Girls Like Girls
Production Dates:
Filming Location: Kelowna, BC
Director/Creator: Hayley Kiyoko
Producers: Marc Platt – Katie McNicol – Michael Philip – Jason Moring – Richard Alan Reid
Cast: Hayley Kiyoko – Stefanie Scott
It’s summertime and 17-year-old Coley has found herself alone, again. Forced to move to rural Oregon after just losing her mother, she is in no position to risk her already fragile heart. But when she meets Sonya, the attraction is immediate. Coley worries she isn’t worthy of love. Up until now, everyone she’s loved has left her. And Sonya’s never been with a girl before. What if she’s too afraid to show up for Coley? What if by opening her heart, Coley’s risking it all? They both realize that when things are pushed down, and feelings are forced to shrivel away, Coley and Sonya will be the ones to shrink. It’s not until they accept the love they fear and deserve most, that suddenly the song makes sense.
Hayley Kiyoko Adopts Popular Song “Girls Like Girls” to Feature Film
Here’s something for Kiyokians to get excited about. The singer-songwriter, actress, and author Hayley Kiyoko is continuing to push her art to new levels.
The LGBTQ+ rights activist is adapting her groundbreaking 2015 hit “Girls Like Girls” into a feature film. The song, celebrated for its poignant portrayal of young love and Lesbian themes, heralded Kiyoko’s rise as an important voice in modern pop music and a champion for equal rights.
The Song That Became an Anthem
Released as part of Kiyoko’s EP “This Side of Paradise,” “Girls Like Girls” surpassed mere musical success to become a cultural moment. Its lyrics, “Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new,” challenge traditional narratives and serve as an anthem for unapologetic love. The song’s popularity was further fueled by its music video, which Kiyoko co-directed. The video, which now boasts over a hundred million views on YouTube, tells the story of two friends, Sonya and Coley, as they discover their feelings for each other, culminating in a powerful rejection of societal expectations.
Expanding the Universe: From Music Video to Full-Length Feature
The transformation of “Girls Like Girls” from a beloved music video into a full-fledged film provides a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the complexities of the characters’ stories and the world they inhabit. The film adaptation will likely expand on the intimate narrative of Coley and Sonya’s burgeoning relationship, exploring broader themes of identity, acceptance, and the impact of grief on young love. The rural Oregon setting could add a poignant backdrop to the story, emphasizing themes of isolation and community, and how these forces shape the lives of the protagonists.
While the original music video focused primarily on the discovery and acceptance of romantic feelings between Coley and Sonya, the feature film has the scope to explore what happens next. How do the characters navigate their relationship in a potentially unsupportive environment? What challenges do they face from society and within themselves? This expansion could provide a richer narrative, filled with moments of conflict, resolution, and growth that speak to a wider audience.
Casting Considerations: Bridging Past and Present
Though the original actors Stefanie Scott and Kelsey Asbille portrayed teenagers Coley and Sonya in the 2015 music video, their return in the same roles might not be feasible for a story set in the present, given the age progression. However, there is a creative opportunity here: they could potentially be involved in the film in new capacities, perhaps as older versions of their characters in a dual-timeline narrative or in entirely new roles that are crucial to the film’s expanded story. Such casting could serve as a nod to fans of the original video and maintain continuity in the film’s universe.
New, younger actors could be cast to embody the teenage experiences of Coley and Sonya, offering fresh faces the chance to bring depth to these complex roles. This approach not only introduces the next generation of talent but also allows the film to stay true to its depiction of youthful exploration and identity.
Given Hayley Kiyoko’s insightful direction in the music video, her expanded role in the feature film as both director and writer is anticipated to bring a cohesive vision and emotional depth to the storytelling. Her understanding of the characters and the thematic core of the narrative will likely ensure that the film resonates emotionally and visually with the audience.
In conclusion, the feature film adaptation of “Girls Like Girls” promises to be an evocative extension of the song’s themes, offering both a tribute to the original and a new exploration of its message through cinema. With careful casting and a sensitive expansion of the plot, the film is poised to capture the hearts of a new generation while paying homage to those who found solace in the music video years ago.
Why This Matters
Kiyoko’s transition from music video to feature film director is notable not just for her personal career but for what it signifies about the changing landscape of entertainment, where music and visual storytelling fuse in new and exciting ways. Moreover, the adaptation of “Girls Like Girls” into a film highlights the ongoing importance of LGBTQ+ narratives in mainstream media, offering visibility and voice to experiences that are often underrepresented.
As production begins in Kelowna, BC, anticipation is high not only for fans of Kiyoko but for all those eager to see how this beloved song transforms into a cinematic narrative. With its roots deeply planted in themes of love, acceptance, and the fight against conformity, “Girls Like Girls” the film is poised to perhaps become as iconic as the song itself.
Production Studios
