--- title: "‘The Baltimorons’ Brings the Charm, Thanks to 2 Terps" date: 2025-09-12T05:30:00-04:00 author: University of Maryland canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/the-baltimorons-brings-the-charm-thanks-to-2-terps" section: Articles --- # ‘The Baltimorons’ Brings the Charm, Thanks to 2 Terps *September 12, 2025* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih) > Winner of SXSW Film Festival Audience Award Now Out in Theaters *THE BALTIMORONS Still 1 1920x1080 — Michael Strassner '11, left, has a dental emergency that leads to a surprising Christmas Eve with his new dentist, played by Liz Larsen, in "The Baltimorons." (Images courtesy of Independent Film Company)* Christmas came early this year for Terps Michael Strassner ’11 and David Bonnett ’10—and it could for moviegoers heading to see their new feel-good film, out in wide release Friday. “[The Baltimorons](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6t-h68UuhI),” directed by indie darling Jay Duplass, stars Strassner as a newly sober comedian whose tooth emergency on Christmas Eve leads to an unexpected connection with his dentist, played by Liz Larsen, and a day of hijinks across Baltimore. After premiering at SXSW in March, it won the Audience Award, and was picked up by Independent Film Company for distribution—a tremendous show of faith when most movies go straight to streaming. “It’s a full-on dream come true,” said Strassner. “I couldn’t have imagined any of what’s happening so far.” The project was deeply personal for co-writer Strassner and co-producer Bonnett as they showcase their shared hometown—the pre-collapse Francis Scott Key Bridge features prominently in a pivotal scene—and offer glimpses into their own lives, including cameos by family and friends. They credit Duplass, who first connected with Strassner on Instagram in 2021, for encouraging them to set the movie in Charm City. After shooting a short film with Strassner and learning about his sobriety journey, Duplass pitched the idea of writing a feature-length script together. “It was the best experience. He’s really open to everything and attached to nothing. I learned so much from him,” said Strassner, who called revisiting his low moments on-screen “cathartic.” *A man in a white button-down shirt holds a cloth to the side of his mouth with Christmas lights in the background* As a bootstrapped indie operation, shooting in Baltimore had plenty of perks. Getting a street permit for three weeks in December 2023 cost just $45, compared to the thousands per day Los Angeles would have charged. They captured authentic holiday cheer on 34th Street in the Hampden neighborhood, where self-described “Christmas maniac” Strassner reveled in the colorful decorations as a child. And Bonnett drew on connections across the city for locations, including his great-grandmother’s house and his family’s tow lot for a comedic set piece. “We had home field advantage. If I didn’t know someone, it was just a phone call away,” said Bonnett, who managed behind-the-scenes permitting and public relations work and hired local crew members for the project. “There’s so many creative people in Baltimore and the state … there’s very much an indie resurgence.” *Headshot of David Bonnett in a baseball cap and coat — David Bonnett (Photo by Claire Cianos)* *A woman and man in winter gear stand outside a house with inflatable Santa and holiday lights* They met through mutual friends as students and stayed lightly in touch as they each tried to gain a foothold in the industry. Strassner moved to Los Angeles shortly after graduating, joining improv troupe The Groundlings and getting small roles in shows like “Parks and Recreation” and “Modern Family” while writing and acting in his own indie projects. Bonnett, meanwhile, worked locally behind the scenes on projects like “House of Cards” before heading to Hollywood himself, where he got a big break as an on-set assistant for Paul Rubens on “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.” During COVID, the Terps reconnected and shot several short films and sketches, developing a strong trust and rapport that led to “The Baltimorons.” The film has garnered praise from outlets such as [Variety](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/the-baltimorons-review-jay-duplass-1236333064/), which called it a “joyful yet bittersweet comedy” that’s “primed to become a seasonal standard,” and [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-baltimorons-review-jay-duplass-1236158677/), which said, “It’s the kind of quirky concept that could easily have been cringe material, but the actors give it a lived-in naturalism that sneaks up on you.” It’s gratifying, said Bonnett, at a time when fewer and fewer movies are being greenlit. Strassner agreed. “You have to create your own opportunities,” he said. “Hollywood loves to be the second yes. You’ve got to do your own thing and fail a lot, over and over and over, until you finally land.” **Topics:** [Arts & Culture](https://today.umd.edu/tags/arts-culture) **Tags:** [Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies](https://today.umd.edu/topic/theatre-dance-performance-studies), [Alumni](https://today.umd.edu/topic/alumni), [Arts](https://today.umd.edu/topic/arts) **Units:** [College of Arts and Humanities](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-arts-and-humanities) ## Related Articles - [Alum Premieres Documentary to Rave Reviews at SXSW](https://today.umd.edu/alum-premieres-documentary-to-rave-reviews-at-sxsw): Few of us think twice about posting our favorite meals to social media. Or logging a daily run in an app. Or sharing real-time snaps from a weekend away. 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