About this campaign
Mission Statement
Our mission is to humanize the women behind the princess image and tell a timely story about girlhood, self-worth, and the complicated gap between fantasy and reality.
The Story
A theme park princess unravels as an encounter with a child reminds her she is far from the perfect fairytale persona she is hired to be.
When a minimum-wage performer spends her days embodying magic, wonder, and happily-ever-after for children and families, she becomes skilled at making fantasy feel real. But outside the costume, her own life is far less enchanted. As financial pressures mount and the emotional toll of constant performance begins to wear on her, the line between who she plays and who she really is starts to blur.
Through awkward encounters, small humiliations, and moments of unexpected tenderness, she is forced to confront the gap between the fairytale she helps uphold and the reality she is living. What begins as a job built on escape becomes a mirror, reflecting everything she has been asked to hide in order to stay smiling.
Set against the strange, hyper-curated world of theme park princess culture, Friend Of explores the disillusioning transition from girlhood to adulthood, and the moment you realize the magic you were promised may never come, but you still have to decide who you are without it.
DIRECTORS NOTE
FRIEND OF is a film dedicated to all women who have been shattered but still dare to dream.
As we grow up, it is challenging not to lose ourselves to the struggles of everyday life. Not to put our dreams on the sidelines as we are consumed with paying bills. Especially now, it is impossible to find a sense of community when we’re all trying to survive.
To dream. To believe. That is the biggest form of rebellion.
It is with this belief that FRIEND OF was created. As a creative team, we look forward to sharing this story with the world. We hope this project starts a conversation about community, uplifting one another, and finding purpose on a larger scale. Lastly, we hope FRIEND OF reignites the little kid within everyone.
Now more than ever, we all need something to believe in.
We’ve built this project with care and intention, and now we’re asking for your help to take it over the finish line! Every dollar will go directly into production, helping an ambitious group of filmmakers tell a story that’s relatable, timely, and deeply personal.
WHERE YOUR CONTRIBUTION GOES:
- Production Equipment: Renting gear to bring Friend Of to the screen with the quality it deserves.
- Art Direction & Wardrobe: Creating the unsettling, stylized world of Friend Of through visuals, costume, and makeup.
- Post Production: Translating the elements we captured on set into the final and best version of the film through the hard work of our Editorial, Sound, Music, Online, and Color crew members
- Festival Submissions: Once complete, we’ll be submitting film festivals to share it with a wider audience and start building our voices in the industry.
TIMELINE:
September: Principal photography (shooting begins!)
October-December: Post-production
February: Final cut ready and sent to festivals!
Production email for inquiries: friendofproduction@gmail.com