I interviewed of my very dear and close friends Alvaro Clemente.
Please introduce yourself Alvaro!
Hi I’m Alvaro! I’m a filmmaking student from Mallorca, Spain, currently living in London. My favourite movie, of course, is The Dark Crystal, and I have to thank it because it shaped my passion for movies and fantasy.
What kind of fan are you? More of a fanart maker? A writer? Are you more of a merch collector (no pun intended)?
To be honest, I’ve always been a passive fan, I don’t have much talent for drawing or cosplay, but I do have some notions of writing, and even though I write, I do not actually write for fandoms. I do collect a lot of merch; Funko’s, books, comics or any rarity that I can afford from The Dark Crystal, I feel like I need to gather as much merch as possible.
What does your collection exist out of?
I have all the main Funko’s from the movie and two from Age Of Resistance (Hup and The Hunter), the novelization, the VHS tape, the DVD, Blu-Ray, Creation Myths, the mangas, World of The Dark Crystal, The Ultimate Visual History, a very fluffy Fizzgizz plushie and some goodies I got at the Age of Resistance premiere at BFI (magazines, postcards, posters, etc…)
Anything particular you would like to see released regarding to the series? Clothing, jewelry etc. (eg. harry potter, who have like everything)
Affordable props, more variety of action figures/toys (Lego, Hasbro, etc), clothing line with hoodies, t-shirts and other accessories that can make me show my passion to the people. And of course, I would love a RPG style video game where you could customise your own Gelfling (or Podling), choose your clan, and travel freely through all Thra, doing missions, leveling up, maybe playing with other friends and join together in the Resistance!
What did you think of AoR?
I loved it! And even though there are some retcons or details that clash with the canon, I enjoyed every minute of it, the characters are lovely, the world is gorgeous and the puppetry is superb! I really liked the plot focusing on the Gelfling genocide, and although it’s bound for a sad trip, I think it’s a very important part in the world of Thra.
What do you really want to see in season 2? (If there’s a second season coming)
UrSkeks, definitely, I’m still amazed by them, they are so mysterious, ethereal, and even angelical. I stood in awe when I saw them in the movie and I hope that if they show them in a second season, they treat them the same way, like pure forms of energy, wise and calm.
I would also like to get more into the Mystics, their way of life, their customs, and their relations with the other Gelfling clans. I know Jim Henson based them on Buddhist monks and I’ve been studying with Buddhist monks and their ways lately, so I feel very close to them more than ever. I love their aesthetic, the brown colours of their clothes and their tools, are reminiscent of the earth and its powers. And their chant is…enchanting! (See what I did there?)
How did you get into The Dark Crystal?
I can’t remember the specifics, but I think either my mother or step-sister brought an anniversary edition VHS tape home in 1998-1999 and I was captured from the first minute to the last. The narration of the beginning was so mysterious, then watching all the creatures that I knew they weren’t humans, but I also didn’t know they were puppets yet, they were so real to me, I always felt Thra was out there, waiting for me, I felt welcomed at Thra, as if it was my second home. The music was so beautiful. The landscapes amazes me to this day up to the point that I feel like I could step in at any moment. And the Podling party, c’mon, we all would love to be in one! I love that they made a Podling one of the main characters in Age of Resistance, I just adore them! Fun fact: Kira was my first crush ever! I love her, she’s strong, sweet and kind and so beautiful.
Who is your favorite character and why?
Tough question, I relate a lot with Jen, how he feels about his quest, his way of being and how he reacts to the world around him, but I also like Kira a lot for the reasons mentioned above. And from Age Of Resistance I love Hup, he is so alive, so funny and it’s so easy to relate with him. I also love Brea for the same reasons I love Kira…and special mention to SkekMal, he is pure metal!