Kynan Dias is an actor and award-winning screenwriter, born in Honolulu and raised in Las Vegas. Inspired at an early age by great American playwrights such as Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and Edward Albee, Kynan taught himself to write feature-length screenplays as a 14-year-old high school student. He earned a B.A. in film from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he pursued acting, screenwriting, and directing. Later, Kynan earned his MFA in screenwriting from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he developed a love for writing TV sitcoms that were further nurtured during his time studying improv comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade.
As a writer, Kynan’s films tend to live within the thin space between the humorous and the tragic, in sarcastic dramas and in comedies that hurt. As an actor, he is often hired to cry in comedies. With Lester Ryan Clark, Kynan co-hosts a series of film history podcasts on the TruStory.FM network that are meticulously researched yet lean heavily on improvised comedy.
Teaching at UNLV FILM since 2008, Kynan has developed a wide variety of courses in film production, directing, acting, screenwriting, and film studies, being especially proud of building classes such as Women in Comedy and Queer Cinema. His research interests include animation history, studio system economics, queer coding in classic film, and foregrounding previously unsung collaborators within major film authors’ historiographies.
On this episode: Who REALLY understand the meaning of “six-seven?” – “And palms in their hands?” – At the end of all things, will we finally hear the Monster Mash? – Andrew Lloyd Scripture… and more!
On this episode: This was good enough for a 64th episode – This is the minute where I feel personally attacked – Heron the Dog That Bit Ya – Heath Pegseth – Boss Bass…and more!
On this episode: Horse MEN, or Horsemen? – Come and see! – What the HELL is goin’ on?! – our first view of the Antichrist (kinda) – NOW I understand Tombstone!…and more!
It’s the 80s, the lights are low, and somebody just said, “Let’s have a séance.” Grab your MAC-10 and your Aqua Net — Sitting in the Dark dives into three “Night of…” cult favorites that prove horror was never scarier—or funnier—after midnight.
On this episode: Elementary, my dear listeners! – What do YOU call your Papa and Gram-Gram? – On the Twelfth Day Of Christmas, My Tutu Gave To Me – Baba gets around!…and more!
On this episode: – Bible.com take the wheel! – I obviously don’t watch Arrested Development – All English teachers are destined for the fires of hell…and more!
On this episode: Nothing? NOTHING? Tra-la-la?! – I’m ready for my closeup, Mr. Daniel – the Kuleshov Effect? What are YOU doing here?…and more!
On this version: Heavens to murgatroyd! – Must be Maybelline – So are we talking about four beasts with four heads, one beast with four heads, or four beasts with one head?…and more!
On this episode: Hail Bagel! – This episode is also on that bagel? – Magnum Opus sounds dirty – the Golf Glove Flub – Why DON’T we follow Tenacious D??? – “It is I….Alpha Husband!” – …and more!
On this episode: We’re still crackin’ that book! – Where is Dimmy’s mother when you need her? – Behold, I stand at the door and knock – I would thou wert cold or hot…and more!