About the Project
We’ve seen enough shows and movies about women trying to find the (usually heteronormative) love of their lives. HERE TO MAKE FRIENDS is about finding the platonic love of your life, in the form of a Big Friendship. After an ego-shattering friendship breakup, when Nora realizes she’s outgrown college bestie Sloane in her thirties, Sloane spirals, realizing the void she’s been feeling all her life is from her struggle to maintain those Strong Female Friendships that winery tours always seem to advertise. This project was supported by the Sundance Institute (Sundance Episodic Lab and Women at Sundance | Adobe Fellowship), The Tasajillo Residency, Austin Film Society, The Lilith Fund, and Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas.
About the Filmmaker
MEGHAN ROSS (DIRECTOR/WRITER/PRODUCER)
Meghan Ross is a New York-born, Jersey-raised, Austin-based writer, director, producer, and comedian who loves to put a feel-good spin on feel-bad stuff by making social issues more accessible through comedy. She was selected for Women at Sundance Adobe Fellowship, Sundance Episodic Lab, NewNarratives grant from NewFilmmakers LA & Warner Bros. Discovery’s OneFifty, Blackmagic Collective Emerging Filmmaker Initiative, and Rideback Rise Circle. Her shorts have screened at festivals across the country, made The New Yorker’s Best of 2020 list, and been nominated for The Webby Awards. Meghan was the Head of Creator Success at indie crowdfunding site Seed&Spark from 2020-2024 and previously worked for VICELAND and SundanceTV. Most importantly, Meghan’s an aspiring stage mom to her rescue pit-lab, Dreidel.
JUSTIN ROSS (DIRECTOR/PRODUCER)
Justin Ross’s experience directing and producing commercial/branded and entertainment content spans over 13 years. His work has been featured in The New Yorker, Vulture, Austin Chronicle, theDad, and has earned him a Webby Award nomination. Brave Makers‘ latest comedy short, HERE TO MAKE FRIENDS, was supported by the Sundance Institute, Adobe, NewFilmmakers LA & Warner Bros. Discovery’s OneFifty, and Austin Film Society. As a producer and the founder of Brave Makers, he bridges the gap between creativity and social relevance, crafting content that goes beyond the surface level of entertainment. His previous work includes a collaboration with his sister and co-producer, Meghan Ross, on a short film that challenges conventional patriarchal narratives: IF YOU EVER HURT MY DAUGHTER, I SWEAR TO GOD I’LL LET HER NAVIGATE HER OWN EMOTIONAL GROWTH, featuring Jon Hamm.
