Experiencing Interruptions?

Pulling the Plug on Mom

A woman gathers her sisters to tell them she’s going to pull the plug on their mom…who is not in the hospital.

  • April Yanko
    Director
    this is a garden, Butt Stuff
  • April Yanko
    Writer
    this is a garden, Butt Stuff
  • Justin Wested
    Producer
  • Jill Bradshaw
    Key Cast
    "Mina"
  • Rachael Klein
    Key Cast
    "Deborah"
  • April Yanko
    Key Cast
    "Sue"
  • Cecily Gish
    Key Cast
    "Fake Mom"
  • Maggie Gagliardi
    Key Cast
    "Tammy"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Sketch Comedy, Absurdist
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 11, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - April Yanko

April Yanko learned she loved to write after a semester at the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. She has studied writing sketch comedy at UCB and the Pack Theater with incredible teachers such as Sam Brown (Whitest Kids U' Know), Keisha Zollar (Astronomy Club), and Eric Moneypenny (The Midnight Show, Eric Andre). April resides in Los Angeles, creating new films that are funny, thoughtful, and wonderfully strange.

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Director Statement

I was inspired to make this film after taking Sketch at the Pack Theater with Sam Brown of the Whitest Kids U' Know. I watched a lot of old YouTube videos of Whitest Kids and also of Derrick Comedy, and I really love that "simple premise, goofy execution" that both groups are known for.

This sketch was filmed in all separate locations, some of us on the West Coast and some on the East. It features a non-binary actor, queer actors, and a queer writer/director (hey, that's me!)

Most of all, I was happy to work with friends during a time I felt so separated from other people. This project qualified us to join the union, so not only did I help out my friends who wanted to uplevel their careers, but they helped me by giving me something nonsensical and ridiculous to laugh about.

Thank you for reading, and I hope our sketch makes you smile (and question your familial relationships, of course).