High School Musical a "Phenomenon"

[Sarangel]

From The Salt Lake Tribune:

By Vince Horiuchi

Like the ballad about Troy and Gabriella's blossoming love, the tween TV movie sensation "High School Musical" is just the "Start of Something New." The Disney Channel movie filmed entirely in Utah has exploded into "High School Musical - The Cultural Phenomenon." And the House of Mouse, known for its savvy marketing, is not about to let this opportunity slip.

Get ready for "High School Musical - The Franchise" with licensed products, more albums, cell-phone ringtones, the DVD and a book. And of course, there's the sequel, which very well could be filmed in Utah. "It's not just a Disney Channel movie anymore," said Damon Whiteside, vice president of marketing for Walt Disney Records, which released the movie's chart-topping soundtrack album. "It took on a life of its own."

The movie stars Zac Efron as Troy, a varsity basketball star, and Vanessa Anne Hutchinson as the brainiac Gabriella, who want to sing in the school's musical. Since premiering on Jan. 20, the film has become the highest-rated program ever on the Disney Channel and has produced a No. 1-selling album and eight top-100 songs on the Billboard charts. It was directed by Kenny Ortega, who orchestrated the 2002 Winter Games Opening Ceremony in Salt Lake City.

A hybrid of "Romeo and Juliet," "Grease" and "American Idol," the spunky musical is on its way to becoming a mini-cottage industry. Last week, a downloadable version of the movie was made available on Apple's iTunes Music Store, the first feature-length movie to be sold on the digital download service. This month, ringtones from the movie's songs will be available through all major cell-phone carriers. In May, a "special edition" soundtrack album will be released that includes karaoke versions of the songs. That month also will see the DVD, which includes two versions of the movie (the original and a sing along version), and High School Musical - The Novel.

In June, the movie goes international, premiering on foreign versions of the Disney Channel in Australia, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Japan and India as well as others. Finally, Disney will start merchandising products from the movie, which at the very least will include an official "High School Musical" clothing line.

Meanwhile, the inevitable sequel is in the scriptwriting stage, and filming could begin as early as the fall with an anticipated 2007 release. "All I can tell you is it probably won't be based at the school," said Michael Healy, senior vice president for original movies at the Disney Channel. "It will be a whole new journey, but it will be the same friends along for the ride."

Healy hopes producers will return to Utah to film the sequel. The movie was filmed mostly at East High School, with some parts shot in the auditorium at Murray High School and in Spanish Fork Canyon. "I'd be really disappointed if we didn't come back to Salt Lake," Healey said about the sequel.

"High School Musical" has aired eight times since January and has been seen by more than 30 million viewers. Whiteside said the music has broken records on Billboard's "Hot 100" chart for the most songs simultaneously on the chart in one week (eight) and the fastest jump in one week. As of this week, the movie was the third most-downloaded video on iTunes, and the soundtrack - which produced one platinum and four gold singles - remained the No. 1 album on Billboard's chart.

"Everyone comes up to me almost every day and says, 'I've seen the movie, and it was so cool. I love it,' " said 17-year-old Taylorsville actor Ryne Sanborn, who played Jason, one of Troy's high-school buddies in the movie. "I've met a lot of people that way."

East High School's principal, Robyn Roberts, says she gets e-mails every day about the movie. "They're asking, 'Is your school really that fun?' " she said. "They ask about the school - 'Which room was this filmed in?' 'Do you have other pictures of the school?' 'Does it really look like this?' " One school administrator from the South even asked for a floor plan of East High. "They're redesigning their school," she said, "and they want to make it more enjoyable for kids."

 

[All Aboard]

Great, it gets worse. This show is like video crack to my daughter. Every time it comes on, she has to see it.

 

[Sarangel]

Great, it gets worse. This show is like video crack to my daughter. Every time it comes on, she has to see it.

So, buy her the DVD (I assume you have a portable DVD player & headphones) and let her OD and get sick of it. There are worse things she could be addicted to...

Truely, I watched it & it wasn't bad (especially for a 'tween market).

Sarangel

 

[tink1978]

My son loves it too and has to watch it every time it's on...he's only 7.

 

[Captain Brain]

It is all over my school. I hear the songs daily. They were good at first, but after the 50th time you have heard it, it gets annying.

 

[TinkInPink]

yes were all in this togather.....!


sorry i had to.

 

[kimkarli]

My dd6 is totally crazy about High School Musical!! In fact We're all in This Together is going to be the song for her twirling routine in recital. She was THRILLED to learn this!!!!! I guess I will have to buy the DVD when it comes out.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

My dd (10) loves it too! Her chorus is signing a song from the show too - can't remember it right now. All the kids voted on it.

 

[crazy4wdw]

The DVD comes out on May 23. You can already preorder it at disneyshopping.com

 

[DisOrBust]

Same here it plays well in White suburbia Wisconsin.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

my kids also love it...if Disney was smart they would add this as an attraction at MGM

 

[tinkerbelle22]

It is all over my school. I hear the songs daily. They were good at first, but after the 50th time you have heard it, it gets annying.

Totally. Even the people who would normally be "too cool" for it are singing the songs. All my friends think Zac Efron is the hottest person alive. I mean, I liked the movie, but I just didn't love it, ya know? And it's become a crime in my school not to even like it

 

[lts862]

My 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 year old love it, too. Looking forward to the DVD coming out so that they CAN use the portable DVD in their room. It is a bit grating on the nerves seeing it 10 times in less than 2 months.

 

[Sarangel]

And the band played on....

Jim Hill has an article up about High School Musical not only filming 2 sequels, but going on tour sometime later this year. They will, of course, make a CD & DVD of the tour and market that as well. So for those of you unable to get enough of this Musical, by Christmas you may just be sick of it.

Sarangel

 

[Rence]

my kids also love it...if Disney was smart they would add this as an attraction at MGM

That would be a great idea. Sets and costumes would be simple enough. The plot is thin enough that you could easily make a 30 to 45 minute show out of it and keep the basic plot and the songs. There are enough theaters, stages etc. around WDW that I'm sure that they could find one someplace to put the show on. Gives them something new and something popular without a lot of cost or effort. You figure that it won't last forever, but may have a life of a couple of years.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

That would be a great idea. Sets and costumes would be simple enough. The plot is thin enough that you could easily make a 30 to 45 minute show out of it and keep the basic plot and the songs. There are enough theaters, stages etc. around WDW that I'm sure that they could find one someplace to put the show on. Gives them something new and something popular without a lot of cost or effort. You figure that it won't last forever, but may have a life of a couple of years.

They could put this where they had Doug Live. My dd LOVED that show! It would be the perfect spot.

 

[BethA]

when is this on? I've never seen it?

 

[TESTRACKLOVER92]

So, buy her the DVD (I assume you have a portable DVD player & headphones) and let her OD and get sick of it. There are worse things she could be addicted to...

Truely, I watched it & it wasn't bad (especially for a 'tween market).

Sarangel

im 13 and i truely LOVE the movie...i watch it everytime it comes on too

 

[MAKmom]

DD 9 & 12 love it. They want the sound track for the Ipods. All thier friend are crazy about. I like it too.

 

[JamesMorehead]

Well, I hit the "cool dad" jackpot - I was attending the National Cable Show in Atlanta this week and at the Disney/ESPN booth the entire cast of High School Musical was there signing autographs and taking pictures...

The line wasn't full of pre-teens, but rather very excited parents (like myself) getting the ultimate tradeshow present.

My daughter "freaked" (as they say) at the signed poster and picture of her dad with the cast.

BTW - the actors are scary attractive - I saw them close up. Guess that's why they are movie stars and I work a desk!