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November 13, 2013 | www.gaycitynews.com
FILM
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Ready to Join the Club Cameron Deane Stewart inhabits a gay teen finding the support to be himself
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Cameron Deane Stewart and Justin Deeley in Gary Entin’s “Geography Club,” adapted from Brent Hartinger’s YA novel.
BY GARY M. KRAMER
G
eography Club” is a loose adaptation of Brent Hartinger’s fine young adult book about gay teen Russel Middlebrook (the appealing Cameron Deane Stewart) navigating high school and his sexual identity. Russel has a secret relationship going with school quarterback Kevin (Justin Deeley), and their romance is evolving at the right speed for both boys. However, after Min (Ally Maki) spies the guys kissing one night, she invites them to join Geography Club. The club, a secret gaystraight alliance, is named “something boring” to prevent other students from joining in order to identify and expose the school’s LGBT teens.
GEOGRAPHY CLUB Directed by Gary Entin Breaking Glass Pictures Opens Nov. 15 Cinema Village 22 E. 12th St. cinemavillage.com
Russel at first observes the club and then begins to participate, but Kevin wants to keep his sexuality secret and does not attend the meetings. “Geography Club” plays out all the dramas of teen life –– from Russel’s anxiety about being asked to date a girl to his participation in a bullying incident and the angst Kevin feels about coming out. The film makes the issues surrounding peer pressure and self-expression credible
despite the supporting characters being underdeveloped and the film being somewhat haphazardly constructed. In a recent Skype session, the genial Stewart spoke about playing Russel and making “Geography Club.” GARY M. KRAMER: What were you like as a teen? CAMERON DEANE STEWART: Oh, boy! I’m 22 now. A couple years ago, I was in high school myself. I was the kid who was friends with everyone, but I didn’t really have a group that I felt I fit into. I was athletic, but didn’t play sports in high school. GMK: What appealed to you about Russel? CDS: Russel is mature for his age. He is strong-hearted and strong-willed. I guess I fell in love with his vulnerability. I felt there were so many positives that could come from playing him. The ultimate goal is for people to see Russel as he is. GMK: How did you identify with him? CDS: Everyone struggled with something in high school. I came from a pretty conservative place in Texas. I watched kids in high school get bullied or they didn’t come out or were stereotyped as the gay kid. This film was an opportunity for me to send a message to the youth that love is universal and that there is a group out there that is going through exactly what you are. GMK: What do you think about Russel
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GEOGRAPHY, continued on p.25