For as Long as You Want is a tender, conversation-driven short film about two actors, Liz and Brad, running lines in a quiet basement one afternoon. What starts as a simple rehearsal slowly turns into something deeper as they begin to open up about their relationships, their dreams, and the things they’re afraid to admit out loud.

Directed by Matt Santos

Starring: Liv Corriveau, Matt Santos

Review by Victoria Angelique:

The flirtation between friend zone while longing for more is the entire premise of AS LONG AS YOU WANT. This short film slows down a conversation between friends as they pass time one afternoon and figure out that they are actually compatible with each other. 

The film has a very intimate feeling. Its primary location is the living room of Brad Vega, where he and his friend, Liz Valentine, have just finished giving each other notes on different acting pieces. She is waiting for her train and to pass time, they begin discussing life. Liz is in a relationship with a man that wants none of the same things she wants in life, but he’s who she has grown comfortable with and she knows she’ll be miserable in the long run. She just doesn’t know if breaking up is the right move as the fear of being single overrides the feeling of being unhappy.

Brad offers her some deep insights that are quite profound. It’s a great way for everyone to look at life. He states that what people say about a person at their funeral is the real definition of success and asks Liz what she would like people to say about her. It turns out her answer is the same as his, a spouse and a family. They are the two meant to be together, she’d be happy with Brad. Every instinct in her body fights the urge to give in, as Brad tries to persuade her to stay with him. 

He goes above and beyond, using the cute and clichéd act of pretending to cook a meal when it was delivered. This is also a sore spot for Liz, because she has to care for her boyfriend like his mother rather than a girlfriend. She’s not used to being pampered. 

Brad is prince charming whereas her invisible boyfriend is the unseen villain. Brad is everything that Liz wants and it takes to the last minute for her to make her choice. The choice to end a dead-end relationship for a future of love is always a brave choice.