Friend of the Year
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Teen
When a teenage girl’s jealousy and insecurities for her friend are revealed, she makes a decision that will change the course of their friendship forever.
Friend of the Year
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Teen
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $8,111 for development. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
57 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
When a teenage girl’s jealousy and insecurities for her friend are revealed, she makes a decision that will change the course of their friendship forever.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Synopsis
Julia, a well-liked junior in high school, integrates Naya, an underclassman with no social status, into her friend group by inviting her to "End of Year," a party thrown by upperclassmen celebrating the end of the school year. However, things don’t go as planned when Julia’s friends and love interest continually choose Naya over her in the social situations she finds herself in throughout the night. Isolated and exasperated, Julia allows the worsening situation and subsequent humiliation to lead her into a decision that will ultimately change both of the girls' lives forever.
More About...
Julia comprises her integrity as she succumbs to the expectations that she's set for herself. The story allows the audience to witness the battle of Julia's inner monologue as she uncovers who she really is.
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. The city's backdrop and the world I'm creating will become one. As an artist going home to make this film is a dream come true.
There are many films and artists that inspire me. But there are a few that stand out in reference to this project. Filmmakers like Andrea Arnold who consistently push the boundaries of what a story can feel like and what a character is capable of. I have often revisited her body of work when thinking about what I want my film to convey to an audience.
Comparable projects I’m looking at as thematical and visual references are the following: Involuntary, Ruben Ostlund, The beguiled & The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola, Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Marielle Heller.
Follow!
Follow our Campaign as we update you on all things Friend of the Year. It’s free, and as we build our audience Seed&Spark rewards us with things like festival fee waivers.
Incentives & Pledges
You can make a contribution to our film through the incentive or by making a pledge. Seed&Spark requires at least 80% of our goal in 30 days to receive ANY funds. We’ve included incentives with unique perks, or you can pledge to any wishlist item. No dollar amount or pledge is too small. Any contribution is appreciated and goes directly towards realizing this story.
Share!
It would be fantastic to reach beyond our network to accomplish our fundraising goals. If you’d like to be a part of supporting female/Latinx filmmakers and independent and sustainable productions, this is the place to do it! Your support makes a difference in our success.
Please share our Campaign through any means. Below are some examples. Feel free to copy and paste.
Help writer/director Natalie Parker complete her NYU thesis film, Friend of the Year, about a teenager negotiating her friendships and expectations. Visit her Seed&Spark Campaign [insert campaign link] and follow as they keep their audience up to date during production.
Check out writer/director Natalie Parker’s Seed&Spark campaign [insert campaign link]. She’s raising money to complete her NYU thesis film, Friend of the Year, about a teenager navigating her expectations and friendships. You can support her by contributing to her fundraiser or by following her Campaign.
It is important to me to incorporate sustainability into our practices during production. Here is the link to The Green Production Guide. We are using the PEACHy green production guide to determine our sustainability score. When production wraps, we hope to be eligible for an EMA (Environmental Media Association) Green Seal. “The EMA Green Seal for Students is a recognition program honoring progress in sustainable production for scripted student-produced content”. It is widely recognized across the industry and is an excellent banner to have on our film. Sustainability is the right thing to do, and festivals want to represent sustainable productions.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crafty/Catering
Costs $1,300
Everybody must eat! Do you have resources to help us feed our cast and crew?
Airfare
Costs $2,360
Do you have some spare airline miles lying around? Consider pledging them to our fundraiser!
Production Design
Costs $330
Do you have some fabulous mirrors lying around? Consider making a pledge!
Rental Equipment
Costs $910
Pledge to help us procure the equipment we need for our shoot in Seattle.
Post Production Including Festival Submissions
Costs $900
Once we finish shooting, we will have to edit, color, sound, score and submit the film to festivals!
Expendables
Costs $200
We are bound to run into things we need while on set. This could be band-aids to tape to tissues.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
WRITER, DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
Natalie Parker is a writer/director/producer in her last year as an undergraduate student at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She's majoring in Film and Television production with a minor in child development and mental health. Natalie is drawn to stories that challenge their audience and hopes to do the same with her thesis film. Post-Grad Natalie will continue writing and directing as she also pursues opportunities in editing and color-grading.
PRODUCER & ECOLOGICAL REPRESENTATIVE
Alexandria Hellman is a producer/writer/director currently in her last year at NYU, majoring in Film & TV and double minoring in Astrophysics and BEMT (Business, Entertainment, Media & Technology). She created her first feature film at sixteen that screened at NBC Universal and has since then made self-produced projects, the most recent being a half-hour drama series that garnered interest from Apple TV. During her gap year, she discovered a love for post-production sound and is now a certified audio engineer, focused on pursuing sound design post-grad until transitioning back into writing and directing. She's the best.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Synopsis
Julia, a well-liked junior in high school, integrates Naya, an underclassman with no social status, into her friend group by inviting her to "End of Year," a party thrown by upperclassmen celebrating the end of the school year. However, things don’t go as planned when Julia’s friends and love interest continually choose Naya over her in the social situations she finds herself in throughout the night. Isolated and exasperated, Julia allows the worsening situation and subsequent humiliation to lead her into a decision that will ultimately change both of the girls' lives forever.
More About...
Julia comprises her integrity as she succumbs to the expectations that she's set for herself. The story allows the audience to witness the battle of Julia's inner monologue as she uncovers who she really is.
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. The city's backdrop and the world I'm creating will become one. As an artist going home to make this film is a dream come true.
There are many films and artists that inspire me. But there are a few that stand out in reference to this project. Filmmakers like Andrea Arnold who consistently push the boundaries of what a story can feel like and what a character is capable of. I have often revisited her body of work when thinking about what I want my film to convey to an audience.
Comparable projects I’m looking at as thematical and visual references are the following: Involuntary, Ruben Ostlund, The beguiled & The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola, Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Marielle Heller.
Follow!
Follow our Campaign as we update you on all things Friend of the Year. It’s free, and as we build our audience Seed&Spark rewards us with things like festival fee waivers.
Incentives & Pledges
You can make a contribution to our film through the incentive or by making a pledge. Seed&Spark requires at least 80% of our goal in 30 days to receive ANY funds. We’ve included incentives with unique perks, or you can pledge to any wishlist item. No dollar amount or pledge is too small. Any contribution is appreciated and goes directly towards realizing this story.
Share!
It would be fantastic to reach beyond our network to accomplish our fundraising goals. If you’d like to be a part of supporting female/Latinx filmmakers and independent and sustainable productions, this is the place to do it! Your support makes a difference in our success.
Please share our Campaign through any means. Below are some examples. Feel free to copy and paste.
Help writer/director Natalie Parker complete her NYU thesis film, Friend of the Year, about a teenager negotiating her friendships and expectations. Visit her Seed&Spark Campaign [insert campaign link] and follow as they keep their audience up to date during production.
Check out writer/director Natalie Parker’s Seed&Spark campaign [insert campaign link]. She’s raising money to complete her NYU thesis film, Friend of the Year, about a teenager navigating her expectations and friendships. You can support her by contributing to her fundraiser or by following her Campaign.
It is important to me to incorporate sustainability into our practices during production. Here is the link to The Green Production Guide. We are using the PEACHy green production guide to determine our sustainability score. When production wraps, we hope to be eligible for an EMA (Environmental Media Association) Green Seal. “The EMA Green Seal for Students is a recognition program honoring progress in sustainable production for scripted student-produced content”. It is widely recognized across the industry and is an excellent banner to have on our film. Sustainability is the right thing to do, and festivals want to represent sustainable productions.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crafty/Catering
Costs $1,300
Everybody must eat! Do you have resources to help us feed our cast and crew?
Airfare
Costs $2,360
Do you have some spare airline miles lying around? Consider pledging them to our fundraiser!
Production Design
Costs $330
Do you have some fabulous mirrors lying around? Consider making a pledge!
Rental Equipment
Costs $910
Pledge to help us procure the equipment we need for our shoot in Seattle.
Post Production Including Festival Submissions
Costs $900
Once we finish shooting, we will have to edit, color, sound, score and submit the film to festivals!
Expendables
Costs $200
We are bound to run into things we need while on set. This could be band-aids to tape to tissues.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
WRITER, DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
Natalie Parker is a writer/director/producer in her last year as an undergraduate student at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She's majoring in Film and Television production with a minor in child development and mental health. Natalie is drawn to stories that challenge their audience and hopes to do the same with her thesis film. Post-Grad Natalie will continue writing and directing as she also pursues opportunities in editing and color-grading.
PRODUCER & ECOLOGICAL REPRESENTATIVE
Alexandria Hellman is a producer/writer/director currently in her last year at NYU, majoring in Film & TV and double minoring in Astrophysics and BEMT (Business, Entertainment, Media & Technology). She created her first feature film at sixteen that screened at NBC Universal and has since then made self-produced projects, the most recent being a half-hour drama series that garnered interest from Apple TV. During her gap year, she discovered a love for post-production sound and is now a certified audio engineer, focused on pursuing sound design post-grad until transitioning back into writing and directing. She's the best.