While watching Sunday’s premiere of Fox’s Utopia, a lot of questions went through my mind: Why is alcohol flowing more freely than fresh water? (TV ratings.) Why is the water that they are drinking tinted orange? (Red’s supply of Tang.) Is it scripted? (My colleague effectively answered that.)
Then, of course, there were the practical questions…
Where is the Utopia colony?
Executive producer Conrad Green revealed during an interview with The AP that the Utopia pioneers live on a made-over movie ranch in Santa Clarita, Calif. That means that, although they face a number of challenges in establishing their own society, weather won’t be a big factor: The average wintertime highs are still in the 60s and snow really isn’t an issue.
The Utopia colony reportedly cost Fox $50 million to build. However, Simon Andreae, the network’s head of alternative entertainment, said he believes it will pay off.
“It has been an expensive undertaking, but it’s the reverse of most shows,” he said. “Usually, shows become more expensive the more episodes and seasons are produced. This show was expensive to build out in the first place, but the longer it goes on, the less expensive it become.”
Are there film crews?
As the hologram that welcomed them to the farm demonstrated, there will be basically no interaction with other people during the colonists time in Utopia… Not even with camera people. According to The AP, the show is filmed using 130 cameras that are positioned in trees, on rocks and around the buildings and are remote controlled by off-site producers. The pioneers wear necklaces with built-in microphones.
How much of the footage is edited?
Although producers can’t show all of the 15 pioneers’ actions 24/7, a whole lot of it is live-streamed on Fox. The network notes the online footage shows “real people” who have “no privacy” and, as such, they are likely to say and/or do things that will offend some viewers.
“They may reveal biases, prejudices, beliefs and opinions that are not condoned by FOX, its parent and affiliated companies, Show producers or Sponsors,” the network notes on the Utopia website. “Such views and/or opinions are solely those of the Utopians speaking and do not represent the views or opinions of FOX.”
Are the colonists paid? Can they communicate with family members outside of the compound?
The AP reports the pioneers earn a stipend of an undisclosed amount for their participation. That probably works out really well for the unemployed guy, but probably isn’t as good of a deal for the New York City lawyer.
Producers also said they plan on bringing the pioneers’ family members into the compound at some point. However, they cannot communicate during the other times — as the colonists’ shared cell phone is for purely for business and one person was already kicked off before the show started for leaking details.
Interestingly, Fox allows citizens to sign up for “Utopia Passports,” which enables them to visit the compound at certain times. The colonists are also encouraged to do business with people in the outside world.
Utopia airs on Fox Tuesdays at 8/7c and Fridays at 9/8c.
