MAX TALISMAN ISN’T WAITING FOR HOLLYWOOD TO CATCH UP
Max Talisman is not your typical leading man — and that’s exactly the point. As the actor, writer, and director of the upcoming indie romantic comedy Things Like This, Talisman is part of a new wave of creatives who aren’t asking Hollywood for permission — they’re building their own blueprint. We met Max just after his cover shoot at the BELLO Studio Lounge in Los Angeles. Relaxed, sharp, and refreshingly candid, he spoke about creating the kind of love story he’s always wanted to see on screen — one that doesn’t revolve around coming out or chasing the usual beauty ideals. One that simply starts with: what if two men with the same name fall in love?
You wrote it. You directed it. You star in it. Where did Things Like This come from?
MAX TALISMAN: “What inspired it mostly was feeling like I wasn’t seeing the roles I wanted to play,” he says. “I wasn’t being challenged as an actor in the way I needed. My acting teacher, Amelia Campbell, said something that stuck with me — if you’re not seeing it, create it.”
That advice turned into action. The film was born from Max’s personal experience dating as a plus-size gay man in New York. “I started writing from what I knew. I wasn’t trying to reinvent the genre — I was trying to reflect a real story.”
The central premise — two men with the same name who fall for each other — feels like a rom-com setup. But you flip it.
MAX: “Exactly. It’s familiar on the surface — it feels like the classic ‘meet-cute’ — but it’s not the focus of the story. I wanted to use that as a springboard to go deeper. I’m not a conventional rom-com lead, and this isn’t a conventional rom-com.”
You’ve been working on this since 2017. That’s a long road for a first feature.
MAX: “First draft was in the summer of 2017. My producing partner, Buzz Koenig, and I worked on it for years. It really gained momentum in 2020 when we started attaching actors. We shot in 2022, edited for over a year… that’s the rhythm of independent film. Slow, but meaningful.”
You’ve said this film intentionally avoids the traditional coming-out storyline. Why was that important?
MAX: “A lot of queer films were — and still are — centered on coming out. But I wanted to explore what happens after. What does love look like between two queer men in their twenties who already know who they are? It’s just a love story. And it’s universal.” He pauses. “That was a key thing for me — to tell a story about queer people that isn’t about trauma or hiding. It’s just about connection.”
You’re also one of the first plus-size actors to lead a romantic comedy. Did you feel pressure to acknowledge that on screen?
MAX: “Absolutely. I had to address it right away — not because I needed to justify it, but because I wanted to own it. I know who I am. And I know what I bring to a story. We’ve seen stories told through such a narrow lens for so long — straight, white, thin, cisgender — and it’s time for that to change. The human spectrum is so much wider.”
The film’s cast is stacked — Charlie Tahan, Eric Roberts, Jackie Cruz. How did you bring them all together?
MAX: “Charlie and I have been close since Super Dark Times. He came on early, which helped get others’ attention. Jackie Cruz had just had twins, and she came in and absolutely crushed it. But beyond names, I wanted to work with actors who brought different perspectives — not just the usual Hollywood framing. That diversity was essential.”
On set, you were directing and acting at the same time. How did you balance both?
MAX: “I had a close friend on set as associate director. That was key. When I was in a scene, I needed someone I trusted to monitor the performance and tell me when we had it. Honestly, being the writer helped. I knew the story backward. And being inside the world made it easier to direct — it wasn’t like I was looking in from the outside.”
You’ve worked in theater, television, and film. How did those different mediums shape this project?
MAX: “Theater gave me a deep respect for collaboration. That’s huge. TV taught me how to work fast. Film taught me to sit with a character and build something over time. Every part of my past work contributed something. And when things go wrong — which they always do — I pull from those experiences to stay grounded.”
Beyond this film, what kind of stories do you want to tell next? Especially around representation?
MAX: “A lot of my work is still going to be through my lens — queer, plus-size — because that’s my life. But I also come from a political family in D.C., so that inevitably makes its way into my writing. I’m exploring more politically themed stories — always through comedy. That’s where I feel most honest. You can say something powerful through humor. You can reach people faster that way.”
And what’s your hope for the impact of Things Like This? On audiences, on the industry… on future Batmans?
MAX: “I want it to open doors — for queer films, for plus-size actors, for more diversity on screen. And I hope it inspires creatives to stop waiting. If you have a story to tell, tell it. Don’t wait for someone else to be passionate about your vision. Be passionate yourself.”
Last one — who inspires you when you need a boost?
MAX: “Serena Williams. No question. I watch her highlights when I need to feel like I can do anything. And Batman. I know he’s fictional, but he reminds me that you can make the change. You can be the hero.” He laughs. “Plus-size gay Batman. Let’s go.”
Max Talisman @themaxtshow Photography Steve Limones @stevelimonesphotography Creative Direction + Styling AmbiKa Sanjana @styledbyambika Grooming Jael Sarreno @theserranostudiosla Videographer Yash Singh @banavenue Movement Director James Burke @jameslukeburke Photo Assist Josh Forniss @joshuaryan95 Production+ Location @bellomediagroup x @maisonpriveepr_la Interview by Aleksandar Tomovic @alekandsteph
