Duncan Trussell Family Hour Episode 673: Tyler Cornack

Release Date: March 18, 2025
Host: Duncan Trussell
Guest: Tyler Cornack, Creator of Butt Boy and Mermaid

1. Introduction

In Episode 673 of the Duncan Trussell Family Hour, comedian Duncan Trussell welcomes Tyler Cornack, an emerging indie filmmaker known for his provocative films Butt Boy and Mermaid. Duncan expresses his admiration for Tyler’s work, highlighting the unique blend of dark comedy, horror, and deep emotional undertones present in his movies.

2. Overview of Tyler Cornack’s Films

a. Butt Boy

Duncan passionately endorses Butt Boy, describing it as “one of the best movies I’ve seen this year” (00:00). He emphasizes its dark comedic elements, mermaid themes, and impressive cast featuring Daryl Hannah, Kirk Fox, and Kevin Nealon. Tyler explains that Butt Boy originated from a one-minute comedy sketch that evolved into a full-length feature through collaborative creativity with Ryan Cook (07:35).

b. Mermaid

Transitioning to Mermaid, Tyler discusses the film’s deeper emotional layers, particularly its exploration of grief. Duncan narrates his experience watching Mermaid, noting, “one of the best movies about grief that I’ve ever seen” (22:00). Tyler shares how personal losses influenced the film’s narrative and emotional depth, portraying Florida’s duality as both beautiful and dark.

3. The Indie Filmmaking Process

a. Budget and Time Constraints

Tyler details the challenges of producing Butt Boy on a modest budget of $150,000 over 30 days (11:11). He highlights the necessity of resourcefulness, such as negotiating deals with local businesses and managing tight shooting schedules.

b. Creative Strategies

To maximize limited resources, Tyler and his team employed techniques like under-the-table payments and leveraging social media followings for promotional support (11:26). This approach allowed them to maintain creative control and push unconventional narratives.

c. Collaborations and Casting

Tyler credits the success of his projects to strong collaborations, particularly with producer Bill Morian, whom he met in film school (06:23). Their partnership was pivotal in bringing Butt Boy and Mermaid to fruition.

4. Personal Influences and Themes

a. Grief and Emotional Depth

Tyler opens up about personal experiences with grief, which significantly shaped the thematic elements of Mermaid. He shares, “This isn't like an on-the-nose. It's not about that in the movie” (30:54), illustrating how his films subtly incorporate his emotional journey.

b. Florida as a Setting

The setting of Florida serves as a character in itself, embodying both allure and underlying darkness. Tyler describes Florida through a personal lens, associating it with both beauty and an "underbelly" of struggles and isolation (31:31).

5. Challenges in Directing and Acting

a. Balancing Roles

Tyler discusses the complexities of directing while acting in his own film, noting, “It’s too much” (39:07). Managing dual roles required immense focus and adaptability.

b. Managing Actors and On-set Dynamics

An intense anecdote from the set of Mermaid reveals the unpredictable nature of working with experienced actors. Tyler recounts dealing with a difficult actor who disrupted the shooting schedule, demonstrating the real-time challenges directors face (50:00).

c. Anecdotes from "Mermaid" Production

The episode delves into a specific incident where an actor lost composure during filming, highlighting the emotional and logistical hurdles in indie filmmaking. Tyler reflects, “I have to do something” (57:44), underscoring the pressure to maintain production integrity amidst chaos.

6. The Role of AI in Filmmaking

Duncan and Tyler engage in a critical discussion about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the creative process. Tyler expresses concern over AI-generated content, emphasizing the irreplaceable human element in art:

“I just think it's soulless and dead in it” (44:38).

Duncan echoes these sentiments, lamenting the lack of emotional depth in AI creations and championing the importance of human imperfections:

“It doesn't get that. No, it doesn't capture that” (49:00).

7. Tyler Cornack’s Future Projects

Looking ahead, Tyler shares his aspirations to create a new thriller set in Miami, blending 80s cop movie aesthetics with modern twists. He envisions a narrative filled with emotional depth and genre-blending elements:

“A cop goes undercover. But it's sort of like a good, good fella, Scarface, but with a modern sort of twist” (67:28).

8. Conclusion

The episode concludes with Duncan praising Tyler’s ability to intertwine humor and poignancy, likening his approach to that of legendary comedians like George Carlin:

“If you can do it, then if you can bring those two polarities together, it's a very powerful experience” (24:30).

Tyler expresses gratitude for Duncan’s support and shares his excitement for future endeavors, reinforcing the deep mutual respect between comedian and filmmaker.

Notable Quotes

• Duncan on Butt Boy:

  "It's gonna get awards. It's gonna be like one of the big movies. I'm sure of it." (00:00)

• Tyler on Film Titles:

  "I think press wise, it actually worked. I don't like the title. I just think it's. It creates, you know, some more buzz than a normal weird indie film would." (04:19)

• Duncan on Filmmaking Challenges:

  "What you're rebelling against isn't necessarily like some actual insidious evil force. What you're rebelling against is the market pressures of people at big studios." (05:26)

• Tyler on Grief’s Influence:

  "This isn't like an on-the-nose. It's not about that in the movie." (30:54)

• Duncan on AI’s Lack of Soul:

  "It doesn't get that. No, it doesn't capture that." (49:00)

• Tyler on AI in Filmmaking:

  "I don’t want to look at it. I don’t care about it." (47:58)

Final Thoughts

Episode 673 offers an intimate glimpse into Tyler Cornack’s creative process, the emotional depths of his storytelling, and the gritty realities of indie filmmaking. Through candid conversations, Tyler and Duncan explore the balance between humor and horror, the irreplaceable human touch in art, and the future landscape of creative industries in the age of AI. This episode serves as a compelling narrative for aspiring filmmakers and fans alike, showcasing the resilience and passion required to bring unconventional stories to life.

For more details on Tyler Cornack’s films, visit Tyler’s official website and follow Duncan Trussell’s updates at DuncanTrussell.com.