Drama Queens - BONUS: Hayley Kiyoko

Episode Date: June 5, 2026

Bonus time with Hayley means a deep dive into the masterclass in tenacity that was the making of "Girls Like Girls" - the movie! Hear why Hayley insists this love story is as mainstream as it gets! Plus, what she promises to focus on as soon as the film hits theaters on June 19th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hi, everyone. It's Sophia. Welcome to Work in Progress. Hello, friends. We are back on Work in Progress with our girl, Haley Kiyoko. Her new movie, Girls Like Girls, is in theaters June 19th. Okay, I want to do like a little bonus deep dive on the movie itself.

Because we've gotten the sort of lay of the land and how hard it was to, raise and get it produced and get all of it. But being on the precipice of it being available to the world, I'm really curious. What do you think if you were a teenager getting to sit your butt in a seat on the 19th and watch this movie start on the big screen? Like, what would be different for you? Like, how would that impact me? I think so, yeah. It'd be, I mean, A, I would, I would, I would, would just, I mean, just to even fathom being able to buy a ticket and seeing a love story between two girls that look like me. Yeah. Does, did not exist at that time when I was 18 or I didn't have access to that.

And so, yeah, to know that so many people are going to be able to buy tickets and sit in a theater eating popcorn with their friends, um, and get to see themselves represented on the big screen. is everything is why I did this, which is why I never gave up for 10 years, 10 years of nose. Like, that is the moment that I've worked really hard for, for everyone to be able to experience that. So I'm just, I just am so pinching myself that this is a reality and that they get to see themselves. Because it changes your life, getting to, you know, if I was 18 and I got to see that, I'd be like, oh, my God. I can't find love. And like, I'm beautiful. And like, I could be on a big screen or I could become an actress or I could be, like, it just opens up this can of like possibilities.

And so for people to get to see themselves represented, you know, it can be life changing for a lot of people. And also too, like this film is not just for the youth. It's for everyone like people who, you know, I think what's so you, you know, I think what's so you universal about this story is it's not only just bold and unapologetically itself, but it's also every single person, whether you're queer or straight or wherever you come from, we've all had that moment where you've had to confront your crush to be like, do you like me or not? Are we getting married or not? Or not? Yeah, yeah. Like, what do you want for me? You know, we've all, and it's so terrifying to confront someone. And, and it's so terrifying to confront someone.

And to know you're either going to be happy or you're going to be crushed or are going to be disappointed. And I think that's what's so special about this film is, is we all can see ourselves in this film and how scary that can be when you're navigating being a teen and trying to just not only feel loved, but loved from yourself. But you're not aware of that yet. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I'm just so excited for people. I'm so excited for you. I'm curious a little bit about some of the technical aspects, because I know we have some great creatives and would be directors in the midst of our listenership. And for you, not only to have gotten this made after 10 years, but to have co-written it, to have directed it, I would wager there's some folks at home being like, well, then how did you keep going? Like five years, in when you'd heard knows, how long was the break? Did you wait three months and then go back to new people? Like, how did you put the financing together eventually? You know, some of the sort of

technical guidance that we can give the youth these days from our positions. Like, how did you get over the hurdles to get it done? I think what I've learned is you need the right combination of people. Yeah. It might have a combination of people like in the beginning of my journey I had a certain combination of people and it wasn't working. It was the movie was not moving forward. We were constantly just it was just not going. And so that relationship kind of ended and I had to kind of start all over again. And I was really scared about starting over again. But it also created space for new creatives to come in where and this is when Mark Platt came in and focused features. And, you know, you do, I mean, we could do a whole other podcast, but you, you know, you do a

deck, you do a huge pitch, you're constantly pitching yourself. And it's just finding the right combination. And as a first-time film maker, you know, there's potential risk whether you're going to be, you know, succeed in between. journey or not. And so, you know, having Mark Platt's support and CoSign really helped. And he was so supportive and saw the vision and is an amazing ally. And Focus Features has, you know, believed in the film since 2020 and has been trying to figure it out with us. And so it was just the right combination. I think the book also really helped kind of new conversation forward and the fans just showing

the support of the story and kind of proving to Hollywood that like this story hasn't been told, which is borderline silly because we should have millions of girls like girls at this point. And just proving to Hollywood that people will show up. And so, you know, my hope is that we do and we can prove to our industry that we should have so many more films in theaters and to stop canceling our TV shows and like, you know, it's not being queer. Like, no, fear is mainstream. Being Asian is mainstream. And like, you know, there's so many people will be like, oh, this is such niche. You have Asian, you have queer, you're women. I'm like, those are three mainstream categories of millions and millions of people that need to feel seen

and heard and represented. Like, what are you talking about? Yeah. It's also so crazy to me when they talk about women. Like we're at niche. And I'm like, we are literally 51% of the population. Like, we're the majority. We're the ones who show up to theaters. We're the ones who show up to concerts. And it's like, give us what we want, you know?

Yeah. Like the stories that we want. Yeah. We're not niche. And to be clear, like by the most conservative estimates, one in five people is queer. So I'm like, you don't want 20% of the dollars that someone could, be spending in the world. Like, what are we talking about? This is so stupid. And I think it's really important. Like, you said it, you know, this isn't just for young people. This movie isn't just for queer people.

No. Like, this movie is for any person who's ever been in love with someone, who's ever been friends with someone, who's ever been trying to figure out their place in the world. Like, and that's something I find really important. A young filmmaker that I have been watching for a while who I think is so talented is currently trying to sell a movie and was like I'm a young black female director. I need people to watch the...

Oh my God, what's it called? Happily in Tuscany. The In Tuscany movie that reggae... Oh, Umi and Tuscany. Yes, Umi and Tuscany. Anyway, that's a terrible sales pitch on my part, but regardless, they've made an adorable rom-com, but it happens to be a rom-com with two young black leads. And this other filmmaker is like,

I have nothing to do with that movie, but I am literally being told that my movie selling depends on how that movie does. So like, literally this weekend, I got in the house last night, and I was like, turn it on this TV, turn it on this TV, turn it on the other, leave it on the computer. And I, like, I streamed the movie.

Yeah. Yeah, I streamed the movie on four devices. Yeah. Just because I think we need to remember that whether it's our story or our best friend's story or our neighbor's story, like we have to show up for each other's stories. So everyone at home is going to go watch this movie, obviously. I'm just reiterating to you that that's what your plan is this weekend. Thank you. Yeah, well, it is, it's the truth. And it's original IP is so rare, you know.

with so many films that we've seen done over and over and over again. So just even supporting original IP and original stories. And filmmakers, like, you know, women filmmakers are 5% of the industry, 5%. So if we want our stories told from our perspective, the male gaze, then we have to show up for one another and support our stories. and use our voice because our voice is super powerful and showing up can change. You know, my hope and goals like girls is a success. And that a young filmmaker who's trying to get their story made doesn't have to go through

the 10 years of treachery that I went through. Yes. And therefore, we're able to get more representation on the screen. It's just a revolving door. I love it. And it's also so good. I'm like really trying to be careful and not do spoilers because... Oh, you saw the movie?

Yes, babe. I got a really screener. Give me a break. Oh, my gosh. We'll have to debrief. It's so good. We'll be back in just a minute after a few words from our favorite sponsors. Pride is like love.

You feel it in your heart. IR Radio. Canada's number one streaming app for radio and podcasts, including IHart Pride Canada. favorite hits and must have party bangers plus personalized and curated playlists like back in the day pride come together celebrate love take pride with you anytime anywhere just ask your smart speaker to play iHeart pride canada stream us on your phone or listen now at iheartradio.ca there's like the moment well a moment yeah there's many moments there's a little many moments of like the conflict and i just went I'm going like, no, please let it be okay.

It's, oh, it's so good. It's so, so good. Thank you. I'm so proud of it. And I, um, I've put literally my blood, sweat and tears and heart and my everything into this film. And so many people have worked so hard to, to make this film exist. So I appreciate that, you know, we get to have this conversation and read the word. So make sure to go.

see girls like girls this weekend, everyone. June 19th in theaters. June 19th, everyone. Y'all got to go. Bring your friends. Yeah, bring your whole crew. Bring your friends. Bring your parents. I also, she'll be like, I can't believe you told her. Ash got so mad at me that I watched it without her. Granted, like I had to watch it in the middle of the day because, you know, work. And I would, so I literally was like, okay, tonight I promise I'm going to cook you dinner and we're going to watch this movie together. So that's what we're doing tonight on the day that we are recording this. It's so sweet. Okay, my dear, I am so excited for the movie. Like we said,

friends, Girls Like Girls is out. June 19th in theaters. Tickets are on sale now. And the gift that keeps on giving your movie gave you back your music. The official Girls Like Girls Inspired by Soundtrack comes out June 12th. Go get it. And, you. it, love it. Before I let you go, I have to ask you, you know, you're in this moment where all of these incredible seeds you've sown are blooming. Right now, what feels like your work in progress? This whole, the whole garden. The whole shabang! All those fucking flowers. Yeah, I mean, my hope is to continue to direct and to write music for my projects. And I really see that so vividly for my future.

And I just want to continue to create hopeful career content for the mainstream, you know, world. And for people to be able to have easy access to it. And so I'm just excited for girls like girls to find the person that needs to watch it. and needs it most. And my hope is to tell many more stories afterwards. Yeah. It's beautiful. Well, congratulations.

I'm so happy for you not to sound like a parent, but I'm so proud of you. Like artist to artist, this stuff is so hard. And you really, you've given everyone a master class on tenacity. So hats off to you, pal. I'm really excited. It was so good to see. see you. Thank you. So good to see you too.

Becca also submitted an answer to what is your work in progress? And she said, focusing on our wedding. I was like, okay, girl, tusha. I love that. We've been very much like she was, you know, this is the movie here. And then we'll get on figuring out our wedding plans afterward. Oh my God. I love it. I will volunteer to like lick stamps, whatever you need. It's like my favorite thing. Yeah. It's, It'll be really fun, fun times. This is an IHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human.