Actor-filmmaker Derek Maki says that his lesbian aunt told him when he came out, “ ‘You have to come to Provincetown.’ It was amazing to see how free it was. I’ve been vacationing there ever since.”

Maki, who lives in Los Angeles with his husband and works as a personal manager (Billy Dee Williams is a client), couldn’t make it this year because of the pandemic. Instead, he’s re-releasing the 2005 film Instant Dads, which he wrote, directed, and costars in, and won awards on the festival circuit 15 years ago. Maki has since bought it back from its distributor.

The film is about a boy named Luke (Dominic Janes). His mom is dying of cancer and wants him to be with his biological father, Steven (Steve Hasley), her high school sweetheart. Steven is now gay and living with a lover (Maki), and has no idea he has a son. Drama ensues.

Instant Dads is now available for rental on Amazon Prime, and DVDs are for sale at B.xclusive, Dorian Boys, Botanica, and Scott Dinsmore Antiques in Provincetown.

“I’ve wanted to be a dad since I was 17 years old,” Maki says, though he hasn’t become one yet. “Life chooses paths for you, and happy accidents happen.” —Howard Karren