The Maximum Truth brain trust consists of David Stassen and Ike Barinholtz, two Chicago natives who have been friends since childhood. They first met at summer camp when they were just 7 years old and continued their friendship into their teenage years. As teenagers, they made a plan to pursue higher education and then venture into Hollywood as writing and producing partners. Barinholtz would also serve as the comedic performer of the duo.
Their story mirrors that of Canada’s Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, making Stassen and Barinholtz the American counterparts. Rogen himself recently supported this comparison. This connection explains Rogen’s involvement in Stassen and Barinholtz’s film Maximum Truth and their Hulu limited series History of the World, Part II.
In Maximum Truth, Stassen’s feature debut as director, Barinholtz plays an attorney and “political consultant” named Rick Klingman. He is similar to Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad, except completely ineffective. Klingman, along with his loyal sidekick Simon Tarnum (played by Dylan O’Brien), engages in political grifting, making a mockery of themselves as they desperately try to find dirt on a Democratic Congressional candidate. The film satirizes real-life political grifters who exploit allegations for personal gain without providing any evidence to support their claims.
Stassen explains that he wanted the perfect partner to complement Barinholtz’s Klingman, so they approached O’Brien for the role of Simon Tarnum. O’Brien, who is known for his talent in comedy, quickly understood the world of political grifters and brought a lively energy to his portrayal of Tarnum. Stassen recalls a scene in which O’Brien spontaneously showed off his punching speed to the camera, resulting in multiple takes because it was so funny. O’Brien’s performance surprised Stassen in the best way possible.
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In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Stassen discussed Seth Rogen’s cameo in Maximum Truth. Stassen reveals that they initially reached out to Rogen through a text message, and Rogen gladly agreed to participate. Due to Rogen’s busy schedule, it took some planning to find a suitable window of time for his cameo. Stassen and Barinholtz wanted to give him something extra ridiculous to play, and Rogen’s improvisational skills allowed him to bring even more humor to the character.
Stassen also recounts his long history with Barinholtz, dating back to their childhood in Chicago. They became best friends in high school and embarked on their journey to Hollywood together. They initially wrote bad scripts in their dingy apartment, working odd jobs to support their dreams. Eventually, their scripts gained attention, and they sold the screenplay for Central Intelligence, which launched their careers.
Unlike Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who often co-direct their projects, Stassen and Barinholtz decided to take turns directing. They attempted to co-direct an episode of The Mindy Project, but due to restrictions from the Directors Guild of America, they had to choose one director. They realized that it was easier and more efficient for one person to handle all the directing responsibilities, as it streamlined the decision-making process.
Stassen acknowledges the value of his experience on The Mindy Project in preparing him for directing Maximum Truth. Working on the show allowed him to develop his directing skills and understand how to navigate a set. He believes in the 10,000-hour theory, which suggests that mastering a skill requires about 10,000 hours of practice.
In conclusion, the partnership between Stassen and Barinholtz has led to the creation of Maximum Truth and History of the World, Part II. Their collaboration with Seth Rogen and the experience they gained from their early days in Chicago and their time on The Mindy Project have shaped their careers and contributed to their success in the film industry.
