Dillan Park: The Master Expressionist Redefining Artistic Boundaries
The job of an actor is to perform a convincing illusion. American Hip Hop icon Jay-Z once said the job of a poet is to make words do more work than they are supposed to. The job of a dancer is to kinetically mobilize themselves in a manner that creates patterns using rhythm and sequenced bodily gestures. In all three of these disciplines, we observe a human being transcend the boundaries of connecting with their audiences. But what happens when an artist can do all three? The answer is that he/she becomes a master expressionist. Now the phrase “Jack of All trades” but a master of none demeans the attribute of versatility, but what if you can take different elements you have mastered from the multiple disciplines and apply them compatible within each other what do you get? You get Dillan Park.
A brief backstory on this legend in the making. Dillan Park has been a performer all his life in every sense of the word. In his teenage years he was a dancer, who specialized in Hip Hop, Contemporary dance as well as general musical choreography. Even into his college years Dillan would perform dance routines for upcoming artists to help promote their music.
It Is only during his college years where Dillan showed his skill and propensity for stage performance. As a two time graduate at CIty Varsity college in Braamfontein Dillan started his career making a name for himself and nightclubs, theaters, auditoriums, indie films and self-funded specials he hosted, created, choreographed, orchestrated and performed himself.
In nightclubs he would dabble in comedy sketches, which included some acting work as well as some humorous anecdotes which involved social commentary. Dillan was also big in the poetry circles performing with other renowned poets. Dillan had a cult-like following because from his work he would perform in night clubs and theaters people would be allured to his poetry slam events which would consistently happen from 2017-2019. As you can imagine poetry and comedy being niche entertainment usually meant smaller crowds, but as he honed his skills and elevated so did the many people who embraced the maverick.
In theaters is where Dillan’s legend rose into prominence. Joburg Theatre has had the privilege of witnessing Dillan Park both as a student performing, as well as a professional theater practitioner even during and after his college years. Dillan’s first showcase in 2018 was a play called “Text Books and Drills” which was a teenage coming of age story about immature romance mixed with slap–stick and dead-pan comedy. If you ask Dillan today that was all his formative work and not really close to the work he is doing now. But still as the saying goes you have to crawl before you walk. 2019 saw Dillan Park headline Joburg Theatre with a play/poetic dialogue piece called “Collateral Chemistry”. I had the pleasure of buying a ticket and witnessing this show myself and being blown away is an understatement. Dillan did this performance alongside another renowned poet Bellita Andre and the two had an exchange of romance and heartbreak through them trading sonnets back and forth. An element of rejection in the end saw Dillan’s character shedding genuine tears at the words of rejection from his co-star. This performance was raw jaw dropping, emotionally captivating, the lighting gave a celestial atmosphere and made the show all the more scintillating. It was obvious after a display like that there were bigger things to follow for the icon in the making.
Interestingly enough before graduating college Dillan was already in demand as a model. The camera seems to have a toxic obsession with Dillan Park, leaving the lenses of every photograph brand known to man permanently infatuated with the actor. After his groundbreaking Joburg Theatre special, Dillan Park was featured in several spreads for Edgars fashion shoots. So what’s striking about Dillan’s image is not only that the ladies love his looks but Dillan can be described as racially ambiguous. Dillan’s image is flexible, he can play a colored character, a black character, an asian character, an arabic character, a jewish character, a middle eastern character, a latin character, an eskimo character, a young character, an old character, a scientist, a dumb model, an ancient egyptian, an indian character, an italian character, a mongolian character and so much more. Off his image alone he has been getting booked for so many film roles, commercials and magazine centerfolds.
2019 seemed to be the dawn of Dillan’s illustrious career, Dillan starred in his first role and made his breakthrough appearance in Isidingo. In 2020 he was a full-time character in the series Spoorloos, where he plays Leo which aired on Kyknet Television. Dillan Park continued his indie work even after appearing on a Mainstream Series, he starred in the indie production called toxic written and produced by another mainstream series/film director (and fellow city varsity Alumni) Charlie Samson. If that wasn’t enough Dillan still continued his theater career by appearing in Macbeth, at the Joburg theater the following year. At this point in this article you may think that you have Dillan figured out but surprise surprise Dillan once again captivated audiences on a reality show “Date My Family”, where he actually even trended on social media when his episode came out. In 2022 the demand for DIllan Park continued as he was featured on a commercial for liqui fruit, he also made his first appearance on Mzansi Magic in a film called “Ngisakkhumbula”. However in 2022 Dillan’s most gripping performance had to be in this indie future classic, known as “A Lament”, written and directed by Charlie Samson. Dillan’s pension for emotional storytelling with minimalist dialogue, captures an ailing love affair which is doomed to fail but still he and his partner are better off suffering together than growing apart. This film is available on Youtube. DIllan reached a peak of sorts when he made his debut appearance in Generations, which had a ripple effect to him becoming the face of an American Bank known as Bread Financial. Today Dillan is currently on yet another legendary soapie 7de laan, as well as a Kyknet blockbuster film Bankvas, you can also spot Dillan on another commercial for Chicken Licken, portraying an Orlando Pirates soccer player.
Other than his obvious talent for the arts, and his powerful image, the thing that stands out the most for Dillan is his work ethic. If you ask Dillan how many auditions i doubt he would even remember. Dillan is still climbing up the ranks and it is only a matter of time before we see him become everything he was destined to be.
