From the iconic “Miracle on 34th Street” Christmas Lights in Hampden, to the gorgeous cityscapes of Fells Point and the Inner Harbor, the new feature film The Baltimorons is giving one of Maryland’s favorite cities a close up.
From the creative minds of Jay Duplass and local film industry legends Michael Strassner and David Bonnett, The Baltimorons follows the misfortune of an unlucky local’s Christmas Eve dental emergency. The main character, Cliff, who is newly sober and in need of emergency dental work, finds himself in an unexpected romance with his dentist as they navigate a new relationship and explore the City of Baltimore during the holiday season. The plot follows the pair as they explore the spirit of love, loss and starting over. The quick wit, offbrand humor, and comedic timing deliver a quirky, refreshing story, drenched in holiday charm and perfectly reflective of Baltimore.
Filmmaker David Bonnett and lead actor Michael Strassner are proud Baltimore natives and grew up in and around the city. Although the longtime friends have lived, worked and traveled in cities like Los Angeles and Atlanta, Baltimore has always been home. Filming in their hometown was a dream come true for the pair and a chance to show off their hometown. The film was inspired by the creative partnership between director Jay Duplass (Jeff, Who Lives at Home; Togetherness) and lead actor Michael Strassner, with David hopping on board as producer.
“This film is a love letter to Baltimore—its neighborhoods, its people, and its spirit. Every detail reflects the incredible local collaboration that brought all of this to life, from the crew and vendors to the shooting locations,” said producer David Bonnett. “Even with a modest budget, we were able to tell a story that feels big, meaningful, and distinctly Baltimore. I hope audiences leave inspired by both the story and the city itself.”
Production for The Baltimorons took place over two weeks in December 2023, primarily being filmed in Baltimore City with some scenes shot in Parkton and Essex. The crew was small and locally-sourced, from technicians to sound mixers to editors, proving that Baltimore talent and resources have the makings for a great feature production. The film employed approximately 20 crew members and an estimated 100 local extras to fill-in scenes. Production supplies, camera rentals, food and catering vendors, and more were also sourced from local Maryland businesses.
“Having worked on productions both locally and across the country, I often imagined what it would feel like to do the same work – on a larger scale – in my hometown,” said Bonnett. “Bringing that dream to life was especially meaningful because it wasn’t just me making it happen. It was also the local crew, our friends, and families that truly took a village to bring it all together.”
The Baltimorons film is turning out to be anything but “moronic” in the eyes of the film industry world. So far, the feature length film has raked in multiple nominations and stellar reviews, winning the award for Audience Favorite at the South By Southwest Film & TV Festival and the Nantucket Film Festival, just to name a few.
The film premiered in New York City on September 5th and premiered locally in Baltimore at the historic Senator Theatre on September 10th, for which tickets (unsurprisingly) sold out very quickly. For the hardcore Baltimoreon or “Baltimoron” looking for some holiday cheer, the movie will run for an extended period of time through the holidays at The Charles Theatre.
The holiday charm of Maryland’s Charm City and the story of Baltimore’s community spirit, combined with an award-winning plot, script and production team, is sure to become a cult favorite among Baltimorons and Baltimorons at heart.
