The upcoming film Geography Club focuses on the secret relationship between a closeted 16-year-old (Pitch Perfect‘s Cameron Deane Stewart) and his high school’s star equally closeted quarterback (90210‘s Justin Deeley).
Based on the first novel in Brent Hartinger’s best-selling, critically acclaimed Russel Middlebrook series, the drama finds the two forming the “geography club” of the title with other LGBT students.
The film, which costars veteran actor Scott Bakula, Glee‘s Alex Newell and Hairspray‘s Nikki Blonsky, will open in limited release in North America November 15.
DarkZephyr
*Sigh* I would have loved to have felt safe enough to have a romance in high school. I was too chicken for even a secret one.
Scribe38
@DarkZephyr: I think the only thing that saved my life in High School was finding someone who could love me. If a hockey playing jock who I looked up to, wanted to kiss me, then being gay must not be so bad.
stanhope
In high school I was happier being very popular than thinking seriously about a gay romance. Being invited to everything, I didn’t mind at all putting my boy lust on the back burner though there were a few backs I wanted to burn. LOL LOL
DarkZephyr
@Scribe38: It sounds like you were very fortunate. I am happy for you. 🙂
@stanhope: I didn’t have the luxury of being popular. In fact, somehow my peers figured out that I was gay and I was ridiculed and literally physically tortured for it. I am glad for you that you had a happy experience in high school. 🙂
crowebobby
A 22-year-old and a 27-year-old playing two 16-year-olds. Why do I think this is going to be crap?!
Jake357
The book was cute; I suspect they’ve butchered it in this film.
Nyruinz
looks worth watching
Niall
Haha, I knew I recogized the name Brent Hartinger from somewhere, then I remembered he used to be with AfterElton
Khristiaan
I never had any romances in high school yet alone friendships. In fact when I became aware what homosexuality was (which I didn’t even know what that was until I was 14 yrs old) I already knew not to talk about it as I grew up believing I must not have a voice or opinion. Now at age 28 I have survived over a dozen suicide attempts mostly cause I wanted to get rid of the curse (gay) but I have made a promised to God never to hurt myself again. So in short I have still a long way to go before I even come near accepting myself.
DarkZephyr
@Khristiaan: Its sad that we still live in a day and age where those around you can have you convinced that what you are is something so awful that you have to work hard to come to accept yourself. I know how you feel, however. Just remember that there is NOTHING WRONG with you for being gay. AT all.
DarkZephyr
@crowebobby: I am actually glad that they aren’t using real 16 year olds for this.
goose190
I’m so excited for this film!
NOW IF THEY MAKE ONE FOR RAINBOW BOYS!
MY LIFE WOULD BE COMPLETE.
Cee
Like we really needed more sensationalized crappy films.
Jason b.
@Cee: it’s not sensational. For me it’s a cute feel good story that will entertain for a couple hours. However, for an unknown boy or girl struggling like Krisstiaan above has and is, maybe stories like these put a face and a little hope in their struggle. For the straight kid or parent that can’t put a human face on this “behavior” they are supposed to reject or even hate, maybe films like these change their view and open their minds. As a white middle class kid in college with no empathy or understanding of the struggles of a black kid trying to escape the poverty and crime of Watts, “Boys in the Hood” opened my mind a bit.
mpwaite
I totally get this film. I played football in high school and had a F buddy that was a running back in another high school. I wish I could have been out openly on my team, and for them to accept me, but LIKE THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN??? I was a football jock who had a girlfriend, but who played with another football player (we both thought it was a phase). When I moved on to college I experienced love (or what I thought was love) for the first time in my fraternity big brother.
Scribe38
@DarkZephyr: So sorry about your experience… I wasn’t popular either. A nerd, happy with female character comic books, role playing(not that type!) and my hockey player. I think most people knew I was gay, but I wasn’t bullied too much. Dad put his gay son in boxing and martial arts at 5. I really think he knew what was waiting on me in life. No one wants to get their ass kicked by the gay kid. I got into one fight in middle school and one in high school. People saw the aftermath and tended to leave me the fuck alone. Didn’t hurt my BF was thick and had his own brand crazy when it came to fights.
fdr2ga
I read this book last year during Banned Book Week. It was emotionally honest and well written. I hope the movie does it justice.
Daggerman
…1: I’m not American. 2: I wish some gorgeous hunk had kissed me when I was at school. 3. The American high school thing looks exciting except the part of getting beaten up for being GAY!
baggins435
My how times have changed. I was 16 in 1977. No one was out, in fact “Out” wasn’t even a thing. I was never bullied, so I guess I was either lucky or didn’t act gay even though I was the quintessential 5’10”, 128# soaking wet, nerd/band geek including the thick glasses. I really can’t remember anyone being bullied like you see in movies and TV today. Being called “queer” didn’t even happen much as an insult. It wasn’t until late in college I met another gay man. I remember the college newspaper did a story on the Preppy guys hanging out in the student center giving the gay guys a “bad rep.” The preppy/frat guys acted like douches and by their attire people assumed they were gay, so, according to the paper, it made everyone think the gays were douches. It started a “are you gay or a fratboy jerk?” thing. When my sister was in high school in the early ’80s she said the few out gay boys had one section of the boy’s locker room and were pretty much left alone. And this was in the Deep South.
Mundo
I think now you would be ok. At least where I live.
We will see in January.