Spotlight: Robert P. Young '06

What is “Blackman and Rushon” about?

It’s a dig at the powers that be—Bush, cops, etc., and it’s basically in the style of the “In Living Color” Saturday Night Live skit. It begins with Batman and Robin finding themselves in a bad sort of neighborhood in a bad sort of alley. There are these two homeless men who grow more and more indignant. Eventually, the homeless men beat up the Dynamic Duo, steal their costumes, and start fighting crime on their own terms.

What’s your biggest accomplishment?

I suppose the filmmaker endeavor. It was a pretty hands-on project, given that I was editor, acting coach, director and cinematographer. A real labor of love, heavy on the labor.

What type of film would you like to make?

Something in the vein of Apollo 13—space travel.

Where’s your favorite place in the Square?

The Harvard Bookstore. I’m a bibliophile, and they always seem to have interesting, thought-provoking material, especially of a political nature, on their bookshelves.

What has been your most rewarding class or experience at Harvard?

Introduction to Acting with Thomas Derrah. He’s a very dynamic, hands-on teacher, and it’s not too common that you get to see you teacher perform. He was in last year’s production of Highway Ulysses at the A.R.T. It put things more into perspective with regard to acting as a career: what sort of talent and commitment are involved. On the stage you don’t have be beautiful to be an actor—sorry Tommy.

Describe yourself in three words.

Maudlin, witty, pugnacious.

What would you consider to be your biggest quirk?

I talk too much about my personal problems to people I don’t know that well.