Who Plays Who?

Naturi Naughton Kay Panabaker Walter Perez Bebe Neuwirth Charles S. Dutton Kelsey Grammer Debbie Allen Megan Mullally Scott Wood Asher Book Kherington Payne Collins Pennie Kristy Flores Paul McGill Paul Iacono Cody Longo Julius Tennon April Grace Michael Hyatt Laura Johnson James Read Ryan Surratt Howard Gutman Dale Godboldo J.T. Horenstein

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Denise Jenny Garrison Victor Taveras Ms Kraft Mr James Dowd Mr Martin Cranston Ms Angela Simms Ms Fran Rowan Teacher Marco Alice Ellerton Malik Washburn Rosie Martinez Kevin Barrett Neil Baczynsky Andy Matthews Denise's Dad Denise's Mom Malik's Mom Alice's Mom Alice's Dad Eddie Neil's Dad Music Executive Dance Teacher

What Do The Critics Say

"It’s corny, true, but still several cuts above the mind-numbing "High School Musical" series. It’s helped by an excellent cast, particularly the vets playing the faculty: including Debbie Allen from the first film, now here as a principal, and the always-wonderful Bebe Neuwirth as a no-nonsense dance teacher." Stephen Whitty NEWARK STAR-LEDGER "Unlike the 1980 original, chances are it won't have you racing out to buy a leotard so you can leap off the roof of a Yellow cab. But its well-intentioned message and some likeable characters mean the teenage target audience should find plenty to enjoy. Fame's message: about believing in yourself and following your dreams; comes across as wholesome rather than saccharine, while the actors playing the teachers deserve to take a bow." David Edwards THE TICKET "The film does deliver a commendable message about the importance of talent and hard work as opposed to instant, Pop Idol-style celebrity. Fame is no Bandslam, but it's still an entertaining drama with a commendable message and the likeable performances just about compensate for the heavily cliched script." Matthew Turner VIEW LONDON "A film that’s largely a raw, uplifting love letter to creativity in every possible form. The big surprise is how much the remake respects the original. Like its predecessor, the 2009 Fame is a scattershot series of portraits with no clear protagonist. The music leans more toward hip-hop and R&B than in the original, but there’s still room for a soupçon of everything in Tancharoen’s world, from ballet to tap to camcorder filmmaking to Chicago showtunes." AV CLUB "The new "Fame" is so squeaky-clean, it almost has Vanessa Hudgens in it. Much of Fame draws us in, through the irresistible appeal of young people bursting with energy. The movie, via the school's faculty, keeps reminding us (rather refreshingly) that dreams aren't enough and that hard work isn't enough: being a performing artist is something rare and special. Several in this young cast are poised on the verge; let's see if we, ultimately, remember their names." Moira MacDonald SEATTLE TIMES

"To me, 'Fame' beautifully highlights the joys and heartbreaks that come with dedication to the performing arts. One of the most satisfying jobs I ever had was being a college dean assigned to supervise those creative areas. The students and teachers in Fame remind me of the talented people I dealt with in that capacity. How wonderful to see such exciting rehearsals and performances again!" Betty Jo Tucker REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS "A terrific score coupled with exciting choreography, tight editing and a talented cast make Fame a joyous and upbeat experience. Naturi Naughton is the film's undisputed star, playing Denise, the talented pianist. Anyone who has ever dreamed of a career in the performing arts will revel in the electric atmosphere. It's bursting with energy and the zest for life is contagious." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "Grammer brings a little slyness, some psychological game playing, to his teaching style. Neuwirth is a straight talking task master and looks great in a leotard. Best is Mullally, whose confident command shields a shakier personal history. She's funny, too, and does a terrific karaoke cover of "You Took Advantage of Me." The performance numbers are executed by some pretty talented kids and Megan Mullally and Bebe Neuwirth are intriguing as the school's singing and dance instructors." Laura Clifford REELING REVIEWS "In these days of "High School Musical", "Step Up" and "Hairspray", the filmmakers know exactly who will be watching this latest "Fame", so out goes the language, homosexuality, abortions, and grit of the first movie and in comes PG friendly drunkeness (lesson: it's bad), tragedy (an aborted suicide ripped off from the first movie, references to drive-bys), and cussing (nothing above the "sh" word)." Rob Daniel SKY MOVIES "Burnett's script almost sinks Fame, but the voice of Naturi Naughton, the heart of Dutton, and the energy of Tancharoen give it a pulse. Fame is erratic, but it definitely has a beat. The movie generally is decently cast. The best are Naturi Naughton (Denise), who really is a talented singer, and Charles S. Dutton, who retains his humanity as a committed teacher of theater. And it's good to see Debbie Allen, who appeared in the original movie and also was Lydia for five years (1982-1987) in the Fame television series. Fame is erratic, but it definitely has a beat." Tony Macklin TONYMACKLIN.NET

The Inside Story 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). 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 twenty five years," says 2005 Oscar ® winning producer Tom Rosenberg ("Million Dollar Baby"). "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." 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 thirty or fourty directors," says producer Gary Lucchesi ("The Ugly Truth"), "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 nineteen, which was incredible." 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 twenty four 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. 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." 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 cast brings an authenticity to the characters," Tancharoen ("You Got Served") explained. "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. Fiorello H LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, 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. 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. She sees Angela Simms as a new incarnation of Lydia Grant. "As far as I’m concerned," three time EMMY Award winner Allen (1982, '83 & '91) 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." 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. "I modeled Mr. Dowd after many acting teachers that I had myself," three time EMMY Award winner Dutton (2000, '02 & '03) says. "They gave us a lot of tough love, intensity and discipline." Five time EMMY Award winner Kelsey Grammer portrays Martin Cranston, one of the school’s music teachers. 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. 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. hey 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." Grammer went on to become a household name thanks to his TV appearances and reaped numerous awards including: two Golden Globes, two People's Choice U.A.A. Awards, two Satellite Awards and four Q Award. Wry and playful vocal instructor Fran Rowan is played by two time EMMY Award winner Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace") who 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. Her recent concert appearances include The Allen Room at Lincoln Centre, The Kennedy Centre, 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. "The original movie had a big impact on me," Mullally (who played Principal Walsh in 2005's "Rebound") notes. "I was in college and it was a big deal in my little Theatre community. It was one of the first movies I ever saw that had an entire cast of people my age." Rounding out the faculty is two time EMMY Award winner Bebe Neuwirth (Cheers") 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". To compose the films 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 ("Runaway Bride"). To move the cast’s bodies to the music, the filmmakers put the dancer/actors under the supervision of award-winning choreographer three time EMMY Award winner Marguerite Derricks (1997, '98 & '99). 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 were so many gifted kids trying out it was unreal and fantastic and also heartbreaking because we couldn’t hire everyone," Tancharoen recalls. Synopsis

"Fame" follows a talented group of young 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: providing they have talent, dedication, and work hard. In an incredibly competitive atmosphere, plagued by self-doubt, their passion will be put to the test. In addition to their artistic goals, they must deal with everything else that goes along with high school, a tumultuous time full of schoolwork, deep friendships, romance and self-discovery. As each strives for his or her moment in the spotlight, they’ll discover who has the innate talent and necessary discipline to succeed. With the love and support of their friends and fellow artists, and guided by their teachers, they’ll find out who amongst them will achieve "Fame."

The Verdict "Those who grew up on the original "Fame" and the TV series it spawned, would be well advised to steer clear of this reimaging which is aimed fairly and squarely at a new generation of young cinemagoers. For them, "Fame" should prove to be reasionably entertaining. It is invigorating, energetic and inspirational: particularly that exhilirating sequence in the high schools cafeteria. There's plenty to applaude in "Fame". Those who play the various teachers do exceptionally well (Charles S Dutton and Bebe Neuwirth are outstanding). There are some young actors who certainly deserve a big wrap, including: Naturi Naughton (a remarkable voice), Kay Panabaker (baby-faced and naïve), Kherington Payne (stunning dance numbers), Collins Pennie (a convincing rapper) and Paul McGill (high hopes, heartbreaking result). I get the feeling that, despite all its vigour, glitz, glamour and earthiness, "Fame" won't attract the result the production team are looking for. That's because the original films target audience won't be attracted to this reimaged version. "Fame" will, unfortunately, never make it big-time at the box-office. 3 1/2 STARS." The Production Team

Director 2009 Screenplay 1980 screenplay Producers Original Music D.O.P Film Editors Casting Production Designer Art Direction Costume Design

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Kevin Tancharoen Allison Burnett Christopher Gore Mark Canton/Tom Rosenberg Gary Lucchesi/Richard S Wright Mark Isham Scott Kevan Myron I Kerstein Deborah Aquila & Mary Tricia Wood Paul Eads Scott Meehan Dayna Pink

Run Time 107 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2009 - MGM/United Artists - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2009 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.