There was The Muppet Show.

There were Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock.

And then there was Gunch & Ruben.

In the late 80s, Gunch & Ruben was a beloved children's television program. Hosted by puppeteer brothers Gary and Chuck Benowitz, the short-lived but popular show told the story of a curious alien named Gunch who is dropped off on Earth and adopted by the family of Ruben. Gary, the elder sibling, performed the straitlaced Earthling Ruben, while Chuck, the younger brother, puppeted the broccoli-loving purple extra-terrestrial Gunch. After teaching and entertaining kids over a handful of seasons, the series ran its course and, like most shows, was eventually cancelled.

And now, Gary and Chuck haven't spoken for more than twenty years...

Until today.

A special anniversary performance called "Gunch & Ruben's Galactic Reunion" brings the estranged brothers together for the first time in decades to perform before an audience of kids and grown up fans. But their dusty, old puppets are not the only things they bring to the stage; they carry decades of baggage, in the form of unprocessed trauma, which they unpack in front of a live audience, who thinks it's all just a part of the show. Meanwhile, Chuck and Gary are crammed uncomfortably together beneath the stage, face to face for the first time in 20 years. It’s in these close quarters that the men are finally forced to confront their past—and their performance becomes their therapy session.

Much to the exasperation of stressed-out emcee, Zoey, whose only goal is to keep the show running smoothly and according to plan!

This is a story about the power of art. Whether it's pain, love, grief, or joy, art is the thing that allows us to express these emotions and share what's in our hearts and minds. For some, that art might be music. For others, painting or poetry. For me personally, it's filmmaking. But for Chuck and Gary Benowitz, that art is puppetry. Our craft is our voice, allowing us be vulnerable, have the difficult conversations, and process the things that weigh heavy on our souls.

Why puppets?

Puppetry is something that's always kind of been there. I grew up watching Sesame Street and Frank Oz's brilliant performance as Yoda (and if you know me, you know how much time I spent watching Star Wars as a kid). I went to the University of Maryland, where perhaps our most famous alumni is none other than Jim Henson himself and is the place where he discovered his penchant for puppets. And I named my Shih Tzu Fizzgig, after the adorable little fuzzball from The Dark Crystal. You might say this project was a lifetime in the making.

Inspiration struck after a visit to Atlanta's Center for Puppetry Arts in 2023. I wanted to utilize this unique medium to tell a deeply meaningful story, not about the puppets, but about the artists and their interpersonal drama. But while the story touches on some hard-hitting emotions, there's no reason why we can't have fun doing it! This film is unique because it packs a one-two punch of providing laughs and entertainment via puppet antics, but reflects a deeper human story beneath the surface. Which is ultimately what I'm interested in: telling impactful stories in unexpected ways.

Though puppets have been ever present throughout my life, I'll be the first to admit--this film will mark my first foray into actually working with them. But I am constantly seeking to expand my creative horizons and experiment with different mediums, and I've learned so much already! Having seen the hard work of talented puppeteers, I now have a newfound respect for their craft. I can't wait to take on this new creative challenge and showcase this wonderful artform.

In 2023, we ran a successful Seed&Spark crowdfund for my proof of concept, Pa, and the amount of support we received for that project was overwhelming. That film simply would not have been possible without all of the generous supporters who believed in the project. As we speak, Pa is currently being pitched and shopped around to production companies in LA in hopes that the feature script will get picked up. And as much as I wish these things happened overnight, it is unfortunately a long and patient process.

You can watch the full Pa short film here!

While Pa was a proof of concept meant to pave the way for a much grander vision, it was never the end goal, but merely the first step on a larger journey. Gunch & Ruben's Galactic Reunion is intended to stand on its own. Self-contained, powerful, elevated. This film is designed to be a statement about the power of art and what we can do when we join together. And when Gunch & Ruben starts earning its laurels in festivals, that will only put us in a better position in our journey towards Pa.

We hope you will join us in this celebration of art, love letter to puppeteers in the tradition of Jim Henson, and affecting story of brothers finding catharsis through their craft. Please consider sharing this journey with us. I'm so excited to share it with you!

Sincerely,

Zack Burkett