Madison has been star-struck recently with homegrown director Michael Mann parading heartthrobs on Capitol Square for Public Enemies"" and fellow UW alum Stuart Gordon preparing for the nationwide release of his new film, ""Stuck."" It would be easy, then, to overlook Madison's most reliable entertainer, almost like he was hiding in a burrow somewhere. After all, how many giant badgers do you know who stand on their heads, maul giant gophers and do pushups wearing nothing but a candy cane-colored turtleneck?
One UW alum, John Fromstein, hopes to shift the spotlight back on Buckingham U. Badger with his new documentary, ""Being Bucky"" - a rare peek at the lives of the seven students who inhabit Madison's beloved furball.
""Our intention is to show the relationship and the dynamic of all the Buckys,"" co-director Scott Smith said. A Madison native, Smith worked alongside Fromstein, the film's producer and co-director. Fromstein said the film would be ""an exploration of the world of mascoting,"" while also discovering how the personal lives of those inside the suit ""intersect with the life of a mascot.""
The Buckys, however, weren't so eager to unmask in front of a nationwide audience.
""We were really hesitant about saying 'yes' because we are supposed to be anonymous to an extent,"" Sky Halverson said, who just graduated after a three-year stint as Bucky. Like the others, Halverson keeps his celebrity association secret from most people, even omitting the job on his Facebook profile. ""It kind of kills part of the magic when people know who it is,"" Halverson said.
The Buckys eventually did warm to the project, reassured by the filmmakers' close ties to Madison. Halverson also said he'd appreciate having the ""video yearbook"" to look back on. ""You know, you'll have your photos to look back on, but it's so rare that someone has a feature film about them,"" Halverson said.
Still, being filmed out of costume took some getting used to, according to Halverson, who was interviewed twice and followed to several events. ""There were definitely moments of self-conscious where you'd say something and it'd be like 'Crap! That probably didn't come out very good.'""
Fromstein said the film will naturally appeal to UW alum and Wisconsin residents, though its themes transcend mere fanfare, especially since it's the first documentary about mascoting, as far as Fromstein knows.
""The story will be interesting to follow no matter what school you went to,"" Fromstein said. ""Everybody knows about mascots, and this will opens their eyes to what it's like to be a mascot.""
Blake Johnson, another recently graduated Bucky, agreed that most people have no idea what mascoting entails. ""It's not all fun and games. There's some hard work that goes along, and we're not just big party animals. Well, I guess we are party animals, but we're not just a bunch of drunk assholes that are out trying to be a bunch of crazy fools all the time,"" Johnson said.
On their latest trip to Mascot Camp in Milwaukee, the mascoting community gave the Buckys mixed reactions to the film crew, Halverson said. ""I think some schools kind of resented us for so publicly breaking down the boundary between mascot and person, but I think a lot of people were really supportive.""
Almost everyone else has been eager to jump on board, however, as the filmmakers have interviewed Bret Bielema, Bo Ryan, Barry Alvarez and even Lee Corso. Despite all the hype and the possibility of premiering at the Wisconsin Film Festival next year, Johnson is convinced Bucky's 35-pound head won't get any bigger. ""If one person can handle all the fame and publicity of being the star of a documentary, it's probably Bucky Badger.""
Halverson, who expects to be nervous for the fourth time in his life at the film's premiere, thinks the film will open some eyes by humanizing mascots. ""People don't realize that there's a human in there. Yes they do, but it's not a real person. That's why people think it's OK if their kids hit them,"" Halverson said.
Whatever the film's response, Bucky won't have to worry about fading out of stardom. No plastic surgery needed here; Bucky Badger will never die.
