What Do The Critics Say?

"The dance routines are designed specifically for 3-D, and while the effect isn’t always smooth, it is always impressive. There is some awkward editing and cheesy showing-off, but the dancers’ tremendous talent is given the focus it deserves. Chu deserves credit for making the entire film so immersive. Tired plot, exhilarating dancing." Loey Lockerby KANSAS CITY STAR "Just as people go to the Final Destination films for the death scenes, anyone still turning out to see a Step Up flick is in it for the dance scenes, not the character arcs." William Goss CINEMATICAL "Rhythmically, athletically and energetically, Step Up 3D does not disappoint." Claudia Puig USA TODAY "The main reason to see Step Up 3D is for the high-energy dancing and innovative camerawork, and on those points it delivers." Ylan Q. Mui WASHINGTON POST "While the 3D dance scenes pop off the screen, the lines: and clichéd plot; are delivered with a resounding clunk." Anna Smith EMPIRE MAGAZINE "Though director Jon Chu brings admirable energy and imagination to Step Up 3D's dance extravaganzas, he can't animate shockingly wooden performances or cure stumble-footed dialogue." Kathleen Murphy MSN MOVIES "Fortunately, director Jon Chu knows how to keep everyone entertained during the impressively choreographed dance numbers that pop out at you with abundant energy, especially in eye-popping 3D. Unabashedly corny, contrived and comes alive with irresistibly captivating, eye-popping energy during the vibrant dance numbers." Avi Offer NEW YORK MOVIE GURU

"The story line flows into dance numbers, and the use of very sharp 3-D images resists mere gimmickry to express the exuberance of the dancers leaping right off the screen and sheer youthful energy and high spirits. Step Up 3D" has a zesty flow and movement that echoes its dances. Director Jon M. Chu, who made his feature debut with "Step Up 2: The Streets," commands a cast of 250 and a huge crew with ease and verve. An exhilarating summer treat for all ages, Step Up 3D celebrates the transformative power of dance." Kevin Thomas LOS ANGELES TIMES "It's like West Side Story and Singing in the Rain had a three way with the Devil, and this was the result." Willie Waffle WAFFLEMOVIES "The 3-D dancing is indeed in your face with arms and legs flying out of the screen. One great thing about 3-D editing is that they have to hold on master shots of the dancers instead of cutting it up, so you really get to see the moves. Calling it the best Step Up isn't even enough. It's the most awesome movie of the year. These dancers are the best special effects in Hollywood, and they’re real." Fred Topel CANMAG "Amateurishly acted and clumsily directed in the non-musical scenes. But the dancing has energy and verve." Frank Swietek ONE GUYS OPINION "The big hook here, of course, is the extra visual dimension promised by the title. Like the recent British-produced Streetdance 3D, all this really means is that certain elements of dance routines will be directed squarely where your nose meets your eyes. Luckily, the dance skills on display throughout Step Up 3D range from mildly diverting (hard not to love all those upside-down headspins) to truly impressive (a big production number with Tron-style neon body suits makes the 3D format really zing)." Leigh Paatsch BRISBANE COURIER MAIL

The Inside Story The hip hop fairy tale that first captivated audiences in 2006 continues with "Step Up 3D," the third installment of the hit film franchise from Touchstone Pictures and Summit Entertainment. Filmmakers realized they would need to up the ante on every level to top "Step Up 2 The Streets" and "Step Up". "Step Up 2 The Streets had this storybook element to it and I really envisioned the next chapter to be more of a twisted fairy tale," says director Jon M Chu. "Step Up 3D features darker characters who come out of the shadows to play into this underground playground where anything goes." "Step Up 3D" will go down in history as the first film of its kind to be shot in Digital 3D. "We were looking for exciting ways to take the franchise to the next level and 3D proved the perfect next way to literally step up," says producer Patrick Wachsberger ("Mr and Mrs Smith"). "This franchise has always made audiences feel like they were seeing the best dance party ever, but now with 3D, it’s as if they’re in the best dance party ever." Chu discovered endless potential with the new medium. "In the old classic musicals, the frame itself twists and slides with the dancer and is a part of the dance. With 3D we are able to take the frame to a whole new level, where the audience doesn’t just watch the dance, but they are part of the experience," he said. "It feels like a duet between our audience and the dancers." "We choreographed moments in the dance numbers specifically for 3D," adds producer Jennifer Gibgot ("Hairspray"). Her favorite comment from a recent screening came from a teenager who told her: "I felt like I was being attacked by dance, but in a good way." "Shooting dance in 3D creates a ton of opportunities to experience dance in totally new ways," adds Chu. "Dancers are leaping into your laps and spinning right towards your face." A standout at USC film school, Chu wowed the entertainment industry with his award-winning student films ("When the Kids Are Away" & "Silent Beats") and upon graduating was subsequently courted by a who’s who of Hollywood producers with promising projects. However, it was Offspring Entertainment’s Adam Shankman ("Hairspray") and Jennifer Gibgot and Summit Entertainment’s Patrick Wachsberger and Erik Feig (The Twilight Saga Trilogy") who presented Chu with an irresistible opportunity to helm the second installment to the surprise hit "Step Up". Chu, a former dancer, was thrilled to combine his two passions on the big screen for his directorial debut. The fairy tale theme of the series remained but Chu made "Step Up 2 The Streets" his own by injecting the energetic sequel with new characters and raw, inspired choreography that melded seamlessly with the lively storytelling that audiences responded to with "Step Up". Chu’s was an unrivaled approach that resonated with audiences with tremendous results. "Step Up 2 The Streets" ($US148,552,995 world-wide) opened #1 at the box office, solidifying the series as a juggernaut of dance and music while simultaneously amassing a following of die-hard fans who still clamor for more of the street savvy dance moves and compelling story. And this time, they’ll get it in 3D. "Dance really lends itself to 3D technology. It’s very exciting to marry the two and be the first to use this kind of technology to highlight this art form," Shankman ("The Last Song") explained. Taking 3D to the streets of New York City proved both an opportunity and a challenge. "It is like using a different paintbrush, and your method has to change to use that paintbrush," says Chu. To ensure that the delicate camera equipment could withstand the vigorous pace of filming, the filmmakers turned to camera impresario Vince Pace. Chase (who was the Los Angeles D.O.P on "Avatar") and his company PACE, oversaw the design of revolutionary technology (FUSION 3D) used for recent big box-office hits to craft their 3D camera systems. The equipment, normally bulky and highly sensitive, would repeatedly be put to the test as Chu’s elaborate dance concepts evolved. Pace modified the camera systems to a more streamlined version that allowed the fast-moving action to be shot more fluidly for stunning 3D vistas. The filmmakers looked to director of photography Ken Seng, who previously worked on the thriller/drama "Quarantine", to integrate the film’s look from both a 2D and 3D perspective. The locale turned out to be as inspirational for Seng ("Sorority Row") as it was to Chu and his cast of dancers. "It’s just amazing to work in these iconic places," Seng recalls, "to be able to translate it all in 3D really lets you be there. My goal was to capture the feeling of when I moved here in my twenties. It was total wonderment as I walked around the city for the first time. We wanted to use 3D not as a novelty, but as a tool to submerge the viewer into New York City through crane shots and a dynamic camera work." One of the more immediate, if not awe-inspiring, benefits to filming in 3D is the ability to view scenes as they play out in real time, courtesy of a giant television monitor on set. It was a common sight on any given day to see cast and crew circled around the video monitor wearing hip black plastic 3D glasses. The visible enthusiasm was good sign. "Ultimately," Chu says, "our movie creates a whole new experience in 3D, so it was worth all the hard work. And I think the audience will see that, as well. They’ll fall in love with the characters and they’ll see some of the best dancers in the world." For "Step Up 3D" the story moves from the familiar surroundings of Baltimore’s elite Maryland School of the Arts (MSA) it to the giddy wonderland of New York City, maintaining the proven formula of timely urban street choreography intertwined with a fresh, original story line. "With this film, we knew we wanted to take everything to the next level and New York is the perfect fit for the adventure," Feig says. "The city has so much history, so much culture, and people come from all over the world to New York City to live out their dreams," Chu adds. "We had a variety of worlds where we could visit: Chinatown, Red Hook, the Financial District, Times Square, Brooklyn. New York gave us a great palette to shoot in 3D and we really wanted to take our audience on a journey." With writers Amy Andelson and Emily Meyers ("Step Up 2 The Streets"), Chu went to work on developing the material that retained the heart of its predecessor, yet instilled a deeper element of fantasy, both whimsical and edgy, that would permeate every facet of the film. With a multilayered story, electrifying dance sequences and intense drama, the filmmakers were challenged with finding a well-rounded mix of actors, dancers and performers who could do both. "Casting for this franchise is always complicated," says Shankman. "We needed people who can act and dance alongside the best b-boys and b-girls. It’s wonderful to showcase the kinds of dancers that you don’t get to see as often. These kids are incredible athletes." Filmmakers kicked off the ensemble cast by welcoming back "Step Up 2 The Streets" veteran Adam G Sevani and "Step Up" star, Alyson Stoner (Sarah Baker in "Cheaper by the Dozen" 1 & 2). "I’ve known Alyson Stoner forever," Sevani notes. "One of my first jobs ever was with her and now we’re playing best friends. It’s so strange. This is how we are." "We were instantly comfortable with each other," Stoner revealed." Actor Rick Malambri ("Surrogates") portrays Luke, a hip video auteur who chronicles the city’s underground scene, while simultaneously maintaining the House of Pirates. "How fortunate am I that my first major film role is in "Step Up 3D" and I get to play this great character? As a performer, it allows me to show I’ve got a few talents up my sleeve." Malambri’s chemistry with actress Sharni Vinson, a lithe Australian tapped for the role of the enigmatic Natalie, was palpable. Vinson, a former ballet dancer who went on to star as Cassie Turner in the popular Australian television series "Home and Away" (a launching pad for stars like, Naomi Watts, Isla Fisher, Heath Ledger and Simon Baker), added a plucky refinement to the quirky cast of misfits. "It was weird. I read with several actors, but when I walked out of the audition I knew that, if I was going to get it, I was going to get it with Rick." The filmmakers cast a wide net: in and beyond the dance centers of Los Angeles, New York and Miami; to tap into young, up and coming talent who were needed to fill the more than two hundred and fifty slots for the film’s astounding six dance sequences. "Our Los Angeles audition was so huge that we had to add multiple days," Chu recalls. "There were thousands of people who turned out in each city to show what they could do. Then we hit the internet and opened up auditions to anyone who wanted to submit their own dance audition video online. As a result we have dancers from all over the world in the film. It’s one of the most amazing collections of talent in one place at one time that’s ever been assembled for a movie." Stephen 'tWitch' Boss, the remarkable runner up in season four of the popular USA series, "So You Think You Can Dance", was one of thousands of hopefuls who flooded the dance auditions. The talented freestyler also wanted to try his hand at acting. "I was walking out of the dance audition, and I asked Jon and Adam if I might be able to come in and read for a part. A couple of weeks later I came back in and read, which was a little nerve racking but exciting. Soon after that I got the call." Joining Boss is season four winner Joshua Allen who goes head to head with Sevani in a mind-blowing battle, as well as Katee Shean (season four third-place finalist), Cedric Gardner (season three), Ivan Koumaev (season two) and Gerard Heintz (season one). Real-life fairy tale stories abound for most of the supporting cast of dancers. The titian-haired Kendra Andrews, a formally trained dancer, took planes, trains and automobiles for her final audition to land the role of Anala, the beatific mother hen to the Pirates. Being in the right place at the right time worked out for identical twin tap dancers Martin and Facundo Lombard, who stumbled upon New York’s long line of dancers waiting to audition for the film. The self-taught Argentinean dancers crashed the audition and wowed, not only the filmmakers, but also the choreography team, with their rousing footwork, larger than life personalities and inimitable personal style. "They just started dancing and we were amazed," supervising choreographer Jamal Sims ("Hannah Montana: The Movie" & "17 Again") recalls. Principal photography on the film began in May 2009. Over a ten week shoot, production would hopscotch across the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn and iconic locations like Coney Island, Washington Square Park, Grand Central Station and the Brooklyn Bridge. "It's an amazing wish fulfillment to see people who are truly the best in the business pulling off new and exciting moves," says Feig. "Add to that a strong romance and relatable underdog characters and you have a winning formula around the world." What's It All About?

New York’s intense street dancing underground comes alive in eye-popping Digital 3D as the raw, passion-fueled culture goes global. For “Step Up 3D” the story moves from the familiar surroundings of Baltimore’s elite Maryland School of the Arts it to the giddy wonderland of New York City, maintaining the proven formula of timely urban street choreography intertwined with a fresh, original story line. "Step Up 3D" expands the repertoire of dance by embracing a more global point of view and recruiting young fiery dancers who embodied it, integrating it into New York’s hypnotic underground dance scene. A tight-knit group of street dancers, including Luke and Natalie, team up with NYU freshman Moose and find themselves pitted against the world’s best hip hop dancers in a high-stakes World Jam competition with a grand prize of $100,000. The showdown will change their lives forever.

The Verdict "The two previous "Step Up" films were driven by sensational dance sequences, incredible athleticism and raw energy. Now a new dimension has been added for the third edition: 3D. And boy, oh boy, does it work well. So well that it almost covers the glaring flaw that has haunted not two "Step Up" films, but now three: once the dancing stops, the holes appear. Putting it simply? They cast can dance up a storm, but unfortunately they can't act for nuts! But wait: in a way; isn't that what we should expect? Given the films premiss that the cast are playing characters who hook up because of their love for dance, should our expectation be that they (the characters) should diverge from from real life people: to be so talented as to not only wow us with their moves; but then come across as not realistic because the cast give Oscar winning performances, once the dancing stops? And who cares anyway! It's the dance we come to see. Unlike the pathetic "Street Dance 3D", the 3D in "Step Up 3D" works a treat. It truly lifts the film to another level. It leaps off the screen and into your face with spectacular effect. And hopefully, the theatre you see this film in, won't turn on the lights before the end credits have finished and ruin the 3D segment that runs through them. Worth seeing? Sure is. 3 1/2 STARS." The Production Team

Director Writers Characters Producers Original Music Cinematography Casting Production Design Art Direction Set Decoration Costume Design

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Jon Chu Amy Andelson & Emily Meyer Duane Adler Erik Feig/Jennifer Gibgot/Adam Shankman/Patrick Wachsberger Bear McCreary Ken Seng Joanna Colbert & Richard Mento Devorah Herbert Mario Ventenilla Regina Graves Kurt and Bart

Who Is Playing Who?

Rick Malambri Adam G Sevani Sharni Vinson Alyson Stoner Keith Stallworth Kendra Andrews Stephen Boss Martín Lombard Facundo Lombard Oren Michaeli Joe Slaughter Daniel Campos Aja George Terence Dickson Chadd Smith

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Luke Moose Natalie Camille Jacob Anala Jason The Santiago Twins The Santiago Twins Carlos Julien Kid Darkness The Ticks The Ticks Vladd

Run Time 107 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2010 - Universal Pictures - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2010 The Movie Pages & impact Internet Services. All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian and International Copyright. Trademark Laws and Intellectual Property Rights apply.