Q&A with Filmmaker Max Jenkins, Writer-Director of The Waddles
The Waddles • Northern Brooklyn premiere lol • BFF 2026
In the comedy/horror/LGBTQ+ short The Waddles, recovering from a cosmetic procedure over Christmas, two actors retreat to Palm Springs, where their friendship is permanently changed. Making its Northern Brooklyn premiere, the film follows the fracture lines of self-image, intimacy, and shifting fortune across an unexpected encounter four Christmases later.
Writer-director Max Jenkins makes his directorial debut with The Waddles, drawing on a screenplay co-written with Samy Burch, Alex Mechanik, and Sophie von Haselberg. In this conversation, Jenkins reflects on the images that unlocked the film, the pressures of a first-time production, and the value of simply setting a shoot date.
Tell us about the moment this film began for you.
The Waddles began as a love affair between me, Sophie von Haselberg, Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik.
What scene, character, image, or idea was the key that unlocked the film for you?
Images on Reddit of botched synthetic deoxycholic acid injections in double chins.
The Waddles Trailer
Why did this story feel important for you to tell now?
The script had been vital since we wrote it years before, and I knew it would not get made if I didn't step my pussy up and direct it. It's an enduring tale of friendship and shifting fortune.
What was the biggest creative challenge or risk you took in making the film?
Shooting NYC for LA and Palm Springs. Having never directed before. Having no money.
Was there a point when you weren’t sure you would finish the film? What kept you going?
I was dismayed to rush my edit to festivals, but now I'm grateful for the accelerated timeline.
What surprised you most about the film as it evolved from the original idea to the finished work?
That people still found it funny. Its seriousness grew for me as I shot it.
What do you hope audiences take away from experiencing the film?
Sophie von Haselberg's performance.
Is there a particular scene or moment you’re especially excited for audiences to experience at BFF?
Our centerpiece song, created by Adam Brodsky of Woolly Music.
Has showing the film to audiences changed the way you understand it? If so, how?
The ending, an expression of my subconscious, has led to some fascinating opinions.
Is there anything about this film, its inspiration, production, or your own journey that you think audiences or journalists should know?
I appreciate this Letterboxd review of the film: "This is phenomenal representation for those that are familiar with the trials and tribulations of being a die-hard fag hag."
Based on your experience, what advice would you give to filmmakers just starting out?
As my friend and mentor Tristan Scott-Behrends once said: "Just set a shoot date."
What are you working on or developing next?
My feature film, currently titled Max.
What film, TV show, or other piece of storytelling did you see this year that you absolutely loved?
Eve Liu's short film Nervous Energy, which showed before The Waddles on closing night of Rooftop Summer Series.
If you’ve been to Bushwick the neighborhood, what do you love most about it?
Ayat and Eyval.
What does “Make Time for Your Dreams” mean to you at this point in your creative life?
It means JUST SET A FUCKING SHOOT DATE!
See The Waddles at BFF 2026
NORTHERN BROOKLYN PREMIERE LOL
Friday • October 9, 2026 • 8:00 PM
It Seemed Like A Good Idea
Williamsburg Cinemas
Recovering from a cosmetic procedure over Christmas, two actors retreat to Palm Springs, where their friendship is permanently changed.
GET TICKETS → https://www.bushwickfilmfestival.com/tickets
The 19th Annual Bushwick Film Festival returns October 7–11, 2026, bringing filmmakers and audiences together for five days of independent film, conversation, and community across Brooklyn.
Max Jenkins is an actor, notably in the series HIGH MAINTENANCE from its nascence as a Vimeo original to its four seasons on HBO. He received a SAG nomination for his work opposite Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini in Netflix’s DEAD TO ME.
SEE IT AT BFF 2026
The Waddles
NEW YORK PREMIERE
Friday, October 9
8:00 PM
It Seemed Like A Good Idea
Williamsburg Cinemas
GET TICKETS
8:00 PM
It Seemed Like A Good Idea
Williamsburg Cinemas
