High School Hackers

1st SEASON SERIES SYNOPSIS

Since losing her dad, rebellious teen and tech geek, Mia, relocates with her filmmaker mom, Emma, so much she’s made becoming popular in each new high school into a game. It’s the distraction for a girl suppressing overwhelming grief over losing her father six years ago. The idea is to become popular in a chosen high school clique category, which Mia has decreed as: Populars, Jocks, Floaters, Good-ats/Geeks and Misfits. In fact, Mia’s changed her identity so often, she’s lost herself along the way. Without her dad, Mia doesn’t know who she is and honestly, doesn’t want to find out.

The only real friends Mia has are Red and Buck, two gamers on the live stream game, “Mind Matter”. They bonded over their dysfunctional families who move all the time because of their jobs. Never able to really put down roots, they have found grounding and belonging
in each other.

In real life, Mia, AKA game avatar Star, doesn’t know the real identities of Red, a girl and Buck, a guy. In real life she’d be surprised to learn that Red is actually Ryan, a geeky, computer obsessed teen her own age. While Buck is a 13-year-old tween, Katy, who is a true techno genius and the best hacker of the three. Katy, is an awkward misfit who has been bullied her whole life. Her military dad’s constant travel has made life for young Katy almost unbearable. Since her parent’s divorce, Katy’s mom, a waitress at the local diner, she’s been “stuck” in Yuma, AZ. At least when she moved all the time there was some relief and even hope that the next place would be better. In her desperation, Katy made a fateful decision.... She decides to use her best hacking skills to get her traveling gamer friends to join her in Yuma. It takes nearly a year, but as we open the series her plan has worked and, unbeknownst to them, they are now all living in the same town.

Throughout the first season, Katy will naturally integrate herself into Ryan and Mia’s life. Ryan is tutoring kids in computer coding and Katy will play the non-tech tween who goes to him for “help”. As Mia embarks on her quest to thwart the mean girls and become popular, she takes up cheerleading to be part of their world. Pretending she “just loves” cheerleading, Katy shows up at Mia’s practice and attaches herself to her “new found” friend. Ryan, AKA Red, is a true geek, rocker at heart, and has no idea he’s also a pretty hot-looking guy. His confidence level is in the basement but that doesn’t stop him from always falling for a girl in an instant and pursuing the impossible. Buck and Star are used to “her” (they think she’s a girl) going for the unattainable “guy” and try to keep “her” grounded.

To no avail. When Ryan spots Mia (before her make-over) at the mall banging away on her computer like a pro, he’s hooked. Of course, he doesn’t know she’s his friend Star!! Ryan is damaged goods. His mom literally disappeared 10 years ago, without explanation or a word since. He’s been assured there’s been no foul play and she took off of her own free will. But he can’t let go and, despite his father trying to dissuade him, Ryan is hacking his way through every data bank in the world to find a lead on where his mom is living. The answer, to come slowly and be revealed at the end of Season Two, will shock him and the audience!

Mia is an expert hacker, and her first order of business when she lands in Yuma is to hack her way through social media to determine who she wants to be and the clique she’ll conquer at high school. Mia throws herself into her quest knowing that even if she doesn’t “win”, she’ll be out of there by the end of the year anyway. Except she has no idea that Gila Ridge High School will be different in ways she could never imagine.
Mia finds an Instagram live with Hayley and her friends bullying a girl. She becomes so angry; Mia decides to take her down. And the best and quickest way to take down a popular girl? Yep, lure away her boyfriend. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s the gorgeous jock, Mason.

Mia’s now on a mission to go ALL IN to become one of the Populars... even though she got baked beaned last time (it’s a thing) she tried in Junior High. Trouble is, she bumps into Good-at geek, Ryan, who almost blows her cover and also happens to also be one of her anonymous gamer friends, Red.

At first Mia - now “Zoe” - makes great progress with Mason, but he only dates cheerleaders, and Mia definitely doesn’t have the moves! Ex-cheerleader who doesn’t fit any high school clique category, Sarah, shows pity on her and gives Mia secret cheerleading lessons. But Mia still doesn’t nail it and instead hacks the competitors' soundtrack to come up with a better mix for Hayley’s team, which eventually wins over Hayley... or so it seems. Actually, Hayley’s been getting anonymous secret texts helping her beat Mia at her own game. And, of course Katy is by Mia’s side the whole time.

Mia’s first friend at Gila is Sarah, Hayley’s best friend in middle school. But as Hayley’s rise in social status rose, their friendship was left behind. When Sarah was bullied for having an independent artist streak and came out as bi-sexual, Hayley happily joined in the emotional torture. At that point, Sarah made a decision that would set her apart and keep her a loner in High School.... She gave up all tech and went totally natural. No social media, no phone and a computer only when absolutely necessary for school. Under Sarah’s influence, Mia’s identity slowly evolves into an uncategorized vibe that reflects her own personality. This transformation wakes up her interest in Ryan, her first real life friend and confidant. As they become closer, she begins to wonder if they’re more than friends which complicates her plan to win Mason. Meanwhile, Ryan becomes suspicious of Mia’s actual identity and gets close to discovering the truth. As Mia struggles to find herself, there’s someone who has been lurking in the shadows attempting to hack Mia.

AT THE END OF THE 1ST SEASON, Ryan and Mia are planning a huge house party to introduce their new songs for the cheerleading squad. During the final episode, after Mia has finally won her jock - Mia and Ryan find themselves unable to resist each other and give in with a secret passionate kiss. But trouble is on its way. The last scene of the season, Hayley opens the door to her anonymous texter. It’s Izzy, Mia’s ex-misfit bestie from her last high school, here to help Hayley take Mia down.