Ever had a crush on a camp counselor or someone you cant just have? “Big Boys” tells the story of 14-year-old Jaime, played by Isaac Krasner, who grapples with his burgeoning sexuality during a family camping trip. The film delves into the complexities of a first crush, particularly when it’s on someone unattainable—in Jaime’s case, his cousin’s boyfriend.
Speaking with Gayety at the GLAAD Media Awards, Corey Sherman and Allison Tate, the director and producer, respectively, of the opened up about their experience as nominees in the Outstanding Film – Limited Theatrical Release category.
“For me, the excitement is just through the roof. There’s nowhere else I would want to be,” Tate told Gayety. “This is such an honor. I admire everyone that’s here and they’ve all fueled us. I feel like to get to this point, fueled us as we were making the movie. And so it’s really full circle and just so meaningful to be in the same room as everyone here.”
“It’s about a 14-year-old kid who starts to realize that he’s gay when he gets a crush on his cousin’s boyfriend while on a family camping trip,” Sherman explained. “So for anybody who’s ever had a crush on a camp counselor or a teacher or really anybody that they couldn’t ever have, but they still felt a really strong desire for, this is the movie for you. It’s all about really that first intense but unreciprocated love that may not turn out the way you want it to, but still teaches you a lot about yourself.”
The film distinguishes itself by its commitment to portraying a realistic and relatable teenage experience, avoiding the pitfalls of either excessive glamorization or overly dramatic portrayals often seen in coming-of-age narratives.
“I think such a foundation for me was Freaks and Geeks the show, just because they’re so honest in the way that they portray teenagers,” Sherman said, citing influences like “Eighth Grade,” “Penn 15,” and the film “Fat Girl.” “We were really into, there’s a movie called Fat Girl that I was really inspired by a lot of these movies and shows that just let teenagers be real teenagers and don’t add this element of gloss or sort of sass on top of them. They just let them behave like real kids do. And I find that so enjoyable and so funny to watch.”
The filmmakers emphasized their desire to create a story that reflects the mundane realities of adolescence, particularly for queer youth.
“Part of the reason that I felt like it was so necessary is because I kept on seeing coming out and gay coming of age stories add this element of wish fulfillment or there was sort of a denial of what the experience really was in favor of either something that is so glamorized and romanticized or so deeply depressing and traumatizing,” Sherman explained to Gayety. “And I was just interested in something that felt normal, balanced, and honestly more mundane because I think that’s the majority of people’s experience and I wanted to make a movie about that because that experience deserves a movie as well.”
Tate echoed this sentiment, noting the film’s relatability.
“And I think that is what people have found relatable is those moments that where you were bringing a grounded reality and these in-between sort of moments where people could really see themselves as like, oh, I’ve definitely had that. I’ve definitely been there,” Tate said.
The film’s focus on authentic emotions and experiences has resonated with audiences, offering a refreshing departure from typical coming-of-age tropes.
“Big Boys” has garnered critical acclaim, with Sherman receiving a nomination for the John Cassavetes Award and Krasner nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The film stands as a testament to the power of authentic queer storytelling, offering a nuanced and relatable portrayal of adolescence.
