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Zack 💕🎞️

@zackpaslay

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movie person, friend of Dorothy
occasional film programmer and lead bartender @ music box theatre
Chicago, IL by way of Texas 🤠

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A few years ago, I started slowly but surely watching the works of a gay filmmaker from the 70s and 80s who I’d never heard of, Arthur J. Bressan, Jr. I first found his landmark documentary, Gay USA, in the summer of 2022, and later that year, I watched his monumental final film, Buddies. I was immediately impressed with how candid and vulnerable his filmmaking was, even once I started watching his adult films. He was a clear-cut Queer auteur, one who I’d never seen mentioned as an integral part of our history. This past December upon seeing that Altered Innocence had completed new restorations of his films, Daddy Dearest and Juice, I pitched a mini-retrospective of Bressan’s works. Since then, I’ve had the incredible @rxlyon in my corner doing everything she could to make it happen.

To say that I’m thrilled to present my first series is a massive understatement. I love sharing the beautiful histories of movies I love, and I have always worn my Queerness with great pride, so getting to share these wonderful films - unique both at the time they were made and now - is a complete and total honor. I’m beyond grateful to @bressanproject, @alteredinnocence, @askanybuddy, and many others who’ve helped to keep Artie’s works alive, and I’m grateful to Rebecca and @musicboxchicago for giving the greenlight to a series that is mostly (but not entirely) gay p*rn.

This beautiful flyer was designed by @lilydb22 and was inspired by Gay Liberation/Protest flyers from the 70s. All shows are in Theatre 2, so get your tickets ASAP! Link in bio! 🏳️‍🌈 by @zackpaslay

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a year ago

I am SO thrilled and excited to announce that “Same Old Lang Syne” has been selected for its first festival, @reelqpgh! This is the first time a film of mine is being included in a major festival, and I can’t even begin to describe how happy and proud I am! SOLS will be in the His Shorts program alongside six other great short films, all of which will screen virtually through Reel Q’s website. Tickets are available now, and His Shorts will be available during the entire festival’s run, October 6-15 (I’ve put a link in my bio to buy tickets). 💙 by @zackpaslay

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3 years ago

On November 28th at 11:15pm, I will be co-presenting South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut in 35mm with @chas.finster as part of his series, The Late Show. Over the last couple of years, the Music Box has counter-programmed an unconventional musical alongside their Sound of Music Sing-Along shows (Phantom of the Paradise in 2024, Across the Universe in 2025). As I suggested we find another musical, we floated a few ideas before landing here - a perfect film for this time slot. Here’s the thing - on paper, this is not usually the type of film I’d champion. Crass, vulgar, and occasionally offensive, this film might’ve lost me if it wasn’t so clever, sincere, and genuinely funny, embracing both its satire and its stupidity. The easiest way for a movie musical to win me over is for it to LOVE that it’s a movie musical (more rare than you’d think!!!). South Park makes fun of many things, but it never makes fun of the fact that it’s a musical, and that’s a lot of why I think it works. Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman’s work is funny, catchy, and complex, serving the film beautifully. I cannot wait to help share the film on a beautiful 35mm print this Thanksgiving! It’s gonna be super, thanks for asking!

(Also, fun fact, this was the first R-rated movie I ever saw. I watched it on early YouTube broken up into ten parts 😅) by @zackpaslay

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3 days ago

Today is National Coming Out Day. This is me in early November 2010, days away from turning 16 years old. A week from today, October 18th, will mark 16 years since the morning I came out to my parents, meaning that I’ve officially been out longer than I was in, a milestone that fills me with immense happiness.

When I came out, I was extremely lucky to be surrounded by many friends and family members who understood and loved me. Being gay is one of the biggest joys of my life, something I take immense pride in. Learning my history, learning my culture, allowing myself to be as authentic as possible. Being queer has also led me to so many new friends and loved ones, it’s taught me a lot about how I relate and listen to people, and it’s let me see so much of the beauty and pain of the world without restraint.

My hope for the next 16 years is that the world continues to not only embrace the Queer community but to stand up for us in the face of mistreatment and bigotry. Coming out is still hard - it is not something someone only does once. In every new conversation, Queer people have to gauge how honest they are allowed to be about themselves and their identity. And especially in this moment, as Trans people are regularly targeted for malicious reasons steeped in willful misinformation and fear mongering, we must continue to stand up for the ones we love.

And I hope to continue to make teenage Zack, who was scared to come out in North Texas and did it anyway, very proud. Happy Coming Out Day to all of the Queer people in my life - I love you. by @zackpaslay

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6 days ago

may not be cool, but it’s so where i live by @zackpaslay

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19 days ago

Round 2, kids! Looking to beef up your VHS collection? Looking to meet other VHS-heads? Come out to the Music Box Lounge’s 2nd VHS Swap. We will have @1999satx, @bloodyknifevideo, @moldquestvhs, @night.natalie, @ninadngr, @ronlechler, @stefancoisson, and @taviveraldi onsite to trade and sell tapes, so come on out and meet some fellow VHS fans!

Please note that all of our vending spaces are FULL. We encourage guests to hang out and trade with vendors and each other - including in our Garden and Patio areas, and we suggest bringing no more than two bags of tapes! However, we ask that you do not claim any tables beyond socializing and trading. Any unauthorized vendors will be asked to leave. Thanks! by @zackpaslay

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a month ago

belting bad a5s once the bar is closed by @zackpaslay

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a month ago

The Music Box Lounge is proud to present our 3rd Artist Showcase, featuring the talented artists on staff at the Music Box Theatre. Come explore the paintings, sculptures, music, t-shirts, and more crafted by our extremely talented staff! We are proud to present the Artists Showcase alongside @musicboxchicago’s screening of Allegro non troppo on August 15th. The showcase will be 10:30am to 3:30pm, so stop by, say hi, and come see the great work done by our talented staff!

Flyer by @yooyooblue!! by @zackpaslay

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3 months ago

movies etc. by @zackpaslay

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3 months ago

Q2 2026 • i’m the same boy i used to be by @zackpaslay

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4 months ago

I’m so excited to be hosting the Music Box Lounge’s first VHS Swap on Saturday, June 6th from Noon-5pm! We’ll have several vendors trading and selling tapes, so come out and hang with fellow physical media nerds! Vendors to be announced! 📼

EDIT (5/5): Vending spots are FULL. Thank you so much for your overwhelming interest - we will announce our vendors soon! Guests are encouraged to bring their own tapes, but please limit to one or two bags maximum. 📼

EDIT (5/27): We are proud to announce our vendors! @chas.finster, @night.natalie, @1999satx, @ninadngr, @rossbaycult, @stefancoisson, and @bloodyknifevideo will all be on-site for trading and selling tapes! Come and go as you please from 12-5 next Saturday! taken in Music Box Lounge by @zackpaslay

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5 months ago

Q1 2026 • lend me your ear and i’ll sing you a song by @zackpaslay

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7 months ago