Full Transcript for Michael Strassner Turns His Darkest Days into Indie Gold

Like she would, like, we would go after school and we would go to an old theater on York Road that was like a four multiplex theater that I missed, like those ones so much. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:57.039 Yeah. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:01.360 Um, and we would just like me and my mom just loved going to the movies. 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:03.280 Uh, and I remember I left Mrs. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:11.840 Dalfire, and I came home and I put on my sister's dress and a wig and her high heels in the wrong shoes, like I had it on the wrong shoes. 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:12.080 Yeah. 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:13.840 And my mom's like, Michael, what are you doing? 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.480 And I'm like, I'm Euphrijed Dowfire, my dear. 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:18.800 And I did, and I did the same thing with Ace Ventura. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:21.040 I put my hair up and I'd be like, alrighty then. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:24.560 And I would just bug the hell out of my sisters and bug the hell out of my dad. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:25.759 And, you know, even the Mrs. 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:32.879 Dalfire thing, I was wearing a dress for like two weeks, and then after he my dad walked in on me peeing, sitting down, he was like, This is over, bud. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:35.199 All right, you're gonna go play with your G.I. 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:35.759 Joes. 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:41.199 And uh, you know, but that was just 1993, so a little different than now. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:55.839 Um, but you know, he just but but truly, like I just I loved going to the movies, and I would go like, you know, even when I was 12 and 13, and I would just walk to the movie theater by myself and just go see something that was playing. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:16.399 Yeah, like I really felt like I like escaped in these theaters, and um and uh unlike your story a little bit, you know, I saw a John Waters movie, Serial Mom, when I was like 11 or 12, and I would see my city, Towson, Baltimore, on screen. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:21.600 And I was like, okay, wait, so they shot that here, like this can be done here, you know. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:49.360 And like that was always super like cool because John Waters would like come into my mom's like uh um retail store that she worked at, and like he was a part of the community, and so you know, like I I think he was somebody that I was like, okay, like he lives in Baltimore and he's a director and writer, it can be done, but I think I still need to kind of leave the nest a little bit to um to give it a shot. 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:50.480 That's incredible. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:53.279 I mean, that's so that I mean that's such a gift, right? 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:57.040 Like, I like obviously I think that's a thing that we talk about now, right? 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:00.800 Like being able to see representation and seeing yourself on screen. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:07.360 It's like why a lot of underrepresented communities are craving stories for for younger people. 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:13.120 Like what you're saying is like I can see my neighborhood, therefore I know a story can be told about it. 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:17.519 Yeah, here, about these people, about my neighbors, about my parents, about me. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:19.839 Like, that's such an important thing. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:32.959 And man, that's so awesome to hear that that was like part of your movie rearing was being able to see, and what an interesting filmmaker to like look towards as a as um a guiding light, I guess. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:38.160 Yeah, I mean, Crybaby also was one that I saw at an early age where that that that was shot at my mom's high school. 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:52.240 So it's like you know, like Towson I was right there, and like um, yeah, and I just remember like in the 90s when I grew up and watched those movies, Cecil Be Demented is another one that like was filmed at the Senator, which was like our movie theater there. 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:52.720 Yeah. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:57.759 Um, which, you know, we got to premiere Baltimore ons at, which is like the coolest thing in the world. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:02.720 But you know, like I remember seeing my city and being so proud of it in those movies. 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:10.000 And like, you know, in recent years, I feel like um, you know, the Baltimore has not really been shown in the best light. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:19.040 And like, again, like Baltimore's like every other city, like Chicago's got, you know, an incredible, beautiful city as well, but also has crime as well. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:46.800 But like Baltimore just always seemed to get this rep after some David Simon shows that like it was the the shitty town or whatever, and like I just was so proud of what Baltimorons did because it was it showed us in like a this is a communal place, and like especially for independent filmmaking, everybody from Baltimore lent their cars, places, you know, uh time they came in as extras and like helped make this thing come true. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:52.240 So, like the city's incredible, and I'm super proud that you know we were able to represent it in such a great way. 00:07:52.399 --> 00:07:53.040 Yeah, great. 00:07:53.120 --> 00:08:02.639 Let's take a really quick moment because I want to come back to like your genesis story, like your origin, but like let's explain to people what Baltimore's is, and because it's gonna come up throughout the rest of the podcast. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:05.360 So um tell us about Baltimore's, of course, yeah. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:05.680 Sorry. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:10.399 Uh Baltimore is a uh independent movie that Jay DuPlace directed. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:16.800 Um, him and I wrote it together, and it stars myself and Liz Larson, uh, who is a powerhouse. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:22.319 Um yeah, and Jay is Jay and I met on Instagram, we became friends. 00:08:22.480 -->

00:08:28.000 Uh he helped me with a short film that I um wrote and started and directed. 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:33.759 And then as a thank you, I took him out to lunch and I told him a little bit of my story and um how I got sober. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:38.799 And he reached out to me four months after that and was like, I want to back in someone's life and do a movie. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:40.320 You're the first person that came to mind. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:41.360 Do you want to do it? 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:44.000 And I was like, that sounds incredible. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:44.639 Yeah. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:50.240 I know how like that story is like the point zero zero zero zero one percent. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:58.799 That's the equivalent of being an attractive young woman in the Woolworths counter getting discovered on the uh producer came in. 00:08:58.960 --> 00:08:59.519 Like, what? 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:01.679 Truly, it's like this is insane. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:06.639 And like, you know, it is the you've been out here for 12 years and like something happened. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:09.279 Yeah, you know, and uh it was the coolest experience. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:10.960 Jay and I wrote together. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:25.200 Um, and we just kind of like we took some stuff from my life and formed it into one night on Christmas Eve, uh, that this guy meets his dentist and they become friends and they go all around Baltimore City. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:28.480 Um and, you know, it was this little movie that could. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:36.159 We shot on a shoestring budget of, you know, we were nominated for the John Cassavetti's award for the Independent Spirit Awards. 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:41.360 It's any movie under a million, and we were closer to that uh lower half of the million. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:55.679 Um and it was just like the coolest, truly like the coolest experience to get to go back to my hometown to shoot 16 days in December of 2023, and to get to shoot it with like all my friends and family. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:10:01.039 My mom's in it, my dad's in it, my niece is in it, my fiance Jess, who's incredible, she's in it. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:07.840 Um and you know, even just making the movie by itself, like that was the reward. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:08.080 Yeah. 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:15.360 Everything that came after it, premiering it South by Southwest, winning the audience award, having IFC distribute it and do an incredible job. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:25.039 Um everybody over there, Scott Schumann and uh Danielle, who was our PR person, like just made this movie like we they told us we can be in a hundred theaters. 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:34.320 We got it up to 500, and it was this little movie that could in September that like you know, and that Baltimore showed up for, you know, they they kept going to that movie all the way until January. 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:36.240 That's incredible in theaters. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:11:00.320 So, like, when people tell you, like, you know, well, movies are dying and movie theaters are dying, and and you know, everything's going to streaming and all this stuff, it's like well, this was definitely not the norm, but this little movie made for very little, yeah, didn't go to streaming, went to theaters, had a good theatrical run, and didn't have any stars in it, you know. 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:00.720 Right. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:09.519 And so, like, when people say things about their independent movies and like, well, we need to have this and we need to have that, and we go out and make the thing, right? 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:21.360 You know, and I and I know how fortunate I am to have somebody like Jay in my corner that was like, no, like to put Liz and I up there and you know, showcase us was just such a gift. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:22.639 Yeah, that's incredible. 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:28.320 I mean, like, please go see the movie because or check it out wherever it's possible to see it because it's an incredible film. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:39.759 And um yeah, I mean, it was it's there's a whole genesis of a story of my life over the last year that has been completely shaped by this movie, um, which we'll get to later. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:51.519 But um, so I'm so we understand you performing Jim Carrey and Robin Williams in your childhood home, which I think a lot of us can relate to. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:57.759 Like, those were such huge touchstones, I feel like, for anybody that was just attention seeking as a performer. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:59.039 And I remember getting laughed. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:08.639 Like, that's the thing is like I remember like I remember even like as you're saying this, I'm like, I remember I would do it at like my Aunt Sue's house, and she would be laughing at this. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:12.080 And like, I'd never seen something I did make somebody laugh. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:12.399 Right. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:12.639 Yeah. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:17.440 Well, even just hearing you say you're like putting on your mom's shoes on the wrong feet, I was already like hilarious bit. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:19.679 Oh man, that's such a strong bit, dude. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.519 Tiny little feet, wrong shoes. 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:22.720 Come on, we're all laughing. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:32.480 Exactly, you know, and like it's and then like I think that and like making people laugh was like my first real drug that I just absolutely loved. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:42.080 I can relate to this very strongly, and and you know, and then you know, I was always like the class clown in high school and like constantly getting sent to the office because of stuff. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:44.960 And what was your favorite bit in high school? 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:45.840 Did you have one? 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:49.519 Um, I would call teachers doctors, even though they

don't have their doctorate. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:49.679 Yeah. 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:50.960 So like there was this guy, Mr. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:51.519 Holler. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:52.080 Yeah, Dr. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:52.480 Holler. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:53.600 Yeah, and I always be like, doctor. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:55.840 And he was like, it's it's still just Mr. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.519 Yeah, didn't go the extra time. 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:01.919 Um, but uh and he's like somebody that I just truly like, he was one of those. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:06.000 I had really amazing teachers, and I like put them through hell looking back on it. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:15.039 But like I went to this Jesuit high school, and you know, like I think they really like I think they started laughing at my stuff too when I was like junior and senior. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:21.120 Like, I remember one thing we we uh we had to pick a song for history that changed the world. 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:28.960 And like, you know, my one friend picked uh Sublime April 1992, whatever that one was. 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:30.000 Yeah, yeah, the riots. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.600 Yeah, about the riot, yeah. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:38.080 Uh somebody else picked Bob Dylan, like blowing in the wind, and I picked David Hasselhoff looking for some freedom. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:45.840 And uh and I was the only one that they they didn't they couldn't get through the whole song because it's that bad. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:55.600 Yeah, it was like we're turning this off, but I got like an A plus on it because of like creativity and like you know, and I talked about the Berlin Wall and how much people in Berlin love David Hasselhoff. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:14:02.799 It's just like that's the type of like where my brain would go, where it's like, even for an assignment, I'm gonna try to make it a joke. 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:03.679 Yeah, of course. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.039 Um I understand that. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:17.840 I did I one time in my first public speaking class in my freshman year of college, um, I uh we were debating against somebody else, and I convinced the class that Luigi is better, Luigi is better than Mario. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.039 I think that was my biggest. 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:20.799 Luigi is better. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:25.120 You're like Bob, who's ever heard of Bob Hoskins, who performed as Mario? 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:26.399 Bob Who Hoskins? 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:26.799 Yeah, exactly. 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.639 Like John Leguizamo, baby. 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:30.080 Everyone knows him from the pest. 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:30.559 Exactly. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:31.440 You know, right? 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:32.639 He's incredible. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:40.399 Yeah, but you know, but I also never like I never took like any improver sketch stuff till I got out to LA. 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:44.240 Like, so did you uh what

was your post-high school look like? 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.679 Went to University of Maryland. 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:47.200 Um and why why? 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:50.240 Well, I went to East Carolina for a year because I couldn't get into Maryland. 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:50.639 Uh-huh. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:59.360 Uh I went to University of Maryland because it was in my mom and dad's divorce agreement that my dad would only pay three-fourths of Maryland, and my mom would have to pay the other fourth. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.960 So we all came- It had to be Maryland. 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:02.000 It had to be University of Maryland. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:06.399 Okay, well, now you've opened up an interesting door, and you don't have to talk about this, but so let me know. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:09.519 Like, how did you um when did your parents get divorced? 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:12.000 I was eight when they separated. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:17.200 They were gonna do it on a Saturday night at a restaurant, and then see I'm like, I'm right in. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.159 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:20.639 You're like, yes, and I'm here. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:28.480 They were gonna do it at this restaurant uh on York Road, they had us all there, and then two of their friends entered during it. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:31.120 So they were like, God damn it, we can't do it too. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:31.840 Yeah, it got awkward. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.480 It got awkward. 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:34.399 That's a hilarious scene in the movie somewhere. 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:35.279 Truly. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:39.919 Um, and so the next day was a Sunday, and I was playing Super Mario Brothers. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:40.320 Okay. 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.840 Um not as Luigi probably. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:42.480 Yeah, not as whatever. 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.600 Because we weren't allowed. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:46.240 Ridiculous. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:47.919 Um, and they were like, okay, come upstairs. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:55.200 And then, you know, they told us that like dad's moving out, and uh, and that was yeah, that was I was eight. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.399 My sisters were a little older. 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.840 I think they were like 11 and 14. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:00.080 So two older sisters, two older sisters, yeah. 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:00.879 You're the youngest? 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:04.720 I'm the youngest, but then my dad uh remarried and it was like a merger family. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.039 Sure. 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:09.279 So uh so half half siblings or uh steps, copy. 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:12.240 But we've all known each other for a long time, so we're yeah, it's brothers, yeah. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:13.120 Yeah, brothers and sisters. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:13.840 Yeah, got it. 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:19.440 That's and was it like you know, like divorce is a really difficult thing for kids, especially that's quite a young age, you know? 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:21.759 Like, is was it a thing that shaped you? 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:31.440 Like, do you feel that comedy was still a way for you to find uh space and position in life through comedy that period? 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:36.240 I mean, I definitely I definitely always loved making my mom laugh. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:54.960 Yeah, because she never remarried, and like you know, I think like I was just I was I'm I'm a mama's boy and I still am, you know, like and uh it was just always very important to me to like even all the stuff that's going on, like I want to make sure that she's happy, yeah, you know, and constantly trying to play that role, whatever that is. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.360 Yeah. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:17:02.559 Um but yeah, like I think I had a big and my dad would say it, he was like, You have a ginormous chip on your shoulder. 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:06.880 Yeah, and uh and I just kind of kept that chip for like a long time. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:15.920 Just with like about the separation, about the separation and about the way things went down and all that type of stuff, and you know, I just really I held on to resentment for a long time. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.160 Yeah. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:21.039 And it it it fueled my it fueled my comedy. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:25.200 I think like okay, I'm gonna stop at nothing to do this for a living. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:37.920 And then also like it fueled like you know, I think I am sober, but I think uh it didn't make me, you know, an alcoholic drug addict, but I think it was like the kindle or kiddle, whatever. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:40.960 Yeah, kindling kindling that like started the fire. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:41.759 Yeah, stoked it. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.480 Stoked it up. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.519 Gotcha, copy. 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:45.920 Uh yeah, I can I I understand that greatly. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.240 Yeah. 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:56.240 Um okay, so after so you started doing bits in high school, you're you know, there's like this large emotional thing that's happening within your family when you're pretty young. 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:59.519 Like you're getting new stasis and figuring that sort of stuff out. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:05.119 And so you you go to the University of Maryland because your dad is like, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:05.920 This is where you're gonna go. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.200 Yeah, but I also have a funny story. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:11.359 My mom got she got um, she got fired one day when we when I was in high school. 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:14.400 Yeah, she was working at a uh a loan place. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:17.279 It's not called a loan place, that's a bank. 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:24.960 Um when you said loan place, I was like, yeah, like a check and go or like a temporary like loan, like she was working like a mortgage

company. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:25.920 No, an actual bank. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:30.160 And uh and she got let go one day. 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:34.319 And I remember she came home and I was playing a video game again. 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:35.680 Big video game. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:41.200 Um, but she came home and uh she was like, Do you want to go to the movies? 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.720 Like, I I I got fired today. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:45.759 I was like, Yeah, yeah, of course, mom, like we can do whatever you want. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:50.880 And I would always like in high school, I would take her to like a further away movie theater because I was afraid like my friends would see her. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:54.000 Now I want to be seeing my mom wherever, yeah, anywhere. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:58.240 Um, but I I was like, Yeah, okay, I I think I found the right one. 00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:06.559 And I took her to go see Blade Trinity, which is just insane that like she got fired, and then I took her to like a vampire. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.039 Yeah, yeah. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:11.519 You want to see the third installment of Wesley's snipes destroying vampire. 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:12.880 My mom's like, what did you bring? 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:16.880 Like, and she was like, I like Ryan Reynolds, he was funny, like you know he was. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:19.920 I heard there's a lot of turmoil and set on that one, you know? 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:26.559 Um but it was just like it's just such a funny thing, like that's what we did, you know, and she was just always game for anything, and she still is. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:28.720 So oh man, that's so that's so awesome. 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:32.400 Yeah, that's um uh yeah, I get that. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:34.319 Like I like I was like, oh, I understand this. 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:37.599 But then went to University of Maryland, um, studied. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:47.359 I was a I think a I well, I went to East Carolina for a year and then uh University of Maryland and studied like I think communications for like maybe a semester, and I was like, I don't want to do this. 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:51.920 Yeah, like I really just want to do I I I want to act, whatever that looks like. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.119 Did they have a theater program? 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:56.480 They had a theater program, they didn't have any film or TV or anything like that. 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:58.000 So I went to their theater. 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:09.519 I remember my guidance counselor was like, um, or college counselor was like, you know, they it's very like if you're in the theater department, like you're very much like in this group, like they don't really hang out with anybody else. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:11.200 And I was like, okay. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.960 Um, I didn't really hang out with them because I was in a fraternity, yeah, too. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:19.440 So I like was still partying and stuff, so I was like the one person that kind of didn't go back and forth. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:25.440 But um, what's so funny is like I never got any roles in any of the plays. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.960 I was always understudied. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:29.599 And like, yeah, you weren't politicking, dude. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:33.519 I was not politicking at all, constantly the understudy. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:45.200 And what's funny is like I see some of the or like some guys that like were the leads in everything, they stopped acting six months out of college. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:47.759 And I why do you do you have a theory about that? 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:55.440 My theory is I was already kind of getting trained of like being like, well, like you're not gonna get you're taking your lumps. 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.160 Yeah, exactly. 00:20:56.400 --> 00:21:02.480 Like you're not getting the role or whatever, but I just think was so hard-headed where I'm like, well, I'm gonna do this no matter what, like, I'm not stopping. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:10.079 And I think they when they're when they were small fish and you know, or sorry, big fish in a small pond, yeah. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:10.799 That's great. 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:18.799 But when you go into the real world, you know, it's yeah, when you go into the real world, you're competing against Brad Pitt for the lead of the movie, bro. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.000 Exactly, exactly. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:28.240 Oh, it was sorry, uh, the guy who got uh you know the lead of thoroughly modern milli at the University of Maryland didn't 08 or whatever. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:30.640 I actually was in a show called Am I Black Enough Yet? 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:32.240 Um as an understudy. 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:35.359 Um I played all the white roles. 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:51.279 Yes, and one scene one scene I had to play a black character, which I they didn't make me do any like I didn't thank God, but um yeah, it was a it was a really interesting play, and uh that was that was interesting. 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.640 Yes, that was transformative. 00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:53.359 Yeah, it was. 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.400 Okay, well that's great. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:59.599 Um so that was what they're doing at the University of Maryland, and uh yeah we so ha so 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.079 Did you Okay, so did you graduate? 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:02.799 I graduated. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.839 You got a you have a degree. 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:05.759 I have a degree in theater from University of Maryland. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.319 Okay, great. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:08.960 And then you were immediately like Los Angeles bound. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:12.160 My big thing was like, you know, I flirted with New York. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.960 I did have one class. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:14.480 Did she flirt back? 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.519 She's

not. 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.799 I mean, it's always been a flirt. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:18.079 Like I love New York. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:19.599 She's very appealing here. 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:19.920 Yeah. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:29.039 But uh I, you know, I always I sorry, I was in a class called Business of the Business or Business of the Biz at Maryland. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:30.559 It was like the senior class you could take. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:30.960 Sure. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:36.720 And we had actors come in and producers and writers come in and talk to us about what the business is like. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:45.359 And we had um Delaney Williams come in, who was on the wire, and he came in and he was like, Yeah, this is a hard career. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:46.319 Like, good luck. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:23:05.519 Um, but I like I I I actually still am in contact with him, and he's been so like he was possibly gonna be in Baltimore's, and we became friends like that, and he's just been very supportive still to this day, which is something I'm so grateful that I'm still like I was like, I reached out to him and I was like, Hey, you probably don't remember me, but you came into business at the biz. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:07.519 Yeah, um, he was so awesome. 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:14.880 And uh, and then there's another girl there was like who's in my class, she's like, I'm gonna go to Chicago and do Second City, and I'm like, What's what's Second City? 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:15.279 What is that? 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:18.319 Like, I don't know, you know, okay, cool, have fun in Chicago. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:21.359 Like, LA is where movies is, yeah, uh, movies are. 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:24.240 Um, and she also's probably better at grammar than me. 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:24.960 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.920 Well, I mean, no judgment. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:28.400 I was like, Yeah, LA is where movies is. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.680 Yeah, I was like, okay. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:30.319 Yeah. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:36.480 Um, but uh she or so then I came out here and I was like, okay, who are my heroes? 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:39.119 So you're like early 20s, like 21, 22, right? 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.480 You're like, I'm it's happening. 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:40.960 It's happening. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.160 Where did you land in town? 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:42.799 What part of town? 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:43.759 You lived in Venice? 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.640 Venice, my first neighborhood. 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:46.160 It's your first neighborhood, good happening. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.200 Yes, indeed. 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:49.759 Um, with Timmy Harrington and Max Osteller. 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:53.039 Uh Timmy is one of my oldest friends and he's incredible. 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:57.839 Um, and Max was my, he would he, him and I shared a room our first year. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.640 Yeah, sure. 00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:00.640 Uh I know that's which was which was not fun. 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:03.920 But landed in Venice, and I was like, okay, who are my heroes? 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:08.720 Well, Mike Myers, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, John Belushi. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:11.759 Uh-huh all people that went to Second City that I could have. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.279 Yeah, you were like, wait, wait, wait, wait. 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:13.839 Wait, I couldn't have to. 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.559 Yeah, what is the second city? 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:23.839 And why didn't I um so I did not uh go there, and then I was like, who else do I like? 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:27.359 And I was like, Will Farrell, Will Forte, Kristen Wig. 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:31.920 So I did the Groundlings, uh, where we met our wonderful mutual friend, Brett Maline. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:44.240 Yeah, Brett, who is just uh he was one of the first, one of the first friends that I met there and um, you know, had a great sense of community and really learned what comedy was there, you know. 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:47.920 Uh so your early 20s, you're starting at the groundlings. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:59.839 So um, for those that don't know, the groundlings is a prolifically successful comedy theater that does live improv and sketch shows on a nightly basis on Melrose in Los Angeles. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:05.200 It's the uh that storefront and school is the only version that they have of that, right? 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:09.759 Like you had to be in the groundlings to become a groundlink member, you have to be in LA. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:14.000 There's no like, yeah, there's no other there's no like, oh, I did New York's Groundlings. 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.880 It's like, no. 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:25.359 Um, it's uh it's known in the community for having an extremely high attrition rate, meaning that it is prestigious because of how difficult it is. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:34.240 That is like the notoriety that Groundlings has, which is like if you make it here, you are the best the city and arguably the world has to offer. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.279 Yeah, yeah. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:38.480 And I, you know, and I just really liked my classes. 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:50.559 I I liked this the crew that I was kind of uh doing improv with there and moved up the ladder there to their Sunday Company, which is like their triple A team that performs every Sunday, and it was really great. 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:55.680 And uh, you know, we had How old were you by the time that you got to Sunday Company? 00:25:55.759 --> 00:26:02.880 Because like the thing is like you I I feel like you very not not in like a glib way, but that uh that's probably like five years that you're talking about. 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.319 No, I mean yeah, like it takes. 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:07.279 I think I was I was 26, I think, when I started. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:07.680

Okay. 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:09.279 Um started Sunday Company. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:09.680 Right. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:11.039 Okay, so for for like four years. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:13.839 Yeah, four, four or five, yeah, I think, yeah. 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:15.119 I think it was four years. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:19.839 Because I I um I had this teacher for writing lab called a named Kevin Kapatrick, who was great. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.319 Yes. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:38.559 Uh he um taught me, and then there was somebody who dropped out of advanced, which is like the one right before uh Sunday Company, and they were two weeks in, and he called me and he was like, Hey, I know you're gonna be you would have missed two weeks, but like, you know, do you want to kind of jump in? 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.400 Because we need another person. 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:40.880 Right. 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:43.119 And so I got bumped up to do that. 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:43.519 Right. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:46.799 And I was like, Yeah, okay, like I feel like I, yeah, I want to do it. 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:56.000 And so I did it, and um, and then I got into Sunday, which was which is again, like it is important to say like how difficult it is to get to Sunday Company from advanced writing lab. 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.680 Like the attrition rate is huge. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:03.119 It's like 80 or 90 percent of people do not go through advanced writing lab to Sunday company. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:06.640 So this in and of itself is a huge accomplishment by 26 years old. 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:17.279 Yeah, but I remember also like they were like, you know, I think like I had teachers be like, Well, don't go to UCB, like you're you're move, like you're going to trajectory here, like stay with us. 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:19.200 Wow, that's so interesting, really. 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:31.359 And and I was like, Oh, like, and so I never really got any other improv communities, it's you you really drink the Kool-Aid of wherever you're at. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:34.720 Um, and uh, you know, and and and I was grateful for it. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.759 It was it was it was fun. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:43.839 And um, you know, the second six months of Sunday that I did, there's only seven of us, and I got to test for SNL, which was like a full-on dream. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:46.480 And is that what was that always the goal? 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:51.440 Like, like did you ever have that in the back of your mind that you were like all I want is SNL or 100%. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.119 Like I wanted to be the next Farley. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:28:06.160 Like that was the goal, truly, was to uh you know, to get to that level and like do it every single Saturday, and like just like my heroes, I'm gonna be a partier and all the things. 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:08.799 And um, and I got how'd it go? 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:11.920 Uh, you know, it went pretty well. 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.599 We we had a showcase. 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:18.160 Yeah, we we had a showcase in um at at the groundlings, yeah. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:20.880 And then a few of us went to New York. 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:26.880 Um and then they did you had to do your same set from the showcase, so I did that. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:30.319 I felt like I heard laughs, I felt like it was fun, I felt like it went well. 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:33.839 Yeah, which is like the the common thing is that it's like don't expect laughs. 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.319 Exactly. 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:36.160 Like that's the rule that everybody says. 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:45.200 And I wish, I wish, especially because I've I I've watched a couple of like the um uh like the SNL 50 things where like they talked about the audition and stuff. 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:50.319 I got a call from Lindsay, Chookus at the time to come back and do a final test. 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:52.000 Like right after you had already. 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.200 Oh, wow, okay. 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:56.000 Yeah, yeah, for another. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.640 And I was like, So a second bite of the apple, second bite of the apple. 00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:01.359 And she was like, Yeah, we just really want to see like Michael. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:12.400 And I wish I don't regret anything, but like I wish I knew who I was more at 26 or 27, whenever I was that I tested, to know what they meant by that. 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.920 Yeah, it is a difficult thing. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:17.599 Like, man, boy, I'm trying to think back about being 26 and I was such an idiot. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:20.000 Um, I still am, just to be clear. 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:23.680 But um but even like to know who I like and of course, how could you? 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:26.400 Like, I was doing characters, like that's what I thought they like. 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:28.640 I thought when they say Michael, it's like, well, I do characters. 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:30.480 That's that that's me, you know. 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:38.079 And in reality, I'm like, yeah, but like now looking back on that eight years later, it's like, yeah, but you are more than just characters, right? 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:46.559 Like you are, like when you're saying you, like, what's what is Michael, you know, yeah, just as which is a great question, but whatever. 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:48.559 Let's hear about the characters, man. 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.200 Exactly. 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:53.599 Yeah, like I want to hear about the characters, but seriously, who did you do for your first SNL showcase? 00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.559 I'm so curious. 00:29:54.720 --> 00:30:10.000 I well, there's just one thing that I always did at Groundlings that was like my favorite thing to do for forever, but it was this painter that would paint uh he was in like a college quad and he would paint um really badly to System

of a Town Chopsui. 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:18.240 So his like hair would go everywhere, and like I would just be painting like crazy, and then um then the college kid would like turn it off. 00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:18.640 Right. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:28.880 And then we get in a fight, and I would then like then I would uh I would put the paint away and I would bring clay out and I would do that to Papa Roach Last Resort. 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.200 Right. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.680 Oh, okay. 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:34.160 So it's just yeah, just uh like sort of heavy 90s. 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:35.200 What was your third beat? 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:38.079 What was the third third beat was Patrick Swayze, she's like the win. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:42.480 So I so I you undercut the exactly. 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:48.640 So like so the guy would leave, and then it was me and the like the college co-ed on campus, and I was like, let me paint you. 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:50.079 And then I would put on she's like the win. 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:51.200 Is that what the let me do? 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.319 Is that what it sounds like? 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.279 It's like let me do this. 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:55.839 Yeah, I love this guy. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:57.279 And uh did he have a name? 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:58.160 I feel like ground the bigger. 00:30:58.319 --> 00:30:58.720 Demetrius. 00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:00.000 Demetrius, yeah. 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:01.599 Yeah, he was definitely a Greek brother. 00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:09.119 Oh but that was one that I just loved doing because it was just like super fun, and it was like all I mean, I personally, I was I I I loved physical comedy. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:09.440 Yeah. 00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:13.599 I love wait, you wanted to be the new Farley and you like physical comedy? 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.319 Yeah, weird. 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:16.559 I know, really strange, really strange. 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:41.279 But you know, what's so crazy is like, and I don't know if I shared about this on the but like when I first got sober, like I thought my life, which is part part of the movie as well, is like I because it's the origin of that is um, you know, uh is how I got sober, so a failed suicide attempt, and then um I then uh you know went to the rooms of recovery to find hope. 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:47.039 And I at that time I also was like, I'm not gonna be funny, my life's over, all these things that I thought were true. 00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:59.440 But when I first got sober, I read the Chris Farley show book, and the book opens up with him talking about um or him talking to uh a rehab facility. 00:31:59.680 --> 00:31:59.839 Yeah. 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:04.160 And he's like, you know, I'm 18 months sober, and if you can do it, anyone can do it. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:07.599 And um or if I can do it, anyone can do it. 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:11.759 And it like struck me of like, wait,

I had no idea he was sober. 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:18.720 And then come to like as I continue reading, come to find out that you know, when he shot Tommy Boy, he was completely sober. 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:20.079 His best work in my opinion. 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:27.599 Right, you know, and I'm like, wow, like these are such you know, he's my hero, one of them, and like he loved being sober too. 00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:38.880 Right, you know, and it's which is uh part of the whole difficulty of the process and the journey of what it means to be that, because it's like not everybody gets each day, right? 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:42.880 All right, well, I think that that's actually a really great segue because let's talk. 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:46.079 There's there's a a chunk of time that I feel like we should talk about, right? 00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:56.319 Which is like there's uh a period of time where you get sober, and there is a period of time where you had tested for SNL, and there is uh in between those times, yeah. 00:32:56.640 --> 00:33:01.920 And um what was that moment in that how did that transpire? 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.480 Well, when I didn't get SNL. 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:13.200 Okay, so you you did the second test, did the second test, bring Michael, and then but it is a 26-year-old that kind of went over your head, you're like, I don't know how to bring Michael out of new characters. 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:28.000 Yeah, I brought up the characters and did some like, you know, did some stuff and thought I did pretty well on it, you know, I was pretty proud of it, but then didn't go my way, and it took me to like a just dark depression for the next four months after that. 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:29.920 And were you still performing in the release? 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:40.400 Yeah, I was still in the Sunday company there, and uh and what happened was it was the um it was a uh it was a Wednesday after pitch. 00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:53.440 I didn't get anything in the show, and also like that Christmas, like I remember it was getting pretty bad at Christmas time because I remember I was drinking and my mom came downstairs like 9 a.m. 00:33:53.920 --> 00:34:00.079 And it wasn't Christmas, it was another day, and she was like, and she saw me pouring whiskey into a glass, and she's like, Michael, what are you doing? 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:00.960 It's like 9 a.m. 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:03.279 And I was like, I'm on vacation, like what is it to you? 00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:12.400 And I was like being really mean, yeah, and I was like, I didn't like who I was becoming, and like also it's like who are you that you get to or that you think you can just drink at 9 a.m. 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:14.000 like in your family's home? 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:15.599 Like, what's you know, right? 00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:17.039 Yeah, what is this? 00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:28.880 And uh, and when I came back, you know, I had like two more weeks after Christmas where I was doing shows, and then that Wednesday after the pitch, I didn't get anything in the show, so I was super super Right. 00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:30.320 So that's like an emotional blow. 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:33.280 Emotional blow hit me for whatever reason. 00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:40.159 And um then I drank that night, and then the next day I saw I got up at like 11, I turned my phone off. 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:44.400 I saw three billboards, three billboards uh Ebling, Missouri. 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:46.000 Yeah, three board board billboards. 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:50.639 I can't say either nobody can say like Michael McDonough wrote this movie, and nobody can say the title. 00:34:50.800 --> 00:34:52.000 It's one of my favorites, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:53.920 But I was drunk when I saw it the first time. 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:55.039 Okay, great. 00:34:55.280 --> 00:34:56.320 And I was super depressed. 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:59.280 And if you were super depressed, yeah, that's not a good movie to see. 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:08.480 Yeah, um, and then you know, I I came, I went to work that night, which I was working at a restaurant at that time, sweet chick. 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.679 Um okay, great. 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:11.360 And it's just chicken and waffles. 00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.400 Yeah, sounds incredible. 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:16.480 Sounds incredible, really easy menu, and I was screwing up everybody's order because I was drunk. 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:16.719 Right. 00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:19.599 So I was sending the wrong chicken, the wrong waffles to the wrong tables. 00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:21.280 And it's like, guy, there's two options here. 00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:24.880 Like, it's just like literally just checkboxes, yeah, just check boxes, yeah. 00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:26.320 Yeah, and so they sent me home. 00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:31.760 Yeah, and you know, my best thinking that night was I uh I don't want to be here anymore. 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:34.079 And so the way the movie opens is the same way. 00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:37.920 I got sober, is I try to take my own life by hanging myself. 00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:48.960 And um, you know, luckily the belt broke because we even when it did, I was like, I thought about my mom, I thought about my niece, and I'm like, what are you like what like where are we? 00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:50.480 Like, like like what's happening here? 00:35:51.199 --> 00:35:53.679 You're saying you're having these thoughts after the belt broke. 00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:54.159 Yeah. 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:54.719 Okay. 00:35:55.119 --> 00:35:57.360 And and what was the res what was the answer? 00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:58.639 I need to get help. 00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:00.320 And I asked for help the next day. 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:02.559 And then you went to your first meeting. 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:03.760 Yeah, I went to yeah. 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:13.360 Then, well, they

got me in contact with somebody who like we were mutual friends, and that person met me, and I was like, Why are you doing this? 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:14.239 Like, why are you helping me? 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:15.920 And he's like, You're gonna do it for somebody else someday. 00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:16.559 Right. 00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:24.000 And um, you know, I took a leave of absence from the school, and they're like, just focus on your sobriety, get well, get your mental health going. 00:36:24.239 --> 00:36:29.199 That's great that they did they had the ability to do that, yeah, yeah. 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:31.760 And then and then then they let me go though. 00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:35.760 So so so that was an empty gesture. 00:36:36.320 --> 00:36:38.800 Yeah, but I think everything happened for the right reasons. 00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:39.119 True. 00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:39.760 Of course. 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:47.760 I mean, like, that's uh I like this is obviously an important part of the conversation to be like, I am very grateful for you to be sharing this. 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:50.159 Like, we've known each other for a very long time. 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:56.079 Most of those years, probably I myself abstained from drinking alcohol because I know that I have an alcohol problem. 00:36:56.559 --> 00:37:09.760 And recently I've started going to the rooms and working the program and have a sponsor, and so um, it's been really great to like sort of be on that journey and be able to have you as a resource and a friend and a fellow. 00:37:10.239 --> 00:37:12.000 And um, I'm just really grateful for that. 00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:25.280 And I'm grateful for you to feel comfortable sharing that here and in many other places as I know, obviously on the screen of Baltimore on's, because I think it is like really important that people that we talk about it, right? 00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:30.719 Like that is, I mean, that's one of the large the guiding principles of going to meetings is hearing people talk. 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:55.920 Well, and I think the big thing for me is like, you know, I think when you share about your story and whatever that is, like whatever that is, I think the more you share about what you what happened for you, you know, um, I think it's just really helpful to then, or at least for me, like I don't feel like I have shame around it. 00:37:56.079 --> 00:37:56.320 Right. 00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:57.920 You know, like yeah, that happened. 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:00.239 Like I was I was kicked out of a comedy school. 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:00.719 Right. 00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:02.400 It's not the end of the world, right? 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:05.039 And even though at the moment in time, right? 00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:07.679 I feel like the western identity was so wrapped up in the world. 00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:09.039 I feel like I lost this community. 00:38:09.360 --> 00:38:10.159 Oh my god, like all the time. 00:38:10.320 -->

00:38:14.320 It was you, it was like Michael Strassner, parenthetical the groundlings. 00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:15.039 Yeah, right. 00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:24.239 And you know, it was truly like looking back on it, like through recovery and through cleaning up my side of the street and making sure everything was all good, you know. 00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:26.559 Like I'm not afraid to see anybody. 00:38:26.800 --> 00:38:38.079 I'm not afraid to, you know, talk to anybody, you know, and I also I don't carry, I don't want to carry the shame around of that, you know, that happening. 00:38:38.239 --> 00:38:38.480 Right. 00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:50.800 You know, I I hit it, I you know, I face it right in front and be like, okay, like I'm and that's the thing about amends is like I'm sorry, yeah, and it won't happen. 00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:52.400 And and and and how can I make this right? 00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:52.800 Right. 00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:54.400 You know, and that's what I did there. 00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:54.880 Right. 00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:57.119 Which is yeah, that's such a powerful thing. 00:38:57.199 --> 00:39:04.239 And like I think it is um incredible that you were able to bring that to the screen as well, right? 00:39:04.320 --> 00:39:15.360 Like, I think it's a very it's apparent in the film that this is an important step of the process, which is um um adversity is grace. 00:39:15.840 --> 00:39:24.559 And then you also like like like you shared, it's like you know, the whole point of this whole life and journey and world is just to help somebody else out. 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:24.960 Right. 00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:57.119 You know, like that that is the beauty I feel like of sobriety for me is like when I share about how low my depression got me and my alcoholism got me there, and that I, you know, got sober by a failed suicide attempt, it then can you can the amount of people that have reached out to me that I don't even know, right, like that grows exponentially, and it's just so beautiful to me that people, strangers are opening up, like, hey, I went through that too. 00:39:57.280 --> 00:40:03.679 Right, you know, and like if and I think it my opinion, like it's so courageous to be vulnerable. 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:09.360 100%, which I didn't think that way eight years, like I was like, oh, I'm taking everything to the grave with me. 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:09.679 Right. 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:13.920 Like I'm not, like, I'm not sharing this stuff, like my deepest, darkest stuff with somebody. 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:14.880 Like that's crazy. 00:40:15.280 --> 00:40:15.599 Right. 00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:27.199 But now I feel like, oh, like I love sharing, you know, just my my lowest points because it's like it's not the big bag boogeyman anymore. 00:40:27.280 --> 00:40:27.440 Right. 00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:29.199 You know, and that's not who I am today. 00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:30.079 Right, right, right. 00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:32.079 Through other people showing me how to do it. 00:40:32.400 --> 00:40:32.639 Right. 00:40:33.119 --> 00:40:43.679 And also like the idea of like once you speak it out into the world, it's like this, it it takes away that thing that makes it so scary and so shame-filled and so um debilitating. 00:40:43.920 --> 00:40:44.079 Right. 00:40:44.400 --> 00:40:44.639 100%. 00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:54.000 And also like, you know, I feel like we're in a society that like they don't want to give second chances to people. 00:40:54.239 --> 00:40:54.480 Right. 00:40:54.880 --> 00:41:24.719 You know, and like and I think again, I think everybody's situation is very different and everyone is very but like I think the world could use a lot more forgiveness right now with every like with just teachings of like you know, uh stoicism and just being like, okay, like move on, let it go, you know, and uh keep living your life, you know, and also like we're all human beings, and that's another whole aspect of the movie that we like really wanted to show is like we're not perfect people, right? 00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:25.920 We're not, yeah. 00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:39.119 And uh, you know, people are messy and conflicted, and uh hopefully uh you learn something by watching people by watching people what they're doing, not like getting on your soapbox and saying, like, this is how it should be. 00:41:39.360 --> 00:41:43.440 Right, right, right, you know, it's about listening and like opening yourself up, yeah. 00:41:43.760 --> 00:41:45.119 Man, that's incredible. 00:41:45.199 --> 00:42:03.440 That like what in like I uh one of the reasons why I'm so grateful to have you here so early on in our process of discovering what this podcast is, is that it's like I think I just really want this to be a forum for to be able to have conversations like that where it's just like man, like we don't have it all figured out, like, oh, we didn't show up to this town, we just like magically made it happen. 00:42:03.760 --> 00:42:24.559 Or that it's just like I think that there's like this notion that it's just like talent is the thing that'll take you, and it's like no hard work and being humble and gracious and and like just doing being a human being are the things that get you to the places that you want to be, I guess. 00:42:24.639 --> 00:42:29.840 And those things, those those benchmarks change, I feel like by the day, by the year. 00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:34.400 Like, oh I mean, like, you know, I've had manifestation, not manifestation, I guess it's manifest, yeah. 00:42:34.480 --> 00:42:39.760 I have a like uh things I want to accomplish like every year, I'll put a new one up. 00:42:39.840 --> 00:42:44.639 And like in 2024 or 2023, number two was shoot a movie with J DuPlace. 00:42:44.719 --> 00:42:44.800 Right. 00:42:44.960 --> 00:42:45.519 Like that was on my list. 00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:46.400 Out of nowhere. 00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:51.280 It was like it was after we had our lunch that I thanked

him and told him my story. 00:42:51.440 --> 00:42:57.199 I was like, after that lunch, I put him number two because number one is always stay sober, because without that, I don't have anything else. 00:42:57.360 --> 00:42:57.519 Right. 00:42:57.679 --> 00:43:04.960 That's been since day one, and like majority of those things on those lists are like, you know, see different parts of the world I've never been to. 00:43:05.280 --> 00:43:10.719 My refrigerator at home, that is actually Jess, my fiancee's refrigerator, because she had a nicer one when she moved in. 00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:11.519 So it's her fridge. 00:43:11.840 --> 00:43:12.079 Yeah, yeah. 00:43:12.239 --> 00:43:13.280 It's her fridge, but it's mine. 00:43:13.760 --> 00:43:16.239 Yeah, but once you guys do the nuptials, everything's 50-50, baby. 00:43:16.480 --> 00:43:17.599 Maybe 50-50, exactly. 00:43:17.760 --> 00:43:26.000 Yeah, but since I got sober, like I have traveled the world and I get magnets from everywhere I go. 00:43:26.159 --> 00:43:26.800 I love that. 00:43:27.039 --> 00:43:32.400 And it is like my fridge is our fridge is covered in magnets. 00:43:32.480 --> 00:43:32.800 Yeah. 00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:39.679 And I like it's such a beautiful thing to me to look at that and be like, wow, Michael, like, look what you've done in sobriety. 00:43:39.920 --> 00:43:40.079 Right. 00:43:40.320 --> 00:43:42.719 Look, that and it's not just what you've done. 00:43:42.880 --> 00:43:44.960 It is like, I do not do it alone. 00:43:45.039 --> 00:43:45.280 Right. 00:43:45.440 --> 00:43:58.639 It is many things, but like by looking, by listening to other people and seeing how they do their days and how they do their routines and how they go to meetings and how they start their days, and you know, I just copy them. 00:43:58.800 --> 00:43:58.960 Right. 00:43:59.119 --> 00:43:59.840 And I see what they do. 00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:00.880 Done and like that. 00:44:00.960 --> 00:44:07.280 That's why, like, when you meet somebody in sobriety, that you're really like, Oh my god, like you're so awesome! Like, I want what you have. 00:44:07.440 --> 00:44:09.440 Yeah, like I want, like, like, how did you do it? 00:44:09.519 --> 00:44:12.719 And they're usually pretty open about doing that and telling you how they did it, right? 00:44:12.960 --> 00:44:28.079 And you know, like those like I I look at it every year, my manifestations, and like some things come true, some things don't, but like putting it on paper has made it really be something that like has become a reality for me. 00:44:28.239 --> 00:44:29.440 Yeah, that's incredible. 00:44:29.599 --> 00:44:32.079 I mean, like, let's talk about that, right? 00:44:32.159 --> 00:44:49.280 Like, let's talk about like how did you so you said earlier in the podcast there's like Jay hit you up and you guys had lunch and you told him the story and he can't stop thinking about this and he wants to like work with you to make a movie, and it's just sort of like, yeah, it seems like wow, you just hit the independent film lottery. 00:44:49.440 --> 00:44:53.440 Yes, true, but that's not really a hundred percent accurate, right? 00:44:53.519 --> 00:44:58.719 Because, like, what were you doing that made Jay contact you in the first place? 00:44:58.960 --> 00:45:00.079 Well, so I contacted him. 00:45:00.320 --> 00:45:00.719 Okay, great. 00:45:00.880 --> 00:45:01.920 Well, how did you? 00:45:02.079 --> 00:45:04.159 So I did, but but he followed me on Instagram. 00:45:04.239 --> 00:45:08.800 Okay, and the reason why he followed me was his his feed is all comedy videos, right? 00:45:08.960 --> 00:45:14.079 He doesn't like he's made it so like he doesn't see any non-comedy during the pandemic. 00:45:14.159 --> 00:45:15.199 He was like, I just want to laugh. 00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:15.440 Right. 00:45:15.599 --> 00:45:17.599 I don't want to see any outside world stuff. 00:45:17.679 --> 00:45:21.039 Like this is this thing is just for laughter. 00:45:21.280 --> 00:45:27.199 And I was putting up dumb videos that I was like, okay, like, you know, which like what what do you mean dumb videos? 00:45:27.360 --> 00:45:27.920 Describe them. 00:45:28.159 --> 00:45:35.280 Um, let's see, like I put up uh like I would be like like Brene Brown, like chastising her husband. 00:45:35.440 --> 00:45:35.679 Right. 00:45:35.920 --> 00:45:45.360 So I would like put on the pearls and all this stuff and you know, do an impression of her, or like I would do like um God, like Buffalo Bill talking to his Alexa. 00:45:45.599 --> 00:45:51.280 So I'd be like in the the the pink robe and dancing to goodbye horses and be like Alexa, where can I buy skin? 00:45:51.440 --> 00:45:55.840 Yeah, and then Alexa would come back and Alexa would be like, you can get skincare, like no human skin. 00:45:55.920 --> 00:45:59.039 Yeah, and like I saw Jay followed me on that. 00:45:59.199 --> 00:46:16.559 And one of the reasons why he said he actually like responded to me, and because why he wanted to work on the movie with me was like first of all, you you you came to me with a short film that you were gonna write, direct, and and star in. 00:46:16.960 --> 00:46:20.639 A lot of people just reached out to him sometimes, like, let me just grab a coffee and pick your brain. 00:46:20.800 --> 00:46:21.760 He's like, I don't want to do that. 00:46:21.920 --> 00:46:22.079 Right. 00:46:22.239 --> 00:46:25.039 I don't want to pick your brain, like you know, like I want to make shit. 00:46:25.440 --> 00:46:28.000 And like that's been their thing for forever, is like we make shit. 00:46:28.159 --> 00:46:29.039 Yeah, you know. 00:46:29.280 --> 00:46:48.960 Um and so and then he also saw just like he was like, you know, I didn't know if you could act, but I knew that like I knew that you were funny, and I knew that like the way we'd make this movie, we could still have some big themes in it, like alcoholism and menopause and mental health, but the way through is comedy,

right? 00:46:49.440 --> 00:47:17.599 And you know, like he's somebody that truly took a chance on me that like he didn't have to, and it's been like the coolest thing in the world because I'm getting emotional because like you know, like he really is like this guy that is so incredible, so awesome, and so like he's like, I'm gonna have you be the lead of a movie that I'm directing. 00:47:17.760 --> 00:47:19.280 Yeah, you know, like that's crazy. 00:47:19.760 --> 00:47:33.679 Like I, you know, and he just was like he just took a shot on Liz and I, and it was like, and I'm always gonna be indebted to him because he, you know, he is independent filmmaking, in my opinion. 00:47:33.840 --> 00:47:36.239 And he is like he knows how to do it. 00:47:36.320 --> 00:47:48.079 Him and Mark and Mel and Shuly all over at Duplas, like they're just they're the best of the best, and they really want to elevate voices that haven't been seen yet. 00:47:48.159 --> 00:47:49.119 Yeah, you know. 00:47:49.440 --> 00:47:56.159 Well, I think one thing like for the audience to be able to see, though, is like I think it is important to acknowledge, like I agree, like I agree with you. 00:47:56.239 --> 00:48:05.599 Like, I obviously have read their book, like I've listened to all the interviews, like the um The Cavalry's Not Coming, Mark Tupla's speech at I think with Southfire or something. 00:48:05.760 --> 00:48:11.920 That I was like, that would have been on loop on my YouTube for like you know, download it as an MP3 and listen to the headphones. 00:48:12.400 --> 00:48:24.880 Um they are like independent cinema, but like I think it's important to recognize that they came from the school of just like we're gonna we're gonna make a goddamn thing and we're gonna make another goddamn thing, and then we're gonna keep making things until we die. 00:48:25.039 --> 00:48:25.519 Yes. 00:48:25.840 --> 00:48:31.840 And and they made a lot of and and Jay would say in my 20s, I didn't make a good thing. 00:48:32.239 --> 00:48:34.079 Like, I did not make good things, right? 00:48:34.159 --> 00:48:37.440 You know, and like in my 20s, I didn't make a lot of good things, right? 00:48:37.599 --> 00:48:39.679 I didn't make probably many good things, right? 00:48:39.760 --> 00:48:50.400 You know, I maybe didn't make any good things, but the you know, but like I I I feel like the only way I got better at everything was by doing it. 00:48:50.639 --> 00:48:55.599 Yeah, you have to, you know, and because the failure is the come up, yes, like that's the thing. 00:48:56.000 --> 00:49:16.159 But it it you you position it in a way that Jay took a chance on you, and that's not incorrect, but I think it's also important to recognize that it's like you had a skill set that you had been honing and crafting throughout your 20s, whether or not you were fully in your body while doing it or not. 00:49:16.320 --> 00:49:42.000 And then you had this incredible life change that you put in a lot of work on yourself, and then the thing because the thing that you just said was like when you first got sober, you're like, I'm not gonna be funny, but you were able to not necessarily get past it, but you were able to find a way of finding your voice again out once you have you had gone through that, right? 00:49:42.079 --> 00:49:54.480 Yeah, because it's important to recognize, I think, for the audience, for me, for everybody out there, that it's like Jay took a chance on you because you were putting shit out, like you were filming yourself being Michael. 00:49:54.559 --> 00:49:56.320 That's the thing that SNL was asking for. 00:49:56.559 --> 00:50:01.840 And Jay saw it, you just weren't at the place yet to be able to give it to SNL. 00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:08.719 Yeah, a hundred percent, you know, and like that's you know, such a beautiful way to say it. 00:50:08.800 --> 00:50:09.840 You know, I never thought of it that way. 00:50:09.920 --> 00:50:10.639 So but it's true. 00:50:10.719 --> 00:50:18.239 I mean, the thing is like you like I think the thing that's important that like the reason why I want to make this podcast is so that people who are on the other end can see it. 00:50:18.400 --> 00:50:22.239 There's like you get here when you sh when you film shit. 00:50:22.400 --> 00:50:25.840 Yes, you go out and you shoot something, somebody will see it. 00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:26.800 Yeah, is it great? 00:50:27.440 --> 00:50:28.880 Oops, no, okay. 00:50:29.039 --> 00:50:30.000 Next one is it better? 00:50:30.480 --> 00:50:38.639 Great, like the whole point is that you have to make and express yourself and be the human being and like put that stuff out and that's how you get better. 00:50:38.719 --> 00:50:39.760 That's exactly what you were saying. 00:50:39.840 --> 00:50:57.119 Yeah, and and and you really don't know who's watching sometimes a hundred percent, you know, and you don't know who's becoming fans and who's you know, and it's just yeah, like he I think all three of us, Liz, myself, and Jay, were all like just waiting to do something. 00:50:57.199 --> 00:51:02.960 Yeah, you know, like we were we the the all the energy was there because Jay hadn't also done a movie in 14 years, right? 00:51:03.039 --> 00:51:08.559 So the fact that I wrote that on manifestations was kind of crazy in the sense that like he's not doing movies much anymore, you know. 00:51:08.880 --> 00:51:33.920 But um now, since then, he did Baltimore, and then he did this amazing movie, See You When I See You, that just premiered at Sundance and got incredible like reviews, and it was a powerful movie to be in with that, with the in the in the theater there, and like he's back and he's like, and it's like it's the coolest thing to see him now, you know, like fully being the director that like I mean that's all he's wanted to do is just direct movies, yeah. 00:51:34.079 --> 00:51:35.440 And he's really good at it, yeah. 00:51:35.519 --> 00:51:39.039 You know, he is, and it took many

years to do that, yeah. 00:51:39.119 --> 00:51:44.559 Grinding, grinding, and most importantly, making making and putting out films, correct? 00:51:44.719 --> 00:51:47.519 Like, that's the way that both of them got to where they're at. 00:51:47.679 --> 00:51:58.000 Is that they were not their their fear to desire to create ratio was not in line with the way that would not allow them to put stuff out, you know what I mean? 00:51:58.079 --> 00:51:59.280 They were like, fuck it, we're making it. 00:51:59.519 --> 00:52:14.000 And the fear thing is what sets so many people back, I feel like, you know, and like that's something that like you know warts and all, it's like who gives a shit? 00:52:14.159 --> 00:52:17.119 Like, but isn't aren't the warts the things that make it human? 00:52:17.199 --> 00:52:23.199 Like that's the thing that's well no, that's I mean, I you know, the short film that I did with Jay, like I'm completely naked in it. 00:52:23.280 --> 00:52:26.320 Right, like I took a huge, I'm like, oh shit, oh man, I can't wait to see this. 00:52:26.559 --> 00:52:27.840 Send me the clips, of course. 00:52:28.159 --> 00:52:29.760 Clip it out, we're gonna put it on here. 00:52:30.239 --> 00:52:33.280 But you know, like I was just like, I'm gonna go for it, you know? 00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:39.199 And like, and he was like, You're fucking insane, like you're crazy, but it's funny that you're doing this, you know. 00:52:39.360 --> 00:52:44.639 Yeah, um, but it's like I just am like, just do it. 00:52:44.719 --> 00:52:48.639 Like, I know it's sound, I mean it's the most typical thing, but like go out and create the thing. 00:52:48.800 --> 00:52:54.480 Go out the thing that you're you find the most shame about, go out and make the thing about that. 00:52:54.719 --> 00:52:54.960 Right. 00:52:55.119 --> 00:53:02.480 You know, like be and I and and I I know how hard it is to just say that and be like so easy to say, hard to implement. 00:53:02.559 --> 00:53:13.440 Yeah, but like it's the it's the vulnerability that I've learned in the last 18 years that has been that has or sorry, that my last the last eight years that has made me be like, no, I'm gonna show that. 00:53:13.599 --> 00:53:30.480 Right, you know, and like getting to sit in the theater at all these film festivals and watch that opening scene and see a failed suicide attempt and in laughter has been really beautiful, but also I always sit in the movie theater for that scene to be reminded of how it could have gone. 00:53:30.639 --> 00:53:32.800 Right if it didn't go, you know. 00:53:33.360 --> 00:53:40.719 And so it's just a reminder of like one, stick around because you don't know what's on the other side, and ask for help and get the help you need. 00:53:40.880 --> 00:53:42.559 Yeah, man, that's so incredible. 00:53:42.639 --> 00:53:54.880 And we have Baltimore ones because of it, and it's it's amazing, and we have you, and we have the privilege of seeing what films come in the future and

like what you get to work on and what you get to create, and um like I I'm excited for it, dude. 00:53:54.960 --> 00:53:57.119 I'm genuinely excited to see what comes next for you. 00:53:57.199 --> 00:53:58.639 Like I'm excited for you. 00:53:58.800 --> 00:53:59.119 Thank you. 00:53:59.440 --> 00:54:00.960 You you're starting this whole thing, it's beautiful. 00:54:01.119 --> 00:54:01.360 Thank you. 00:54:01.440 --> 00:54:02.559 I mean it's incredible. 00:54:02.880 --> 00:54:03.199 Thank you. 00:54:03.280 --> 00:54:04.480 I'm I'm I'm grateful for that. 00:54:04.639 --> 00:54:12.239 Yeah, and and and you're putting in the work and you're being open-minded enough to be like, okay, like I want to like, I mean, your story's incredible. 00:54:12.320 --> 00:54:23.519 Of your like like I, you know, I don't want to speak for you, but like be like, I was doing acting for a long time and I wanted to shift into something that's different, and I and I and I want to learn that trait and get better at it. 00:54:23.679 --> 00:54:24.079 Yeah. 00:54:24.400 --> 00:54:26.400 I do I want to get great at it, to be honest. 00:54:27.440 --> 00:54:50.159 And by what you're saying, like manifesting all that sort of stuff, part of the idea of this channel, part of me uh showing me doing analysis or me doing lighting and lens tests and putting it out in the world, is like, I don't know if that's compelling content or not, but like I know what it gives me is that it's showing me, it's showing the world that I'm willing to go and put in the reps and the time to be like, I want to be great at this thing. 00:54:50.239 --> 00:54:54.480 And but your short film that you put on your channel, um the one that's like just you. 00:54:54.639 --> 00:54:55.119 Oh, yeah, yeah. 00:54:55.280 --> 00:54:57.599 It's one of my favorites that you've done. 00:54:57.679 --> 00:55:00.800 And it's just like you just were like, I'm bored, I'm I need to do this. 00:55:00.960 --> 00:55:01.519 Yeah, you know? 00:55:01.760 --> 00:55:04.400 Yeah, I just felt compelled to like, oh, I gotta make a thing. 00:55:04.480 --> 00:55:04.960 Let's do it. 00:55:05.199 --> 00:55:05.760 And that's the thing. 00:55:05.840 --> 00:55:06.960 It's like go out and make the thing. 00:55:07.039 --> 00:55:07.199 Yeah. 00:55:07.280 --> 00:55:09.519 Go out and do it, and then do another and do another and do another. 00:55:09.760 --> 00:55:25.119 If you want to have a creative life, you know, if you just want to do one thing and like, you know, especially like now, if I was telling my 20-year-old self, like, I know you love acting, but like try to try to challenge yourself. 00:55:25.199 --> 00:55:27.679 And that's one thing I will give groundlings credit for 100%. 00:55:28.000 --> 00:55:29.119 They taught me how to write, right? 00:55:29.199 --> 00:55:36.159 They taught me how to write for myself, and like I had amazing teachers like Karen and Kevin that like really showed me how to do it. 00:55:36.320 --> 00:55:46.480 Yeah, you

know, and like go and find that, like, and and and and and go and get those teachers and mentors in your life that believe in you, yeah. 00:55:46.639 --> 00:55:49.920 You know, well, all and you you can only get those people by showing up, yeah. 00:55:50.000 --> 00:55:51.679 Like you and putting yourself out there, yeah. 00:55:51.760 --> 00:56:04.639 You have to like show up, you gotta go to the classes, you gotta go to the networking event or the coffee or whatever the awkward thing is, and you gotta pull yourself out of the corner where it feels really safe, and like go out and talk to people and be like, here's my truth, and here's what I'm trying to do. 00:56:04.719 --> 00:56:08.239 And like, you can only be your best advocate for yourself, you know. 00:56:08.400 --> 00:56:11.679 Um, and that's how this town works is somebody's gotta advocate for you. 00:56:11.840 --> 00:56:15.119 And until somebody's willing to do that, you gotta advocate for yourself. 00:56:15.280 --> 00:56:15.679 100%. 00:56:16.480 --> 00:56:17.840 Okay, well, I think we're getting too. 00:56:18.079 --> 00:56:20.159 I I'm I feel like we have too hot. 00:56:21.760 --> 00:56:22.400 It's so warm. 00:56:22.880 --> 00:56:25.840 Yeah, the one thing I'll say about the studio, get some air, brother. 00:56:26.000 --> 00:56:27.679 I know it's so hot. 00:56:27.920 --> 00:56:32.239 Well, luckily, we have a um like a power screwdriver going on in the background. 00:56:32.480 --> 00:56:32.960 Perfect, perfect. 00:56:33.199 --> 00:56:40.079 Which is like I love that during all of the like really earnest emotional moments that you were having, it was just like, well, this is when we need to drill into the drywall downstairs. 00:56:40.320 --> 00:56:40.480 Exactly. 00:56:40.559 --> 00:56:41.920 And that's that's been my MO for life. 00:56:42.159 --> 00:56:44.639 It's like I'm gonna get vulnerable and then it's just getting away. 00:56:44.800 --> 00:56:46.079 Yeah, and then here's the trash truck. 00:56:46.239 --> 00:56:47.280 Yeah, exactly. 00:56:47.599 --> 00:57:05.519 Well, I if anything, I do think that there's like a metaphor within the space, within the fact that it's like, yeah, dude, it's like in my mind of the version of this podcast that uh I woke up to this morning, there was not a power drill going in the background while you were like saying these incredibly earnest and beautiful and honest things. 00:57:05.679 --> 00:57:10.000 Um, and I would love to redo that at some point, but like uh it is what it is. 00:57:10.079 --> 00:57:12.559 Like, we're like we're we're just playing on the field that we're on. 00:57:12.639 --> 00:57:13.679 So it's like Yeah. 00:57:13.760 --> 00:57:25.840 I mean, there is there's this, I mean, early in sobriety, I listened also to Wayne Dyer, and there's something that's always stuck with me, is just like, which is a thing that I feel like I want to continue to carry on, is like being open to everything and attached to nothing. 00:57:26.239 --> 00:57:28.000 That is, and then see there it is. 00:57:29.280 --> 00:57:29.599 Yeah, exactly. 00:57:29.840 --> 00:57:38.000 But like it's like okay, like you know, and I think keeping that open-mindedness throughout life is like truly like you know how it works, right? 00:57:38.400 --> 00:57:42.960 Like for open-mindedness, like maybe we're scheduling these podcasts at 8 p.m. 00:57:43.119 --> 00:57:44.639 at night when there's not gonna be any work. 00:57:44.719 --> 00:57:46.880 Like, that might just be what we might be a weekend thing, you know. 00:57:47.119 --> 00:57:47.920 Exactly. 00:57:48.159 --> 00:57:53.039 Um it's important to talk about scheduling on here, I just for future guests. 00:57:53.199 --> 00:57:57.280 I think that is just like one of the things that uh my audience is clamoring for scheduling. 00:57:57.679 --> 00:57:58.880 Is what time and where? 00:57:59.119 --> 00:58:00.719 Yeah, and how are we doing it? 00:58:01.039 --> 00:58:16.960 Um okay, so let's talk really briefly about the like so so we understood how you met Jay and how that sort of came to fruition, and like you guys wrote Baltimorons Together, and um you guys then went and shot the film in your hometown of Baltimore. 00:58:17.199 --> 00:58:17.599 Correct. 00:58:17.840 --> 00:58:22.079 And um you then cut this movie together. 00:58:22.400 --> 00:58:27.119 Jay cut this movie together, and uh the world has seen it. 00:58:27.440 --> 00:58:33.039 And like, what was what was the what was the writing process like when you were like writing with Jay? 00:58:33.119 --> 00:58:34.320 How how did that actually work? 00:58:34.480 --> 00:58:36.079 Like, I mean it was the coolest. 00:58:36.239 --> 00:58:40.800 Like he just literally, like after after one DM, he sent me his address. 00:58:40.880 --> 00:58:42.159 He was like, Hey, yeah, come over here. 00:58:42.239 --> 00:58:46.159 And I was like, I am a stranger from the internet, and you want me to just like come over your house? 00:58:46.320 --> 00:58:46.480 Yeah. 00:58:46.559 --> 00:58:47.519 And he was like, Yeah. 00:58:47.679 --> 00:58:50.000 So like he, you know, that was just the first time. 00:58:50.159 --> 00:59:05.199 But then like I would go over to his house and uh, you know, I would tell him stories about my life and about my childhood and different things that we kind of can incorporate right storylines in that are not actually, you know, factually how it happened. 00:59:05.440 --> 00:59:13.760 Um and then uh we we wrote like a like 60 pager, and then we just kind of expanded on that each time. 00:59:13.920 --> 00:59:22.480 And like and I would say the first one, yeah, the first cut, the first draft it was like 60 pages, and then it got all the way up to like I think 95. 00:59:22.719 --> 00:59:23.199 Right. 00:59:23.679 --> 00:59:28.719 And we probably had like 16 or 17, maybe 20, like rewrites. 00:59:29.119 --> 00:59:54.400 So it was just constant, and and that's what I feel like just how lucky I am to get to have like

a doctorate in how not only to write, I mean he let me like sit in for like all the directing sessions, like uh his edits he would say, or like for the film, he would send me all them, like I was CC'd on it, and I just like I got to see like what a true director and you know, like what it is, right? 00:59:54.639 --> 00:59:56.159 And how meticulous he is. 00:59:56.239 --> 01:00:02.960 And right it was just, you know, and also like I was really be honest, I was really freaking intimidating. 01:00:03.039 --> 01:00:05.039 Like intimidated. 01:00:05.119 --> 01:00:05.920 I wasn't intimidating. 01:00:06.159 --> 01:00:07.199 No, no, well, I don't know. 01:00:07.280 --> 01:00:07.760 You're a big man. 01:00:08.000 --> 01:00:09.440 No, I know, but I was not. 01:00:09.599 --> 01:00:13.280 I was like, you know, are any of my like are all my ideas gonna be bad? 01:00:13.360 --> 01:00:18.480 Like, are all like is it just and he is just so like yeah, yeah, yeah, that's good. 01:00:18.559 --> 01:00:23.119 Like, you know, like we're typing together and he's like, and I and I made him laugh, and I'm like, oh my god, like I made Jay laugh. 01:00:23.199 --> 01:00:31.039 Like it's so because like again, like I would give like brothers to so many of my friends, right, and they wouldn't read it, right? 01:00:31.119 --> 01:00:32.320 Which is silliness. 01:00:32.559 --> 01:00:38.880 And I was like, I'm writing with the guy that wrote this book with his brother about how to do it, right? 01:00:39.039 --> 01:00:40.719 And I'm doing it with him now, yeah. 01:00:41.039 --> 01:00:43.599 Like this is some weird world, you know. 01:00:44.000 --> 01:00:47.840 Yeah, I guess weird world, but also like possible. 01:00:48.079 --> 01:00:50.880 It's a world that is possible, very much so. 01:00:51.119 --> 01:00:54.320 So you get the the film is out in the world, it's exciting. 01:00:54.400 --> 01:00:55.679 You guys go to South by Southwest. 01:00:55.920 --> 01:00:56.880 We go to South by Southwest. 01:00:56.960 --> 01:01:07.039 And like this is the things, like like these are the moments that like like I had a little bit of like a I had a Will Smith Pursuit of Happiness moment at South by Southwest. 01:01:07.599 --> 01:01:12.719 Um, you know, it was like one of those days where like our premiere was at 10 a.m. 01:01:13.199 --> 01:01:21.280 Then we had to do like uh uh press and everything, like right after that, at like 12 to like four. 01:01:21.519 --> 01:01:42.719 And I remember like walking back to my um hotel by myself in South Bay after I was just in a movie that was on the big screen and like did all this press, and I was just like, I'm gonna and I was just like crying, like I was crying and clapping my hands, like oh my god, like not that I've made it, but like I'm present and I'm here for it. 01:01:42.800 --> 01:02:14.400 And like, you know, my mom was there, and like to have her there, and my fiance was there, Jess, who you know had just gotten in and that night to make it, like everything fit like right in time, and I was so happy to have both of them there, and my sister and my like one of my best friends Stacey from growing up, like she was there at the premiere, and like to have my mom there, and like just to experience that she's finally seen her son up on the big screen after we see all these movies together, yeah. 01:02:15.519 --> 01:02:19.360 That's the moments that like that's why I was clapping, yeah. 01:02:19.760 --> 01:02:22.480 You know, and that's that is totally reasonable. 01:02:22.639 --> 01:02:40.159 Yeah, that is totally reasonable, and that is beautiful, and I think that that's like that is the power of um that is the power of action, it is the power of belief, it is the power of pursuit, and it's like that is incredible. 01:02:40.239 --> 01:02:47.599 That's why when I did the introduction for this, I wasn't fucking joking when I was like, you are an inspiration to me. 01:02:48.159 --> 01:02:49.760 Um, and I love you. 01:02:50.000 --> 01:02:50.800 Love you too, bud. 01:02:51.360 --> 01:02:55.440 Um, more I know, it's like really good at the end. 01:02:55.679 --> 01:02:57.920 And I think I'm just crying because I just I don't like drills. 01:02:58.239 --> 01:02:59.360 I know it's so they're so scary. 01:03:01.679 --> 01:03:04.239 Um okay, I do want like we're so close to being done here. 01:03:04.400 --> 01:03:05.920 I want to make sure, okay, we're doing good. 01:03:06.079 --> 01:03:12.960 Um, I want to ask like one more thing, and then we're gonna get into a quick game, which is like you have this pursuit of happiness moment. 01:03:13.039 --> 01:03:20.000 Like, this is like you are in the pin of like you're overwhelmed with emotion after South by you guys get the audience award. 01:03:20.079 --> 01:03:20.480 Is that correct? 01:03:20.639 --> 01:03:22.000 We won the audience award, right? 01:03:22.079 --> 01:03:22.719 Which is incredible. 01:03:22.880 --> 01:03:23.599 That's so dope. 01:03:23.760 --> 01:03:24.480 It's incredible, right? 01:03:24.559 --> 01:03:31.760 And then you guys are talking like the conversation at some point after that is with IFC about distribution and like the possibility of selling this film. 01:03:32.000 --> 01:03:38.320 Well, we went into that, and people were like, I mean, Jay was like, we're not gonna sell this movie for profit. 01:03:38.400 --> 01:03:39.360 There's no way we're gonna do that. 01:03:39.519 --> 01:03:42.000 Right, no one's gonna buy a movie with no stars, right? 01:03:42.079 --> 01:03:43.920 You know, he's like, wow, really building up my confidence. 01:03:44.480 --> 01:03:46.719 I was like, geez, this is awesome, you know. 01:03:46.960 --> 01:03:56.159 Um, and and I was walking with Jay the Sunday after, because we premiered on Saturday the Sunday after, he got a text. 01:03:56.239 --> 01:03:59.519 Our first offer was in within 24 hours from IFC. 01:03:59.760 --> 01:04:00.159 Right. 01:04:00.480 --> 01:04:01.840 That's who we ended up going with.

01:04:02.000 --> 01:04:02.480 Yeah. 01:04:02.719 --> 01:04:05.039 They were saying it was gonna take weeks to sell this movie. 01:04:05.440 --> 01:04:09.280 Like all that, like it was like not, like, don't, you know, it's just the market that we're in. 01:04:09.519 --> 01:04:11.840 This movie has been the opposite of what everyone has told us. 01:04:12.000 --> 01:04:12.239 Right. 01:04:12.480 --> 01:04:17.760 And it's been, and that's been the most encouraging thing of like, and maybe it's just my dumb optimism. 01:04:17.920 --> 01:04:20.239 Yeah, but I'm like, oh, it's all, it's all gonna work out. 01:04:20.400 --> 01:04:23.039 Like, we're gonna sell, you know, and it's just been that for me. 01:04:23.119 --> 01:04:28.000 Like, you know, we sold, we, you know, they said a hundred theaters, we got up to 500. 01:04:28.079 --> 01:04:28.400 Right. 01:04:28.559 --> 01:04:29.840 You know, we came out. 01:04:30.159 --> 01:04:31.760 And the theatrical really theatrical. 01:04:31.920 --> 01:04:33.599 Like, that's a huge thing to take note of. 01:04:33.679 --> 01:04:36.480 Like, it's like a hundred would be an incredible win. 01:04:36.559 --> 01:04:42.239 You guys got five hundred physical brick and mortar theaters that your movie is playing in. 01:04:42.320 --> 01:04:45.599 Like, that's ten hundreds of thousands of seats, probably. 01:04:45.920 --> 01:04:47.280 It was on my AMC stubs, you know. 01:04:47.360 --> 01:04:48.320 I could stay like I went. 01:04:49.199 --> 01:04:50.000 It was incredible, dude. 01:04:50.159 --> 01:04:52.000 And I was like, this is crazy, you know? 01:04:52.239 --> 01:04:54.480 And it's it was the coolest thing. 01:04:54.559 --> 01:04:56.400 Like, it was again like the opposite. 01:04:56.559 --> 01:04:58.559 Like, they're like, it's gonna just go to streaming. 01:04:58.719 --> 01:05:12.079 It didn't, yeah, you know, like we got to and and we got to go, we got to have a premiere at Videots, which was like super cool because like my mom came out for that, and she was the photographers were so funny with her, like they were like, Come on, Chris, give us everything you got. 01:05:12.159 --> 01:05:22.400 And like, which it was just her and the video of her just going, like, you know, it's been like to have that with her and to have my dad come to like to be at the senator, which was like our we had a premiere in Baltimore, right? 01:05:22.480 --> 01:05:28.800 That we sold out 700 seats there, and like we we got a standing ovation on the walk into the movie theater. 01:05:28.880 --> 01:05:47.760 I was like, you guys haven't seen the movie yet, like you have no idea what this is about, but you guys are already, and it was just such a special, magical day, and you know, like those are the moments of like it's just been the most wild ride, and like we got to go to festivals all around the world, and like Yeah, you like you went to Poland, right? 01:05:48.079 --> 01:05:59.280 Went to Poland, I went to Munich, I went to um uh Vivi Switzerland, yeah, I went to uh Karlo Viveri, which is right outside of Prague, and like it's 01:06:00.159 --> 01:06:00.800 A boy from Baltimore. 01:06:00.960 --> 01:06:01.599 You're from Baltimore. 01:06:02.159 --> 01:06:10.079 Yeah, like that again, like you know, I went to Europe five times last year, and well, the best one was I got engaged there to the beautiful Jess Cohen. 01:06:10.480 --> 01:06:11.360 Yeah, congratulations. 01:06:11.840 --> 01:06:15.199 That was that was once, and that was the only one we paid for. 01:06:15.360 --> 01:06:17.039 The other ones, I didn't pay for any of it. 01:06:17.119 --> 01:06:18.400 Yeah, which is like crazy. 01:06:18.559 --> 01:06:19.199 It is crazy. 01:06:19.440 --> 01:06:20.800 Like that is again, yeah. 01:06:20.960 --> 01:06:23.199 A boy from Baltimore with this little movie. 01:06:23.360 --> 01:06:26.880 Because again, what I always wanted was SNL and JL. 01:06:26.960 --> 01:06:29.360 Like, I just if I can do JFL and then I'll get SNL again. 01:06:29.519 --> 01:06:30.079 That's all I want. 01:06:30.159 --> 01:06:32.320 These next five years getting sober, all this stuff. 01:06:32.639 --> 01:06:38.880 This movie has been a billion times better than any of that SNL bullshit. 01:06:39.039 --> 01:06:39.199 Right. 01:06:39.280 --> 01:06:39.599 Of course. 01:06:39.840 --> 01:06:59.519 Not to just completely put it, but like No, but and also I think the thing that is important, like the story to me, the synthesis of the story to take from the Michael Strasner journey is uh persistence and what you said earlier, which is like don't take anything for granted and don't expect whatever the journey to be. 01:06:59.679 --> 01:07:01.039 Just be amenable to it. 01:07:01.199 --> 01:07:03.519 Like you're just yes anding your way through this. 01:07:03.679 --> 01:07:06.480 You're putting in the time and the energy, like you're busting ass. 01:07:06.559 --> 01:07:06.719 Yeah. 01:07:06.960 --> 01:07:13.519 And you're using the talent and you're and you're having the the work ethic to be able to deliver on it. 01:07:13.920 --> 01:07:28.079 But like, you know, besides the the manifestation sheet that you wrote in 2023, like you don't ask the 18-year-old self, like, hey, Michael Strasner at 18, are you gonna make a movie that takes you to Poland? 01:07:28.239 --> 01:07:28.320 No. 01:07:28.639 --> 01:07:30.159 You're gonna be like, nah, bro. 01:07:30.559 --> 01:07:38.159 Like, you're just not, you're gonna be like, I'm gonna be doing something with a coat on SNL, and it's gonna be people are gonna love it, and it's gonna be an homage to Chris, Farley, or whatever. 01:07:38.800 --> 01:07:46.880 And it's like, and it's and again, I think sometimes like what I really want, I don't end up getting, which is actually amazing for me. 01:07:47.119 --> 01:07:47.440 Right. 01:07:47.599 --> 01:07:50.880 Yeah, that's a that that is in a a lesson in and of itself, too. 01:07:50.960 --> 01:07:56.079 There's like your perception of

whatever it is that you want isn't necessarily the thing that you need. 01:07:56.400 --> 01:07:56.719 No. 01:07:57.039 --> 01:07:59.760 Okay, and that has been through, yeah. 01:08:00.000 --> 01:08:01.280 Okay, sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off. 01:08:01.360 --> 01:08:02.320 I was like, great, let's get after it. 01:08:02.400 --> 01:08:03.519 No, no, no, you have a final thought. 01:08:03.679 --> 01:08:06.000 No, that's just been through recovery and through learning that. 01:08:06.159 --> 01:08:10.800 Like, I feel like I got the playbook to life now because of you know, hearing that. 01:08:10.880 --> 01:08:11.280 That's all. 01:08:12.000 --> 01:08:12.400 I love it. 01:08:12.480 --> 01:08:12.719 Yeah. 01:08:12.960 --> 01:08:13.519 Okay, great. 01:08:13.679 --> 01:08:17.840 We just want to keep we just want to have like a little bit of energy as we lead leave out of the show today. 01:08:17.920 --> 01:08:19.199 Uh, it's a thing that we want to do. 01:08:19.359 --> 01:08:21.520 Okay, we have two filmmakers here. 01:08:21.680 --> 01:08:23.760 Uh, and I'll let you choose which one you want to do. 01:08:23.840 --> 01:08:25.920 But basically, the the this is a very common game. 01:08:26.000 --> 01:08:27.520 It's called Fuck Mary Kill. 01:08:27.760 --> 01:08:28.159 Oh boy. 01:08:28.479 --> 01:08:29.039 Yeah, exactly. 01:08:29.119 --> 01:08:36.800 Um, Sabrina, our producer and my wife says that we should say consensual lovemaking, Mary and Kill, which I agree with, but it's much easier to say the F-word. 01:08:37.199 --> 01:08:37.359 Sorry. 01:08:37.520 --> 01:08:39.840 Okay, so we currently have two film, we have two filmmakers. 01:08:40.159 --> 01:08:46.319 Basically, the premise is that uh uh we're gonna just take some films from two filmmakers that you like, know, and um admire. 01:08:46.399 --> 01:08:49.279 Okay, and then we're gonna have you do some decisions. 01:08:49.359 --> 01:08:56.079 So Sabrina wrote down uh John Waters is a possible filmmaker to do this fuck Mary Kill with, or Paul Thomas Anderson. 01:08:56.319 --> 01:08:57.680 Who would you rather do? 01:08:58.079 --> 01:09:00.479 I think I'll do John Waters just to keep in the bottom more shape. 01:09:00.720 --> 01:09:01.359 Okay, great, I love it. 01:09:01.439 --> 01:09:04.960 Okay, so basically we've just written down the films that you actually brought up today. 01:09:05.039 --> 01:09:06.479 So we're gonna- Because you're a magician. 01:09:06.640 --> 01:09:07.600 Yes, yeah, because we're gonna. 01:09:07.920 --> 01:09:08.800 Because that was written before. 01:09:08.960 --> 01:09:11.439 This was written, yes, and revealed. 01:09:11.680 --> 01:09:12.159 Yep. 01:09:12.399 --> 01:09:13.760 Uh we're gonna go to Vegas soon. 01:09:13.920 --> 01:09:14.319 Yeah, exactly. 01:09:14.560 --> 01:09:17.039 Uh we're gonna go to Branson, Missouri soon, actually. 01:09:17.279 --> 01:09:18.079 Um, okay. 01:09:18.239 --> 01:09:19.359 Uh Cecil B. 01:09:19.600 --> 01:09:20.239 Demented. 01:09:20.399 --> 01:09:20.640 Okay. 01:09:21.199 --> 01:09:22.319 Serial Mom. 01:09:22.479 --> 01:09:22.800 Wow. 01:09:22.960 --> 01:09:23.760 Crybaby. 01:09:23.920 --> 01:09:25.039 That are the three we said. 01:09:25.119 --> 01:09:25.840 That's pretty crazy, right? 01:09:26.079 --> 01:09:26.960 We didn't mention Pecker. 01:09:27.119 --> 01:09:27.199 No. 01:09:27.520 --> 01:09:28.720 We didn't mention, you know. 01:09:29.039 --> 01:09:29.680 Yeah, yeah. 01:09:29.920 --> 01:09:42.880 Um I'm gonna I'm going to I think I'm gonna marry Crybaby because that was the first one I think I saw. 01:09:43.840 --> 01:09:49.359 And, you know, it was just a spe that was just yeah, that one was good. 01:09:49.600 --> 01:09:50.640 I'm gonna fuck. 01:09:50.960 --> 01:09:52.399 Or sorry, consensually fuck. 01:09:52.640 --> 01:09:53.279 You love making it. 01:09:54.000 --> 01:09:57.680 Consensually fuck um uh serial mom. 01:09:58.079 --> 01:09:58.720 Okay, great. 01:09:58.960 --> 01:10:02.159 And I'm gonna kill Cecilia's yeah, CSS will be demented. 01:10:02.239 --> 01:10:02.479 Yeah. 01:10:02.640 --> 01:10:07.119 Um just because I I I think I saw it later in life and I just it didn't have that. 01:10:07.600 --> 01:10:11.359 It was hard to hard to pick that one, but you know, yeah. 01:10:11.600 --> 01:10:15.439 Yeah, because serial mom, like, you don't want to marry her. 01:10:15.600 --> 01:10:16.000 Yeah. 01:10:16.159 --> 01:10:18.880 You don't because you could really Yeah, you're in trouble. 01:10:19.039 --> 01:10:19.439 You're in trouble. 01:10:19.600 --> 01:10:20.159 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:10:20.239 --> 01:10:23.840 Um, also, big shout out to Matthew Lillard. 01:10:24.000 --> 01:10:24.880 Matthew Lillard, yeah. 01:10:25.039 --> 01:10:25.920 And Serial Mom. 01:10:26.000 --> 01:10:26.319 Yeah. 01:10:26.560 --> 01:10:29.039 Um, yeah, he's one of my favorites. 01:10:29.199 --> 01:10:32.479 I was also gonna tell you West Craven, but that would have been Wes Craven, okay. 01:10:32.720 --> 01:10:37.439 That would have been a hard like if you would have given me scream, scream two, scream three, I don't think I could do it. 01:10:37.600 --> 01:10:37.920 Really? 01:10:38.079 --> 01:10:38.159 No. 01:10:38.399 --> 01:10:40.079 You couldn't choose any of the three of the screen. 01:10:40.319 --> 01:10:41.039 I couldn't kill any of them. 01:10:41.199 --> 01:10:42.720 The original is incredible, dude. 01:10:42.800 --> 01:10:42.960 Yeah. 01:10:43.199 --> 01:10:45.119 The first scream is like undeniable. 01:10:45.359 --> 01:10:48.000 Well, yeah, that's one that I'll probably I would marry, but then I wouldn't be. 01:10:49.199 --> 01:10:49.359 Okay. 01:10:49.520 --> 01:10:49.840 All right. 01:10:50.000 --> 01:10:51.199 Okay, we're doing a lightning round. 01:10:51.680 --> 01:10:52.079 Lightning round. 01:10:52.159 --> 01:10:56.560 Fuck Mary Kill, Paul Thomas Sammonson, uh, Punch Trunk Love, Boogie Knights, Magnolia. 01:10:57.439 --> 01:10:58.399 Man, okay. 01:10:58.560 --> 01:11:00.720 I'm going to marry Boogie Knights. 01:11:00.880 --> 01:11:01.199 Okay. 01:11:01.439 --> 01:11:03.840 Um, because they get around and yeah, they do. 01:11:04.000 --> 01:11:04.960 It's a good movie. 01:11:05.119 --> 01:11:13.520 And uh, I guess I and then I think I'm gonna I'm gonna Oh my god. 01:11:13.760 --> 01:11:16.319 Yep, Boogie Knights, Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love. 01:11:16.640 --> 01:11:24.319 I'm going to I'm going to fuck Punch Drunk Love just because that Philip Zimmer Hoffman. 01:11:24.560 --> 01:11:26.399 Uh Philip Zimmer Hoffman is one of all. 01:11:26.640 --> 01:11:27.359 And he's in all three. 01:11:27.439 --> 01:11:27.520 Yeah. 01:11:28.000 --> 01:11:28.640 He is in all three. 01:11:29.199 --> 01:11:32.479 But I'm gonna kill, which I hate, Magnolia. 01:11:32.560 --> 01:11:32.720 Yeah. 01:11:32.960 --> 01:11:35.119 Because I do, I like Magnolia's incredible. 01:11:35.279 --> 01:11:36.159 It's an amazing film. 01:11:36.319 --> 01:11:38.479 But Punch Drunk Love, I just I get it. 01:11:38.720 --> 01:11:39.199 It's beautiful. 01:11:39.439 --> 01:11:40.720 It's Adam Sandler being incredible. 01:11:41.119 --> 01:11:42.319 He's amazing in that movie. 01:11:42.479 --> 01:11:42.800 I know. 01:11:42.960 --> 01:11:43.760 That is such a tough one. 01:11:43.840 --> 01:11:47.039 Thanks to the producer Sabrina for giving me like an incredibly difficult one. 01:11:47.359 --> 01:11:47.920 My gosh. 01:11:48.159 --> 01:11:50.479 Oh, okay, guys, that brings us to our end. 01:11:50.640 --> 01:11:52.319 Thank you so much for sticking around. 01:11:52.479 --> 01:11:53.760 Michael, thank you for joining us. 01:11:53.840 --> 01:11:56.880 I'm so incredibly grateful to have you here and for you sharing your story. 01:11:57.039 --> 01:11:58.319 This has been film shit. 01:11:58.640 --> 01:12:04.079 Um, not only is the umbrella of the subject that we talk about, I also want it to feel like a call to action. 01:12:04.159 --> 01:12:10.800 So if you want to sit in the seat where Michael is someday and I have the opportunity to talk to you, make sure that you go out and you film shit. 01:12:10.880 --> 01:12:11.039 Okay. 01:12:11.119 --> 01:12:11.439 Thank you so much. 01:12:11.520 --> 01:12:12.319 I've been Nate Kwood. 01:12:12.399 --> 01:12:12.800 We'll speak soon. 01:12:12.880 --> 01:12:13.039 Cheers.