Michael Strassner on the tragicomedy of The Baltimorons, meeting Jay Duplass on Instagram & John Candy's influence

Michael Strassner co-stars in The Baltimorons, a hilarious and tragic new romantic comedy he co-wrote with director Jay Duplass. One of Intercut's Best Films of SXSW 2025, now in theaters nationwide, The Baltimorons is based on Strassner's own life. Following a 6-month-sober ex-improv comic after he loses a tooth on Christmas, Cliff takes his dentist, Didi (Liz Larsen), on a series of midadventures around Baltimore. Strassner talks with Zach about meeting Jay Duplass online, developing a film around his own experiences, and the movies that inspired the tone for The Baltimorons.TIMECODES...00:00 - Michael Strassner Intro00:47 - Meeting Jay Duplass on Instagram and developing The Baltimorons04:37 - Balancing comedy with tragedy08:53 - On setting the film and shooting in Baltimore12:52 - Sobriety and improv comedy15:27 - Becoming comfortable with sharing a personal story17:03 - Influence of John Candy18:57 - Films that influenced The BaltimoronsIf you like this podcast, share it and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Music: Green Lightning by Calsendry - ⁠⁠https://calsendry.bandcamp.com/⁠⁠Join Intercut on YouTube as a member to get access to perks:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDwOvdBcDztjCXdaGkoJR7A/join⁠Patreon - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/IntercutPod⁠⁠⁠⁠Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theatzshow.com/intercut⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/bkQuRkeaBE⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/IntercutPod⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/IntercutPod⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@IntercutPod⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/IntercutPod⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/IntercutPod⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Clips - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@intercutclips⁠⁠