Are you there, Andy?  is my fan letter to the (possibly) late Andy Kaufman. Andy was a self-described “song and dance man,” most famous in the late 1970s and 1980s for his guest appearances on Saturday Night Live and starring role in the hit sitcom, Taxi. Younger audiences may know the R.E.M. hit song that was a tribute to him, or the biopic that starred Jim Carrey. He’s usually regarded as a comedian, but Andy rejected this label, claiming, “I am not a comic, I have never told a joke ... The comedian's promise is that he will go out there and make you laugh with him ... My only promise is that I will try to entertain you as best I can.”

 

My obsession, for lack of a better word, with Andy began during a transitional period. I was a semester away from graduating college, trying to envision my career opportunities and larger life goals. For most of my college career, I had focused on developing my skills as a drag artist. I founded my college’s first drag troupe in 2017, and acted as its Creative Director until I graduated in 2019. I usually performed as a femme queen, and by my senior year I was tired of lip-syncing. So, I decided to present a rendition of one of Andy’s stand-up routines. I found that his artistic philosophy complemented mine as a drag artist, and my fascination grew.

 

My background in drag has led me to artists who blur the line between reality and imagination. Andy’s idea of entertainment was underlined by an almost defiant individualism and dada-esque philosophy. Similar to drag artists, he aimed to challenge his audience’s concept of reality and turn it on its head. I loved that he was indefinable, irreverent and never let the audience off the hook. As a filmmaker, I wanted to explore Andy’s final performance that has kept his audience enraptured for over 30 years – his ‘death.’

 

Many people believe that Andy faked his death and will someday return to the spotlight. In many ways, the lingering rumors of Andy’s death hoax have made him immortal, keeping his legend alive for a new generation of fans. Described as the ‘ultimate prank,’ it inspired me to read as much about Andy as I could, hoping to find some clue as to where he has been hiding all these years. Every conspiracy theory seemed to bring me closer to finding Andy alive and giving me the chance to meet him. Are you there, Andy?  explores how Andy continues to keep his fans guessing, his resurrection always just around the corner. The film is a personal account of how Andy has continued to upend reality from beyond the grave, told from the perspective of one fan who still hasn’t been let off the hook. 

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Are you there, Andy?  is about the rabbit hole every fan of Andy Kaufman eventually travels down. The film explores Andy’s impact decades after his sudden departure, the enduring legacy of his singular brand of entertainment, and how he managed to take his final breath into his own hands. The film is a record of my own obsession, and how Andy helped me navigate my first year of ‘adulthood.’ Are you there, Andy?  goes through the looking glass into the wonderland of wrestling, singing, dancing and milk and cookies. The wonderland where we endlessly hope to hear, once again, "t'ank you veddy much."