Surprisingly Complicated (web series)
Sometimes, moving through life like a normal family with autistic twins can be surprisingly complicated.
Interview with Creator/Writer/Producer/Director Guzin Kurun
Watch Surprisingly Complicated on YouTube
Congratulations! Why did you make your webseries?
I made the web series because at the time of diagnosis for our family, there wasn’t anything episodic where there were autistic kids in it like my boys. When we were first diagnosed 13 years ago, there was nothing to go by in the media. We didn’t know how to raise them, what schools to send them to, and whether we would live our daily lives as planned. I did it to show families that there is a place you can come to and watch the joys and struggles within a loving home and not feel so alienated. Raising children on the spectrum is hard, and that you weren’t alone. Since I started, shows like Atypical and The Good Doctor have come up, but still not using actual actors with Autism like Surprisingly does.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this webseries?
People should watch the series because it is relatable whether you have autistic children or not. Typical family adventures shown through humor and love is something I have grown up on watching on network television. I want people to feel like its home. There’s this family that would do anything for their children, they have this great sense of humor, and that’s probably how most of us get through our day.
How do personal and universal themes work in your webseries?
I have written 14 episodes and every story is something that has actually happened to us, events that we have lived through. Not much of it is made up. Personal and universal themes in Surprisingly are things such as: “What is exactly a normal family?”, “Would you break the law to help your child?”, “How can you prepare your child for the world when the world doesn’t understand them?”, “How strong is your marriage?”, “How far will you go to get help?”, “Who is your family?”, and “Does it take support and an actual village to raise children like this?”.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
It started out where I just wanted to tell my story so other families with autistic children can relate. The first episode has more of a documentary feel to it as the parents move through the decision to illegally administer marijuana to one of the boys to off-set a side effect from a medication. It still had humor, but I felt I can go bolder – what we endured with the kids was pretty bold and I was concerned it wouldn’t come through on film. By the third episode, we’re taking more risks and the actors understand that just by getting to know each other and the characters, we can go bolder.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Our feedback has been wonderful on Surprisingly. We’ve been on NYC local news, the papers, featured in blogs, and various trades within the autism community and film. Parents write in everyday either thanking us or just dropping a note conveying, “That’s our family, you nailed it, please make more”. I’m so happy I took the leap and will continue to do so.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback surprised me. It’s a really delicate subject about raising special needs children. It’s our story, but I wasn’t sure if it would be embraced. It totally has been.
What are you looking to achieve by having your webseries more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
As I said before, my only intention was to share my story to families with a new diagnosis within the autism community. But after making more, I think it should be viewed off a bigger platform. Typical families even find it relatable and it has been compared to The Good Doctor and Atypical. We might have something here!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I need all of it. Currently, I’m writing, producing, directing, marketing, and promoting while I raise two beautiful boys. I also have a day job at a Fortune 500 company. In hindsight, I wouldn’t change a thing. I have learned more than I can say here. Really incredible journey.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want it to be the most relatable and true to life series of a family with autistic kids. I would love it to be described also as a family comedy series.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this webseries?
I think the theme that runs through the whole series is the debate on the why we use boys on the autism spectrum to portray my boys and not neurotypical child actors. Medical marijuana becoming legal for autism diagnosis is a recurring debate. How the public views your autistic child is a debate. Each episode sparks many.
Would you like to add anything else?
The actors that portray my boys in the series both are on the autism spectrum and are truly incredible. I know based on raising my own sons what their limitations are and I know it would be impossible for them to get through a scene, take 15 times to get a line right, or just stand in that chaos of a production. I’m really proud of them and commend them and their families for being there on set, believing they can do it. I am also humbled by our cast and crew who have embraced our family story and are willing to help us tell it exactly as our adventures have happened. It has been a truly healing process and I hope people can gain understanding of special needs families like ours.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I have a feature film / true story about a woman that lives through two communist regimes pre Cold War. It’s such a great story, but I would like to collaborate on it more and possibly take this great story with a great foundation and put it in the future. Working on it.
Interview: October 2018
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Surprisingly Complicated
Sometimes, moving through life like a normal family with autistic twins can be surprisingly complicated.
Length: Average episode 15 minutes / 3 episodes, episode 4 will be out soon.
Director: Guzin Kurun
Producer: Guzin Kurun
Writer: Guzin Kurun
About the writer, director and producer:
GUZIN KURUN graduated from Colby Sawyer College with a Communication Arts degree. I worked at CNN-NY news desk and as a freelancer for seven years. Shortly after that I had my twin boys, and our family received their autism diagnosis in 2004 when they were 2 years old. Since then, I’ve been working at a Fortune 500 company as an assistant and maneuvering through our diagnosis with our family. Just about 5 years ago, I started writing our adventures down as scripts. Just last year, we started filming the scripts.
Key cast: Our whole cast can be seen on our website www.surprisinglycomplicated.com
Looking for: producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Facebook: Surprisingly Complicated
Twitter: @Guzin85011779
Instagram: @surprisingly_complicated
Official Website: www.surprisinglycomplicated.com
Funders: We currently have a gofundme account under Surprisingly Complicated.
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Our You Tube channel, Surprisingly Complicated, has our series cover, the completed three episodes, trailers, and pictures you can use.