Tin Foil Dinosaur: Sharing Something Special

While still in university, Sam Mullins was challenged as an actor (somewhat disingenuously) to ‘go outside his type‘.  This is his story of rising to that challenge and going far above and beyond in a surprising and touching way.

As a story-teller, Sam Mullins knows the strength of a good story lies in its ability to resonate with the audience and much of that is conveyed through a sense of the authenticity of the story-teller. Tinfoil Dinosaur is a prime example of this talent.  You may not suffer from a social anxiety disorder as he does but it’s easy to relate to his struggle and feel compassion for him as he tries to realize his dream of becoming a big time actor in the big, busy city.  As he describes the feeling of being alone in a dense city, it is the truth of it that makes it real and such a sad irony.

As an actor, Sam Mullins is enormously engaging.  He owns the stage and holds the audience close to him.  The laughs come easily and the winces are evidence of how well we identify with the twists and turns of the story.  His setbacks and ultimate progress are things we care about because they’re shared so honestly and well.

In the end, it’s the audience who is challenged to go above and beyond, to share something special with a stranger, to ‘look them in the eyes and tell the truth’.  

I’ve been highly recommending Tinfoil Dinosaur since I saw it opening night.  It’s a charming story.  And that’s the truth.

EASTER EGG - Sam Mullin’s CBC ‘North by Northwest’ interview