A filmmaker recently shared insights into the making of their latest documentary, offering a glimpse into the complex relationship with their subject, the late Paul Reubens, and reflecting on the broader importance of filmmaking.

When asked about their favorite part of making the film, the filmmaker noted, “Every part of this film process was challenging.As depicted in the film, my relationship with Paul Reubens was often tense, but I also found him to be the most hilarious, complex, and compelling human I’ve ever met. I will always hold on to vivid memories of the hundreds of hours of conversations I had with Paul on and off camera.”

The director also discussed the significant challenges encountered during the production of Pee-wee as Himself.”the biggest challenge I faced while making this film was Paul. He was at once the most compelling and motivated subject I’ve ever had the privilege of interviewing, and by his own admission, he also wanted to direct the film himself. That push and pull between Paul and I was something we both decided was engaging and worthwhile to include in the film.Talking about our dynamic on camera was cathartic for both of us,and I think became something very unique about this film.”

The Importance of Telling Reubens’ story

The filmmaker emphasized the importance of sharing Paul Reubens’ story now, stating, “Paul Reubens is one of the most significant artists of his generation and a figure who has enormous significance for countless people.I am forever grateful that Paul was able to share his personal story in-depth for the first time on camera, and that he gave me his blessing to finish this film after his death.”

“Paul Reubens is one of the most important artists of his generation and a figure who has enormous significance for countless people.”

The Power of Filmmaking

The director articulated a profound belief in the power of filmmaking: “I’ve got a lot of energy and when I find something compelling,I don’t want to just passively appreciate it,I want to make that subject a life experiance. To be a documentary filmmaker is to live experimentally and to develop complex relationships with people you might not or else encounter.My hope is that my passion for filmmaking translates into emotional experiences for viewers. Anything that makes people feel things in nuanced and significant ways matters because we live in a culture that is increasingly nihilistic and inhumane.”

Offering advice to aspiring filmmakers, thay suggested, “Filmmakers should lean into their ambivalence. You don’t have to tell people what to think or feel, and we should be able to hold multiple feelings and experiences at once.”

Creative Inspirations and Personal Quirks

When asked about their creative heroes, the filmmaker listed “The photographer Larry Sultan, the writer Mary Gaitskill, the musician Nick Drake, and the generation of queer artists who died of AIDS, and who can’t be at Sundance with us.”

Revealing a glimpse into their personal life, they shared that their refrigerator always contains “Peanut butter, jelly, and almond milk,” and described themselves as “an oversharing open book.” They also credited their success as a storyteller to “The gift of gab.”

Sundance Institute and Personal History

Reflecting on their history with the Sundance Institute, the filmmaker stated, “My film It’s Me, Hilary was the first to play at Sundance. I’ve had another short and two features at the Festival too. The energy of a premiere, especially for a documentary, at Sundance is incomparable.” They also mentioned that Licensed to kill “was a film that changed the course of my life.”