Max Talisman rewrites the queer love rulebook with his debut feature ‘Things Like This’

Actor and filmmaker Max Talisman challenges expectations with ‘Things Like This’, a bold, queer love story driven by emotional truth.

From theatre prodigy in Washington D.C. to fully-fledged filmmaker, Max Talisman has turned his identity and creative sensitivity into a powerful, cinematic statement. With roles in ‘Super Dark Times’, ‘Orange Is the New Black’ and ‘Search Party’, and now his debut feature ‘Things Like This’, Talisman is reshaping how queer, plus-size artists claim space—and do it on their own terms.

Talisman credits his early start in theatre as foundational: “Growing up doing challenging theatre without the pressure of a massive industry breathing down my neck gave me space to find my voice… and let’s be real, I’ve got a lot to say”. Transitioning to screen didn’t mean abandoning theatre—it meant expanding his way of storytelling.

“Super Dark Times was the first time I got to build a character from scratch on screen. And having writer Benjamin Collins on set? That was a turning point. It showed me what it means to shape something from both the inside and the outside”.

His decision to write came from a moment of stillness—and frustration. “I wasn’t working. The few roles I was getting weren’t layered or interesting. I was always cast as the fat, funny best friend. And while I could do that, it wasn’t fulfilling”. That changed when his acting coach, Amelia Campbell, encouraged him to write freely. What emerged was a story too personal to hand over. “I was scared, excited, but completely sure it was mine to tell”.

“I was always cast as the fat, funny best friend. And while I could do that, it wasn’t fulfilling.”

Max Talisman

At the heart of ‘Things Like This’ are two men—both named Zack—mysteriously drawn to one another. The film plays with the tension between choice and fate. “As a gay man, I was taught to want the heteronormative dream. But part of me always wondered—was that really my story, or just the one I was handed?”

The film also explores how the closet lingers, even after coming out. “People think the closet is scary because of how others treat you. But the hardest part is facing yourself. That voice of doubt doesn’t disappear. I wanted to show that—and laugh at it too”.

Humour runs through both his life and work. “It’s how I survive. I use it to connect, to disarm, to say something that actually matters. And also because I literally can’t not be funny. I’ve tried—and it’s exhausting”.

The cast of ‘Things Like This’ features Joey Pollari, Jackie Cruz, Cara Buono, Nicholas Hamilton and Eric Roberts—though it didn’t come together as expected. “The cast I started preproduction with and the one I filmed with were very different. But somehow, I ended up with the exact right people. Now I can’t imagine anyone else in those roles”.

Shot in New York City over just 18 days, the experience was intense—but defining. “It was the best 18 days of my life. I barely slept, but I was flying. You learn to be decisive. There’s no time for imposter syndrome—he can knock all he wants, but no one can hear him on set”.

With Malibu, Bro Productions, Talisman has created a space to centre underrepresented voices. “We want to tell stories that resonate broadly, but that put diverse narratives up front. This work is bigger than me. It’s about creating room for stories that have waited long enough”.

Though undeniably queer, ‘Things Like This’ speaks to everyone. “I want people to feel seen in the little things—the awkward glances, the missed chances, the vulnerability of letting someone in. And more than anything, I want them to leave the cinema a little more open. To risk love. Not just to fall in love, but to choose it. Even if it’s the scariest thing they’ll ever do”.

‘Things Like This’ will be released in cinemas across the United States on 16 May.