This week, some 200,000 Year 12 students will receive their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). Among them are 14 who documented their final year of school for upcoming ABC series My Year 12 Life.
Princess Pictures gave each of the 14 students a camera at the start of 2016 and asked them to film their life.
The resulting 26 x 30 series, which aims to create national conversation about the pressures of Year 12, is a ‘vlogumentary’ – there were no film crews or producers on the ground.
As the students’ final year comes to an end, so too does filming. The students have captured 1000s of hours of vision, each whittled down to an average 30-60 mins of footage every week. The completed series will also include media from the students’ social platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat.
“It’s time we talked about the stress we’re putting on teenagers, and the effect of telling them they should be judged by one number, the ATAR,” said creator and EP Laura Waters. “We wanted to hear their stories told their way. Since teenagers are hilarious, dramatic, and brutally honest, so is our series.”
ABC head of children’s and education Michael Carrington said the broadcaster was thrilled to work with Princess Pictures on the “intimate and insightful†series.
“I believe it’s important for the ABC to reflect and celebrate real children’s lives and I hope by featuring My Year 12 Life across ABC platforms (ABC, ABC ME, and ABC iview) we will stimulate families, high school students and teachers to discuss their experiences and expectations of Year 12,” he said.
My Year 12 Life series producer is Karla Burt. Executive producers are Laura Waters, Emma Fitzsimons and ABC’s Libbie Doherty.Â
My Year 12 Life will screen on ABC, ABC ME and ABC iview in early 2017. Four hundred additional clips will also be available across ABC ME’s digital platforms, ABC iview, Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram.
The show was produced in association with Screen Australia and Film Victoria.Â