IN CONVERSATION WITH MAX TALISMAN

interview by JANA LETONJA

Director, writer and actor Max Talisman made his feature directorial debut with ‘Things Like This’, a romantic comedy that defies convention and leans into the complexities of self-worth, desire, and the ways people determine their own value in relationships, which released in May. He built his career on stage before moving into film and television, appearing in ‘Super Dark Times’, ‘Marry Me’, ‘Orange is the New Black’, ‘The Blacklist’, and ‘Search Party’. 

‘Things Like This’ challenges conventional romantic comedy tropes. What inspired you to write this story, and why was it important for you to center a queer, plus-size protagonist?

I grew up watching romantic comedies and absolutely adoring them, but I never saw myself in those stories. I wanted to write something that felt real to my experience, where the fat, gay lead isn’t the sidekick or the punchline, but the one falling in love and being loved in return. Queer, plus-size people deserve to be at the center of these stories, experiencing all the romance, humor, and gorgeous chaos that comes with it.

The film explores how self-perception and past experiences shape relationships. How much of this story is drawn from your own life or personal observations?

A lot of this movie comes from personal experience. None of it is directly lifted from my life, but it’s influenced by my experiences living in NYC and dating. Never feeling like enough, or wondering if I deserved love because society told me that as a gay person I didn’t, and then my own community told me that as a plus-sized person I didn’t. Past heartbreaks and experiences shape the way we let people in. I’ve lived that. And I think anyone who has ever questioned if they’re “enough” for someone else will see a piece of themselves in this story.

The two Zacks have opposing views on love. One believes in fate, while the other sees love as a choice. Which perspective do you personally relate to more?

Let’s call it what it is. You don’t write a romantic comedy if you aren’t a complete romantic who believes in fate. That being said, I believe that even though fate is very real, we have to do the work to maintain that perfect connection. It isn’t effortless, nor should it be. That would be boring.

What was the biggest challenge in bringing this story to life, from script to screen?

The perseverance. I wrote the first draft of this movie in 2017, and since that moment, it’s really been a team that started with just me, Buzz Koenig, my producer, life coach, and reason I am sane, and Danny Chavarriaga, my vice president and best friend. We spent years developing the script and then raising financing. Then you film for literally only 18 days, and after that, it takes another two years to get it here. And here is the best part. Getting to share it is the best gift I could ask for. It makes every moment worth it.

You’ve said that ‘Things Like This’ is not a coming-out story but a film about self-worth and vulnerability. Why do you think these themes are so important to highlight in queer storytelling today?

I have said that coming out is really only the beginning. That’s one moment in a much bigger life. I'm not as interested in that moment as I am in everything that follows it in a queer person’s life. So I felt the need to tell a story that’s just about queer love and joy, the anxious, terrifying, and beautiful experience of falling in love, of trusting that someone else will love you for exactly who you are. We need more of those stories.

Hollywood has long placed certain limitations on who gets to be the romantic lead. What do you hope ‘Things Like This’ contributes to changing that narrative?

I hope this film makes it impossible for anyone to say that a plus-size, queer lead isn’t marketable or believable in a love story, because that’s just not true. Representation isn’t just about visibility, it’s about expanding what people believe is possible. For too long, the industry has put ridiculous limitations on who gets to lead a love story or what makes a film a success. It’s time to change that. By putting myself - my beautiful, gay, plus-size self - at the center of this film, I hope to start shifting those outdated ideas and open the door for more stories like this.

As someone who has experienced being cast in stereotypical roles, how did that shape the way you approached casting and character development for this film?

As someone who has been put into boxes before, I knew I couldn’t let that happen with this film. And as an actor stepping into directing for the first time, I knew casting was one of the biggest things I had to get right. You can have a great script, but if the actors and the words don’t fit together perfectly, it just might not gel. And you bring up a great point, sometimes the best fit for a part isn’t who you might expect. I needed the right fit for each role. I needed to just see these people. Luckily, I was able to partner with my casting director, Katharina Eggmann, and together we built a cast that feels real and honest. We know these people, and that’s why we root for them. We love these characters because the performances are deep, fully formed, and completely lived-in. Everyone in this cast gives a performance beyond my wildest dreams as a director.

This is your feature directorial debut. What was the most surprising or unexpected part of the filmmaking process?

How much I loved it. I knew I would love it, but I truly felt like I was doing something that brought me overwhelming joy every single day. How lucky is that? Spending all day, every day, making sure this story became exactly the vision I needed it to be. It was a true honor to do it all.

Humor plays a central role in ‘Things Like This’. How do you use comedy to explore deeper, more complex themes?

Comedy is how I process the world. It’s how I survive. As a fat kid, I had to get to the punchline before anyone else could, and I got really good at finding that punchline. But that also made me hyper-aware of how humor can be a tool, not just as a shield, but as a way to connect. It’s the best way to get people to really feel something. If you can make people laugh, they’re more open to allowing the moment to hit them a little deeper. The balance between humor and a real, dynamic conversation is everything to me.

It’s also something I’m continuing to explore in my newer work. I want to tell stories that dig into the wounded parts of the human heart and our world while still holding onto a comedic sensibility. I want to start conversations in the place we all feel most comfortable, through laughter.

The film is the first feature under your production company, Malibu, Bro Productions. What’s next for you? Do you have other projects in the works that you can share with us about?

So much. ‘Things Like This’ is just the beginning for me and for all of us at Malibu, Bro. Right now, I’m developing a TV project I created, called ‘Homecoming Queen’. It’s a family dramedy, very funny and extremely heartbreaking. My favorite balance. I love it, and I’m so excited to share more about it soon.

I’m also developing a new film, ‘Don’t Kiss the Werewolf Boy’, which I wrote and am beyond excited about. It’s a totally different vibe but still deeply personal. It’s a horror-comedy that opens up some really uncomfortable conversations in an unexpected way, and I think it’s going to be something special.

We’re always looking to expand our slate and continue prioritizing work that uplifts underrepresented voices in media. There are a few other projects in the works that I can’t talk about just yet, but trust me, they’re going to be a wild and fantastic time.

CREDITS

photography STORM SANTOS