Aspirations and Inspirations of a Young Star

In his torn green and blue plaid shirt, comfy blue cargos, and red scraggly beard, 23-year-old Bryan McGuckin sits behind a desk in 1P's Cinema Production Lab dreaming comedy and filmmaking.

If you have ever taken a film class in CSI, then you have seen Bryan McGuckin. This Cinema Lab fixture is more than the guy who helps check out equipment in the lab and tests your cameras. He is an actor, a writer, an editor, a director, and an immense talent.

McGuckin currently works towards either a future in film or comedy. He majors in film at CSI and realized his love for it in the summer of 2001 when he created an experimental film titled "unfinished Found Footage Project" in Cinema 111. "Film is a way of representing myself artistically and having something to show for it," he said. He has worked on several independent films. He has starred in five, directed three, and either edited, wrote, or worked on the technical aspects of four others. His ideal job in film would be as an editor. "It's an old cliché that everyone wants to direct," he said. "I'd throw my hat in there a few times if I could."

A career in the entertainment industry has always been McGuckin's dream. However, he previously aimed for a career as a teacher and a police officer. "I always pictured myself being a teacher," he said. "I don't know why, but it seemed like the thing to do." That changed when Bryan met John Szeluga of Bad Ben Franklin, an independent film outfit that at the time consisted of John Szeluga and Chris Sorrentino, in a cinema class back in 2001. McGuckin soon became a part of Bad Ben Franklin, acting in "Girl-Arm," a cult favorite on Staten Island. Despite "Girl-Arm" being McGuckin's favorite, it's the film he has had the smallest amount of involvement in. "I kind of look at [Girl-Arm] as my initiation into Bad Ben Franklin," revealed McGuckin. "Most of the dialogue was improvised, and I didn't edit."

Since "Girl-Arm," McGuckin's involvement with Bad Ben Franklin has grown tremendously. McGuckin writes, edits, and acts in most projects. But McGuckin insists that Bad Ben Franklin is a complete team effort. "After Girl-Arm, everything is considered a complete collaboration," said McGuckin. "If one guy writes more, another guy will edit."

This collaborative effort has created a close bond among the Bad Ben Franklin team. "As we go on, we get more comfortable with each other's writing style," said McGuckin. "You pretty much know what the other guys are going to say yes to." This fraternal atmosphere allows the comically inclined McGuckin to bring his ideas to the table, no matter how silly they may seem. "I'm not afraid to say stupid things because sometimes stupid things come out funny."

Currently, McGuckin is working with Bad Ben Franklin on "Chubbi-Wan Kenobi," a Star Wars spoof/homage for atomfilms.com that McGuckin says the Bad Ben Franklin team "all co-wrote" and is definitely for the Star Wars lover. McGuckin stars in "Chubbi-Wan Kenobi" and is a co-director.

McGuckin also has an interest in writing comedy for television. His ideal job in that field would be writing for "The Simpsons." While film is a relatively new life interest, he has always leaned toward comedy. He previously worked as a comedy writer, providing raw jokes for his friend, an aspiring comedian, who then structured the jokes for stand-up. "It's not only writing ideas," he said. "It's timing."

For stand-up comedy, remembering specific beats critically affects a performance. In high school, he participated in a few spring musicals, but had horrible stage fright when he had to interact with another actor. Combine these two and he just cannot perform stand-up. "I don't know if it's the fright that messes up the timing," he said. "Or the fact that I don't have timing that messes with the fright."

McGuckin's grandfather inspired him to pursue comedy in particular. He has memories from when he was six of staying with his grandparents in the summer. "My grandfather cooked breakfast: eggs, bacon, pancakes," he said. "And he'd start the day off telling jokes." Some of those jokes included, "'Mommy, mommy, I don't want to go to France.' 'Shut up and keep swimming.'" McGuckin still chuckles at the memory. His grandfather's eccentric humor incited McGuckin's interest in comedy.

So far, McGuckin has participated in comedy writing and collaborated on film. His job at the Cinema Production Lab on campus officially leaves him surrounded by film. His mother has no preference for her son's career. "I wish you the best in anything you do," she said to him in an interview. His co-worker, Tom Ng, who also worked with McGuckin in a Black Box live video show titled, "Professor Sandwich," believes McGuckin has the talent for the entertainment industry. While McGuckin works hard to achieve success, he remains modest. "I'm one of those 'don't give myself too much credit' type of people," he stated. "It's a good thing because it makes me want to work harder."

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