We recently connected with Corey Sherman and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Corey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I recently finished writing and directing my first feature film, BIG BOYS. It’s about a teenage boy’s unexpected crush that turns a camping trip into a weekend of self-discovery. We made a film about a young man’s unrequited crush to shed light on this extremely common, yet under-examined aspect of queer life. In most romantic stories, the object of the protagonist’s love eventually returns their affection. However, for many queer people like myself, growing up was full of unrequited crushes on straight or closeted peers. Yearning for someone we couldn’t have was frustrating enough, but not seeing any exploration of that experience in the media made it feel like a lonely failure. However, these experiences are extremely common and can be profoundly impactful. We figure out how to make peace with not getting everything we want. We learn to put ourselves out there and be honest even in the face of imminent rejection. In Jamie’s case, the intensity of his desire, though not reciprocated, allows him to face and accept his own sexuality. Furthermore, these experiences aren’t always complete downers. Like any other love story, they are full of funny, thrilling, and tender moments. We hope that viewers who can relate but have never seen their story on screen before may feel more celebrated and understood.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a writer and director here in sunny Los Angeles, CA! I’ve made movies ever since I got a camcorder for Chanukah in the second grade. I went to film school at USC and met a lot of wonderful friends and collaborators there who I continue to work with to this day. I love working with actors and making comedic, slice-of-life films.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I want to make movies that are as honest, funny, and relatable as possible. I love recognizing something of myself in a character on screen. It’s cathartic to realize that I’m not the only one who feels or thinks a certain way. I’m striving to give anybody who watches my films a bit of that same comfort and relief.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn being precious about my writing. I used to write things and be afraid of incorporating other people’s ideas and suggestions. Nowadays, I look at that as one of the most exciting parts of the process. I’ve seen time and again how much being open to feedback has made my projects better.
Contact Info:
- Website: coreyshermanfilms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corsherm
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/corsherm
- Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/coreysherman
Image Credits
Main Image Photo Credit: BFI / Millie Turner