Joe List and Tom Dustin both started out as Boston-area comedians more than 20 years ago. They quickly became friends, drinking buddies and roommates, with a shared dream of moving to New York City to pursue comedy greatness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
List followed through on the dream. He got sober, scored a slew of TV appearances and standup specials, and started a thriving podcast, Tuesdays With Stories<\/em>, with his friend and fellow comedian Mark Normand. He’s also just directed his first film \u2014 a documentary \u2014 about his old friend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tom Dustin: Portrait of a Comedian<\/em> tracks Dustin’s decision to keep drinking and to relocate to Key West, Florida. He runs a comedy club where he does what he loves and regularly kills with audiences. But he’s not well known outside of Key West, sometimes struggles financially, and wonders if quitting booze would be good for his mental health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The film starts off by making clear that Dustin is very, very funny. He kills onstage, and feels loose and vulnerable and spontaneous. Offstage he’s even more likable \u2014 fun, open, philosophical. As you watch, you find yourself wondering: Could Tom Dustin be a star?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The documentary makes you root hard for Dustin, and feel happy for his many sources of happiness. But it also makes you wonder if he could be happier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “I did have this fantasy of ending the movie with a little title that would say, ‘At the time of release, Tom’s been sober for, you know, 248 days,’ or something like that,” says List. “I still hope that he does get sober, obviously.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n As he made the film, he hoped that watching it might make Dustin decide to quit drinking. But mostly, List says, “I just wanted it be sort of a love letter to him, which to me, is what an intervention should be.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n We talked with Joe List for the MovieMaker <\/em>podcast about Tom Dustin, YouTube vs. theaters, and how you can be an offensive comedian and good liberal at the same time. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts<\/a>, or \u2014 why not? \u2014 right here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n