Filmmaker Statement

I often feel that stories centering around the teenage experience are either too saturated with an idealized version of that experience or, on the other side of the spectrum, dark, dramatic and unrealistic. Somewhere in the middle lies my film, Friend of the Year. The story draws on my personal experience and is meant to be a raw and honest portrayal of that time in my life. Someone grappling with their idealised version of how their night will turn out but walking away with something much more significant. I want to imagine a character I would have known during that time in my life who might have been misunderstood and treat her with empathy even though she does the wrong thing. When I wrote the script I visualized being back in Seattle surrounded by the familiar foliage and damp streets. The opportunity to shoot Friend of the Year in my hometown feels surreal and full circle for me. As an artist going home to make this film is a dream come true.