It's been increasingly hard to make small stories about female friendship, and, definitely, those stories don't have any shot of getting a theatrical release.

In this quote, Susanna Fogel reflects on the challenges faced by filmmakers trying to tell authentic stories about female friendship. She suggests that, in the current film industry, it has become more difficult to create narratives that focus on the subtleties and complexities of female relationships. These stories, often more intimate and grounded, are overlooked in favor of more commercially viable plots. Fogel’s point highlights a broader issue in Hollywood where mainstream films tend to favor larger, more dramatic plots, often sidelining the quieter, more personal dynamics like female friendship.

Fogel also comments on the shifting dynamics of the film industry, where there seems to be little space for small stories—those that don’t revolve around big action or sensationalism. She laments that these types of stories, particularly those centered on female friendship, have little chance of receiving a theatrical release, meaning they are unlikely to be showcased on the big screen in major cinemas. This underscores the industry's preference for blockbuster-style films over more subtle, character-driven narratives.

The origin of this statement is likely grounded in Fogel's own experiences as a writer and director, particularly in the context of her work in Hollywood. As the director of films like The Spy Who Dumped Me, Fogel has seen firsthand how the market responds to films about women and friendships, which are often relegated to independent or smaller projects, rather than being given the same opportunities for widespread distribution. Her frustration with this trend reveals her desire to see more authentic portrayals of female relationships in mainstream media.

Ultimately, Fogel's quote emphasizes the need for more diverse and nuanced portrayals of female friendship in cinema. It speaks to the broader issue of gender representation in film, where stories about women and their relationships often struggle to find the same platform as other, more traditionally "marketable" narratives. Fogel’s perspective challenges the industry to reconsider how it defines and supports female-driven narratives.