"Hannah Montana Concert Movie 3D"
Behind The Scenes of the "Hannah Montana Concert Movie 3D"
by Tim Nasson
January 29, 2008
"Hannah Montana Concert Movie"
Behind The Scenes
“Who woulda thought that a girl like me
Would double as a superstar.
You get the best of both worlds.”
-- “Best of Both Worlds,” Miley Cyrus
Fans of the hugely popular “Hannah Montana” will get the chance to experience the thrill of a front-row-seat to see their favorite singer, songwriter and actress, Miley Cyrus, perform her nationally sold-out HANNAH MONTANA & MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT on the big screen – for one week only – (actually, we've been told it will be extended, HELD OVER) - with this very special Disney Digital 3D™ presentation. The exclusive event comes to theaters across the U.S. and Canada from February 1 through February 7, 2008.
Shot during her 69-city, standing-room-only concert tour, the film brings a whole new dimension to the pop idol, as state-of-the-art 3D captures up-close, and with stunning clarity, the music, persona and inside world of both Miley Cyrus and her rocking alter-ego, “Hannah Montana.” With rapidly rising stars, Jonas Brothers, as her special guests and a stage filled with dancers, pyrotechnics and video imagery, "HANNAH MONTANA & MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT MOVIE" showcases the exuberant magnetism that has led the 15 year-old singer and actress to become a multimedia sensation and attracted legions of fans all over the world. In addition to its viscerally real concert footage, the film includes a “backstage pass” peek at Miley’s life on tour.
"HANNAH MONTANA & MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT MOVIE" is directed by Bruce Hendricks (“ESPN’S Ultimate X: The Movie”) and produced by Art Repola (“ESPN’S Ultimate X: The Movie”) from the concert tour phenomenon that was conceived, produced and specially designed to be shot in 3D by lauded choreographer Kenny Ortega (“High School Musical,” “High School Musical 2”).
The film’s director of photography, Mitchell Amundsen (“Transformers The Movie” and Martin Scorsese’s upcoming “Shine a Light”), simultaneously uses seven state-of-the-art, High-Definition 3D digital cameras provided by Cameron/Pace Designs – a pioneer in delivering the most captivating and immersive imagery available. The other directors of photography are Rodney Taylor and Reed Smoot. Also joining the filmmaking team is renowned editor Michael Tronick (“Hairspray”).
The Tour That Became A Phenomenon
Long before tickets to Miley Cyrus’ BEST OF BOTH WORLDS tour sold out in a flash and became one of the hottest commodities in entertainment, Walt Disney Pictures decided to capture her live performance in a specially designed, cutting-edge Disney Digital 3D™ concert film. Perhaps no one could have predicted the unprecedented pop culture phenomenon her shows would become, with literally millions of anxious young fans clamoring to get a close-up glimpse of their idol. But it has been clear for some time that Miley Cyrus – and her rock star alter-ego, “Hannah Montana” – was emerging as one of the most relatable, likable and, most of all, inspirational young female superstars of a new generation.
With upbeat songs that combine confidence, dreams and the exhilarating idea that kids can create their own futures, Miley has won the hearts of fans in part because, even within her wildly fun fantasy life as “Hannah Montana,” she’s a very real 15 year-old, whose persona and songs reflect a well-adjusted teen’s view of life.
Now, with "HANNAH MONTANA & MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT MOVIE", Miley gets the chance to invite audiences to get to know her and her electrifying performance style even better – with a movie that provides the equivalent of a prized front-row seat as well as a backstage pass to the show that highlights her as both a musical superstar and an American teenager coming into her own.
“I’m really excited that fans will have a chance to get to know the person underneath the wig,” says Miley. “I love writing music, playing guitar, singing and dancing as much as I love acting.”
Miley, the daughter of country star Billy Ray Cyrus, first came to the fore less than two years ago when, after an extensive series of hard-fought auditions, she won the lead role in the “Hannah Montana” television show, which quickly earned some of the highest ratings ever for a Disney Channel Original Series. Now in its second smash season, the show features Miley as a Malibu teen who leads an ordinary teenage life dealing with high school, crushes and social concerns by day but transforms into the glamorous, powerful pop star “Hannah Montana” whenever she hits the stage.
The success of the “Hannah Montana” show is huge, but it is just the beginning of Miley’s phenomenal rise. Her rapid ascent continued with the “Hannah Montana” soundtrack, released on Walt Disney Records, which shot to number one on the Billboard Top 200 and then went double-platinum in less than two months. Then, in fall of 2006, Miley went out on her first concert tour. She quickly sold out her dates in all 22 cities, setting attendance records in huge stadiums. Along the way, her uplifting and sparkling persona sparked an entire multimedia world, spanning from video games to clothing lines.
All of these accomplishments led up to 2007’s THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS TOUR which, as suggested by its title, is designed to bring audiences both the best of Hannah Montana while at the same time, introduces them to the real Miley Cyrus. Miley incorporates her own distinct singing and songwriting style, in an action-packed show conceived, produced, designed and choreographed by the Emmy® Award-winning creative mastermind Kenny Ortega, who is also responsible for the record-setting “High School Musical and High School Musical 2” phenomenons.
Joining Miley as her special guests on the tour are Jonas Brothers, the platinum selling music phenomenon headed by three teen-aged brothers -- Nick, Kevin and Joe. In August of 2007, the Jonas Brothers debuted at # 5 with their much anticipated album, “Jonas Brothers” which takes their trademark catchy hooks and power guitars into more mature songwriting territory, with tunes that are soulful and danceable, and lyrics that are emotionally rich yet always evoke the brothers’ positive vibe.
Jonas Brothers will embark on their own “Look You in the Eyes” headline tour January 31, in an exclusive multi-million dollar deal with concert powerhouse Live Nation. Jonas Brothers recently had break-out performances on the American Music Awards and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rocking Eve, and will perform their new single “When You Look Me In The Eyes” on Ellen January 21.
AOL recently announced their top searches for 2007. Jonas Brothers ranked # 4 in the “Top Bands” category, topping such acclaimed bands as Linkin Park and U2.
Capturing The Tour in State-of-Art Hi-Def 3D
From the beginning, the mission of "HANNAH MONTANA & MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT MOVIE" was to bring audiences the electrifying experience of seeing Miley Cyrus live – from the vantage point of the very best seat in the house, a seat so incredible it could give a fan all the angles. With its sharp, crisp imagery and life-like appearance, Disney Digital 3D™ proved to be a great medium to transport audiences directly into the center of Miley’s dynamic performance.
Bruce Hendricks knew that delving into 3D would involve challenges, especially for Miley, who would have to perform several shows with a whole team of cameras getting up-close-and-personal and following her every move on stage. “Unlike the normal 2D process, 3D is best served shooting close and wide. So the performers can’t be too conscious of the cameras, no matter how near they are,” explains Hendricks. “That’s not easy for anyone, but Miley was terrific.”
The artistic and technical process began long before the tour kicked off, as Hendricks forged a rare creative collaboration with the show’s director and choreographer, Kenny Ortega, who kept the 3D shoot in his mind even as he came up with the vibrant staging and compelling dance moves that make Miley’s performances so much fun. “Production designer Michael Cotten and I worked closely with Bruce to always ensure that we had a production look that would serve the 3D aspect of the project,” Ortega explains. “Ultimately, the entire design of the tour, including the choreography, lights, video and stage design factored into maximizing the potential of the 3D.”
With the show specially crafted to be experienced in three dimensions, Hendricks would need the latest state-of-the-art equipment to capture every inch of what was happening on stage . . . and beyond. That’s why he turned to Vince Pace -- whose company, PACE, is the world’s leading innovator in advanced 3D and Digital Cinema Systems -- to develop a photographic system that would help translate the show onto the screen with its live-wire atmosphere intact. Ultimately, Hendricks, Pace and cinematographer Mitchell Amundsen set in motion a custom-crafted system utilizing the groundbreaking Fusion 3D cameras recently invented by PACE – running seven at a time in the middle of Miley’s show -- to film the movie.
Pace was thrilled to be able to put his cutting-edge camera system at the service of bringing audiences a you-are-there experience with the performer that so many are yearning to see. “Miley is such a young, energetic, fun performer, she’s a real joy to watch in 3D,” he comments.
Pace originally designed the highly advanced Fusion 3D cameras used to film "HANNAH MONTANA & MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT MOVIE" with Academy Award®-winning filmmaker James Cameron, who has been a leading pioneer in expanding the creative possibilities of 3D. These cameras, which work on principles similar to human eyesight, are able to provide a depth of field and perspective never before seen in movie theatres. Cameron first used them to create acclaimed underwater documentaries but more recently, filmmakers like Hendricks have started exploring how the Fusion 3D cameras can bring hard-to-capture events such as sports and concerts to life in a way that harnesses the full emotional thrill of an in-the-moment experience.
“James Cameron and I set out to change entertainment as we know it by designing the tools necessary to shoot a new form of 3D, one that is based more on experience than effect,” Pace explains. “These cameras operate much like a person. They have two eyes, in this case two high definition cameras, and a very powerful brain, that for us is the computer in the system. In a sense, our cameras capture the image just like a human person witnesses an event. Our images give the viewer the ability to experience exactly what it was like to be there.”
Filming Miley took the Cameron/Pace cameras into new territory that pushed their limits. “We used the cameras on this film like an orchestra uses different instruments. Depending on what Bruce wanted for a particular shot, I would choose the right camera for the job. This is the first time that this has been done with 3D,” notes Pace. He adds that the film also marks the first time that a project captured in 3D was also edited in 3D, which occurred under the aegis of sought-after editor Michael Tronick.
While envisioning, coordinating and shooting the film was a considerable technical challenge for Hendricks and his entire team, he notes that it was also a serious blast for them – in large part because Miley herself was such a pleasure and so cooperative, even with the creative intensity of the project. “Miley is just really focused and professional,” Hendricks summarizes, “and the undeniable fact is that her instincts are great as an entertainer – and getting to capture that in the moment was always exciting.”
Designing the Tour As a Multi-Talent, Multi-Dimensional Showcase
From the moment Miley Cyrus is dramatically lowered onto the stage and begins performing as “Hannah Montana,” her BEST OF BOTH WORLDS show is non-stop kinetic excitement – filled with glittering outfits, eye-popping pyrotechnics, multimedia imagery and show-stopping dance numbers that allow Miley’s full range of talents, and both sides of her fictional and real persona, to shine.
Behind her hit show’s celebratory rhythms and motions lies Kenny Ortega, who has long been sought-after by the world’s highest-profile rock and pop stars – from Cher to Madonna – to choreograph their Broadway-quality concerts and videos. More recently, Ortega has perfected his love of joyful, spirited musical numbers as the director of the runaway hits “High School Musical” and “High School Musical 2.” Ortega had met Miley Cyrus when she performed a cameo in the finale of “High School Musical 2,” and, with all his years in entertainment watching young phenoms rise, he knew right away she was something special. Shortly after, he met with Miley and her parents to discuss the idea of working together and a close partnership was born.
“I knew Miley was the real deal,” recalls Ortega. “Her energy, spirit and enthusiasm reminded me of Cher, whom I had worked with for many years. I couldn't wait to get to work with her on her new tour.”
As that work began, Ortega became even more impressed by what he was witnessing. “Everyday in rehearsals I saw Miley grow, and on tour, in front of an audience, she had the poise and stage presence of someone twice her age and experience,” he continues. “Watching her perform in front of thousands of screaming fans is like watching anyone else in the comfort of their living room. What I particularly enjoy and admire about Miley is that she is always present in the work. While some performers get lost in the choreography, Miley has an amazing sense of herself, and never loses sight of that no matter what paces you're putting her through.”
For the BEST OF BOTH WORLDS tour, Ortega joined forces with Miley’s long-time choreographer Teresa Espinosa in designing the dance numbers and also credits ample creative input from Miley and her mother, Tish. For Ortega, this kind of multi-generational collaboration was, in itself, “the best of both worlds.” “My background in music began in the early 70's when I was directing and choreographing videos and tours for the Tubes, Kiss, Fleetwood Mac, Elton, Devo, Madonna, Michael Jackson and many others. So it's a wonderful thing when you can share what you've learned and love with a whole new generation of artists. It just proves that everything old, with a little twist, can be new again,” he muses.
When it came to designing the stage set for the show, Miley and Ortega agreed that they wanted something completely new and different than the same-old standard set-up. “We set out to design a set that would serve each of the three acts as headliners: Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus. We first discussed that we didn’t want Jonas Brothers to open the show in front of black curtain in the usual style. Instead, we designed their entrance with the three brothers lowered in on a flying truss,” notes Ortega.
More excitement developed from there. Ortega continues: “Then it became important that we follow the Jonas Brothers’ entrance with something equally as cool and surprising for both Hannah and Miley's entrances. Since Hannah is a TV star, we thought lowering her to the stage in a giant video box would be really exciting and appropriate. Finally, when Miley kicks off her portion of the show with ‘Start All Over,’ we added an elevator entrance at the end of the runway because we wanted to introduce Miley to the stage as close to the audience as possible.”
Ortega notes that production designer Michael Cotten was key to creating the unique and playful video dimension of the stage show. “Michael is a video and media wizard. What great fun it was working with a master in designing the video look of the tour,” he comments.
More fun was had with the tour’s costumes, which reflect both “Hannah Montana’s” glitzy rocker style and Miley Cyrus’ more typical teenage sense of fun. “I worked closely with Miley, Tish, Teresa, and the costume design team of Dahlia Foroutan, Tiffany Feller and Jill Focke to come up with the looks. I also worked closely with the Jonas Brothers’ stylist, Michelle Tomaszewski, for their look,” notes Ortega.
The tour producer and choreographer loved having the opportunity to work with another exciting new act in the Jonas Brothers, who open Miley’s show with a bang. “They are some of the most exciting young performers I've seen on stage in years,” he says. “These guys don't waste a moment, and it shows in everything that they do. Their backgrounds in music and theatre, and the dues they've paid for years on stage before anyone knew who they were, have chiseled them into one of the great new up and coming forces in rock and roll. In my opinion, Jonas Brothers have only one place to go: up! I loved every minute with these guys in rehearsal and watching them thrill audiences all over the country as they exploded on to the stage night after night giving it all up.”
It was that raw essence of vitality and emerging creativity in both the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus that Ortega hopes his design of the show allows to come to the fore. “I really had great fun with them,” admits Ortega. “When you see something click in a young performer, and you know that you've had something to do with leading them to that place, it's the greatest feeling. Gene Kelly did that for me and it’s wonderful to see it happen again.”
Life on Tour with Miley
"HANNAH MONTANA & MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT MOVIE" not only delivers the experience of a live concert; the film also provides a rare glimpse into Miley Cyrus’ real backstage life on tour. Miley admits that, despite the whirlwind schedule and hardships for a teenage star still in school, she loves being on tour – after all, she grew up traveling on the tour bus with her father. Those days remain some of her fondest childhood memories. “We would be on the bus for long stretches of time,” she recalls, “and we got to hang out, play board games and just be together.”
Miley is now sharing that same experience with her mother, Tish, and younger sister, Noah. They have adapted to living on a bus for a 3-month stretch, adding little touches of home -- Miley’s tour bus bed is decorated in a “Hello Kitty” theme and she has turned her bunk into an additional closet, where she keeps her 18 pairs of blue jeans.
Meanwhile, Miley’s father is filled with pride at what his daughter has accomplished in such short time in her career, noting that Miley co-wrote eight of the tunes heard in the “Meet Miley Cyrus” portion of the tour. Billy Ray has especially enjoyed getting the chance to star as Miley’s father and manager, Robby, on the “Hannah Montana” show. “We get to spend a lot of time with each other, which I consider a major plus because life goes by so fast,” he says.
For Miley, this tour has brought her something she cherishes more than anything: the chance to truly interact with her fans – whether on the stage or knowing so many would see the 3D concert film in the near future. She sums up, “There’s nothing more fun than being out on stage and feeling the vibe from the crowd. I loved getting to see all of my awesome fans face-to-face when I was on tour. Their energy made me want to get on stage and give it my all every night.”
Watch "Hannah Montana Concert Movie" Trailer
