TL;DR
- Mark Duplass launched a $25,000 fund for trans filmmakers.
- Conservatives attacked the initiative, but Duplass clapped back.
- His statement on X/Twitter went viral with over 35,000 likes.
- The Duplass brothers have a long history of supporting queer and trans stories.
- Hollywood’s LGBTQ community sees the move as a vital show of allyship.
Duplass Claps Back at Transphobes
Hollywood actor and producer Mark Duplass isn’t here for the haters. The star behind some of indie film’s biggest darlings just announced the Footage Feature Fund, a partnership with the Transgender Film Center to provide a $25,000 boost to trans filmmakers. And when conservatives tried to drag him online, Duplass delivered a knockout reply.
“For those of you who have responded negatively to this initiative, thank you for confirming the need to support the voices of those who merely wish to exist without discrimination,” he posted on X/Twitter. “I’ll see you at the movies.”
The clapback resonated. Within hours, Duplass’ message racked up more than 35,000 likes, with fans flooding his replies in gratitude. “It means the world to have the support of someone I’ve looked up to for years in these terrifying times,” one user gushed. Another wrote, “We can’t win our equality on our own and seeing folks like you out there gives me so much hope.”
Putting Money Where His Mouth Is
The Footage Feature Fund isn’t just a press release. It’s a practical pipeline for trans filmmakers to finally get projects off the ground, offering a starting budget and access to Duplass and his brother Jay, as well as director Patrick Brice, as consultants. For queer creators who have historically been sidelined by Hollywood gatekeepers, this is a rare chance to actually build.
This is hardly Duplass’ first rodeo in LGBTQ advocacy. In 2015, the Duplass brothers backed Tangerine, the groundbreaking film about two trans women in Los Angeles, which became a festival darling. Since then, their slate has consistently included queer narratives, like the quietly radical Somebody Somewhere on HBO.
A Signal to Hollywood
The timing of Duplass’ statement hits harder given the current wave of anti-trans rhetoric. In an industry that often mouths platitudes without putting resources on the line, his actions stand out. As one fan noted in response, “We need more people like you, willing to stand with us so unequivocally and speak up.”
For the LGBTQ community, especially trans creatives, Duplass’ move is more than symbolic. It’s validation that their stories matter, that their voices deserve the same platforms and budgets as anyone else’s. At a moment when right-wing critics are trying to erase trans people from culture, Duplass is amplifying them on Hollywood’s biggest stage.
And in true sassy fashion, he’s made it clear: if you don’t like it, you can take your seat in the back row—because the show will go on.