Synopsis

Fiona and Rosemary don’t have much in common when their lives come crashing down on them besides the fact that neither of them appear to have any real friends to turn to when they need it most. Fiona’s dumped by her boyfriend who she’s made the center of her world while Rosemary budding career is abruptly stopped when she gets fired from her dream internship. A chance encounter in New York leaves them stuck together for the summer and maybe finally giving them a chance to become the type of girls that other girls would actually want to be friends with.

A Story About the Not Girl's Girls

If they were they would have some other friends in a city of 8 million people. Fiona can’t decenter men and romance. Rosemary believes she's not like other girls and believes that justifies stepping on other women along the way. These girls should be enemies at any other time in their life but they just happen to meet in a mutual moment of desperation.

Why Now?

To fulfill a desire for more friendship stories on screen as well as portraying the complexities of modern day female friendship dynamics that have yet to really have their spotlight in the mainstream. This film will hopefully help portray some of the more realistic aspects of being a girl, including the uncomfortable realities of how we can't all have or be good friends all of the time.

We plan on shooting this July and aiming for screenings in 2025.

Director's Statement

My past work has centered heavily on the female experience and relationship dynamics. Whether it be ride or die friendships or feeling trapped, "Friends We Hate" is all about the more uncomfortable dynamics of female friendships. It’s about the things girls do to us that we would never do but also maybe we have? Even for those not willing to admit it, every girl knows someone who at the very least acted like this whether it be the self-obsessed bully or the boy-crazy girl who abandons you at the drop of a hat. It’s about the friends who we love who may also be the worst person we’ve ever met. 

I've spent the past few years as a director heavily refining my cinematic and thematic style, heavily leaning into warmer tones, glamorous shots, and just overall fun feminine aesthetics which I'm excited to bring into this narrative short film. My work has been shown across various film festivals around the East Coast including Asian American International Film Festival, Valkyrie International Film Festival, Astoria Film Festival, Chain NYC, and recently at Philadelphia Independent Film Festival.

Tone

There’s many versions of New York City but this version is not meant to be anything close to reality. This is a romanticized rose colored glasses version (transplant-core). It’s vividly elevated beyond reality to a maddening degree. The shots will emphasize colorful/warmer/softer tones staying away from the realistic everyday grungier vibes. 

Characters

Fiona

Bubbly, funny, and wonderful person to be around. She’s just never around because she’s always dropping everything to be with her boyfriend Connor which has alienated everyone in her life. She’s a lot smarter than she looks but there’s not a lot of opportunities for her to show it.

Rosemary

Girlboss gone wrong. Every single thing wrong with the label is her.  She’s vicious, self-obsessed, but ambitious. Her ambition is what defines her but it’s also what makes her awful to everyone else. Like most 20 year olds, she may be in a little over her head.

Where are the Funds Going?

Most of the budget for this short is going towards paying a woman-led cast and crew that's directed, written by, and starring Asian American women. Additional stretch goal funds raised will go towards elevating props, wardrobe, and equipment to create even more fun cinematic girly eye candy.

The film involves an extensive amount of detail to interior design and wardrobe in order to visually convey the story. We plan on sourcing props and wardrobe pieces from smaller artists and businesses as much as the budget allows.

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