Paul Reubens Shines in The Crown, Exploring Shadows and the Quest for Identity

      Paul Reubens and Jasbir (JB) Singh Ghuman became friends after the Pee-wee Herman actor reached out to Ghuman to praise his 2010 film, Spork. Ghuman had been a fan of Reubens for years, sharing a love for Pee-wee that many from the ’80s and beyond also felt.

      Years later, while teaching an art therapy class for children in South Central Los Angeles, Ghuman noted he could relate to his students. He shared with an audience at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, "I grew up very urban, very swagger — like I was a B-Boy from Overtown, Miami, like, super, super low income."

      However, as a proud queer mixed-media artist, Ghuman felt disappointed by his students' limited perspectives on gender. To address this, he decided to create a film that could broaden their views. Knowing his students were fans of Pee-wee Herman, he reached out to Reubens to involve him in the project. Ghuman aimed to engage not only the LGBTQ+ community but also those with conservative beliefs regarding gender.

      “I hoped that with Paul involved — since they were all Pee-wee fans — I could attract an audience from both our community and beyond. I truly believe the message needs to reach those who might think, ‘I would never!’ and, through that, foster some sort of progression,” Ghuman explained.

      Reubens agreed to participate in what became his final film. Ghuman’s innovative project, “The Crown with a Shadow and the Search for Self,” stands out as a unique experience.

      This artistic short combines 3D animation with a nostalgic ’80s or ’90s feel, frequently utilizing glow-in-the-dark elements. One creative approach includes layering the story over an old wedding video on VHS, specifically using Ghuman's mother's actual wedding footage.

      The narrative revolves around Oliver, a pink skunk clownfish voiced by Reubens. In both the film and reality, pink skunk clownfish start as males but have the ability to transition to females. Within their community, a female fish leads, but if she passes away, the largest male can shift genders to take her place.

      Ghuman viewed the skunk clownfish as a playful metaphor for the complexity and fluidity of gender.

      Reubens was not the only notable talent involved: Ghuman also contacted Geri Halliwell from the Spice Girls to voice Oliver’s mom and enlisted Amanda Lepore, a transgender model, singer, and performance artist, as the narrator. Tatum O’Neal voices a character named Razor, while trans actress-singer-model Krylon Superstar plays The Deity of Dopeness. All of their performances were remarkable.

      Both Lepore and Krylon attended the film's recent screening at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse for Poppy Jasper, where Lepore was honored with the festival’s Icon Award after a screening, Q&A, and tribute to Reubens. During this event, drag performers the Queens of Campbell performed “Tequila,” the song Reubens famously danced to in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.

      For Reubens, collaborating with Ghuman on “The Crown With a Shadow and the Search for Self” allowed him to reconnect publicly with the LGBTQ+ community in his later years. The actor passed away in July 2023 due to cancer but spoke about his sexuality in the forthcoming 2025 documentary, Pee-wee as Himself, now available on HBO Max.

      In the documentary, Reubens shares that he was openly gay earlier in life but later chose to retreat into the closet.

      By the time he starred in the Pee-wee films and the children’s show Pee-wee’s Playhouse, he was predominantly known for his Pee-wee persona. Although Pee-wee had a girlfriend named Dottie, he presented as childlike and showed no sexual interest.

      The character resonated with audiences on multiple levels: children adored his exuberance, infectious laugh, and witty retorts (“I know you are but what am I?”), while adults appreciated him as a satire of the wholesome children's entertainers of the 1950s.

      His popularity waned after his 1991 arrest for indecent exposure at an adult theater, becoming a target of ridicule. Reubens courageously addressed the incident at the 1991 MTV Music Video Awards by appearing on stage in character as Pee-wee. After receiving a wave of applause, he quipped to the audience, “Heard any good jokes lately?”

      During the following decade, Reubens maintained a lower profile, featuring in films like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mystery Men, and Blow without portraying Pee-wee. He faced another setback in 2002 when he was charged with misdemeanor possession of child pornography related to images found in his extensive collection of memorabilia and vintage adult content.

      Reubens submitted a no contest plea to the 1991 charges and pleaded guilty