Senior Dyullun Grundon shares expertise engaged on his capstone undertaking
Whereas Dyllun Grundon, class of 2025 and pupil filmmaker, violently tore aside his McDonald’s 5 greenback meal deal at his kitchen counter, I spoke to him about his senior undertaking. In between mouthfuls of hen nuggets, a double cheeseburger, and fries being eaten by the handful, he spoke candidly about his senior undertaking, a sketch comedy present rooted in absurdity, discomfort, and crudeness going by the title of Dyllun Grundon’s Particular Program.
“It’s about being crude and cringe and obnoxious and absurd,” Grundon explains. His three sketches embrace a “deliver your intercourse doll to work day” workplace occasion, a documentary following the ego-implosion of a failed actor trying a one-man efficiency of “Hamlet,” and a surströmming sandwich-making competitors. His comedic inspirations embrace “The Tom Inexperienced Present,” “Tim and Eric”, “Million Greenback Excessive,” “SNL,” and “Portlandia.”
Although he acknowledges the subjectivity of comedy, Grundon embraces the area of interest attraction of his work. “I don’t intention to make something huge or to be loved by the lots,” he says. “I wanna make one thing that I get pleasure from and that I believe folks like me will discover worthwhile. If each person who considered it favored it, it most probably would have failed.”
Taking up the function of author, director, actor, editor, and producer, Grundon faces the problem of balancing all features of manufacturing. “I can’t act for shit,” he admits, “however I’m performing so much in these sketches.” He credit his buddies and collaborators, particularly Lovelynn Sistoso and Zachary Harrington, as important to bringing his imaginative and prescient to life. “They had been the perfect assist I may ask for. They’re my little henchmen. They allow and encourage me to do silly and fucked up stuff.”
Grundon’s influences prolong past sketch comedy. He attracts inspiration from the darkish humor of Todd Solondz (director of “Happiness”), the dry comedic model of Dogme 9, administrators Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, and the grotesque irreverence of Concord Korine. He additionally references literary figures reminiscent of David Foster Wallace and Thomas Pynchon, admiring their mix of crude humor with mental depth. “Stuff like that asks a number of the viewers. I actually admire that.”
One explicit second throughout manufacturing solidified Grundon’s strategy to humor. Whereas filming a “60 Minutes” model documentary parody (the aforementioned one-man present of Shakespeare), he discovered his character by improvisation. “I acquired actually near the mirror and began barely air-humping whereas saying, ‘take it, take it.’” He laughs profusely, practically choking on his Sprite. “It induces cringe. It makes me really feel gross speaking about it, and that’s precisely what I would like.”
Grundon, responding to being requested about his pursuits in movie, says, “I like studying movie research, speaking about films, and stuff like that, however I’m not a giant manufacturing man.” So far as his post-graduation plans, he shares, “My fast plan is to face in entrance of a giant cannon and hearth it so it blows a large gap in my chest.” He thought this joke was so humorous that he started to chortle a lot more durable than an individual medically ought to. “I additionally hope to go to grad-school and grow to be a professor. If I fail at that, it’ll be extremely hilarious. Individuals can come again at our ten-year reunion or no matter and giggle about it. I’d additionally discover that humorous.”
For different aspiring movie college students, he advises, “Watch extra films. You’re improper when you assume you watch a number of films. Affect doesn’t exist in a vacuum. When you assume that you simply’re something separate from historical past, you’re improper. All influences construct off of themselves. There’s no such factor as a born filmmaker.”
He additionally stresses the significance of planning. “Begin as early as doable. Have your concept totally concrete by the spring semester of junior yr and begin preparing over the summer season.”
As Dyllun Grundon’s Particular Program nears completion, its creator stays steadfast in his mission: to push comedy past consolation and problem audiences to embrace the absurd. His work, amongst others, will likely be accessible for viewing on Senior Capstone Day, April 23.
