Exclusive Interview: “Dream Corp, LLC” creator Daniel Stessen and star Jon Gries on forthcoming series

Make an appointment right now to watch this show.

Dream Corp, LLC centers on a psychotherapy facility of the same name, and the Adult Swim series (slated for an Oct. 23, 2016 debut) promises to be one of the freshest cartoons yet. It’s notable as the first Adult Swim show to use rotoscoping. This technique which blends live action and animation was used in such films as A Scanner Darkly and Ralph Bakshi classics Wizards and The Lord of the Rings. I recently had the great pleasure of chatting with series creator Daniel Stessen, and protagonist Jon Gries who plays Dream Corp, LLC’s Dr. Roberts.

So apart from the animation, what else makes Dream Corp, LLC unique among the Adult Swim lineup? “[I don’t know the entire Adult Swim} lineup…and I won’t demean other shows in the lineup to say we’ve raised the bar, but…it’s definitely different in the mix,” Gries explained. “There are some emotional weights, it’s not just funny,” Daniel added. “Adult Swim and Liquid Television shaped my work. I am aware of what’s been done, so I try to do something else. It’s different in the way,” Stessen continued.

From the animation to plot, Dream Corp, LLC is incredibly inventive. Revolving around the character of the zany psychotherapist Dr. Roberts (Gries), it’s a show full of eclectic characters and lush visuals. Dream Corp, LLC balances humor and drama perfectly; with the overt humor, there’s quite a bit of genuine emotion to which audiences can easily relate. “It’s praiseworthy, I’ve been a regular on two on-air series, and the network involvement…gets in the way of creativity. But Adult Swim are champions of these filmmakers, these people who come up with creative shows,” Gries explicated. It’s the creators that craft such unique shows. “I’m the one making it, so that’s how it will be different.” Stessen elaborated. Eric Andre does his thing, each Adult Swim entry is its own entity.”

Both Jon and Daniel have a long list of credits. Among Jon’s appearances are Lost, Running Scared, Napoleon Dynamite, and The X-Files. The multi-talented Daniel has extensive experience as a writer, director, producer, editor, and actor. Stessen’s 2013 short film The Gold Sparrow which largely inspired Dream Corp, LLC. “I did this short film The Gold Sparrow with Mike Garza,” Stessen recalled. “Ever since watching Waking Life on VHS in a shitty Greenpoint apartment seeing the potential of this surreal environment…you can manipulate this entire experience with the viewer. You can pull off impossible shots. If someone is walking on a tightrope. I’m watching an actor explore and really go into it.” There’s a freedom allowed that other film techniques don’t offer. “It allows me to express myself in a way that I can’t with other mediums,” Stessen reasoned.

Stessen and Gries have been friends for quite some time, making Dream Corp, LLC a highly enjoyable venture. “Jon and I have been friends for years,” Stessen acknowledged. Gries added “Daniel called me and said ‘I’m doing this show, I’m doing this pilot, are you interested?’ I never take it for granted…there’s a myriad of actors they could choose so for him to call me right off the bat and ask me to do this, I can’t even explain what an honor it is.”

On playing the role of Dr. Roberts, Gries gushed “I get to be constantly surprised.” Of the numerous roles he’s assumed, Roberts is one of Gries’ favorites. “If I were able to have the opportunity to play this character for 20 years, I would be really happy. I love the ensemble, I love the characters.” The experience has been inspiring. “It’s amazing because you’re getting a very thorough look at characters on a short form way…[Dream Corp, LLC] eliminates all the fat and gets to the core without being didactic. This is the high watermark, rivaling Napoleon Dynamite and Real Genius. When we shot these six episodes, I was in a different kind of heaven. It’s truly inspiring for me.”

Dream Corp, LLC hits airwaves on Oct. 23, 2016, and the pilot is terrific. The genuine excitement that Gries and Stessen exhibit translates to a masterful show that in just over 11 minutes manages to illustrate a range of emotions. Be sure to set your DVRs and tune in to one of Adult Swim’s finest productions.