Things Like This is proof that when a group of friends come together for a movie, the chemistry is palpable. Especially for a comedy, when the cast actually has fun together, it elevates the audience’s experience. Max Talisman enlisted his friends for his queer rom-com, Things Like This. The end result? A super fun, quirky, and charming comedy with impeccable comedic timing.
Talisman’s Zack Anthony falls for Joey Pollari’s Zack Mandel while they both try to get a handle on their faltering careers and listlessness. Meanwhile, Margaret Berkowitz and Danny Chavarriaga respectively play Zack Anthony’s best friend, Chloe, and her boyfriend, Peter. For Margaret, making the movie with Max was essentially a big (sort of) camp reunion — which is appropriate given Talisman’s character’s camp nostalgia.
I sat down with Things Like This’ Berkowitz and Chavarriaga to chat about real-life friendships, ‘90s fashion, queer representation, and the movie’s best bloopers.
What are some of your favorite queer movies and what do you think the genre really needs more of?
Danny: Ooh, man. On the spot. So Max introduced me. He was my teacher in this. I remember when I saw Paris Is Burning. It’s a documentary, so that has to be my favorite. I love that movie. Love, Simon, I thought was really great. Heartstopper on Netflix. I was like, wow, this is so good.
Margaret: I’m going to throw a crazy one out there. I love D.E.B.S. I saw it […] on the big screen. I just love that movie. It’s fun. It was kind of ahead of its time for when it was shot. But I think what makes things like this a little different is that in a lot of these films, they’re sort of coming-of-age or coming out, whereas [movies] like this, they’re already out. And I know Max wanted to kind of bring that into the screen where it’s a big part of the film, but it’s also for everybody.
These stories are so important to tell. What drew you to the project, and what do you hope audiences get out of it?
Danny: Well, Max and I have the production company, Malibu, Bro Productions. So I’ve always worked with him. He wrote the part with me, so I was kind of thrust into it. But I hope everyone’s entertained and sees this slice of life, and they [can] watch it with anybody: their parents, their friends, and that’s what I want. I want them to bring their family and friends and share popcorn. Have a good time.
Margaret: I actually met Max when we were both 14, and we did this Broadway training camp together in New York, and we’ve just remained friends ever since. And so I also remember when he had the idea of this film when he started writing it. So to see it all come to fruition has been amazing. And also getting to be a part of it and in it, it’s just wonderful. It’s great to work with someone you love and find hilarious, but also really respect in terms of professionalism.
So that’s what drew me to it, was knowing him and being like, ‘Ooh, I love this script.’ I want to be a part of this. I want you to direct me. He’s very much an actor’s director. And then I think this is the kind of movie that people need right now, going into a theater, having the experience of being in this sort of communal setting, watching something, enjoying it together.
We were at the DC screening, and that was the first time I saw it on a screen with people. And it was a very involved audience, which I loved because there are moments that are laugh-out-loud funny. There are also moments that are like, oh God, cringey. And I feel like everyone walked out of the theater feeling a little bit more uplifted. And that’s a great way to feel.
Margaret, I’m obsessed with your character’s nineties-inspired fashion. I couldn’t find my pink choker, but I tried.
Margaret: I could have brought one for you.
[Laughs] Did you play a hand in developing that vibe, and did you take anything home with you from those costumes?
Margaret: Yeah, so I will say that we had a fantastic costume designer, Naomi, as well as hair and makeup people, Mary and Brie. And I had an idea of what Chloe looked like as I was reading the script. And then once I got cast in it, Max and I actually texted, and I feel like it was pretty much a mutual decision of, ‘I think she’s a redhead.’
Then we’re like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ And then I got some mood boards from the designer and the hair and makeup team, and it could not have been more spot on for what my wildest dreams were. It was so perfect down to them being like, ‘So we want you to get these really long, thick acrylic nails that are all neon.’ And I was like, ‘Whoa, that’s amazing. I’ve never had that before.’
So it was the most fun I’ve ever had. Getting to totally dress up as her and the perks of, I guess, befriending these women, was that they did allow me to take a lot of the wardrobe. If I may say, actually, [these boots are] a little homage because I wore these in one of the showcase scenes. So I am super grateful because that’s just such a perk.
And Danny, you had an absolutely chaotic scene where your character makes a dozen graphic innuendos without realizing it. So what was that scene like to film, and how many takes did it need? Did you break or ad-lib at all?
Danny: No, that one we didn’t ad-lib because it is so well-written. No, it was pretty smooth. I pumped up. I did some pushups in between takes.
Margaret: I feel like every other scene you were improvising. And yet that was written so specifically.
Danny: Yeah, no, that one scene, that one was the easiest to memorize. And Joey’s a pro. Joey, I couldn’t really break. I couldn’t try to make him laugh. Joey’s a pro. No, it was really easy. I kept eating Oreos. They had Oreos there, and I kept eating. So that was probably the hardest part was stopping.
I would’ve needed 40 takes. I couldn’t do it. Speaking of breaking, there is a little bit of a blooper reel at the end. Do you have any favorite moments where you did break or someone else broke?
Danny: I love it when Charlie, you see him going like this. He’s like [Danny mimics turning around and giving an intense, side-eye stare]. I just love it. It’s such a cool moment.
Margaret: Which scene is that?
Danny: It’s the dinner, when they’re cooking, Charlie and Max.
Margaret: Oh, when he spins around from the oven.
Danny: The way he looks.
Margaret: One of my favorite bloopers is in a deleted scene, which I don’t know if we’ll ever get to see, but something that did happen in real life was a blooper. I was on set just watching, [and] a fire alarm went off during probably the biggest, most expensive, extra heavy scene. And yeah, it was a late night for everybody that day.
Danny: Yeah. And the password was so easy, too. It was like 1, 1, 1, 1, 1.
Margaret: Yeah. The fire department had to come. Can I say that? Yeah. That’s hilarious.
Was there anyone in the movie that you wanted to work with that you didn’t get a chance to?
Margaret: I mean, I had heard a lot about Charlie because Max had worked with him on Super Dark Times, and he just became a good friend of Max’s, and I had never met him, and I was like, ‘Oh, he sounds amazing.’ And it was great because I met him and I was like, ‘Wow, you really are amazing and that easy to work with.’ So that’s who comes to mind for me.
Danny: Oh, Jackie Cruz. She’s so cool as a person, but I didn’t get to act with her. I feel like it would’ve been a lot of fun. But as a producer, I got to be there, so I got to watch. So I still got some sauce.
And do you guys have a favorite scene?
Margaret: Okay. Is this a spoiler?
Danny: Oh yeah. At the bar. Jackie’s character, Ava, is the friend. I don’t know if I’m giving it away.
Margaret: I know, that’s why I’m like one of my favorite things. That might be a spoiler: friend breakup.
Danny: And she just says really awesome stuff. She’s like, ‘I’m transcendent, you are wrong. I am your best friend.’ And I love that.
Margaret: I feel like I can say mine because it’s in the trailer, so it’s not really spoiling that much. But I love the scene … I think it’s so freaking funny, the timing of it when the two Zacks are meeting and he opens the door and it hits the other Zack in the face. I think that’s so well done. Such a funny moment.
And did your camp experience inspire this at all?
Margaret: It’s funny. We were talking about this earlier, and it wasn’t … as much as I say it was camp. We stayed in a hotel in Midtown, and the camp was at Pearl Studios, so it wasn’t really a true camp. I have way too many allergies to be doing all of that outside. But I think the rapport that Max and I naturally had as friends really played to how we are in scenes together. And it was wonderful to get to see him direct and direct me.
Danny: Yeah, he’s a pro.
Margaret: He really is.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Things Like This is in theaters now.
Xandra Harbet 
Leave a comment