Brett Wean

Writer, Actor, Improviser. Senior Communicaitons Writer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Columnist for Script Magazine.

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SUPER STOKED to be heading out tomorrow to give a presentation on Blog Writing as part of a "Creative Ways to Share the AFSP Story" sesh w/ Stephanie Coggin, Vera Lukacs & Kelsey Steuer at American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's annual Chapter Leadership Conference. Looking forward to meeting lots of people in person who are doing amazing work for us all across the country. #AFSP18 #StopSuicide

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I had the pleasure of being asked by popular website The Mighty to record a Facebook Live video for National Suicide Prevention Week (September 5-11), sharing my own story and then hosting a question and answer session.  I was thrilled by the response. Check it out HERE.

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Photo credit: Scott Robinson and Athena Azevedo

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“A Very Special Episode: Fusion TV’s The Chris Gethard Show Takes a Funny Look at Mental Health”

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“Mr. Wean Goes to Washington”

-- blog post for American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 

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“I Don’t Miss Mothers’ Day: Mourning a Mother’s Death by Suicide”

-- blog post for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 

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I spent the first half of yesterday at a Suicide Survivors event. I lost my mother to suicide about four and a half years ago. I mention this not because the day was overly emotional for me, or because I’m missing my mom any more than usual. (Though I think about her every day, usually in reference to a restaurant I wish I could take her to, or a silly thing that happened that I wish I could tell her about.) I’m incredibly lucky in that I am remarkably balanced about it at this point, for various reasons. Caren kept asking if I wanted her to come with me. But I absolutely didn’t need her to. I was cool as a cucumber through the whole thing. And though it was remarkably meaningful and comforting to see so many other people who have gone through the same thing -- a fact that’s easy to lose sight of, since so many of us don’t often talk about it -- I didn’t come close to crying once. (Though my allergies got to me at one point, and it may have looked like I was wiping away a tear. But no. Legit allergies. I’m mad allergic, yo.) I would go so far as to say I was even a little cocky about how even-keeled I was. I was like a suicide bereavement rock star! I felt so confident to be around people who seemed so obviously to be in way worse shape than me about the whole thing, some of whom lost their loved ones much more recently. My heart went out to everyone there. But without missing a beat, I walked out into the bright sunshine, and made a quick trip to the supermarket. A meaningful day, but as my mom took to saying at some point during the early ‘90s, because it sounded playfully, comically hip, No Biggie.

So I’m not mentioning this because the day was overly emotional for me, or because I’m missing my mom any more than usual. I’m mentioning it because during the little breakout session I attended for adults who’ve lost parents -- they also had groups for children who’ve lost parents, and those who’ve lost significant others, and parents who’ve lost children, and pretty much every other heartbreaking iteration -- the subject came up of how hard it is to know whether to tell people how your loved one died. Is it too personal? Too awkward? Will there be judgment? Will the other person find it upsetting? Will they say stupid things, or ask upsetting questions? How should you phrase it, exactly? Poetically? Simply? Brutally?

When someone dies of cancer, we unhesitatingly say that they died of cancer. When someone gets hit by a truck, we simply explain that they got hit by a truck. So why isn’t the topic of suicide as matter-of-fact? Because people aren’t used to hearing about it, so there’s a stigma attached. But people reeling from a loved one’s suicide can’t be expected to start talking about it matter-of-factly until they’re ready, and start feeling comfortable. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. Or a Catch-22. Circular logic? It’s whatever expression I can’t think of at the moment.

So the only reason I’m mentioning it now is because it’s not particularly bothering me at the moment. And the more often people talk about it in the same way they would any other tragic illness, the less weird or awkward it’ll eventually become. So that’s why I mention it now. As my wonderful, funny mom used to say: No Biggie.

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I recently had the opportunity to write and star -- in multiple parts -- in my own 3-part web series, "Wean on Wean." Part of the Solos series from Scott Robinson's RFI Media Production, "Wean on Wean" puts me (well, a silly version of me) right on the therapist's couch...with me playing the therapist, as well. 

I first met Scott on the set of "Breakup at a Wedding," a feature film I'd done -- he was one of the producers, alongside Zachary Quinto and his own production company, Before the Door. 

Now, I'm not comparing my acting skills to Tatiana Maslany from "Orphan Black." But I'm not NOT comparing them. Here's the epic conclusion... 

Hope you enjoyed!

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Looking forward to performing in two different shows this coming weekend in the NYC Improv Festival (both on the MainStage):

Wean/Shay --March 21st (Saturday) at 4pm

People Improvising -- March 22nd (Sunday) at 8pm

Hope to see you there! 

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Hey White Friends! Avoid accidentally sounding racist with new Black Whisper Throat Spray! (I'm in this.)

Written and directed by Jason Messina. 

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As many of you know, I have been a spin instructor here in New York City for the past nine years. I am known -- this is no secret to me, we needn’t beat around the bush -- as a harsh taskmaster. Simply put, I push my girls hard because that is what they are in my class for: to be pushed to the limit, beyond what they think they can do, to what they CAN do, to what they genuinely can’t do and that’s too bad but the journey makes it worth it. 

My nickname -- again, most of you already know this -- is “Breaking Point.” I cherish that, because I know it means my girls respect what I stand for, nay, make THEM stand for, nay, spin for. (When I say “girls,” you know I mean students, regardless of gender.) My point is this: I am more than just the intimidating, casually cruel “Breaking Point” many of you have cried in front of, been yelled at by, been unfairly chastised by, been purposely embarrassed by, been locked in the service elevator for a weekend by. 

I -- and this is what may surprise some if not many of you -- am a student, too. That’s what so many of you may not understand, may not want to understand, nay, may not ultimately psychologically be able to understand but the journey makes it worth it. When I am captaining a Spin, it is often I, myself, the one who is Spun. 

We are all our own bikes. 

And so today, I just want to thank all of you, my beautiful girls (some more beautiful than others, let’s be honest): thank you for allowing me to push you, as a means of pushing myself. I may have broken some of you, but at the end of the day I am only breaking you in my own image. And break...is...over.

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My latest Improvising Screenplays article for Script Magazine:

THE PROCRASTINATION PRODUCTIVITY CHECKLIST

As always, you can check out my previous Script Magazine articles HERE. 

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This past holiday season, I got to collaborate once again with award-winning director Matt Lenski.

 Thanks for nothing!

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SOME NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR MYSELF

1. Dance like hobos watching.

2. Use the word “amazeballs” more.

3. Greet people the way I’d like to be greeted myself. With a firm pinch on the tuchas and a whisper of, “Hello, sailor.”

4. Live every day like it was the second day to the left of my right. 

5. Find wisdom in the eyes of smaller creatures. Like squirrels. And cats. And other, even smaller creatures, like ferrets or even invisible nano-particle animals or whatever. Is that a thing? Nano-particle animals? (Reminder to break eye contact with small animals before "making it weird.”)

6. March Madness. But every...single...month. (March Madness is basketball, right? Not a big sports guy.)

7. Constantly ask people: “Say, what’s the big idea?” in an old timey movie character voice, like Edward G. Robinson. Then really get to the bottom of what that big idea is. Explore.

8. Do things with INTENTION. (Not sure what this one means.)

9. Tell people what I really think...show people what I really feel. Then find people where they are, and/or page people where they’re supposed to be. Where are they? They were supposed to be here an hour ago. 

10. Sing with all the voices of the mountain...paint with all the colors of the wind. (Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon? It’s eff-ing ridiculous.)

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This is a super-short film I had the pleasure of starring in, directed by the very wonderful director Matt Lenski, who previously won an MTV Video Award for "Sugar, We're Going Down" by a little band called Fall Out Boy. 

The inspiration is taken from a Perry Bible Fellowship comic strip by Nicholas Gurewitch.

P.S.: The makeup woman really did a number on me on this one...

Heartbreak is tough. 

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Kate Ennis will film ‘Haunted’ in N.H. next month - The Boston Globe

This movie I've been cast in is featured in The Boston Globe today! 

Slightly nervous about staying over in a supposedly haunted hotel during filming...

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“Don’t ever get angry with your mother, because you might kill her....Try to make her laugh.”

-- A doctor speaking to a very young Gene Wilder, after his mother’s heart attack