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 of The Exorcist Minute: Why you make me listen to podcast, Dimmy? I can’t operate on this little girl…because she’s my mother! I make Tim Curry noises…and more!
On this episode of The Exorcist Minute: People on the internet are forgiving and nice. “Tell me about the dust bunnies, Karl…” Oh, thank God – it’s only a demon…and more!
On this episode of The Exorcist Minute: “Couldja help an old altar monster, foddah?” Return guest Alex Bledsoe! Don’t go in my chamber!… and more!
In this episode of The Exorcist Minute: it’s a little too calm! you thought we were done with Mario? That’s the punchline! Priests behind bars!…and more!
On this episode of The Exorcist Minute: That rug from Dimmy’s dream is pulled out from under us! They say “Be not afraid,” and yet here I am…. Do the Mario!…and more!
On this episode of The Exorcist Minute: Holy Minute, Batman! You’re so vain (you probably think this taunt is about you!) Silly Dimmy, he is a liar, the Trix Rabbit is a LIAR!…and more!
On this episode of The Exorcist Minute: One of these days, Dimmy! Bang! Zoom! Straight out the window! Duck and cover! (Clancy knows!) …and more!
On this episode of The Exorcist Minute: Father DOESN’T know best. Linda Blair and the performance of a lifetime. Thank God it’s not a glass ceiling. Howdy’s filibustering…and more!
On this episode of The Exorcist Minute: The Hag is in the cathedral! This episode was brought to you by Jim Henson! Method praying vs Meisner praying…and more!
On this episode of The Exorcist Minute: Dimmy is US! Not-So-Happy-Howdy. Try this – it’s called “water!” Who the f**ck is Kaiser Wilhelm? The origin of Beetlejuice! …and more!