A film by Keenan Quinn O'Reilly
A disabled klepto tries not to kill himself while hiding his estranged daughter from child protective services.
Dyno Dino is a dark comedy about Dino Shivahn, a washed-up, disabled kleptomaniac who fills his days shoplifting novelty items, providing tech support to old ladies, and casually contemplating death, until a foul-mouthed teenage girl named Cherry shows up claiming to be his daughter and immediately refuses to leave.
Now stuck hiding an underage runaway from Child Protective Services (while barely keeping himself alive), Dino is dragged into a chaotic crash course in fatherhood that includes driving lessons he can't physically demonstrate, low-stakes crime sprees, karaoke meltdowns, and wildly inappropriate bonding moments.
Just as Dino starts to believe his life might actually have meaning, everything implodes when Cherry's lies catch up to them, sending Dino into one last, spectacularly ill-advised attempt at a real crime, because nothing says “personal growth” like robbing a bank in broad daylight.
Equal parts bleak and absurd, Dyno Dino finds humor in the rock bottom and asks the important question: what if the worst person to raise a kid is exactly who that kid needs?
J.B. Abajian
Quick-witted and pessimistic, Dino made peace with the best version of his life slipping away decades ago. His existence is marked by loneliness and the occasional simple pleasure. Today, he struggles with rehab and saving enough to take his medically assigned physical therapist on a grand adventure. He is addicted to petty theft as it helps him regain a sense of control.
Tenley Kellog
Cherry always considered herself an outsider. Her mom wasn't like most moms; she was a sex worker. She grew up too quick and is smarter than most. Like her mom, she is a fighter and a survivor and will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. She's selfish, angry, and blunt.
Gunner Willis
Nolan is Dino's government-appointed nurse, though he provides more emotional support than any real physical contribution. He makes more of a mess than he cleans. He has become Dino's closest friend. He sees him for who he truly is and loves him.
Khrystyne Haje
Meg is Dino's flirty, appointed physical therapist. She leads Dino on until it's too late, finally breaking his heart.
Kyle Mooney
The presumptuous and terribly awkward waiter trying to relate to Dino’s disability.
Michael Hitchcock
The sympathetic grocery store manager who catches Dino shoplifting.
Colton Dunn
The grocery store security guard who takes his job way too seriously. He's applied to the police academy eight times. He confronts Dino after he shoplifts.
Kirk Fox
Cherry's distant father, who was never there for her. Most importantly, he was completely absent during the last couple years of Remy's (Cherry's mom) cancer treatment.
Carmen Christopher
The permanently anxious clerk at the liquor store Dino robs.
Mackinlee Waddell
The bank teller Dino robs at the end.
Dani Bowman
Spunky and friendly, Chelsea is riding in the access van Dino uses to make his getaway.
Denzel Whitaker
A Child Protective Services worker.
Dino Shivahn is a hero.
Our story is about outcasts and outsiders. Cherry and Dino are two sides of the same coin. Cherry is selfish and doesn't think anyone can offer her anything of value. She thinks the world is out to get her. Dino thinks so little of himself that he believes he has nothing to offer those around him. In his own way, he is also self-centered. Our pair free each other of this destructive way of thinking and help heal each other's brokenness.
We're making a black comedy. Every frame, line of dialogue, and action will be grounded in reality. We work in themes of suicide, purpose, love and loss, and chosen family, but will always find the humor around these things. Like a dead-dad joke at a funeral or a sad clown, we will always find the light side of our often dark human experience.
For over a decade, I have worked with teens with disabilities. As I've grown, these relationships have turned into adult friendships of varying colors. Disability is centered in our film, but our characters all have a greater agenda than conquering their “disability.” Dino's greatest obstacle is internal.
We are filming with individuals with actual physical and intellectual disabilities. There are no shortcuts here. Their experience is of equal value to every other actor on screen or crew member on set. This will make production more complicated. Specific accommodations will be made for each individual. The benefit far outweighs the cost. Our film will be textured with real, believable human experiences that are not replicable without these collaborators.
I have worked with individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities for over a decade. My friend Ryan has Down syndrome and even gave a speech at my wedding. Every disabled character in our film was written for, and will be played by, my friends. I wrote a part for my friend Laura, who has Down syndrome. She's sassy and ferocious and loves to be the center of attention. I have seen her firsthand at karaoke refuse to sing and instead perform a completely rehearsed dance number. I wrote a part for my friend Chelsea, who is a total conversationalist and a friend to all. She is neurodivergent.
I met our lead, J.B. Abajian, when I volunteered for (and won) the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. Our supporting actor Gunner Willis and I met when filming my comedy Seeking Stepdad. He is one of the most talented actors I've worked with, and he is also neurodivergent.
Individuals with disabilities live rich lives with deep purpose. They are fully human. Because of this, they also can be deeply flawed. Cinema has barely scratched the surface of inclusivity in regard to disability. More often than not, when a disabled character is featured they are shown more as a prop than a person. They either come and go quickly or are portrayed as angels in disguise, and rarely by actual disabled actors.
In Dyno Dino, all of our characters are fully human, deeply flawed, and harbor complex goals with specific purpose.
Somewhere between Little Miss Sunshine, Matchstick Men and The Old Man & the Gun.
Writer, director, producer
Keenan O'Reilly is a Midwestern writer-director based in Los Angeles whose work is rooted in empathy, a perspective shaped by moving six times before the age of eighteen. While he frequently directs high-budget commercials and music videos for brands like Google, PayPal and Ulta Beauty, as well as artists including Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter and the Goo Goo Dolls, his primary focus is long-form narrative. He believes that stories have the power to change people for the better.
Keenan has directed 17 narrative short films, including What We Find in the Night, which won Best Director and Best Short Film at the Buenos Aires Film Festival and helped launch Kodak's inaugural “Kodak Presents” initiative, and Seeking Stepdad, which won Best Comedy Short at the Richmond International Film Festival. His short film Micks Out screened at a dozen festivals including Rhode Island, Newport and Mammoth. His latest pilot, Reentry, starring Mojean Aria, premiered at SeriesFest, winning the Best Director award for Drama. It is currently distributed within the American prison system, where it has reached over 1.2 million views and continues to grow quickly.
With an extensive background in producing and first assistant directing high-budget, stunt-driven productions, Keenan brings a comprehensive understanding of filmmaking from pre-production through post. He is managed by Wildflower for film and television.
Producer, executive producer
William La Bahn is a producer and philanthropist with deep roots in Hollywood. He is the lead sponsor and presenter of Denver's CinemaQ Film Festival and CEO of Story Mountain Films, where he produces compelling narrative and documentary projects.
Executive producer
Nic Novicki is a comedian, actor and producer who has performed on six continents, including several tours through Armed Forces Entertainment, performing for troops. His television credits include Boardwalk Empire, Bad Thoughts, The Good Doctor, The Sopranos, Loudermilk, Alone Together, Gotham Comedy Live, Jack and Triumph, The Neighbors, Austin & Ally, Private Practice and Drop Dead Diva. He has appeared in films including Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Marry Me, L!fe Happens, November Rule, The Last 5 Years, Boston Girls, Breaking Wind, Dead Ant and the upcoming BitterSweet. He is the founder and director of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge and a board member of Easterseals Southern California.
