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The Untold Story Behind the Pee-wee Herman Documentary: A Filmmaker’s Journey
The passing of Paul Reubens, the beloved creator of Pee-wee Herman, was unexpected. The news stunned documentary filmmaker Matt Wolf, who had dedicated a year to persuading Reubens to create the ambitious two-part documentary, “Pee-wee as Himself,” now available on HBO Max. Wolf spent over 40 hours interviewing Reubens, unaware of his battle with cancer that was kept secret. This Paul Reubens documentary explores the life and career of the iconic comedian, delving into aspects of his persona and struggles.
A Project on the Brink
In 2023, the documentary was nearly derailed due to disagreements over creative control. A compromise was reached, and a final interview was scheduled for early August. However, a series of messages hinted at something amiss, leaving Wolf deeply concerned.
- Reubens and Wolf discussed his childhood.
- They spoke about his complicated relationship with fame.
- They talked about his commitment to Pee-wee Herman.
- They explored his sexuality and his 1991 arrest.
Despite these extensive conversations, Reubens never disclosed his six-year struggle with cancer. This revelation profoundly impacted Wolf, giving him a renewed sense of purpose.
Renewed Purpose After Reubens’ Passing
“I went to work the day after Paul died,” Wolf stated. “I started to read the 1,500-page transcript of our interview through the night and was struck by the significance and meaning that came by understanding that he was privately contemplating mortality. I was aware that this was an extraordinary situation that was part of the story of the film and that the stakes were the highest I had ever experienced.”
Over the next year, Wolf felt immense pressure to do justice to Reubens’ story. He described the process as “the most challenging and involved and emotional process of filmmaking that I’ve ever gone through and maybe that I’ll ever go through again.”
The Struggle for Creative Control
Reubens initially desired to direct his own documentary, fiercely guarding creative control. He questioned why he should relinquish control when telling his story for the first time. However, those close to him advised against it. After a year of building trust with Wolf, known for documentaries on Arthur Russell and Marion Stokes, Reubens considered relinquishing control.
An Unconventional Collaboration
Even after agreeing to Wolf’s direction, Reubens continued to resist and challenge the process. Recognizing this dynamic as essential, they recorded their phone conversations.
Wolf explained, “Right away, Paul was sort of rebelling against the process, blowing off steam, procrastinating, teasing me, sometimes being adversarial, but in a funny wink-wink way. I was frustrated. I thought, how am I ever going to get through this? This is the most resistant interview subject I’ve ever encountered. Then I realized this is actually a pretty significant form of portraiture. This is showing Paul’s discomfort and uncertainty about really showing and sharing himself.”
The final product, according to Wolf, is a collaboration where he had editorial say. The goal was not to create a biased or superficial account.
Capturing the Essence of an Artist
Wolf, who grew up watching “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” described it as his first visceral experience with art. However, he approached the project as a filmmaker focusing on gay artists and unconventional visionaries deserving of reappraisal.
“I was determined not to make a film that fell into the traps of the celebrity biopic with platitudes from other famous people and manufactured self-reflection”, Wolf said. “I wanted to make a portrait of an artist.” This Pee-wee Herman HBO documentary aims to offer a unique perspective on Reubens’ life and artistry.
Exploring the Pre-Pee-wee Years
The film delves into Reubens’ early life, artistic development, improv experiences, and rejection from “Saturday Night Live,” illustrating how these elements converged to create Pee-wee Herman. The documentary directly addresses Reubens’ sexuality. He discusses living openly as a gay man before retreating back into the closet.
“He had always intended to come out but was very ambivalent about that,” Wolf noted. “And I saw myself as a younger gay person who could help somebody achieve that and also to give a sense of nuance and depth to his artistry that one could appreciate, and to understand the personal sacrifices that were required for him to do that.”
Controversies and Setting the Record Straight
Reubens’ career faced a setback after his 1991 arrest for indecent exposure and the subsequent allegations in 2001. These incidents are addressed in the documentary’s second part.
“He wanted to set the record straight, particularly about the unfortunate footnotes of his arrest, which to some extent have overshadowed his artistic accomplishments,” Wolf stated. “That to me felt like the easy part and also the least interesting part of the film.”
“Pee-wee as Himself” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, eliciting strong emotional responses from audiences. Wolf aimed for this emotional impact.
“I wanted to make a film with a big range of emotions, from joy and delight to tragedy and sorrow,” Wolf concluded. “Paul contains that big spectrum of feelings. And I wanted the viewer to feel it, to have a lasting connection to him. When a film can affect you emotionally it becomes unforgettable.” The Pee-wee Herman documentary HBO offers an intimate look at the life and legacy of Paul Reubens.