We sat down with directors Amanda Michaels and Whitney Houser to talk about their short film Leading Man, a raw, personal story that’s already grabbing serious attention on the festival circuit.
Written by Whitney Houser, Leading Man is a semi-autobiographical piece based on their experience growing up with gender dysphoria. Both Amanda and Whitney are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and you can feel the weight of that lived experience in every moment of the film. It’s honest, stripped back, and quietly powerful.
The film had its premiere at Tribeca 2024, where it won Most Moving Narrative in the “Moving the Spotlight” competition – no small feat. From there, Leading Man went on to pick up a Jury Award Runner-up for Best Drama Short at Out on Film, and was selected for the first-ever HollyShorts London showcase. A proper run for a debut short. Watch our interview with Amanda and Whitney in full below.
Just a note: this interview was filmed back in September 2024 at Amanda’s home – a place that, heartbreakingly, was later hit by the LA fires. We’re sending love to Amanda and everyone affected. If you’d like to support those who’ve lost everything, check out Home Bank LA, a new initiative helping survivors rebuild.
You can stay up to date with Amanda and Whitney’s work by following them on Instagram.
Whitney: @whitneyg_houser
Amanda: @amandamichaelsofficial
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Videography: Felicity West
Interview: Zoie O’Brien
Production & Direction: Abi Martin-Hill
Location: Malibu, CA
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
