Upon entering Rize Studios for the premiere party of Teenagers, one might think they’ve walked into a hotspot nightclub in Toronto. The walls, lined with Toronto’s young talent, from actors to filmmakers to musicians, fill the room in eager anticipation of the new web series co-written by York students Mathew Murray and Sara Tamosauskas, and directed by Murray.
The Teenagers website describes the show as “the trials and tribulations of a unique group of teenagers in their senior year of high school.”
These teens smoke, swear, fight, have sex, and occasionally do their schoolwork, much like normal kids do.
The crew, mainly York and Seneca students, spent a total of nine days on set with the cast, filming the eight episodes that make up the first season.
The episodes are short, at most seven minutes, and will be broadcast via YouTube over the next few months.
The first four episodes were aired at the premiere party, and they left me wanting more. Even though they’re limited to a tight airtime, nothing feels rushed and the characters’ dialogue feels organic and not at all expositional.
The actors’ looks and body language say even more than their conversations; a lingering glance sent chills up my spine, and I was sitting on the edge of my seat. Fans of Degrassi: The Next Generation will find themselves drawn to Teenagers, which stars actors Chloe Rose and Raymond Ablack.
Later in the evening, the first two episodes were uploaded online. The first episode has hit 10,000 views in just its first week of being up on the web. The series, its actors, and creator have been featured on Global and CP24. And it’s not going to be slowing down anytime soon.
This series is not to be missed, for a number of reasons: watching it will support independent Canadian filmmakers, and it will support York students.
The best part is that it’s smart, funny, and an all-around good show, and proves that there’s a lot to be gained from studying film at York.
Ashlee Mitchell
Video Editor
