Responding to demand from a passionate youth audience, Archie’s Final Project, dubbed the “little indie film that could,” debuts in Chicago on October 14, 2011 at AMC South Barrington 30. After its unique and long journey from film festivals, the award-winning “dramedy” has gained distribution based on the feedback and demands of more than 29,000 fans through Eventful’s Online Demand-It campaign.
Archie’s Final Project is a comedy about a 17-year-old media student named Archibald Holden Buster Williams, who announces he will be killing himself on camera for his final school project. Though many leading Hollywood studios found the subject of teen suicide to be taboo and untouchable, Big Air Studios saw the need for this kind of honest dialogue about the very real pressures of today’s teenagers in a society of Facebook and Twitter and instant access.
Recently, social networks have been vilified in the media because of the proliferation of cyberbullying and sexting, but the film’s Facebook page aims to show that the digital world can also be used as a support system. The film’s social media campaign called “I Am An Archie,” has garnered more than 21,000 Facebook fans. Calling themselves the “Archie Army,” the fans encourage each other with a clear message — You Are Not Alone.
“If you’ve been through high school, you’re an Archie,” says Gabriel Sunday who plays Archie in Big Air Studio’s “Archie’s Final Project. “If you’ve ever had a break-out, break-up or break-down, you’re an Archie. We’ve all been there at one point or another, but it’s how you choose to deal with what life throws at you that makes you an Archie.”
Along with Sunday, the film features a dynamic cast including Brooke Nevin, David Carradine, Joe Mantegna, Mariel Hemingway, Michael Welch, and Nora Dunn.
“‘Archie’s Final Project’ addresses so much more than just suicide,” said director, David Lee Miller. “It addresses a generation of teens that are more plugged in than ever, and yet more alienated than ever because of this over-saturation with media. We aimed to create an entertaining, visually dynamic film that would draw teens and their parents, and hopefully begin a dialogue about what’s going on with teens today.”
The film continues to grow a fan base among teens and young adults who connect with the film’s message of hope through human connection. Archie’s Final Project tackles the subject of suicide through innovative animation, 1950’s styled PSA’s, manipulated footage and brilliant performances by the cast. It is a film that both teens and their parents will want to watch.
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- Movie Review | ‘Archie’s Final Project’: ‘Archie’s Final Project,’ With Gabriel Sunday – Review (movies.nytimes.com)
