Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnno Wilson and Michael Strassner.
Johnno and Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
We both moved to LA, Johnno from Massachusetts, and Michael from Baltimore, almost eight years ago, and started taking acting classes, networking, and working odd jobs; Michael’s been a lacrosse coach, swim instructor, and a substitute teacher and Johnno was getting constantly sunburnt at LA Country Club as a caddy.
Then, about five years ago, we met through doing improv at a local indy theater called The Neon Venus, where we did weekly shows in different groups. After becoming fans of each other, we decided to join forces and form a two-man group called “Johnno and Michael Try Improv.” We started performing all around town and eventually were asked to both fly out to New York for two network tests for Saturday Night Live.
As you’ve probably guessed, we weren’t hired, but upon our arrival back in LA, we decided to start making online content under the banner “Johnno and Michael Try.” We’ve made 11 shorts, one of which won Best Comedic Short at The Oregon Short Film Festival and is an official selection in the LA Comedy Festival in April, and we aren’t stopping anytime soon.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Johnno: It has definitely NOT been a smooth road. First of all, just learning how to be proactive and a self-starter was tough. Moving out here, I only had a few friends, and they were helpful in pointing me in the right direction, but I quickly found out that it was going to be all on me. So I went deeper into debt by taking casting workshops, improv classes, and acting classes, but I looked at it as an investment. Obviously not getting jobs you feel you’re right for is tough, but I’ve learned to only concentrate on myself and my own performance; if I don’t get a job, but I was prepared and funny in the room, it’s a win. I was pumped when I was accepted into The Groundlings Sunday Company, and I really dedicated myself to putting my best work forward. As a result, I auditioned on the Studio 8H stage at SNL twice, I got great representation, and I made solid connections with network and studio executives, casting directors, and people who I know I’ll count as friends for life (Michael Strassner is one of them). I’m not performing at The Groundlings anymore, which felt like a bump in the road when it happened, but at the same time, I took what I learned there and feel as though I’m in a better place now, more than ever.
Michael: Not the smoothest for me as well, but for some similar and some different reasons. You know when you move out to any big city to pursue a career in the arts there really is no book you can read or show you can watch on how to do it. So I struggled with where do I start, what do I need to do to start working in this career. I did some research and just looked into what my heroes did, and started taking classes and making friends. A place I found a lot of my friends was at the Groundlings, and like Johnno I made it to their top tier, performing in the Sunday Company, getting great reps, and getting my chance at SNL too, but unfortunately for me, I was dealing with a lot of inner demons as well. I struggled a lot with alcohol for most of my life, and it really got turned upside down when I was in my last six months in the Sunday Company, I was really depressed and drinking all the time. I was at my lowest, but one thing I did right was reach out to two of my closest friends in the company, Johnno and Emily Goldwyn. Those two stepped up to the plate and got me help. The Groundlings told me I had to take a leave of absence that turned into an expulsion, which felt like a bump in the road, but I couldn’t be more grateful that it happened. It’s because of that incident I am now 14 months sober, and happier than I have ever been, doing what I love with one of my best friends every week.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
We write, direct, and star in comedy shorts that we release every other week, and we operate under our mission statement: Bring joy by making comedy everyone can relate to — no political skew, no heavy-handed social commentary, just straight up funny stuff.
We’re most proud of the fact that we have held ourselves accountable in so far as meeting/writing/creating every week no matter what.
Johnno edits all of our stuff, and the night before we released “Johnno and Michael Try Drama,” Johnno somehow lost all the edited footage and was pretty much about to lose his mind, but Michael supported him, and he buckled down to make sure we got it out on time. It’s what we love to do, even when it’s making us crazy.
We are also both auditioning for films, TV and commercials, writing a feature film and a TV pilot. Michael is currently working on a one-man show that is going to different fringe festivals, and Johnno has recurring roles on Freeform’s new show “Unrelated” and Disney’s season three of “Raven’s Home.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
We’re definitely lucky that we moved out here around the same time, and found each other at the same stages in our career. We are also incredibly lucky to have found our Director of Photography, Chris Riggi. The guy is all-time and knows how to catch every good moment, even when we’re going off the rails and adding improv that was unexpected.
We’ve also been very fortunate to have amazingly talented friends, who are also writers/directors/actors, and who have made our shorts that much better. Shout outs to Danny Jacobs, Karen Maruyama, Jay Lay, Brett Maline, Mike Trehy, Jenna Brister, Georgia Dolenz, Stephanie Koenig, Jon Ebeling, Carolyn Jania, Maddy Coghlan, and Jack Brister (The Puppy).
We’re looking forward to taking advantage of more of our friends’ talents in upcoming sketches!
Thanks to you guys at Voyage LA for this interview and for spreading the word about cool artists in Los Angeles! See you soon.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx27IUEm1nQ8ftnTupqcDHw
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @johnnowilson / @strasshola
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnnoandMichaelTry/
- Twitter: @Johnno_Wilson
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
