Spotlight On: Jason Dunn
Jason Dunn has been performing improv in Sydney for 7 years in short-form formats and a wide range of long-form shows. He has learned from Sydney-based and several international visiting teachers, and has never accepted anything they said at face value.
His own experiences on stage have guided his improv principles, which are heavily-based on story theory and inspired by some unusual philosophical sources.
For a time, Jason was an avid creative writer and is still a devoted follower of screenwriting and story guru Robert McKee whom he met. There’s nothing Jason enjoys so much as reading or seeing a really good fictionalised story.
Why are you excited about coming to NZIF?
I'm excited to get into the mix of improv styles, skills and instructors from different geographical areas and hopefully walk away a changed and cross-pollinated performer.
What do you get out of festivals like NZIF (or NZIF specifically)?
There's a very good time to be had at festivals such as NZIF, but there's also the chance to focus as a group on the advancement of the art form.
We understand you’ve had some amazing responses to the work you teach - can you give us an example?
I've had a kind of dazed shock that later turns to deep understanding from a couple of previous participants. I've had some profound thanks immediately afterward, and people seeking me out weeks and months after this workshop to tell me that it changed them significantly for the better.