Dream come true
A teen British actress who snagged the plum mini-Sharpay role in High School Musical 3 talks to SUBHADRA DEVAN
WHEN she was 11 years old, she had a poster of High School Musical sweetheart Zac Efron in her room in the historic town of Beverley, near Hull in Britain.
“I’ve not told him that, yet. Hmmm, maybe I will,” says Jemma McKenzie-Brown who quickly adds that she took down that picture when she was 13.
You know what? British actress Jemma, now 14, can now walk up to the Zac and tell him whatever she wants because she’s now part of that HSM gang of Disney.
Efron (Troy), Vanessa Hudgens (Gabriella), Ashley Tisdale (Sharpay), Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman are back, this time in High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
This film sees East High seniors basketball champ Troy and brainy beauty Gabriella facing the prospect of being separated as they head off in different directions to college.
Joined by the rest of the Wildcats, they stage an elaborate spring musical reflecting their experiences, hopes and fears about their future.
HSM3 promises new music and exciting dance numbers when it opens worldwide on Oct 24. Yes, you can probably say goodbye to Troy and his gang — unless Disney makes a Varsity Musical.
HSM3 is one way of ushering in sophomore Wildcatters McKenzie-Brown, Matt Prokop and Justin Martin.
McKenzie-Brown plays Tiara, a transfer student, who becomes Sharpay’s “personal assistant” in school.
“In the film, I keep track of her appointments, that sort of thing. When I was watching HSM, Sharpay was my favourite character. I love her clothes,” she tells me over the phone at 1am.
If you are wondering if that ever happen at her own school, the prestigious Sylvia Young acting school in London, she giggles and says: “Oh noooo.”
McKenzie-Brown’s previous television credits include a supporting role in the BBC production of The Amazing Mrs Pritchard.
“I’ve always liked Disney films. Jungle Book was one of my favourites, still is, and Freaky Friday,” says the lass who comes from a non-theatre family. “Mum’s a bank manager and dad’s in aerospace.”
But she’s always had her sights on the stage, attending the Sylvia Young school when aged 11.
The call came for auditions for HSM3, and McKenzie-Brown beat 600 other girls from Britain, Canada and the US to get Tiara’s part.
According to Disney, McKenzie-Brown impressed the film-makers in the London audition with her singing and dancing, in addition to being very exciting and effervescent.
She went for two days of auditions in London at the end of January and three days in Los Angeles in early February — “my first trip to the US, yes!”
When she got the role, “I screamed a lot”, she recalls. “I was that excited.”
Filming ran for three months in Salt Lake City. “My parents stayed with me or a family friend during that time.”
You’ll see a lot more of McKenzie-Brown in High School Musical 4 due out in 2010. “HSM is just fun. I wanted to be part of that,” she adds. A Disney dream come true.
Show off your HSM talents
GOLDEN Screen Cinemas is organising a special High School Musical 3 road show-talent contest in GSC 1 Utama (New Wing) on Oct 26 and GSC Gurney Plaza on Nov 2.
HSM fans can showcase their singing and dance skills. Participation will be limited to only 10 teams per location — five teams for Category 1 (for those aged 12+ and below) and five teams for Category 2 (aged 13 and above).
Each team will be limited to a maximum of four participants a team.
Register on a first-come first-served basis from 10am onwards at GSC 1 Utama on Oct 26 and GSC Gurney Plaza, Penang on Nov 2 respectively.
Each team will have to incorporate the elements of singing-mime and dance in their performance. The teams will be judged on the following criteria — choreography, singing talent and showmanship.
The prizes at stake will include HSM3 premiums, film soundtrack from Universal Music and GSC cinema vouchers.
Check out the selected songs from the HSM3 soundtrack via www.gsc.com.my.
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