Teenagers (web series)

teenagers
Created by
Written by M. H. Murray
Directed by M. H. Murray
Starring
Composer(s) Spencer Creaghan
Country of origin Canada
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 17
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • T.J. Scott (season 2–present)
  • Emmanuel Kabongo (season 1)
Cinematography Dmitry Lopatin
Editor(s) M. H. Murray
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time 10-15 minutes
Production company(s) Black Elephant Productions
Release
Picture format 1080p
External links
Official Twitter

Teenagers (often stylized as teenagers) is a Canadian web series created by M. H. Murray and Sara Tamosauskas. The series premiered on a dedicated YouTube channel on January 19, 2014. It focuses on issues such as teen angst, racism, violence and sexuality,[1] and features an ensemble cast that includes Degrassi stars Chloe Rose and Raymond Ablack.[2] Since its release, the series has received numerous accolades, including a Canadian Screen Award nomination,[3] and positive reviews from various blogs and indie publications.[4] As of 2015, the series is executive produced by Orphan Black director T.J. Scott.[5]

As of December 2016, Teenagers has been viewed over 10 million times across various online platforms, amassing over 20,000 subscribers on YouTube.[6]

Background

Teenagers initially attracted media attention because its cast included several Degrassi stars, most notably Chloe Rose,[7][8][9] who went on to be nominated for a number of awards including Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series by the International Academy of Web Television.[10] The popular Canadian industry journal Playback published a piece on the series, writing: "the young creators of Teenagers had to have plenty of luck, pluck, talent and grit to get this far. And that portends a Hollywood ending."[11]

Murray began working on the concept in 2013 when he was 19 and in film school.[12] Emmanuel Kabongo served as executive producer for the first season, in addition to acting in the series.[7] The first two seasons of the series were filmed in and around Toronto and Mississauga on a shoe-string budget.[13] When interviewed about his inspirations for Teenagers, Murray said:

I was really into John Hughes around the time I started writing it and The Breakfast Club is one of my favorite movies, so I guess I was initially trying to bring back the vibes of classic 80s teen flicks in my own way. I think John Hughes wrote teenage characters so honestly and authentically, but something has gotten lost in translation since then. Today, it feels like a lot of teenage characters are written very clean or flashy and that just wasn’t my reality growing up in the new millennium. Growing up is messy.[12]

Murray has also cited Larry Clark's 1995 film Kids as an inspiration for the series.[12]

Plot

The series presents various storylines and characters in the form of vignettes. In season one, the central storylines revolve around Bree (played by Chloe Rose), who loses her virginity to someone with chlamydia, and T (played by Emmanuel Kabongo), who struggles with racism and bullying. In its second season, the series focused more on LGBT characters and themes.

Cast and characters

Main

[14]

Recurring

Release

Season 1

The series premiered on a dedicated YouTube channel in early 2014.[2] Its release was covered by online blogs as well as traditional media outlets in Toronto, including CP24[15] and Global News.[16] Upon release, it was voted #1 in the 'Indie Series Of The Week' poll by WeLoveSoaps.com users for the week of January 19 to 25, 2014.[17] The first season screened at festivals around the world,[18][19][20] winning Outstanding Drama Web Series at the 2015 Los Angeles Web Series Festival.[21]

Season 2

For the second season of the series, Orphan Black television director T.J. Scott served as executive producer[5] and Garrett Hnatiuk, who portrays the character Porky, served as a co-writer. The first episode of the second season premiered on July 26, 2015, and has since been viewed over 3 million times on YouTube.[22] shedoesthecity.com wrote: "Unhindered by politics and the rules of big networks, Teenagers pushes boundaries ... tackling tough themes like racial issues, violence, STDs, drug abuse and family heartache in a raw and real way, reminding us of the early years of Degrassi ... For a web series, the cinematography and post production is slick and impressive."[23]

Season 3

On November 16, 2016, a 20 minute "prologue" episode was released on YouTube, alongside an Indiegogo campaign, seeking funds to complete the third season.[24][25][26]

Reception

Teenagers has received positive reviews from blogs and indie publications, and has frequently been compared to the Degrassi franchise and the UK TV series Skins.[23][27][28] It holds an average user rating of 8.0/10 on IMDb.[29]

Patrick Dennis Jr. of Urbanology Magazine called it "Degrassi meets HBO."[1] Susie Stone of culturestarved.com wrote: "I saw humans. Shattering and trembling, but at times so quiet and beautifully real. I saw short spurts of what is really happening in the teen world. This series is evocative, sweet, daring, and scary."[30] TalkNerdyWithUs.com wrote: "If the story elements of sex, drugs, and wild parties sound too familiar, don’t worry — the joy of Teenagers lies in its execution, where psychological honesty is the name of the game."[31] NOW Magazine wrote: "because it’s not held hostage by the same rules as big network television shows, it pushes the boundaries."[32]

In 2016, the series was nominated for several awards.[33][34] Murray and Hnatiuk won the award for Best Screenplay at the Vancouver Web Series Festival[35] and Ablack won the Indie Series Award for Best Supporting Actor – Drama.[36][37] Kabongo was nominated for Best Performance in a Series Produced for Digital Media by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television for his role in the second season.[38]

As of December 2016, Teenagers has been viewed over 10 million times across various online platforms, amassing over 20,000 subscribers on YouTube.[6]

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominee(s) Result
2015 International Academy of Web Television[10] Best Female Performance in a Drama Chloe Rose Nominated
Los Angeles Web Series Festival[39] Outstanding Drama Series M. H. Murray

Sara Tamosauskas

Emmanuel Kabongo

Dmitry Lopatin

 Won
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series M. H. Murray

Garrett Hnatiuk

 Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Chloe Rose Nominated
2016
Indie Series Awards[40] Best Ensemble Main Cast Nominated
Best Lead Actress – Drama Chloe Rose Nominated
Best Supporting Actor – Drama Raymond Ablack Won
Best Supporting Actress – Drama Allyson Pratt Nominated
Vancouver Web Series Festival[41]
Best Drama Series M. H. Murray Nominated
Best Screenplay M. H. Murray

Garrett Hnatiuk

 Won
Best Actress Chloe Rose Nominated
Canadian Screen Awards[42] Best Performance in a Program or Series Produced for Digital Media Emmanuel Kabongo Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 "New webseries shines spotlight on real-life teen experience - Urbanology Magazine". Urbanology Magazine. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  2. 1 2 "Chloe Rose & Ray Ablack Team Up For "Teenagers" Web Series". Kary's Degrassi Blog. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  3. ↑ "2016 Nominees - Canadian Screen Awards".
  4. ↑ "Binge-worthy Toronto web series". 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
  5. 1 2 "Mississauga director's web series a raw take on teenage life". www.mississauga.com. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
  6. 1 2 "teenagers web series". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  7. 1 2 "Teenagers Web Series | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  8. ↑ "Cityonmyback.com » VIDEO: Teenagers Web Series (Teaser + Premiere Info)". cityonmyback.com. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  9. ↑ http://playbackonline.ca/2014/01/15/new-web-series-teenagers-attracts-degrassi-alum/
  10. 1 2 http://www.iawtv.org/2015-iawtv-award-nominees/
  11. ↑ 15, Playback Staff January; 2014. "New web series Teenagers attracts Degrassi alum". Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  12. 1 2 3 "Exclusive Interview with Teenagers Creator Mathew Murray". TalkNerdyWithUs. 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  13. ↑ "[Spotlight Artist] Mathew Murray (Filmmaker)". Live From The 905 Events. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
  14. ↑ Teenagers, 2014-01-19, retrieved 2016-06-17
  15. ↑ KaryzmaAgency (2014-01-26), CP24 & Teenagers web series, retrieved 2016-06-17
  16. ↑ "Teenagers Web Series | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
  17. ↑ http://www.welovesoaps.net/2014/01/indie-series-of-week-results-january-19.html
  18. ↑ "Web Series - Il Concorso". campiflegreiwebfest.altervista.org. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  19. ↑ "Korean Web Fest Selections 2015".
  20. ↑ "T.O. Web Fest 2014 Winners & Nominees".
  21. ↑ "Roma Web Fest | 2014 LAWEBFEST LIST OF AWARD-WINNING SHOW". Romawebfest.it (in Italian). 2014-04-16. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  22. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46lEpsZv5vA
  23. 1 2 "Sex, drugs & violence: Toronto's provocative Web Series "Teenagers" returns for Season Two". Shedoesthecity. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  24. ↑ "Teenagers Season 3, and more". Indiegogo. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  25. ↑ "Teenagers Season 3 Returns With Major Cliffhanger And Crowdfunding Campaign". Kary's Degrassi Blog. 2016-11-17. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  26. ↑ "Teenagers Review: 3.01 "Blue Isn't the Warmest Color"". TalkNerdyWithUs. 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  27. ↑ "Teenagers Web Series Episode 1 (Video & Review)". Kary's Degrassi Blog. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  28. ↑ Lambie, Kristen. "11 Toronto Based Web Series You Need To Check Out". www.narcity.com. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  29. ↑ Teenagers, 2014-01-19, retrieved 2016-06-18
  30. ↑ "AS IF BEING A TEENAGER WAS EVER EASY : Teenagers Webseries | Starved Magazine". www.culturestarved.com. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  31. ↑ "Webseries Review: Teenagers". TalkNerdyWithUs. 2016-05-09. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  32. ↑ "Webseries Review: Teenagers". 2016-05-09. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  33. ↑ "Indie Series Awards: Nominations Announced For 7th Annual ISAs". www.indieseriesawards.com. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  34. ↑ "Vancouver Web Fest". www.vancouverwebfest.com. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  35. ↑ 23, Julianna Cummins March; 2016. "Riftworld, Sudden Master win at Vancouver Web Fest". Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  36. ↑ "Indie Series Awards: 7th Annual Indie Series Awards Winners". Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  37. ↑ "Serial Scoop: WINNERS: 7th Annual Indie Series Awards". www.serialscoop.com. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  38. ↑ "7 reasons you should care about the Canadian Screen Awards this year". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  39. ↑ http://www.lawebfest.com
  40. ↑ http://www.indieseriesawards.com/2016/02/nominations-announced-for-7th-annual.html
  41. ↑ http://www.vancouverwebfest.com/index.html
  42. ↑ http://www.academy.ca/Canadian-Screen-Awards/2016-Nominees-Winners/Digital-Media

External links

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