, ready to climb onto the set of Sesame Street given the chance. Then, when puppeteer Richard Hunt gave up on the gangly red puppet, Clash got his chance. No one at Sesame Street had been able to develop a successful personality for Elmo.
“I knew that Elmo should represent love,” says Clash.
And Elmo came alive as Clash’s dream came true. Today the furry red monster is loved the world wide. Being Elmo is not only the inspirational story of Clash and his snuggly monster, but a heartwarming message to everyone about what it means to never give up on your dreams.
“If everybody else your age is doing something very different than what you’re doing, there’s always going to be someone saying that you might not succeed, you might not make any money with that,” says Clash. “All of those things will go away if your really focus on what makes you happy.”
Watch the trailer below for a sneak peak of Elmo love!
Being Elmo debuts in New York City October 21 — click here to find out when it comes to you!
