.jpg)
THE STORY
When an overweight, insecure teen’s talent for fashion design is discovered by her fat and fabulous classmate, she must choose to put her designs on display for the world to see—or return to a life of sewing in the shadows.
THE STORY
When an overweight, insecure teen’s talent for fashion design is discovered by her fat and fabulous classmate, she must choose to put her designs on display for the world to see or return to a life of sewing in the shadows.
ABOUT THE FILM
EMPIRE WAIST is a heartwarming comedy about teen girls learning to love their bodies through inclusive fashion design. Ranked the #1 Comedy on The Black List and selected as a Finalist for the 2019 PAGE Awards, the screenplay has been acclaimed for its deft handling of teen body image, body diversity, and for being just plain funny. Now represented by UTA, EMPIRE WAIST is being co-produced by Wayfarer Studios (CLOUDS, FIVE FEET APART) and producers Justin Baldoni, Andrew Calof, and Crystal Collins. Production took place in Fall 2021 at American High in Liverpool, NY and we wrapped post-production in Summer 2022!
ABOUT THE WRITER/DIRECTOR
Comedy writer Claire Ayoub wrote and directed her first play at age 14 and never really stopped. After coming up through the NYC comedy scene at the Upright Citizens Brigade and writing for Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, Claire wrote the movie she wished she had seen as a teen girl struggling with her own body image issues. Now, she's directing EMPIRE WAIST with an inclusive cast & crew in 2021.
In 2019, Claire hosted 16 live readings across the country—including a nine-city script tour—and audience reviews are in: "The world needs EMPIRE WAIST!"