Although I’ve never been a big fan of major blockbuster films or Box Office Hits, I’ve learned to appreciate the growing array of independently funded films, especially among Gen-Z creatives. With the surge of teen creatives, nothing is off limits when it comes to making a film. “It is Everywhere” began as a small concept between two high school students, which would later be nominated for the 2018 MBSH film festival.
Teen filmmakers and Miami natives, Gabriela Gratereaux (IG:gabrielaslens) and Michele Gaete (IG:mmicheleigh) have teamed up to display the expressions of love and affection shared between friends.
In the film, friends and acquaintances are dancing, fresh-faced with dandelions in mouths, laughing, smiling and crying to a soft piano melody and resonating monologue from Rex Orange County’s interview with the Fader, on how he’s appreciative to have the ability to love. The film then transitions to the mellow crooning of Foster the People’s angst-filled love song simply titled. “I Love My Friends” and closes with Kendrick Lamar’s thoughts on the purpose of existing on earth.
The bulk of the film was shot at Miami Beach, where both filmmakers were raised, near North Shore, South Beach and the neighborhood of Miami’s art and design district, Wynwood. The film did not have an original script but was shot in a more candid way to express real and authentic relationships. When asked what the greatest challenge was in producing this film, Gabriela responded that her main challenge was editing, she says “When you have a vision in mind and you think it will come out the way you wanted it to and it didn’t, it is up to you and your creativity to do something epic to satisfy your expectations [that] you have of yourself.” Michele adds that another challenge was to film on time due to conflicting schedules, but in the end, she says, “We did eventually overcome this obstacle and [went on to] create what we had pictured all along.” With the driving theme of wholesome friendship, Gaete and Gratereaux successfully established an ambiance that is both comfortable yet intimate.
In response to the question, “Why choose to highlight platonic love instead of the often coveted romantic love?” Michele responded that “Usually when love is portrayed in films, one expects the stereotypical coveted romantic love between two people. ” Modern examples of this would be To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, arguably a film that is driven by the iconic Lara Jean’s love interests. “Instead, we decided to focus on relationships that are usually much longer lasting and more in-depth than a relationship within the years of high school.” “It does also come a lot from my own mom’s saying that romantic relationships come and go, but real friends will always be there for you, and their love will surround you.” The pressure is real for high school students to force themselves into relationships of unrequited love, and they do it often to fit in with the rest of their peers. “Friends are the base of how we interact as humans and how we make connections when we go out into the real world. ” Gabriela added.
“It’s so easy to forget about the love we have from the people around us when we’re wishing for a love that will happen one day but is not here yet.” All in all, this film effortlessly reminds viewers to value platonic relationships as much as their romantic ones.
Film by Gabriela Gratereaux and Michele Gaete
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