Christmas, Every Day, a short film directed, shot, edited, and produced by Cornell Alum Faye Tsakas ‘13 premiered on December 10 as part of the New York Times Op-Docs series. The film was also produced by Enrique Pedraza Botero, Rowan Ings, and Lauren Howell.
“Christmas, Every Day gives a slice-of-life glimpse of preteen influencers Peyton and Lyla Wesson, ages 11 and 12, as they perform for their online fans under their mother’s watchful guidance. Shot in a series of highly composed, locked-off takes, the film examines everyday cultural practice under late-stage capitalism, juxtaposing rural life with the patina of the virtual world. As Peyton and Lyla shift between performance and reality, ideas of self-presentation as empowerment, female confidence, and self-branding come to the fore.”
Tsakas spoke to us about the inspiration for this film:
“I made Christmas, Every Day in an MFA program at Stanford University in Documentary Filmmaking. Late-stage capitalism and modern technology are a strange alchemy, mixing to create a contemporary internet world where we are no longer just bodies but also brands, and self-perfection is offered as instant, intimate, and affirming. Over the last few years, I noticed that creators selling products on my social media feed seemed younger and younger; this led me to research the kid influencer phenomenon. I spoke with several families, and this one was gracious enough to open their lives for a collaborative filming process.”
In an article for the New York Times called “How Being an Influencer Became a New American Dream,” Tsakas writes further about the making of the film:
“Peyton and Lyla, who were 11 and 12 at the time of filming, see themselves as instilling confidence, positivity and a girl-power attitude for other girls — ideas that I wanted to explore within the broader context of modern consumerism… I sought to go behind the scenes of this new creator economy with curiosity and a focus on the girls’ experiences, aiming to allow viewers to come to their own conclusions.”
Faye Tsakas is a documentary filmmaker based between Los Angeles and New York. She was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Cinema in 2023. Her work documents strains of contemporary American culture in the context of late-stage capitalism, looking at youth & beauty culture, excess, and ritual − shifting away from the patriarchal gaze. Read more.
Watch the film directed by Faye Tsakas, in the New York Times.
Read the article by Faye Tsakas, in the New York Times.
