"Fame"
BEHIND THE SCENES
by Tim Nasson
September 14, 2009
Watch "Fame" Trailer
“Baby, remember my name…”
A reinvention of the original Oscar®-winning hit film packed with explosive music and dance, Fame follows a talented group of dancers, singers, actors, and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts, a diverse, creative powerhouse where students from all walks of life are given a chance to live out their dreams and achieve real and lasting fame...the kind that comes only from talent, dedication, and hard work.
In an incredibly competitive atmosphere, each student’s passion will be put to the test. As they strive for their moment in the spotlight, mentored by the best – and toughest – teachers, they’ll discover who among them has the innate skills and necessary dedication to succeed. With the love and support of their friends and fellow artists, they’ll find out who amongst them has what it takes to achieve Fame…
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Lakeshore Entertainment, and United Artists present a Lakeshore Entertainment production of Fame. Directed by Kevin Tancharoen from a screenplay by Allison Burnett, based on the motion picture Fame written by Christopher Gore, the film’s youth cast includes Asher Book, Kristy Flores, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennié, Walter Perez, and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle. Their instructors include original Fame cast member Debbie Allen as Principal Angela Simms, Charles S. Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, and Bebe Neuwirth.
Fame was produced by Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi, and Richard Wright and Mark Canton, with executive producers Eric Reid, David Kern, Beth DePatie, and Harley Tannebaum. The behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Scott Kevan, production designer Paul Eads, editor Myron Kerstein, costume designer Dayna Pink, choreographer Marguerite Derricks, and composer Mark Isham.
“I’m gonna live forever…”
REINVENTING FAME
The new, 2009 reinvention of Fame takes its inspiration from Alan Parker’s Oscar®-winning 1980 film. With its indelible images of students joyously dancing on taxicabs and Irene Cara’s hit rendition of the film’s theme song ringing in the nation’s ears, Fame became a critical hit and a film experience people took to heart. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards® and won two: Best Music (Original Score) and Best Music (Original Song) for “Fame.” Its other nominations were for Film Editing, Music (Original Song) for “Out Here On My Own,” Sound, and Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen).
With a devoted fanbase, the film struck a major chord with audiences, and over the next two decades Fame became a quasi cottage industry, spawning a popular television series that ran for several seasons and lives on in syndication and on DVD, a Broadway musical, a world tour, and a reality TV show long before American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance became hit television staples. Now, almost thirty years later, a new generation is putting on their tap shoes, sitting down at the piano, and grabbing the microphone to strut their stuff.
The Fame brand’s appeal has always been in watching talented kids relentlessly pursuing their goals of success through hard work, entertaining and emoting along the way. They “pay for it in sweat.” In a world of reality TV and instant celebrity via red carpet meltdowns, and with a generation accustomed to and comfortable streaming their lives on the web via websites like YouTube, Fame counters Andy Warhol’s “15 minutes” theory with the notion of “real and lasting fame” – performances, careers, and success built on the notion of innate talent diligently honed through exhaustive discipline and never-ending practice.
“I was a huge fan of the original film, even though the nature of fame has changed dramatically in the last 25 years,” says producer Tom Rosenberg. “We wanted to follow the same sort of time arc, which was to follow the characters through four years at the High School for Performing Arts. But we didn’t want to imitate the original – we wanted the characters to be fresh and contemporary. And part of that is examining the nature of talent and hard work vs. ‘instant’ celebrity.
“When Alan Parker made the first film,” he continues, “the nature of fame was probably more linked to talent than it is today, and there was the perception that hard work and struggle were involved in fame. That is still true, but nowadays the idea of becoming a celebrity without talent is more prolific.” Anyone with a page on a social networking site is instantly ‘famous,’ and anyone with a digital camera is a potential filmmaker. “So, as in the original, the idea is to examine the real work and talent it takes to be an artist.”
To reinvent the franchise with a modern energy and flair, the producers turned to accomplished young multi-hyphenate Kevin Tancharoen, who, just like his characters, had to audition for the job.
“It was a Friday afternoon, and we had met 30 or 40 directors,” says producer Gary Lucchesi, “but none felt exactly right. Kevin sat down and started talking to me about his work – he had been a dancer, met Britney Spears, had done some choreography for her, and ended up directing her worldwide tour when he was only 19, which was incredible.” His work as a choreographer also includes enormous shows with ‘N Sync and work with Madonna in addition to directing Spears’ “Onyx Hotel” tour. “We talked about his work with Jennifer Lopez directing Dancelife, his work with The Pussycat Dolls, and we asked him where he was from. He was from LA, grew up in the movie business, but he wasn’t a part of the privileged ‘elite’ – he was part of the responsible, working side, which I found quite compelling.”
Lucchesi asked Tancharoen to send him “everything he’d ever directed.”
“The next day, here comes this big envelope. We were very impressed not only with the choreography but the way he shot the dance and the dramatic scenes. I showed Kevin’s work to Tom, and we agreed he was the director we had been looking for.”
Although Fame is the 24-year-old director’s first movie, his background, a mixture of music, dance, and pop culture, is the perfect blend of experience from which to draw for a movie like Fame. But while all his experience helped ready him for the job, it was the fact he connected to the material in such a personal way that Tancharoen feels made him the right guy for the job.
“Before I was a choreographer, I was that dancer with a number on his chest waiting to find out if I’d made the cut,” Tancharoen says. “I was an energetic little kid, and my sister was in a singing group called Pretty in Pink – I would have to go with her to rehearsals after school, and with all that energy bottled up I had to do something, so I ended up just trying to follow along and took to it. My mother threw me into dance classes and martial arts and I enjoyed it. All this led to some jobs professionally, which led to my interest in music. I bought some equipment and started producing songs.
“And I’ve always loved movies,” he continues. “My dad is a transportation captain on feature films, so I visited him on sets a lot. The biggest one for me was Batman Returns – I remember walking on to the sound stage and they were making snow, and there was Arnold Schwarzenegger walking around with a cigar and The Penguin and Batman and Catwoman. It was amazing, and the magic of movies still fascinates me and has certainly influenced my work.
“On this movie, on some level, I lived out my own Fame story. I’ve been doing this since I was eight and have been constantly working at it, learning new stuff, being taught by great teachers and mentors. Every element of that led to me directing this movie,” Tancharoen says.
Since the original Fame, Tancharoen agrees the landscape has changed in terms of what audiences expect from a film full of dance, music and drama. With entertainment reality competitions on TV, “The History of Dance” and its ilk on the web, and movie hits like Save the Last Dance and Step Up, “all genres of dance and musical performance have been showcased in really mainstream, entertaining ways,” he says. “Now we have a more educated audience; the bar has been raised. We’ve seen people defy physics by spinning on their heads, sliding across the floor. We’ve seen bravura singers from rock to rap to country.” Tancharoen wanted to make sure and raise the bar in his own film, and it was one of his working mantras during production.
That said, with all the “new,” he wanted to make sure and keep the film rooted in what makes it unique and compelling. “When the original Fame came out,” he says, “it was a novelty. It represented musicals taking a shift from the MGM classics of the 1950s. It also really showcased what it was like to be a struggling teenage artist, to want it so badly and still not be assured of success – not everyone makes it. What we’re trying to do, I think, is recapture the core of that idea and marry it with the new dance and performance styles. It’s not just the dance and the song – it’s the stories behind the dance and the song.”
To showcase those young artists’ struggles, Tancharoen wanted to assemble an ensemble of gifted newcomers who, in many respects, reflected their characters in real life. The young performers in the film are, in many ways, living in real life what their onscreen characters are going through, which lends the film’s stories an honesty and affecting immediacy. “The cast brings an authenticity to the characters,” Tancharoen says. “They understand this world. Essentially, they themselves are the characters in the movie.” The actors felt very invested in their characters, and it made the project incredibly special for each of them, personalizing their roles.
“Baby, look at me…”
STUDENT “YEARBOOK”
ASHER BOOK plays MARCO, a singer
Hometown: Arlington, VA
Previously seen: With his band V Factory, touring across the United States.
How I started: The national tour of “Beauty and The Beast.” My role was Chip the Teacup.
Best performance experience ever: My audition for “Beauty and The Beast,” because earning that role put me on this path.
Most humbling moment: I had a very normal high school experience. I kind of did the acting thing, too, but I wasn’t really booking enough work, so going off to college, I pretty much gave up. I was going to study business. The next thing I know, I got a call from Warner Bros. They found me through a vocal coach I was working with. I went to audition and ended up becoming the lead singer in the band.
The thing that almost made me stop practicing: Wanting to have “normal” life experiences vs. being on the road all the time.
Pre-performance ritual: Push-ups, prayer and vocal warm-ups.
Favorite artists: Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Billy Joel, Elton John, Seal
If I could perform with anyone: I would love to perform with Justin Timberlake. As far acting, it would have to be a role opposite Jim Carrey.
Favorite album: “Speakerboxx/The Love Below” by Outkast
Favorite movie: Dumb and Dumber
Favorite musical: “The Lion King”
As a young teen, I was obsessed with: Sports
What I’d tell someone starting out: Believe in your dreams. Accept rejection, because it will happen, but remember that’s where we sometimes learn our greatest lessons.
If I could have a different talent: I’d love to be an inventor.
If I had to pick a different job: A business manager.
Theme song: Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild”
Words to live by: Don’t give up.
What’s next: V Factory is releasing its debut album on Warner Bros Records.
KRISTY FLORES plays ROSIE, a dancer/actress
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Previously seen: The Bronx Dance Theater
Big Break: This time last year, I had three jobs: working at an animal hospital, teaching dance in public schools, and working at a pharmacy. My world has changed completely.
How I started: I was three when I performed my first dance recital. I started taking dance classes when I was only two and a half.
The thing that almost made me stop practicing: When I was younger, I’d get a little discouraged when a girl was thinner than me. I was in class with girls who were the typical ballerina stereotype, and here I am, this curvaceous girl trying to glide across the floor like them. As I’ve gotten a little older I’ve learned to embrace my body.
My biggest fans: First would have to be my mother – she’s the one that pushed me to take dance classes and singing lessons. Second would be all my dancing and acting teachers – they’ve supported me through just about everything, from coping with my mother’s death to moving to a new place, and even encouraging me to audition for “Fame.”
The artist who’s had the most influence on me: Jennifer Lopez. She was who I wanted to be in the fifth grade. I had her posters on my wall, her albums, her movies – I was a FAN!
Favorite album: “Mezmerize” by System of a Down – at one point, that album was the soundtrack to my life.
Favorite movie: My Best Friend’s Wedding. My favorite Disney movie is The Little Mermaid.
Favorite musical: West Side Story.
As a teen, I was obsessed with: Dance, writing everything down in my journals, and peanut M&M’s.
If I could have a different talent: I’d probably love to produce, call the shots over a vision you have and make art.
My theme song: “Step Into a World” by KRS-One.
What’s next: Flores now lives in Los Angeles where she’s auditioning for new projects.
PAUL IACONO plays NEIL, a director
Hometown: Secaucus, NJ
Previously seen: Iacono has performed in over 50 shows, including “Sail Away” at Carnegie Hall and “Mame” at the Papermill Playhouse. His films include Consent, Glow Ropes and Winter Solstice.
Starting out: Iacono made his first New York stage appearance at four singing Frank Sinatra tunes at famed cabaret lounge Don’t Tell Mama’s. “I was a four-year-old in a tux doing Sinatra. That was my first shtick. My parents listened to a lot of Sinatra in the car and around the house, and as a kid they would bring me around to bars and I’d belt out a Sinatra tune and everyone would go nuts over it. I guess I liked the attention enough.”
Most humbling moment: The last day of shooting Fame. That was the hardest part of shooting, that last day of filming, knowing that when that last take finished and they yelled “cut,” the most gratifying experience of my life would come to a finish.
On going back to school: We actually shot at the high school Paul McGill and I went to. That was weird. But it was also amazing. I give so much credit to that school for who I am. To go back three years after graduating and pay homage to it by celebrating it with this film? That’s an amazing feeling.
What’s next: Iacono is currently writing a play (“Prince / Elizabeth”) and will star in MTV’s Hard Times. “It’s like The Wonder Years, but for the Superbad generation.”
PAUL McGILL plays KEVIN, a dancer
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Previously seen: In the Academy-Award®-winning film Man on Wire, playing the young Philippe Petit.
Starting Out: I started dancing when I was three at a local studio because my sister was already taking classes. When I was ten I went to a place called Pittsburgh Musical Theater, which is where I started studying in earnest.
Big break: The first week of my junior year of high school, I auditioned for the Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles. I booked that and moved to New York City.
Most humbling moment: When La Cage closed, two days before I’d finished my junior year, I suddenly had nothing to do. I couldn’t get a job at all. I was living alone in New York, paying my bills. I had to make a decision to move back home to Pittsburgh. I thought it was going to be a huge setback, but a month after I moved home I got a call to audition for A Chorus Line on Broadway. I ended up performing in it for 2 ½ years.
Best performance experience ever: “A Chorus Line” on Broadway. Doing that show, I learned more than any other time in my life about my body, my mind, my soul, my priorities, my goals, my values, my friends, my potential, and, ultimately, my life.
Worst stage fright: My first dance recital. I had to be bribed with a coloring book and a treasure troll.
Pre-performance ritual: Warming up, brushing my teeth, and breathing. I also need my own space to collect myself. Preparation is very important to me.
The artist who has had the most influence on me: Gene Kelly
As a teen, I was obsessed with: Converse, tube socks, musical theater, choreographing, dying my hair, rearranging my room, dance class, Cirque du Soleil, fitness, AIM, and the SIMS.
I’d love to be able to: Play the cello.
If I had to pick a different job: I’d be a physical therapist. As a dancer, I see what people go through. I’d want to help people be able to play with their grandchildren and not be in a wheel chair at 70.
My theme song: “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
Words to live by: Read “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz.
What’s next: You tell me! I’m auditioning, so hopefully something will come along.
NATURI NAUGHTON plays DENISE, a pianist/singer
Hometown: East Orange, NJ
Previously seen: On Broadway as Little Inez in “Hairspray.” On screen as rapper Lil’ Kim in Notorious.
Starting out: I started singing in my church choir when I was five. I knew then that I wanted to be a singer. The acting bug didn’t hit me until I was a little older, but I always was very dramatic.
Big break: When I was 14, I auditioned for a girl group that was being put together called 3LW. At 15 we got signed, got a deal with Sony Epic, and our first album went platinum.
On Fame’s music: I have quite a few songs, and I’m just thrilled and fortunate that I got a chance to participate in so much of the music. It’s really like a dream come true for me.
Best performance experience ever: My opening night on Broadway in “Hairspray”! The theater was packed and all my family and friends were there and I was so happy. It was a special moment.
The thing that almost made me stop practicing: For me I felt most discouraged when my former group, 3LW, broke up. I was a teen pop star one minute, and the next minute my whole career was being stripped away. The things I went through with 3LW definitely hurt and made me question whether or not I should continue singing. However, those same struggles made me so much stronger, so I have no regrets.
Pre-performance ritual: Usually I say a little prayer to myself and just ask God to calm my nerves! And I also like to drink tea or cranberry juice – it’s really good for my voice.
The artists who’ve had the most influence on me: Growing up I was most inspired by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Aretha Franklin. I also was a huge fan of the late and great Michael Jackson…seeing him perform, watching his videos, and listening to his music had a huge influence on me.
If I could perform with anyone: I would love to act alongside Denzel Washington – he is such a phenomenal actor, and I know I would learn so much just from being in his presence. Also, I would love to perform with Ne-Yo – I think we could put on a great show together!
Favorite album: “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
Favorite movies: The Color Purple and Love & Basketball
Favorite play: August Wilson’s “Fences”
As a teen, I was obsessed with: Talking on the phone! I had the phone glued to my ear. It hasn’t gotten much better since I’ve gotten older either!
Here’s what I’d tell someone starting out: Be prepared for the hard work, the sweat, the tears, the rejection, and the sacrifice! Success is wonderful, but it’s not easy, so you really have to LOVE it!
If I could have a different talent: I would love it if I could do gymnastics. Growing up I looked up to Olympic champion Dominique Dawes. I went through a phase when I wanted to be a gymnast, but I don’t think it was meant to be.
If I had to pick a different job: I would be a lawyer. I think I have a gift for presenting strong arguments!
My theme song: “Fame”! Singing that song, I really connect to the words. I want to be remembered…remember my name!
What’s next: A solo music project.
KAY PANABAKER plays JENNY, an actress
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Previously seen: As Nikki Westerly on Summerland, opposite Zac Efron.
Starting out: Community theater – my sister (Danielle Panabaker) and I started out there for the fun of it, and she and I both ended up getting agents that way.
Big break: In 2001, I got cast in Dead Heat with Kiefer Sutherland and Anthony LaPaglia. Ever since then, that’s the place I’ve wanted to be: on set.
On preparing for Fame: We had about 6 six weeks to get ready. It was a kind of boot camp – some people were learning instruments, others were going to dance rehearsals. I had drama rehearsals, working on my monologues and scene work, and I took some voice lessons. Singing was the biggest challenge for me, by far, but it worked out well because that’s exactly how my character is. She’s not comfortable up there singing in front of the whole class, which is one of the first scenes we filmed. It was the most nerve-racking thing I’ve ever done.”
How I started: I was a Party Girl and Octopus in a community theater production of “Pinocchio” when I was eight.
My biggest fans: My family. They've been through my best and worst days.
Pre-performance ritual: Laugh and crack jokes with everyone.
The artists who’ve most influenced me: People whose passion shows in their work.
If I could perform with anyone: Johnny Depp – he loses himself completely in each role he does.
Favorite album: The CD my sister made for me for my 13th birthday.
Favorite movie: Sky High! (and not just because my sister is in it)
As a teen, I was obsessed with: Fluffernutters (peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches)
My favorite moment shooting Fame: The entire shoot. I would love to do it all over again.
I’m different from my Fame character in that: I am far more outgoing than Jenny.
Here’s what I’d tell someone starting out: Work hard and stay in school.
If I could have a different talent: Playing the drums.
If I had to pick a different job: Teacher or animal trainer.
Theme song: Anything I can dance to.
My motto: Everything happens for a reason.
What’s next: The Lake Effect with Tara Summers (Boston Legal) and Ross Partridge, from director Tara Miele.
KHERINGTON PAYNE plays ALICE, a dancer
Hometown: Yorba Linda, CA
Previously seen: On So You Think You Can Dance and modeling for Nike, McDonald’s, Limited Too, Mattel, and Disney.
Big break: When Payne turned 18, she auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance and became a Top 10 contestant. “I just did it for fun but ended up getting it, which was insane. The filmmakers from Fame saw me on it, which is how I got this movie. It definitely changed my life.”
On life-changing experiences: I was going to go to college for nursing – I wasn’t expecting this life. But I put my hard work and effort towards it, and it happened. If you have a dream, if you have a goal and you really pursue it, then it can happen to you.
How I started: I was two and my mom put me in a class – and I was hooked!
Best performance experience ever: “So You Think You Can Dance” – doing what I love on national television!
Worst stage fright: “So You Think You Can Dance” – you’re on national television. That’s a lot of pressure.
The thing that almost made me stop practicing: Probably just knowing I could be with my friends at the beach or having more free time. It got hard; sometimes you just want to be a normal kid.
Favorite artists: Michael Jackson was an amazing performer, and so is Britney Spears.
If I could perform with anyone: I would have loved to go on tour with Michael Jackson or Britney Spears.
Favorite musical: “Chicago” – it’s my favorite kind of dancing, and just so fun to watch!
As a teen, I was obsessed with: Shopping!!!! I’m definitely a shopaholic.
Here’s what I’d tell someone starting out: Practice! Practice! Practice! Hard work pays off, and you can do it if you put your mind to it.
If I could have a different talent: Singing! I have a horrible voice, but I think it would be fun to just belt it out and actually sound good.
In five years, I hope to be: A successful actress
If I had to pick a different job: Post-partum delivery nurse.
Words to live by: “Live, laugh, love!” and “She believed she could, so she did!”
What’s next: Acting classes and further training.
COLLINS PENNIÉ plays MALIK, an actor/rapper
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Previously seen: In films like Half Nelson, Prom Night and Fired Up, and as a Ford Agency model and front man for Calvin Klein’s ck One fragrance campaign.
Starting out: After spending half his childhood in foster homes, Pennié moved out on his own at age 15, to try and make a better life for himself. “I was homeless for a little while and struggled to just follow my dream.”
Big break: My first real job was Law & Order. Around the same time, I got signed to Ford Model Management by walking in, dropping off a picture, and telling them they needed to see me.
Most humbling moment: When I was homeless. But at the time, it was still about believing in my dream and following my dream. I got through it by staying with friends and studying my craft on my own. I had to be resourceful, so I would go to libraries, bookstores, the Broadway Dance Center and audit classes as much as I could. When I started making a little bit of money I could buy food and stuff, and I eventually got an apartment.”
On his character in Fame: So much of what I went through is similar to what Malik goes through in the movie, I had to be willing and honest enough to put that in my work and not be guarded. It was weird acting something that was so close to home – you feel people are taking a peek at your own life. But it was an opportunity to be able to express myself.
Worst stage fright: My very first singing competition, which was at a mall. I actually ended up winning first place!
My biggest fan: My mentor, Courtney Vance, has been the most supportive in advising me and teaching me the ropes of the entertainment business.
Pre-performance ritual: I always make sure I’m 100% prepared.
Favorite artists: Michael Jackson and Biggie. Michael for his fearlessness and Biggie for his honesty.
If I could have any role: I would want to play James Bond.
My favorite moment shooting Fame: Shooting opposite Charles Dutton. Working with him was at first very intimidating, but he made the experience easy and I learned so much from him.
Theme song: Biggie’s “Juicy”
My motto: My karma is my armor.
What’s next: Right now I’m working on music and reading a lot of scripts, just seeing what’s out there.
WALTER PEREZ plays VICTOR, a musician/composer
Hometown: South Gate, CA
Previously seen: In guest spots on CSI: Miami, The Closer, and Friday Night Lights, and in the films Walkout, August Evening and A Beautiful Life.
Starting out: I always wanted to perform for people. I always wanted to entertain. At home my dad has this old VHS camera, so I picked it up and I started making homemade movies.
Big break: The first time I got paid. That was for a McDonald’s commercial I did in 2002. After that I’ve been working consistently for the past seven years. I haven’t really stopped and I’m able to live from my acting.
Most humbling moment: After high school it took me about a year and a half before I booked that first job. That was hard – I was doing extra work, odd jobs, construction, trying to make ends meet and pay my bills.
On the biggest challenge of Fame: The challenge for me was learning multiple instruments – piano, keyboard, organ, and the drums, and a little bit of the guitar, too – all at the same time. Eventually, I learned every single song I’m playing in the movie. I was happy to be able to learn, and when people watch the movie they’ll know it’s actually me.
The thing that almost made me stop practicing: Fear that I would never get it, that all the hard work I put in would some day be for nothing.
Pre-performance ritual: Deep breathing techniques that require absolute concentration before going on set. I usually do them in my trailer.
My favorite artists: Sean Penn, Dustin Hoffman, Jim Carrey, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton – and the list goes on…
The artist that has had the most influence on me: I was most influenced by Charlie Chaplin’s work ethic. You have to work hard to get good work.
If I could perform with anyone: I’d love to be able to work with Jim Carrey. Most of my home videos are either of me impersonating Carrey or Charlie Chaplin.
Favorite album: If I had to pick one that inspired me to become the person I am, I’d say Counting Crows’ “August & Everything.”
As a young teen, I was obsessed with: Jim Carrey and Legos.
If I could have a different talent: Singing. I want to be the Mexican John Legend.
If I had to pick different job: I’d be working as a crime scene investigator.
Theme song: “Mr. Jones” by Counting Crows.
What’s next: Perez’s indie film, Emilio, is also due for release in the coming months. “There’s a few other things lined up, too, but I don’t want to jinx myself – nothing’s set in stone yet.”
ANNA MARIA PEREZ de TAGLE plays JOY, an actress
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Previously seen: As Ashley Dewitt, the clueless fashionista of Hannah Montana.
Big break: After begging her parents to let her try out, De Tagle booked her very first TV audition, ultimately winning her role on Disney’s Hannah Montana. Fame marks her big screen debut. “I auditioned [for Fame] but then didn’t hear back for another three months. I was thinking I didn’t get it, then one day I get a call saying, ‘You have a screen test tomorrow.’ I was so nervous; I wanted so much to be in this movie.”
How I started: I was in a production of “A Little Princess”; I played an angel and a student.
Worst stage fright: When I was two. I don't remember it, but I recently watched home videos. My dad called me on stage with a mic and I got up there, got nervous, started crying my eyes out, and ran off stage. I was wailing.
Pre-performance ritual: Vocalizing, making sure I know all my lines, and drinking lots of water.
Favorite artists: Christina Aguilera as a singer and Reese Witherspoon as an actress.
Favorite movie: The Notebook – I’m a sucker for chick-flicks, and I love Ryan Gosling.
Favorite musical: “Miss Saigon”
As a young teen, I was obsessed with: The Spice Girls. I collected all the dolls, got their movie, Spice World, and watched it almost everyday. I owned anything that had to do with the Spice Girls.
Here’s what I’d tell someone starting out: You have to love it! You also have to know how much time and effort goes into a production – if you’re willing to miss parties on the weekends and instead go to acting, singing, or dancing lessons, then that’s key.
If I could have a different talent: To play instruments – it would help a lot with my singing and songwriting.
If I had to pick a different job: Either a journalist or fashion designer.
Theme song: “Fame.” :)
Mottos: "Reach for the stars, but if you hit the moon it's okay" and "Live like you're at the bottom even if you're at the top.”
What’s next: Another new film, A Forgotten Innocence, from director Sinohui Hinojosa, based on the novel by Reno Ursal.
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Now commonly known as the “Fame” School, the High School of Music & Art was founded in 1936 by New York City Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, who wanted to create a place where the most gifted and talented of New York’s public school students could pursue their creative talents while also receiving a full academic program of instruction. The School of Performing Arts was created in 1948 to train students for professional careers in dance, music, or drama. The two schools became one organization in 1961 in anticipation of their move to a single building at Lincoln Center, in which they finally came together in 1984. In LaGuardia’s honor, the new school was called the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
LaGuardia Arts was the first school in the nation to provide a free, publicly funded program for students with unique talents in the arts. Students are admitted on the basis of potential and achievement through a competitive audition and a review of their academic records.
For more information, visit www.laguardiahs.org
Distinguished LaGuardia alumni include:
Jennifer Aniston
Ellen Barkin
Marilyn Bergman
Steven Bochco
Adrien Brody
James Burrows
Charles Busch
Diahann Carroll
Keith David
Dom DeLuise
Omar Epps
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Erica Jong
Eartha Kitt
Hal Linden
Melissa Manchester
Liza Minnelli
Isaac Mizrahi
Laura Nyro
Al Pacino
Suzanne Pleshette
Freddie Prinz
Carol Bayer Sager
Wesley Snipes
Suzanne Vega
Ben Vereen
Leslie Ann Warren
Marlon Wayans
Billy Dee Williams
“Give me time and I’ll make you forget the rest…”
THE FACULTY
To play the High School’s teachers and mentors, the filmmakers called on a group of actors who’ve each achieved success in a variety of arenas. From the big screen to television, from the stage to the recording studio, the school’s different disciplines are reflected in the versatility and multifaceted careers of the actors portraying the people at the front of the classroom.
In the original film, Debbie Allen famously portrayed dance teacher Lydia Grant, warning her students that they’d have to pay for their fame in sweat, and she went on to appear in and direct episodes of the Fame television series. Having added a plethora of credits to her resume since then, Allen returns for the new Fame as Principal Angela Simms.
Ms. Allen sees Angela Simms as a new incarnation of Lydia Grant. “As far as I’m concerned,” Allen says, “she is Lydia Grant who got married and became Ms. Simms. I said to one of the producers, ‘You can call me whatever you want. The audience is going to think it’s Lydia Grant up there.’ Now she’s the principal and she’s in charge.”
Simms is a role that the busy Allen understands on a very personal level. “I run the Debbie Allen Dance Academy,” she says, “and when you are in charge, you have a map, a game plan for every child that walks through the door. As Principal Simms, it’s my job in the movie, in a few brief scenes, to let the students know that there are steps you must take in order to make the most of what we have to offer you. And if you don’t complete those steps, it won’t work.”
Charles S. Dutton plays acting instructor James Dowd. Dutton, in fact, once taught at a performing arts high school in Baltimore; two of his alumni include Jada Pinkett Smith and Tupac Shakur. For this role, however, Dutton says he turned to some of his own acting teachers, who instilled in him not just a work ethic but also the notion of art as a higher calling.
“I modeled Mr. Dowd after many acting teachers that I had myself,” Dutton says. “They gave us a lot of tough love, intensity and discipline. I think Dowd tries to get his students to understand that it’s not just about being an entertainer – it’s about being an artist. There is a difference. An entertainer will do anything, but an artist will only do things he or she feels advances civilization. That’s where Dowd is coming from.”
Dutton, a graduate of the Yale School of Drama who has earned an Emmy, a Tony, and a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson,” believes that art can be a life-changing experience, independent of “fame.”
“When I realized that acting was what I was born to do,” he says, “it truly changed my life. I’ve always viewed the individual pursuit of the arts as a way to discover and rediscover your humanity. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what the real essence should be.” It is a philosophy that Dutton believes in so profoundly that, after some initial conversations about the character, Tancharoen incorporated it into a discussion Mr. Dowd has with his students.
Kelsey Grammer portrays Martin Cranston, one of the school’s music teachers. Grammer has earned a total of 16 Emmy nominations, eight Golden Globe nominations, and 16 SAG nominations; he has directed, produced, and appeared in many movies, including the recent X-Men series, as well as starring on Broadway in productions of “My Fair Lady,” “Macbeth” and “Othello.” Grammer credits a singing teacher as first inspiring him to pursue a career in the arts. He studied and prepared for his craft at Juilliard but, he says, leaving the famed school taught him a valuable lesson.
“After high school, I went to Juilliard and studied acting,” he says. “There were a couple very difficult teachers there, and there was the conservatory mentality as well – they really did make it harder for you to survive there than it would be in the real world. And, of course, I did not survive there. They kicked me out, which was a great thing for me. I’m very proud of that because I loved them dearly and they did me a favor in kicking me out because, frankly, they got my attention by doing it.”
The lessons he learned inform his portrayal of Mr. Cranston. “Cranston is a very tough character,” he says, “a difficult guy to get past. He may be the first wall these young people run into, and the value of a good wall in an artist’s life is learning how to climb over it. He is willing to nurture and shepherd young talent, but they must put in the work – he won’t let them slide. If things come too easily, he knows they won’t have a chance, especially in this profession, which comes down to a combination of talent, dedication and luck. Eventually they will run into a wall, and they need the tools to get over it.”
Wry and playful vocal instructor Fran Rowan is played by Megan Mullally. The two-time Emmy winner for Will & Grace made her debut on Broadway in “Grease” and recently completed a run in the hit musical “Young Frankenstein.” Befitting a role as voice teacher, Mullally’s singing accomplishments are as impressive as her acting – recent concert appearances include The Allen Room at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Seattle Symphony, and Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. She also appeared as a soloist at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
In Fame, Mullally has the opportunity to showcase her musical gifts when she takes her class to a karaoke club so they can perform in front of a live audience. Her students cajole her onto the stage, and she surprises them with a bravura rendition of the Rodgers & Hart standard “You Took Advantage of Me.” This opportunity to sing was one of the things that appealed to Mullally about joining the cast.
“The original movie had a big impact on me,” Mullally says. “I was in college and it was a big deal in my little theater community. It was one of the first movies I ever saw that had an entire cast of people my age. Also, I’m a singer, and music is very important to me. Most people know me as Karen from Will & Grace, which is great, but I’ve also done a lot of singing, just as much or more musical theater than television. So when I was offered the part of the singing teacher and she actually sings, I thought, ‘Well, who knows if I will ever get a part in a movie where I get to sing again?”
Mullally suggested her on-screen song – it’s one with which she has some experience. “I met with Kevin (Tancharoen) and Gary (Lucchesi) and we discussed that the whole point of the scene is that she is supposed to blow the roof off of the joint. But no pressure!” she laughs. “So we had to think of a song that’s a real barn burner. I have this band I’ve been in for a million years called Supreme Music Program, and we’d covered ‘You Took Advantage of Me.’ It’s the only showtune-y kind of song we’ve ever done and it’s a real crowd pleaser – we use it as our encore a lot when we play live. So I pitched that one and they loved the idea.”
Rounding out the faculty is Bebe Neuwirth as strict dance teacher Ms. Lynn Kraft. Equally at home on television, in movies, and on the stage, Neuwirth’s Broadway credits are particularly impressive. She recently starred as Roxie in the Broadway production of “Chicago,” having already won a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Astaire Award for her turn as Velma in the same show – making her the only person to play both “Chicago” leading lady roles on Broadway. She also received a Tony Award for her role as Nickie in “Sweet Charity.” Her other Broadway credits include “Fosse,” “Damn Yankees,” “Dancin’,” “Little Me” and “A Chorus Line.”
Neuwirth’s passion is dance, and she founded the Dancers’ Resource Advisory Council as part of the Actors Fund, a human service organization that helps all professionals in the performing arts and entertainment. She credits dance with instilling discipline and a clear-eyed sensibility in her – traits she shares with Ms. Kraft.
“Almost all of my dance training was ballet,” Neuwirth says. “I make a living as a theater dancer and have done jazz along the way, but my training is ballet. What you gain from seriously studying ballet is a certain kind of discipline, a professionalism, a sense of where you are and where others are, literally. Let’s say you’re doing battement at the barre – those are high kicks at the barre. You have to keep an eye on the person in front of and behind you to make sure you don’t kick them. It’s a simple thing, but what that translates into, out in the world, is having a sense of space and courtesy. There are life lessons in that kind of training.
“Ms Kraft is also strongly based in ballet so she demands a strong work ethic from her students,” she continues. “I think she cares deeply for them because it’s such a difficult life. She sees so many kids come through; some will go to work and succeed and some won’t. I think she’s been at the school a long time. You wonder why she stays, and I think it is because she has the ability to see the truth, in terms of talent. She knows which kid will make it and which won’t – it’s hard but she has to lay it out for them. It’s reality, and that’s inspiring. It’s an authentic representation of what it’s like to try to become an artist. There’s a place for happy endings and also a place for inspiring people with reality, and I think that’s what this film does.”
“Light up the sky like a flame…”
SONG AND DANCE
Fame is packed with fantastic, thumping music and elaborate dance routines. In reinventing the film for a modern audience, the filmmakers wanted to use some music from the original as an homage to what came before (and to keep die-hard fans happy), but they also wanted to “look to the now” and come up with a soundtrack that would be as effective blasting out of a car stereo as it is in the context of the film. To compose the soundtrack, a who’s who of modern music production was assembled to come up with a new series of songs.
“We added six new songs,” says producer Richard Wright, “but the basic story is actually very similar. What made the original film successful was that it blended a realistic narrative with great performance pieces. All the musical/dance numbers are explained because they are in a school for the performing arts – nobody suddenly starts expressing themselves by singing and dancing outside the normal reality of the narrative.”
Tancharoen says the music loomed large in his film particularly because the original raised the bar so high. “Two songs in the first film were nominated for an Oscar®, and one of them won. We took the music very seriously,” Tancharoen says.
The production turned to three disparate artistic teams for the new songs: The Matrix, James Poyser, and Damon Elliott, who, collectively, have created some of the best sounds in popular music for the past ten years or so. Tancharoen made sure their musical skills fit specific scenes or characters in the movie. The Matrix oversaw the soaring, dramatic song the cast sings at graduation as well as Naturi Naughton’s rendition of “Out Here on My Own;” Poyser took on the urban-tinged music of characters Victor and Malik, specifically the score to the kids’ Halloween “Carn-evil” party, and a live club performance of “Get on the Floor” featuring Malik and Denise; Elliott handled the free-form, old school rap of what became known as the “Cafeteria Jam,” Tancharoen’s homage to the “Hot Lunch” number in the original film.
“The Matrix comprises three super producers who are singers and songwriters as well (Scott Spock, Lauren Christy, and Graham Edwards). They’ve done a huge variety of music, from Shakira all the way to Korn and Brittany,” says Tancharoen. “For some of the hip-hop, I wanted to keep it organic, so we went with James Poyser, who has worked with Erykah Badu, Common, and The Roots. He has real credibility in that world and is a really, really smart guy. ‘Cafeteria Jam,’ which is arguably one of the most fun scenes, went to Damon Elliott, an amazing producer. I wanted that sequence to feel as off-the-cuff as possible because it needed to feel spontaneous. It had to feel like a band jam, essentially, as opposed to someone just pressing ‘play’ on a CD player and everyone just happens to know the same song. It was difficult, but I think Damon knocked it out of the park.”
To move the cast’s bodies to the music, the filmmakers put the dancer/actors under the supervision of award-winning choreographer Marguerite Derricks. The main cast joined an array of talented background artists to incorporate ballet, tap, jazz, modern dance, and even gymnastics into choreographed chaos, often largely based on their initial auditions for the film. Indeed, casting the corps of background dancers was as intense and critical as selecting the principal actors.
“We were looking for more than just great dancers,” says Tancharoen. “So as much as the steps had to be good, the drive and a human quality had to be there, too. There were so many gifted kids trying out it was unreal and fantastic and also heartbreaking because we couldn’t hire everyone. It was great to see, though, the dance bar has been raised. Before, people used to specialize in jazz or ballet or tap and there was a core group of hip-hop dancers. Now, all of them are double, triple, quadruple threats – they can do it all.”
The different dance styles highlighted in the film, from ballet to jazz to hip-hop to African, are organic to the story in that they represent the variety of disciplines that would be taught at a performing arts high school. Tancharoen notes that working with Derricks to assemble this group of dancers and to choreograph the array of numbers in the movie was a dream come true, and took his relationship with her full circle.
“Marguerite is an absolute genius,” he says. “I was actually lucky enough to be in her dance company when I was a teenager, and there’s something about her energy and style that was so influential. At the time, I was strictly a hip-hop dancer – I wasn’t really into ballet or jazz – but she let me join her company, even though I was a novice at best, and really drilled me and made me learn every style, opened my eyes to the craft. She has an appreciation, love and education in every form of dance that goes beyond just a job. She has an emotional commitment, a passion for choreography and for artists, which is why she was so perfect for Fame.”
Derricks herself has a very personal relationship to the Fame franchise. “My first job as a dancer was on the Fame TV series,” Derricks says. “I was living in New York City, trying to make it on Broadway. I auditioned and auditioned, always making it to the singing part and then I would never get the job. One night, a friend of mine called and said that Debbie Allen was looking for a girl to replace someone on the second season of Fame. The next day, I auditioned for Debbie, got the job, moved to Los Angeles and never left. It was so exciting.
“Seeing the original film Fame changed my life,” she continues. “I remember leaving the movie theater and my spirit was on fire – I had to do that! Little did I know that a year and a half later I would be standing next to those people, working on the TV show. It was definitely life-changing.”
“I feel it coming together…”
BACKSTAGE
Although the production filmed most of the interiors in Los Angeles, the company filmed the exteriors in New York, and Manhattan locales dictated the entire look of the film, especially the actual performing arts high school.
“There are two of them in New York, and we decided the one we’d shoot is in the theater district. It has an architectural character that has a New York feeling to it,” says production designer Paul Eads. “As luck would have it, one of the schools we chose in Los Angeles had a very similar window configuration, built in the same era as the high school in New York. We split all the interior work between five different schools in Los Angeles – we shot corridors and the graduation auditorium in one, the dance classroom in another, drama class in another, cafeteria in another. We were all over the map, but I had complete control over the color palette and the choice of architecture.”
The look of the film is also greatly influenced by the clothing worn by the cast. Because the film is about artists, costume designer Dayna Pink wanted to make sure each piece worn reflected the characters’ – and the actors’ –individualism.
“No primary colors, but a lot of jewel tones – sapphire, eggplant and ruby,” Pink says. “What we tried to do was make it real and still let their personalities shine through. We didn’t want the clothes wearing the kids, we wanted the kids wearing the clothes.”
Each character has their own “color family” and personal style. Denise, for instance, favors pinks and purples, conservative preppy cardigans that culminate in a fitted, silk fuchsia dress she wore at graduation; Neil’s trademark hats, skinny ties, pants and oversized sweaters became less quirky over time. As the kids mature throughout their four years at school and as their experiences at the school begin to affect them, Pink’s clothes become more sophisticated and streamlined.
“If you think about the difference between a 14-year-old and an 18-year-old, those are totally different people,” Pink says. “Things happen in that time period that will change you forever, and that’s reflected in your dress. A 14-year-old is usually more self-conscious, a little awkward. By the time they’re 18, all the things they’ve gone through have made them a little more confident, more self aware. And all that is reflected in the wardrobe.”
