Director Guild of America's Independent Directors Committee presents

I already had a post about The Utopian Society.

However, now that new pictures showed up (thanks to V) it is a good opportunity to spend some more time on this small indie movie.

What is it about?

Six college students from diverse backgrounds are thrown together on a final project - to create a Utopian Society on paper. They can't stand each other but as they break through their own walls they discover that it's really their differences and secrets that bind them together.

Starring: Austin Nichols, Sam Doumit, Kristen Ariza, Mat Hostetler, Malin Akerman,

Kelvin Yu, Robert Romanus, David Snedeker.

Newport Beach International Film Festival 2004 - utopian society screening

 
Utopian society behind the scenes – The Sweetest Thing ever

(click)

The Utopian Society is the story of 6 college students from different backgrounds, who are assigned to work together on a final project. These six students have so far spent no time together, cant stand each other and must pass this final assignment in order to pass the class. The assignment is to create a utopian society, on paper. They’ve had all semester to work on the project but in the tradition of most college group assignments, have opted to wait until the last minute to cram the entire semesters work into one night.

The film explores the six character's differences, commonalities and secrets, and the real shit they have to go through in order to accomplish the task at hand. Over the course of the night, the students learn how their pre-conceived stereotypes are often incorrect. As we discover the differences that Nera, Justin, Caleb, Aaliyah, Ken, and Tanci have, we also find out what makes them part of the same human family. In trying to create their own Utopian Society, our characters discover just how hard it is to make it work in a world as diverse as the one they live in.

Synopsis from MySpace

 


It is a movie from 2003 – According to ImDB the release date was 20 april 2006 (?)

The movie was shot in just 11 days

Austin plays the part of Justin Mathers.

If you haven’t watched the movie yet, you should do.

New DVD-trailer

The movie has his own MySpace

Review - Procrastination Blues by Betty Jo Tucker

At one time or another, almost everyone has put off doing an academic assignment until the last minute. The Utopian Society, directed by John P. Aguirre, shows what happens when six college students are faced with completing a challenging group project all in one night. A motley crew, these individuals hardly know one another and seem more intent on irritating each other than working together on a sociology paper describing what they would consider a true utopia. 

However, if the assignment isn’t completed and given at least a “C” grade, Ken (Kelvin Yu) will lose his scholarship, so he displays more motivation at first than the other group members. Aaliyah (Kristen Ariza) prefers practicing basketball with her friends; Tanci (Malin Akerman) wants to talk about her wonderful sorority sisters; Justin (Austin Nichols) likes to boast about his sexual conquests; Nera (Sam Doumit) makes fun of everyone; and Caleb (Mat Hostetler) tries to boss the group.       

This little independent film was selected in over 40 film festivals across the country and has won various awards including “Best Director” at the Honolulu International Festival and “Best First Feature” at the Wine Country Film Festival.



Another (part of a) review by Matthew Wilkinson

As the plot thickens and characters reveal issues like sexual molestation or drug abuse problems, you’re more likely to find yourself rolling your eyes when the emo music starts playing instead of actually caring.

Credit is due to the six young actors who played to their stereotypes very well. Nichols was hysterical as the drunken frat guy, who is forever trying to score. Akerman (best known for her role as Freakshow’s wife Liane in “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle”) was a welcomed distraction as a sorority girl with a bite. The talented cast helped pick up what the script left 



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