The story of creating Code Red is one of determination and inspired philanthropy. The film originated as a senior thesis project in the Ringling College Film Department’s Branded Entertainment track, but production was unfortunately halted due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring of 2020. The students who graduated that May, could have let the project go. But they, and our faculty, were fully committed to this project. Of course, producing the film as graduates came with additional expenses.
Spearheaded by Jada Wing Hang Poon, who graduated from Ringling College in 2020, along with her team of alumni and current students, put together an incredible pitch presentation on ZOOM to a number of Ringling College supporters, and by the end of the hour, had raised every dollar needed to complete production of Code Red.
The film’s storyline is a humorous coming of age story about Karman, a 6th-grader who gets her period for the first time in school, and her quest for menstrual products. Code Red seeks to break taboos around the topic of menstruation, and raise awareness for how period poverty negatively impacts women and families throughout the world.
“Period poverty involves lack of access to feminine products in underprivileged areas of the country and world,” Poon explains. “There are many public schools where young women do not have access to pads, tampons and other educational resources that inform and empower them about their own bodies. I wanted to create something that highlights these issues.”
The film premiered at Ringling College of Art and Design, at a private screening for supporters, Film Circle members, and fans, on January 18, 2022.
Read more in Sarasota Magazine and Your Observer.
Production photos: https://www.facebook.com/CodeRedShortFilm/
Upcoming Events:
American Advertising Awards (ADDYs)
Sat. Feb 19th – 5:30 – 11:00pm
CMX Cinebistro Siesta Key
Student Tickets – $30
Member Ticket (for adults) – $65
Code Red was entered in both the Film/TV/Video and Sound Design categories.
Listening to Women
Thurs. March 3rd – 1:00 – 2:30pm
Screening & Discussion with Filmmakers
Ringling College Museum Campus
Through Women’s Eyes International Film Festival
Awards Ceremony in Sarasota
Sun. March 13th – Time & Location TBD
Non-Member Tickets to awards ceremony – $25
