Imagine being filmed for 5 years. And not during any period, no, during your adolescence! This strange experience, Rachel-Andrée and Noah lived it. They are part of the documentary series Being a teenager, broadcast on Télé-Québec. They answered my questions.
During 12 one-hour episodes, Being a teenager follows 10 teenagers from high school to prom. Rachel-Andrée, from Alma, in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, and Noah, from Laval, were part of the adventure.
Cameras all the time, everywhere?
The teenagers reassured me: no, the film crew was not following them constantly. They were filmed four times a year. But at first it was very intimidating! “It’s embarrassing,” Noah confirms. They put a camera close to your face, there’s the microphone. But we get used to it! »
Rachel-Andrée also got used to it: “It was pretty much always the same film crew. We developed bonds, and then they became family friends. »
Meeting and viewing
The 10 participants did not know each other. It was only last October, in a chalet, that they were brought together for the first time to watch the series.
A shocking moment for them. “It was a big boom in the face! says Rachel-Andrée. In the first episode, we present all the young people and their life situation, their challenges. We learn that Mika is diabetic. That Andreh arrives from Syria, where he experienced some pretty traumatic things. That Noah’s dad is absent, like mine. That Émy experienced a great loss…”
Noah: “It’s very touching. I got chills discovering the lives of others. You really shouldn’t trust appearances. »
The parents of the participants have not seen the series. They will discover it at the same time as everyone else, on TV.
And then, what changed? Being a teenager?
Rachel-Andrée and Noah believe that their participation in the show has changed them. “It made me more sociable,” Noah explains. I am more inclined to reach out to people. »
Rachel-Andrée says she learned an important thing from it. “During filming, I had to put more difficult moments into words. It helped me so much! And it will continue to help me. »
Series Being a teenager is broadcast on Télé-Québec on Thursdays at 8 p.m. There will be a new episode every week, for 12 weeks.
Caroline Bouffard
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