A [TEXT MESSAGE] Conversation with Dillon Stevenson
timbarnescomedy.substack.com
A [TEXT MESSAGE] Conversation with Dillon Stevenson
Harlem, Comedy, Pampers, The Internet, & Starting From Scratch
A [BLANK] Conversation With… is an interview series where guests engage in a three-day conversation via their preferred mode of text-based communication, with no commitments to the length or frequency of their responses.
Dillon Stevenson is one of the most creative and funny people that I know.
He’s written for Wyatt Cenac’s HBO series Problem Areas (where we met), Disney+’s The Big Fib, the game show Money Hungry, Screen Rant, and even had his name written in the famous Star Wars blue font in the end credits of LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales — but beneath that layer of credits is also a man who was once the baby on diaper packages.
Before his departure from the internet and exit from comedy, he was a member Decepticomics — a traveling comedy group that combines urban, alternative, and middle-America comedy into one hilarious show and co-host of Super Video Bros — a show that does hilarious breakdowns of music videos (and should be on TV).
The 2020s are a decade of reckoning for all people in creative fields. Which is partly why I started this series. It’s a means of checking in on how we’re dealing with the dramatic shifts in media, and the personal toll of trying to “make it.”
Pause for dramatic effect.
I’m glad I checked in on Dillon. And I hope you get to bump into him somewhere in the real world, because it seems like he ain’t stepping foot in cyberspace anytime soon.
TABLE OF CONVERSATION:
Harlem, Leaving The Internet, & Comedy Origins
Pampers Commercials, Starting From Scratch, & Day Jobs
Mid-Late Thirties, Internet Withdrawals, & Cooking
In Conclusion…
LEGEND:
“֍” at the end of a post from one Person A means that the “╰┈➤” at the start of a post from Person B is in direct response
“≫” signifies that someone made a direct response to their own direct response
“⌛” means that you’re seeing something written later in the timeline for a better reading experience.
And a post that begins without one of those icons is new to the main feed.
Note: Since Tim and Dillon are based in New York, each text is timestamped in Eastern Standard Time. However, certain reactions like “iPhone haha”s and ❤️s exist out of time. We have no way of retrospectively knowing exactly when those buttons were pressed. There have been minor adjustments of the text for clarity.
DAY 1 (Thursday 1-11-2024)
Tim Barnes: (12:46PM) Dillon! Welcome to the interview. How’s your 2024 so far? Dillon Stevenson: (2:24PM) Thanks for having me, Grand Inquisitor Barnes. It's an honor to be here, riding the train home from work and connecting with you. You know, the MTA has already had two train derailments in 2024. And when you keep that in perspective, I think my 2024 is kicking off great. Tim: (2:28PM) Hahaha. The last few times we caught up were really fun. I remember at one point you described how you were doing tons of tv/movie extra work. Are you doing that again now that the strikes are over? Also, are you a book guy or an audio guy on the train? Steven: (2:53PM) I’m generally a “happiest when consuming more than one form of media” guy, but I’ll say audio. Also because you don’t always have enough hands free to manage a book on NYC mass transit. (2:55PM) Haven’t returned to doing extra work since I picked up a steadier day job, but there’s still a number of things from that stint that haven’t come out yet. So there’s still a chance to catch me in a few things. (2:59PM) But yeah, if you look too intensely at random episodes of the Equalizer S3, Wu-tang an American Saga, Power Book of Kanan(sp), the Other Two, and an assortment of other things that filmed in the summer and fall of 2022… you might get some Dill Tim: (4:30PM) Hahahah (4:31PM) What prompted your recent departure from social media? Perhaps departure is the wrong word, but you seem to be posting far less. Does life make a little more sense now? Dillon: (6:03PM) Departure works. (6:08PM) I think it was more there was nothing to stick around for. [Tim gives this an iPhone "❤️"] (6:08PM) Life doesn’t make more sense but I do feel freed from the idea that social media is a necessity Tim: (6:11PM) One of the last videos I remember you posting was an incredibly engaging standup clip. It wasn’t the typical sort. I could tell that you carved a genuine communal space for your comedy in Harlem and it was so fun to see the crowd engaged and talking to you. Are you still in Harlem? Dillon: (6:29PM) Thank you. You were great when you did a spot on that show. I am in still in Harlem Tim: (6:37PM) That’s probably the last set I’m proud of. I think of Meteor Man whenever I think of you because of that connection you have with the area. How are you feeling about comedy these days?
Meteor Man (1993)
Dillon:
(6:37PM) I was more of a Blankman fellow, but an honor nonetheless.Blankman (1994)
Tim: (6:43PM) There really is a dividing line between those two movies that’s worth dissecting. I wonder where Katt Williams stands on the issue Dillon: (6:43PM) With comedy, I feel like I need to find my way again. A lot of disillusion with comedy: the industry Tim: (6:46PM) Same! I’m barely performing these days, but I think I’m creeping back toward knowing what I want to talk about and maybe tackle it seriously again. I appreciated you nudging me back toward it at that Harlem show. (6:47PM) Are you pouring your creative energy into something else? Dillon: (7:07PM) I feel that. I weirdly feel like I have absolutely nothing worthy to add at the moment. (7:08PM) No creative outlet at the moment but I finally feel a little more stable in life so perhaps the spark returns soon. Tim: (7:10PM) Was there a moment that sort of crystalized that feeling? How much of that is connected to all of the new attachments to comedy in terms of keeping your digital presence out there? Or is it more just real life practical problems interfering with the dream? Dillon: (7:22PM) No singular moment I can point to. With the digital presence part of it, I just know what seems to work for a lot of people just wasn’t work for me. I remember my girl telling me about the way to master the Tiktok algorithm, and the idea of the effort and time to work the systems in your favor just exhausted me. I’m not that proficient or productive. (7:22PM) And I’m sure there’s some real life practical problems but everyone has those right? [Tim gives this an iPhone "❤️"] Tim: (7:28PM) Speaking of dividing lines, I’m finding the algorithm to be the biggest among comics these days. It’s funny suddenly feeling like an older comedian waxing posting about the good old days. I think it’s good you’re taking this break. And consciously recognizing it as one. The worst feeling is the self-imposed guilt around not being seen and known enough ֍ (7:29PM) To rewind a bit, what got you into comedy in the first place? Dillon: ╰┈➤ (7:41PM) I’ve been waiting to be a cranky old man for a long time. It’s almost time [Tim gives this an iPhone "HaHa"] (7:45PM) I started stand up after a college friend, Brandon Collins was producing a show and looking for comics. I just wanted to try it. It didn’t go terribly so I kept at it. (7:45PM) But I feel like I was doing “comedy” things sporadically before that. (7:48PM) My high school had a TV production program and was connected to the local access station. Students in the class could have shows on local access. I was part of a loosely structured variety show. My favorite memory of a segment was one I did in the cafeteria. I had a dog food bag and replaced the dog food with Cocoa Puffs. I went to different tables in the cafeteria eating the “dog food”. That felt like comedy (7:51PM) In college I attended an open mic poetry night hosted by a Def Poetry Jam performer. I memorized the lyrics to Ice Ice Baby and performed them like a beat poet. “STOP. COLLABORATE AND LISTEN” I remember some people being very upset and some people loving it. Things like that felt like what ultimately lead me to pursue comedy or feel like it was where I was supposed to be [Tim gives this an iPhone "❤️"] Tim: (8:02PM) Incredible! (8:03PM) Were there other aspirations hidden under the veil of comedy? Perhaps filmmaking since you were in that TV production class? Dillon: (8:45PM) I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow.
DAY 2 (Friday 1-12-2024)
Dillon: (11:02AM) Morning, how’s your world treating you today? Tim: (11:02AM) Pretty good! I like feeling the sun ֍ Dillon: (11:02AM) Re: the previous question I don’t think I’ve ever been that aspirational. My pattern is really just being exposed to something and if I take to it, I embrace it. I’ve always loved comedy. I didn’t always dream of being a stand up. But I tried it and loved it. Same with TV writing. I wasn’t ever calling myself a writer or considering myself one. But then I landed a job in a writers room, and was like “oh I should figure this out if I want to stick around”. I’m sure that approach is great in some aspects, but I’m finding you can’t “Mister Magoo”-stumble yourself into a great life all the time. I’m learning you gotta actively make the choices sometimes and need to get better in that regard. ╰┈➤ (11:03AM) Ooh. Perhaps I will get some of this “sun” today [Tim gives this an iPhone "HaHa"] Tim: (11:05) I feel the same way but maybe not to the same degree. I find that being hyper intentional can be just as detrimental as being completely aloof. So I trick myself into thinking I’m not trying even though I am and vice versa — for a better user experience ֍ (11:06AM) But that fact that you got into the position of writing for TV means you did the right things even though you may not have been conscious of it (11:07AM) But speaking of stumbling into a great life, you are, in fact, one of the famous babies on diaper packages correct? ֍֍ Dillon: ╰┈➤(11:10AM) Might need to study this technique of yours ╰┈➤╰┈➤ “One of the famous babies on diaper packages” is a hilarious way to pose that question [Tim gives this an iPhone "HaHa"] (11:17AM) I did some modeling and commercial/background acting as a childbaby. I was in some Pampers commercials and as I grew up didn’t think much of it. But then years later, my family started discovering that they’d used my face from the commercials on diaper packaging. (11:19AM) Hasn’t happened in a bit but every once and a while I’ll walk into a bodega or store and see myself on the shelf [Tim gives this an iPhone "HaHa"] (11:22AM) Do I get paid for that usage? Nah. I’m told not unless they were to use the images in commercials again. Gives me a little of the same kind of feeling as actors fighting against perpetual AI usage and things like that. “Oh so you just get to use my face forever and I don’t get anything? Coolcoolcool” Tim: (11:45AM) I hope you say those exact words at the start of every general meeting. (11:46AM) If you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing for work right now? For the record, your texting with a concerningly unemployed person Dillon: (12:08PM) Next general meeting, I got you (12:09PM) Been working a retail gig for a little under a year. Nothing special. Tim: (12:13PM) Is it fun in some ways? (12:17PM) Sure. It’s fine. I just wish I was able to not have to fully focus on work when I was at work you know? Lol I checked out that short you did, Inland Empire, and I really identified with the character you played working in the movie theater. Ideally I’d love a side-job where I could just zone out and work on creative things in my head while in a trance.
(Inland Empire, 2021, directed by Zane Rubin, written by Ian Abramson and Tim Barnes)
Tim: (12:20PM) And sadly, A.I. is gobbling those jobs up. My dream jobs growing up were Movie Theater, Video Store, and Guy In The Little Cube At The Entrance/Exit Of A Parking Lot Dillon: (12:28PM) Right? I feel like I’ve only had a few years where I got to live as a creative and make my living off of it. The rest of my adult life I’ve had a day job and pursued my true interests when I had time outside of it. For about 10 years I worked at a 24 Hour News station on the early AM shifts. Then had afternoons and nights to do open mics and shows. It worked but it’s exhausting. It also kept impacted me doing the “hang” part of comedy that was so important. I’d do a show then go home cause I had to be at work at 4am. Now I’m back in that kind of position in some ways. It can feel like regression cause now I’m not even doing something semi-career-oriented like I was when I was working at the news station. I know I’m older and more experienced so I’m not in the “same” position, but it’s always rough feeling like you’re starting from scratch again. Tim: (12:41PM) Yeah, and the ego required to move up both behind and in front of the scenes makes any retreat to a previous job or position feel awful. I’ve been confronting that feeling more earnestly lately. It seems like you’re in the right headspace about it all. Dillon: (12:52PM) Exactly. It’s all ego and pride and my own inner-whatever. I chose to wipe the social media slate clean. I chose to step away from trying to perform regularly or fight for the attention of show bookers and producers. I did those things for whatever reasons I needed to. Now I’m in this space of now what? What‘s the next move. (12:53PM) You ever play Pokémon or turn based RPG video games? Tim: (12:59PM) Yeah! Dillon: (12:59PM) Where you and your opponent each take turns throwing attacks or whatever. Some characters will have a move where they charge up for a round or two, still taking damage/hits. But then will finally unleash a big powerful blast (1:00PM) I’m hoping I’m in one of those charging up rounds. I just don’t know what the attack is or whatever form it’s gonna take Tim: (3:42PM) I think that’s EXACTLY what’s happening!(3:44PM) And now more than ever, I think success is whatever you personally deem it to be. I want to know more about this social media detox. Was it hard at first? Scale 1-10, how much do you feel like Neo in The Matrix? Dillon: (4:01PM) Lol I’ll take it. Wasn’t that hard. I had already detached long before. My hand instinctively still going to open the apps on my phone continued for a couple weeks after I finally left. Still sucks anytime there’s something like a restaurant or whatever that you want to look up that only has an Instagram and no official website. I’m sure I’ll find some platform that fits what I want to do when i decide what that is. But I dunno. I feel like I got some of my mental bandwidth back. 🎵Bandwidth’s Back, Alright!🎶 (4:10PM) 2 on the Neo scale. I don’t know Kung Fu : ( [Tim gives this an iPhone "HaHa"] Tim: (5:28PM) It must be a relief not saying “standup comic” when people ask what you do Dillon: (8:26PM) The answer is always whatever I feel will get me the least follow up questions
DAY 3 (Saturday 12-13-2023)
Dillon: (10:03AM) Is today the day? Happy birthday! ¿ Tim: (10:40AM) It is! Yes! Officially 35. What are the things that bring you satisfaction these days? (11:27AM) Also, I really didn’t think this through. I’ll have to sift through all of the birthday messages to find your response, lol Dillon: (1:05PM) I’m sure you’re doing great. Welcome to the mid-late thirties. (1:08PM) I often skateboard as part of my commute. I get a lot of joy from that part of it. After being cramped up on the train underground getting to glide by on the street & sidewalk is a nice change. And being in the mid-late-30’s gang I’m definitely too old to be falling so there’s no Ollie’s or tricks happening. Just some sensible rolling. (1:10PM) And cooking. Me and my girl have similar sensibilities about food so we love feeding each other, making sure there’s a balance between who’s cooking and all that. It’s a lot of fun when you can just trust and collaborate in any way but definitely the kitchen. Tim: (1:11PM) Would you say this is the most stable relationship you’ve had? (1:30PM) Just realized that’s an awful question if the answer is no. So… let’s scrap this from the final product if that’s the case Dillon: (7:52PM)(Sent a reply on the subway earlier but don’t think it went through) (7:54PM) Lol the answer is yes and I’ll say it’s also the most certain I’ve been myself in a relationship. In previous ones I’ve been worried about why the person was with me or if I was worthy enough. Tim: (9:27PM) How much did that factor in to your departure from the comedy grind?
DAY 4 (Sunday 12-14-2023)
Dillon: (8:23AM) It didn’t. I just didn’t have energy for the version of comedy that felt like a fight or an uphill battle. I also don’t really feel silly or carefree these days and I like doing silly comedy. So it’s hard to find that spark for creativity when you don’t have it internally. I stepped away cause I just ain’t got it right now. I’m sure I will again. Tim: (11:37AM) Well, thank you for your honesty and candor during this interview, Dillon! I can’t wait to see what you’re up to when you finally emerge from the bat cave! Dillon: (11:40AM) Thanks for always thinking of me. I really appreciate you and your humor. And let me also say YubNub is another thing that brings joy. That’s it. And bat cave or nah we’ll see each other soon. [Tim gives this an iPhone "❤️"]
END OF INTERVIEW