Code Red

I was inspired to write Code Red while experiencing writer’s block coupled with the pain, depression and frustration that came with my monthly period. Actually, to be honest, I wrote Code Red out of spite. I was the only female in a screenwriting class full of males, and I wanted them to experience some tiny fraction of the agony I endured during my period. So, I decided to infuse the script with visual metaphors to illustrate the feelings of menstruation, in the hope that my male classmates could better understand my experience.

Creating these characters, and reliving what it feels like to get your period for the first time, became deeply personal to me. I wanted to play into the embarrassment, anxiety and bittersweetness of growing up. It’s tough enough to be a teenager going through puberty, but menstruating EVERY month just adds another layer of difficulty - especially when you find yourself without a pad or tampon.

Digging into the topic more, I discovered period poverty affects menstruators all over the world. Most schools don’t provide free period products in bathrooms, so sneaking around, skipping school and begging friends for the supplies you need become your only options. This forces menstruators to miss out on important opportunities in the classroom, on the field and in extra-curricular activities. With this story, I wanted to give a voice to young girls to break the stigmas surrounding periods and encourage an end to period poverty.