'Cookie Queens' documentary filmmaker Alysa Nahmias
Summary
Jesse Thorn interviews Alyssa Namiu, director of the documentary *Cookie Queens*, which follows four Girl Scouts as they sell cookies. They discuss how the film uses cookie sales as a microcosm to explore girlhood, capitalism, and the tension between play and commercial pressure. Namiu shares insights on casting, her responsibility to the young subjects, and the emotional impact of seeing girls represented authentically on screen.
Topics discussed
Intro: Girl Scout cookies as a microcosm of capitalism
Avoiding the 'competition doc' trope and focusing on girlhood
The duality of innocence and cunning in young salespeople
Filming challenges and the artist's parallel to selling
Commercial break and show recap
Navigating the marketplace: Play vs. economic survival
Casting process: Finding girls with imagination and agency
Ethical responsibilities and the power of representation
Commercial break and Zoo of Us promo
Girlhood transitions: Wanting to be both big and little
Family history, Girl Scout legacy, and favorite cookies
Outro, credits, and sponsor messages
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