When I began writing NEWNESS a culture seeking instant gratification and constant stimulation was just forming. Dating apps had recently become the new normal, and the pursuit of intimacy was beginning to feel like it was less about lasting connection than relief seeking. It was this moment in time that inspired the story of a young couple, for whom love— as they’ve come to define it— doesn’t feel like it’s enough. I wrote the script without outlining the narrative; like the characters, without a road map, letting it go where it wanted to go. I think the film’s outcome is a reflection of that choice.