Created by Steve Neufeld and produced by Joely Collins, Coded follows Shae Fitzgerald, a junior teacher who’s been thrown into the deep end with a class of troubled miss-fits.
The drama series is a confronting take on the lives of teenagers dealing with everything from mental illness to teachers who’ve just given up. Shae, determined to be different, risks professional and personal ruin to get through to his students.
What was it like working with young actors to create Coded?
Collins: We had a unique blend of veteran actors and young actors on set, so sometimes we joked that ‘school was in session’ – literally. But there was a lot of love and support on set. We had rehearsals before going to camera, which gave our actors the freedom to explore, settle in, and develop relationship – I feel rehearsals are such an important part of the creative process. Young actors always bring fresh energy and ideas with them!
Coded seems to reflect the experiences of many children who have experienced learning difficulties at school, is the
series a reflection of real world struggle?
Neufeld: I was a high school teacher for seven years, and worked with many students who dealt with a variety of emotional and cognitive issues. Coded was certainly born out of my experiences teaching those kids. So many young people run into a brick wall when a cognitive disability, an emotional problem, or an unstable home life interferes with their education.
The system tries to help these kids, but it is underfunded, understaffed and undervalued by society. And so, while we do know how to improve the lives of students, the resources aren’t always there. Coded is about what happens to individuals as they navigate a system that is not necessarily designed for them. This is not only true for the students, but also for Shae, the teacher. What happens when a school system only works because certain committed individuals sacrifice everything to make a difference? Is this sustainable?
What’s your background as a content creator? And how did you approach this project differently to previous projects?
Collins: I started my career in the film and TV industry as an actress over twenty years ago, which has provided me with a foundation for storytelling. For the past eight years, I have been more focused on producing. Coded was originally written as a concept for television, and when (writer/creator) Steve approached me with his idea for a series, we discussed the possibility of making it as a web series.
I had been interested in exploring the digital landscape, as this is where content is heading and I love the idea that digital series can reach a global audience. It just so happened that during this time, one of our local broadcasters (Telus Optik) was looking to fund a web series through a competition called (STORYHIVE).
Steve and I decided to pitch Coded. We found a way to break up the storyline from the initial TV pilot into 6 episodes that now make up Season 1 of Coded. We ended up winning the competition, which is how our series got made.
What was the most difficult challenge you had to overcome in production, and how did you go about it?
Collins: The biggest challenge for our production was crewing up. When we shot Coded last spring, Vancouver was crazy busy with productions. We were competing with big shows, like Planet of the Apes, Deadpool, X-Files and dozens of TV series and movies of the week for crew. Fortunately, through persistence and sheer will, we were able to find our amazing crew!
What’s special or different about Coded?
Neufeld: Coded is unique because it approaches a common dramatic setting —the classroom— with an unusually high degree of verisimilitude. The students aren’t cardboard cut-outs, and it takes more than an inspirational speech to convince them to make positive changes.
The reality is, teaching is thankless and success is measured in tiny (often imperceptible) increments. It’s not enough for a teacher to come in with enthusiasm and a smile, and these kids force Shae (and the audience) to move beyond pat answers and platitudes to find real, concrete ways to encourage and inspire them.
How many people worked on this project?
Collins: Our team consisted of 54 awesome people.
What was your favourite part about creating Coded?
Neufeld: Writing about such personal material is always both challenging and therapeutic. When the script finally took shape, I felt a bit of catharsis, having given structure, shape and colour to some of my feelings and experiences. But I must say, being on-set and experiencing the process of turning the story from words on a page to images on a screen was downright magical. I especially loved working with the actors, shaping and refining the scenes and just getting to watch them do their thing. I feel a special kind of warmth for the people who take my words and turn them into living, breathing story.
What do you want audiences to take away from Coded?
Neufeld: I’d like to think that audiences will come away from Coded with all kinds of ideas (including some that I wouldn’t expect). However, one thing I hope people see is that making sacrifices to be “that teacher” is not a simple proposition.
Sometimes doing the right thing has negative consequences; the path to sainthood is often paved with self-destruction. And if our society only runs because some high-minded individuals do more than their share, what does that say about the rest of us? It would also be gratifying if people walked away with a broader picture of who these “coded” students are. Every kid has a story, and reasons for acting the way they do. Perhaps Coded can help to humanize those students for people who might not understand them.
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