Rundfunk is back with a new series: Duco & Roy. Yannick van de Velde and Tom van Kalmthout take the media world seriously: ‘One influencer less is already a profit’.
A German teacher with Nazi sympathies who always treats ‘incompetents’, the disabled Jet who flies through the air during gym class and Marietje who shouts dirty texts out of the window: iconic scenes from the hit series Rundfunk.
The series returns to the air for the first time since 2016. This time in a new guise, Rundfunk: Duco & Roy. Writers and protagonists Yannick van de Velde and Tom van Kalmthout take the media world seriously: “It’s about the stupidity of anyone who wants to become famous.”
Now that Yannick van de Velde’s age is 34 and Tom van Kalmthout’s is 32, they are no longer physically suitable for secondary school students, Van Kalmthout acknowledges with a laugh. Reason for the actors to Rundfunk to renovate a bit.
“Now that we have been in this business for a number of years, we have seen a lot of stupid things happen,” says Van de Velde. His companion adds: “Acting is such a strange profession. People who are good at it, people who are bad at it. We also did auditions for things we didn’t want or couldn’t do.”
“I auditioned for ‘Joe Speedboot’ and then the movie wasn’t made anymore.”
For example, Van Kalmthout says he once auditioned for the third or fourth cast of Soldier of Orange . “That was the period when there were only people in the audience who had already seen it for the fourth time.” Van de Velde: “I auditioned for Joe Speedboat but then that film was no longer made, haha!”
During the hunt for roles, the comedy duo came to the realization that there is nothing more fun than writing scripts themselves. “The real disadvantage of the acting profession is being dependent on other people,” says Van de Velde. The actor, who grew up in Utrecht, became known for his role in the family film In Orange (2004).
He also plays the brother of Danielle van Marken (Elise Schaap). Undercover and in Ferry the series . “I was once canceled for a film, for which I had returned four times, because I ‘wasn’t Jewish enough’. Very frustrating because I had put a lot of time into it. On the bike home you realize: shit, this isn’t happening either.”
According to Van Kalmthout, it is a great advantage to be on set with a script in your own hands. “It is then easier to play the role because you understand what is meant by it.” Van Kalmthout, born in The Hague, is known to the general public for his role as Tom in family films Sniff the Dog . He also performed on the stage of several theater productions and released the album under the pseudonym rapper ‘Ron van Zalmsaus’ The Salmon Sound out.
Are certain things from ‘Rundfunk’ no longer acceptable?
Looking at the vulgar jokes and extreme storylines in the series, the question arises to what extent the Rundfunk -men are told that certain things are no longer acceptable these days. For example, actor Michiel Romeyn recently said that he was also satirical in the program Jiskefet would like to see him return, but according to him there is no interest in that given ‘the current prudish times’.
“I don’t have the idea that what we make is no longer possible. People find it funny,” says Van Kalmthout. Van de Velde: “The fact that the men of Inside today still making TV every evening shows that it is still possible. You just sometimes get criticized for it.”
What form of criticism do they receive? “Someone once thought it was unacceptable that Jesus returned to earth in our film. He liked all the other things,” says Van de Velde. “I found that difficult. Because you can’t go shopping in our storylines. We joke about so many different things and about ourselves.”
The actors do not want to convey a specific message with their new series. Still, they think it would be a bonus if, thanks to the series, one person decides that they no longer need to become an influencer. “Because certain things really drive us crazy,” sighs Van de Velde.
Rundfunk: Duco & Roy can be seen on NPO Start and every Sunday around 11:35 PM on NPO3. All episodes can now be streamed via NPO Plus.