Birke Duncan

Birke Duncan's brainchild, Monty Moudlyn, began as a creative writing assignment at Bainbridge High School, in Washington State, in 1984. The teacher asked for a love story with a twist. Mr. Duncan wrote Our Last Rendezvous, which is the basis for the break-up scene between Monty and Elsa. More Monty stories appeared in his other classes. The chase scene with Robert arose from a University of Washington creative writing assignment. This story and Our Last Rendezvous appeared in The Ecphorizer: A Mensa Magazine of Literature & Ideas in 1991 and again in 1993. A Very Small Magazine published Passage of a Moudlyn in 1992. Mr. Duncan earned an M.A. in Scandinavian Folklore & Mythology from The University of Washington in 1997. He and Jason Harris collaborated on two folklore texts, The Troll Tale & Other Scary Stories and Laugh Without Guilt: A Clean Joke Book; plus the radio play Union of the Snake. Among 4 other radio dramas which aired on NPR stations around the country, Mr. Duncan wrote and produced Monty Moudlyn: Founder of the Hug Brigade. This audio comedy inspired Jason Harris to write the screenplay for the short film. Professor Harris and director Zach Hibbard added charming scenes consistent with the character created in 1984. Mr. Duncan admires the way actor Kyle James brings Monty Moudlyn to life. It's difficult to portray an overbearing meddler as both charismatic and sympathetic, but Mr. James carries it off brilliantly.