A Better Future
The series centers on Mae, a straight-A high school Junior who’s always chasing after success. But as graduation approaches, family expectations, first love, and academic pressure force her to reexamine the future she really wants for herself.
TONE: A one-hour drama that is equal parts intimate, intense, and vibrant. “The Bear” meets “Freaks and Geeks” and “Reservation Dogs”.
CHARACTERS:
MAE (16) - Top of the class. Full of ambition. Full of anxiety. Has everything going for her. Has no idea who she is (outside of making people proud). Wants to maintain a virtuous image, but will always put her goals first. Afraid of losing control.
IGNACIO (16) - Charismatic. Loyal. Recovering pothead. Wants to get his act together and get into the Scholars program. Self-conscious about his weight and intellect. Hides behind self-deprecating jokes. Currently in a life transition.
MIRIAM (16) - Dramatic. Fun-loving. Aloof. Always sells herself short despite her great intellect. Highly emotional but will never admit it. Needs her ~space~.
INES (16) - Friendly. Empathetic. Insecure. Highly emotional and will always admit it. Supportive of everyone except herself. Has an extreme need for validation.
HANNAH (16) - Humble. Reserved. Caring. A Varsity Cheerleader. Becomes the top student in AP Calculus but doesn't like the spotlight. Wants to get through high school unscathed and drama-free. Secretly ambitious. Romantically interested in Mae.
MRS. ECKHART (56) - Firm. Respected. Old-fashioned. AP Calculus teacher for 25 years. Believes that hard work and effort are the keys to success. Brings a coach-like mentality to academics.
OSCAR (16): Ignacio's friend. Part of the group of kids who get left behind because they're not in AP classes. Goes to parties and smokes weed. Still does well in school.
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SERIES OVERVIEW
Mae Tolentino, an ambitiously anxious 16-year-old Filipino girl, is trying to put herself out there. Since Freshman year, she’s been part of an elite academic program in her high school called the Scholars. Being part of the Scholars means she and her peers are deemed the “best of the best”, the smartest kids in school - the ones who are seen as having the most potential to make it in life. In this world, the definition of “smart” and “making it” is defined by grades, standardized test-taking skills, and the ability to juggle AP classes, extracurricular activities, and your own sanity without burning out. The series therefore tackles the nature of the American education system, with its emphasis on meritocracy, and what that means to students of color - how it affects the way they see the world and themselves.
When we meet Mae, it’s the first day of Junior year and she’s feeling the pressure. Junior year is when the game increases in difficulty as Scholar students make the jump to four AP classes while expected to take on other activities that’ll look impressive in college applications. By this point, Mae has solidified her reputation as the smartest girl in her grade level (by GPA standards), but she knows that’s not enough to get accepted into prestigious Ivy League universities. She also wants to move past her great intellect and prove to everyone that she’s capable of being more than just the “quiet, smart Asian girl”.
This desire for “more” trickles down to all the characters in the series. Whether it’s more money, more opportunities, or more excitement, the characters crave a way out of their small desert town that cars pass by on the freeway. But as they dream of a better future, they realize that they can’t ignore their tumultuous present. From academic pressure to imposter syndrome to being queer in a small town, varying external and internal challenges arise that blur the lines between who the characters really are versus who they have to be. The series will follow them as they figure out their truths, values, and whether the “better” future they should have is what they really want.
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INTERVIEW WITH BAY AREA VIDEO COALITION
If you had to summarize your project in 1-3 words what would they be?
Identity and Education
What inspired you to write this story?
After graduating from college in 2020, I went back home and memories from my childhood came flooding back, especially high school because I live right next to my high school and my best friends still remain the same from that time. I also had a greater appreciation of my small town, a place I used to find boring/never felt comfortable in. Being done with school also made me think about how much the American education system has affected me, all the things I needed to unlearn, all the things that made me who I am today. I realized its impact permeated every single part of my life, especially my relationships. And I wanted to explore that impact and attempt to understand it. The combination of all these things eventually led me to start writing this story.
Why is this story important?
It’s important because I haven’t really seen a story that captured the nuance and complexity of the high school experience, specifically the world of academia. Most stories tend to explore the lives of high schoolers outside of high school, which is valid and interesting in its own right but I wanted to tell something new, something that aligned more with the world I saw in high school. I also wanted to tell a story that took teenagers seriously (flaws and all), and what our capitalistic society demands of its students, or “future workers”. I wanted to show the myth of meritocracy and the delusions/dreams students of color have as they get funneled through the American education system. Yet despite the stress of this time, I wanted to show the love and camaraderie of these students. The bond they have over their shared struggles and dreams. My hope is that through showing this, we can reimagine other systems of learning and other ways of being.
What makes you the best person to tell this story?
I was part of the academic world in high school. I was in a Scholars program, had various officer positions in clubs, and became Valedictorian. I lived the stress and pressure of achievement every day for four years, and continued to chase it in college (because it became so ingrained in me). I understand the feeling of when the system fails you, even when you revolved your whole life around it. I still feel its effects today (and probably the rest of my life) but I’m starting to see the other side of it now. I’m starting to ask questions - questions that are at the very heart of this story.