Demetri Martin in Dean
2017 InterviewsInterviewsMovies

Interview: Demetri Martin on His Directorial Debut ‘Dean’

Evan Crean

During Independent Film Festival Boston (IFFBoston) 2017, I interviewed Demetri Martin about his directorial debut Dean, a film he also wrote and stars in. Dean centers on an illustrator named Dean (Martin) and his father Robert (Kevin Kline); both men struggle to regain a sense of normalcy as they cope with losing the most significant woman in their lives. Dean and Robert initially try to heal separately, embracing new adventures and relationships, but ultimately realize they must come together in their grief in order to find peace. Despite its serious-sounding premise, the film channels Martin’s offbeat sensibility to mine laughs from awkward social situations. Humorous drawings punctuate the movie as well, creating amusing transitions between heavier thoughts. The result is a funny, charming film that feels like Martin’s own.

I spoke with Martin about what inspired him to direct, the lessons he learned from this experience, and where the ideas for his artwork and his comedy originate.

Read the full piece here.

Evan Crean

Hello! My name is Evan Crean. By day I work for a marketing agency, but by night, I’m a film critic based in Boston, MA. Since 2009, I have written hundreds of movie reviews and celebrity interviews for Starpulse.com. I have also contributed pieces to NewEnglandFilm.com and to The Independent, as a writer and editor. I maintain an active Letterboxd account too. In addition to publishing short form work, I am a co-author of the book Your ’80s Movie Guide to Better Living, which is available on CreateSpace and Amazon. The book is the first in a series of lighthearted self-help books for film fans, which distills advice from ’80s movies on how to tackle many of life’s challenges. On top of writing, I co-host and edit the weekly film podcast Spoilerpiece Theatre with two other Boston film critics. I’m a founding member and the current treasurer for the Boston Online Film Critics Association as well. This site, Reel Recon.com, is a one-stop-shop where you can find links to all of my past and present work. Have any questions or comments after checking it out? Please feel free to email me (Evan Crean) at: ecrean AT reelrecon DOT COM .