Photographer Dean Foreman @deanforemanphotography
Makeup and Hair / HMU @artmonzter
Fashion Stylist @presunn
Benny Zielke @bennyzielke
The Scary Movie films have always pushed boundaries and poked fun at cultural trends. What was it like stepping into a franchise known for taking risks, especially alongside comedy legends like Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall?
It was so exciting stepping into this franchise, and also more than a little daunting. This film is my first comedy, so knowing I was going to be sharing the screen with these giants I’ve looked up to all my life was more than a little intimidating. Reading the script really put me at ease though, because I felt they were taking risks and pushing boundaries without ever punching down on marginalized communities. It was really just a great opportunity to take ourselves less seriously and hopefully help audiences do the same. And I ended up getting a masterclass in comedy performance from some of the greatest to ever do it!
As a trans, non-binary, and queer artist, how have your lived experiences shaped the kinds of characters and stories you're drawn to as an actor, writer, and director?
Growing up queer in a pretty conservative environment taught me a lot about being true to myself and having empathy for others. I feel like empathy is the ruling principle for me as an artist and a person. Getting to play characters vastly different from myself just helps me have more empathy for others and their experiences. There’s not really any one kind of character or story I’m drawn to, so long as I feel I can put more good into the world by bringing this story to life. As a writer and director, it’s also really important to me to provide representation for people who don’t normally get to see themselves on screen. As a kid, it would have helped me immensely to see happy, healthy trans people on screen—or any trans people at all—so I ensure that representation is present in all my work.
You’ve spoken about creating work that amplifies underrepresented voices and challenges convention. Where do you think Hollywood is making progress in LGBTQ+ representation, and where is there still work to be done?
I think an immense amount of progress has been made in recent years. I know if I was entering this industry even ten years ago, I would have faced so much more prejudice and hardship. And I’m so grateful to be playing the first openly trans character in this hilarious, massive franchise! But there’s still too many firsts happening for queer communities. We need all kinds of queer stories and characters—comedies and not just tragedies, heroes and villains and everything in between. I’d also challenge directors and casting directors to keep a more open mind about gender when casting their projects. Trans and non-binary people have so few roles written for them at the moment, but we can bring bi really interesting and nuanced takes to any character if casting is willing to have an open mind.
Your production company, 1901 Productions, focuses on bold, character-driven storytelling. What kinds of stories are you most passionate about bringing to audiences in the years ahead?
I’ve got a lot of scripts I’m excited to bring to life in these next few years. An intimate rom com, a climate-centered psychological thriller, an epic, action-filled romance. The stories I’m most passionate about explore the queer experience across genre, showing audiences how nuanced and universal and human it is to be queer. And I’m very passionate about doing them on low to mid budgets and proving that it takes creativity and authenticity, not massive budgets to make a great film.
Comedy and horror both rely on confronting fears in different ways. Did working on Scary Movie 6 change how you think about either genre?
Absolutely! I’ve always been scared of horror movies, and I had to watch so many to prepare for this film that it gave me a newfound appreciation for them, even if I’m still watching through my fingers. And as for comedy, I never considered myself a comedic actor before and doubted I’d belong in this space. Instead, thanks to the mentorship of people like Marlon Wayans and Anna Faris and Lochlyn Munro, I have a newfound love for comedy. It was such a blast to get to play and improvise and laugh with my co-stars. I’m hungry for more chances to build my comedy chops!
Projects like Wrong Bathroom and Purity Camp explore identity and belonging in nuanced ways. How do those experiences inform the choices you make today as both a performer and creator?
I’m so grateful to the team of Wrong Bathroom who trusted me to lead that beautiful, intimate exploration of a trans man wrestling with toxic masculinity. That was my first leading role in a film, and the skills I learned there have informed all my work going forward. It taught me so much about having confidence in myself and helped me stop feeling the need to prove I belonged in this industry. Purity Camp was another beautiful, thoughtful film that gave me so many wonderful friends and experiences. The biggest way that film informed my career was actually through the casting process. My role was originally not written to be trans, but the wonderful casting director, Steven Tyler O’Connor, took a chance on me. His belief in me and openmindedness helped me stop place such limiting beliefs on myself. Now every time I’m going out for a role where I know they’re envisioning a cis actor, instead of counting myself out, I focus on showing them a fresh and surprising take.
Pride Month is often a time for reflection as well as celebration. What advice would you give to young trans and non-binary creatives who are trying to find their voice in the entertainment industry?
My biggest advice for trans and non-binary creatives is to make your own work! So much progress has been made, but it’s still alarmingly rare for a show to have more than one trans or non-binary role, and that’s one if we’re lucky. But our stories still must be told, and they’re all the more authentic if we’re the ones telling them. So don’t sit around waiting for someone to call, make your own projects! Even if they’re zero-budget shorts shot on an iPhone, you’ll learn so much from that you can bring to big budget sets. And I truly believe work comes faster to those who are already working. Don’t wait for someone else, say yes to yourself first.
The entertainment landscape is evolving rapidly, with audiences demanding more authentic stories. How do you balance creating work that is culturally resonant while also remaining deeply personal?
Honestly, I don’t focus too much on making culturally relevant work. I’m constantly taking in art as it’s released, so it’s definitely influencing my taste and ideas. But if you’re trying to chase the trends and make the next Obsession, by the time it comes to fruition, you’ll already be years behind. In my experience, authenticity is what drives a project to success and makes audiences connect. So I listen to my gut and tell the stories I can’t possibly keep inside rather than trying to chase ever-changing industry trends.
Looking beyond Scary Movie 6, what are you most excited about in this next chapter of your career, and what stories do you feel compelled to tell that we haven't seen enough of yet?
I’m very excited and curious about what this next chapter will look like. I am so grateful to be a part of this franchise I’ve loved since I was a teenager. I’m hopeful it opens doors for me to be able to tell more queer, nuanced stories that illuminate the experience of trans people and help misinformed people have empathy for us. I’m really excited to be able to bring stories to life that I’ve spent years crafting and know the world needs to see. We need more love and empathy in this world, not division and hate, and that is the soul of every story I tell.
How can fans support you and find your online?
I’m on Instagram @bennyzielke. Keep an eye out there for information on how you can help support the making of my first feature
