Byers documented her life for four weeks.

Since each subject decided the story they wanted to tell, the first-time filmmakers decided the duration of their shooting schedule. “Yeah, I have a facial difference, but no, I don’t struggle in school,” Byers said. The 17-year-old competitive dancer jumped at the opportunity to participate in Red Button because it was a chance to “get voice out there.” The focus of season two is youth living with health conditions.īorn with Treachers Collins Syndrome, Taryn Byers lives with hearing impairment and a facial difference. “I think our films are really wonderful because they take us inside worlds that we think we have heard about, but I don’t think we have seen with the same kind of clarity or honesty before.” “It’s fascinating to see the shift in the last 10 years of people telling their own stories freely online,” Cohen said.

When filming wrapped, the filmmakers sent their footage to producers and editors.Įxecutive Producer Rob Cohen says “the culture of self-documentation on social media” inspired Red Button’s innovative concept. The youth used smartphones and other film equipment to document their lives and authentically capture their unique perspectives.

The series rejected the traditional documentary format in favour of a more intimate and personal approach to storytelling - the documentary subjects became the filmmakers.

In its first season, Red Button gave homeless youth in Toronto the opportunity to share their experiences on camera. All six episodes are streaming now on CBC Gem. The youth-driven documentary series Red Button is back for a second season. Taryn Byers filmed her daily life for four weeks.

The red button documentary