“FRIENDS FOREVER” Q&A WITH RIVERPHOENIX SCOTT AND NIAV LORENZO

In this interview, “Friends Forever” director RiverPhoenix Scott and producer Niav Lorenzo discuss how their project challenges stereotypes of female friendships, portraying them as positive and authentic. Inspired by 2000s teen dramas, they explore complex feminine dynamics, drawing from their personal experiences.

Q: Growing up surrounded by women, how did your personal experiences influence how you approached this project?

Phoenix: Any typical male biases that could undermine the project were diminished. I feel like if just any other guy did this, they would have underlying ideals that could ruin the message. It would have been sexualized and the opposite of the "safe space" we wanted to present.

Q: How do you think your gender as a male director influenced or shaped your perspective in telling a story about female friendships?

Phoenix: I understood what not to do- I understand the male gaze because I always have it. It's not evil, as long as you know how to have it without being weird or making others uncomfortable. If I saw something in the project that felt a tad bit like sexualization, I would redo the concept. 

Q: Why do you think the media so often portrays female friendships negatively or shallowly, and how does Friends Forever counter that?

Phoenix: In general, society is built around the male gaze. Because we're so used to it, we really don't notice. With this project, we destroy the male gaze- literally. As I was doing the project, I tried to focus only on the characters' conversation as their own story and their own people- just as women, as individuals. There was no stereotypical plot; it came from a very realistic place. 

Q: How did the 2000s genre of supernatural teen dramas like Jennifer's Body inspire your creative direction for this campaign?

Phoenix: It's something our generation could easily relate to. Remember the Hunger Games or Twilight? The acting isn't amazing, but the writing always felt personal and realistic. Though made for teens, teen movies are incredibly realistic portrayals and metaphors of human characters. 

Niav: Jennifer's Body stands out because, though it's marketed and presented as a fun, teen-high school drama with a cool cheerleader, it's full of metaphors and calculated choices that make it a meaningful warning about feminine perfection and competition among friends. So, instead, I wanted to give an example of 'what to do' instead of 'what not to do.'

Q: In your view, why is it important to show depth and nuance in women-to-women relationships, and how does that challenge current stereotypes?

Phoenix: Growing up, being raised by women, my friends mostly women, at some point I got really annoyed by the media. When I spoke with women about being catcalled or sexualized- we just wanted to put all those ideas in the dirt. We wanted to show that women can have friendships without drama or sexualization. 

Q: What do you hope young people, particularly young women, will take away from how friendships are portrayed in Friends Forever?

Phoenix: I hope they think it's cool, I hope they think it's chill. I want them to know that our society isn't the best, and these are still discussions we need to have. They should be allowed to express friendship without men judging and watching, and women should be able to put their own narratives into their lives. You don't have to hide.

Niav: These are discussions we need to have, especially women to women. These are underlying issues that many people don't think about. We wanted to open that discussion in a simple, positive, and fun way.

Q: Can you share a moment during the shoot where your personal connection to this project really came through?

Phoenix: Yes, in the lake scene. I was freaking out a little by Dakota and Niav jumping into the water. I can't swim, and Dakota made me feel better by joking about it. There's genuine friendship between Dakota, Niav, and me, and we can show emotion and express our feelings without any fear of judgment. That's exactly the atmosphere we wanted to convey.

Q: In revisiting older tropes like the lesbian vampire in Carmilla, how did you modernize or flip those narratives to suit today's story?

Phoenix: Many tropes show women as evil or untrustworthy, like the femme fatale. We wanted to give this vampire story a nuanced narrative to escape this context. For me, when I think of lesbians in the media, it's always a weird male fetish or a warning about evil, so we really wanted to emphasize friendships only. 

Q: Niav, you've mentioned struggling with the concept of femininity and how it relates to you. How did that influence your portrayal of Alexis and your role as a producer in Friends Forever?

Niav: I wanted Alexis to be very separate from myself. I often find it hard to relate to women. I wanted Alexis to be highly relatable though, which can be challenging in a photography format that limits a viewer's understanding of a story. So, everything from the styling and set design is deliberately feminine and relatable, and as Alexis, I portray a very outgoing and personable character.

Q: What was it like stepping into the dual role of producer and actor for this project? Did your background as a producer help shape your performance as Alexis?

Niav: As a producer, I knew precisely what Phoenix and I were going for, so it was easy to play my character. If something wasn't working in a scene and had to be changed at the last minute, I could immediately change what I was doing and help Dakota do the same, while Phoenix could focus on the photography aspect.

Q: As someone who has worked through struggles with femininity, what would you say to others who are also navigating their own identity and the pressures that come with it?

Niav: Know yourself. Ask yourself, "Do I want this, or do I just want other people to see this?" You will never fully understand what other people think of you, and you can never please everyone. So you should value your own desires and be honest with your own character. Have fun and love yourself and the world around you. Don't try to define yourself with words- you are so much more than that. 

Q: What resonated most with you about the dynamic between Alexis and Emmaline, especially considering Alexis' eventual decision to become a vampire?

Niav: I am so lucky to have so many people in my life who always make me feel loved, valued, and understood. Everyone deserves that, and I wanted to use this project as an example for others. There may be times in your life where you are lonely, and you feel like you have to hide to avoid getting hurt. But if you relentlessly, whole-heartedly open up to others, you'll find true companionship in the end.