After ‘School’ special
'Musical' ends but star Corbin Bleu looks for bright future
By Bruce R. Miller, Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, September 12, 2008
Corbin Bleu will follow "High School Musical 3" with a film about motocross called "Free Style." It hits theaters in January.
When you see Corbin Bleu zipping down a basketball court like Kobe Bryant, just know: That's acting.
"I'm horrible at basketball," the "High School Musical" star says.
When he was cast in the Emmy-winning Disney Channel film, Bleu knew he'd have to do a lot of preparation. "I traveled everywhere with a ball. I'd take it to dinner with me. There wasn't a single second I didn't have it in hand."
The goal: To look like he actually knew what he was doing.
Since then, the 19-year-old has tackled boxing, rope jumping and motocross for film roles. "I'm the kind of person who gets bored very quickly," Bleu says. "I like to learn new things...and test the water."
Dancing? It's second nature. Prompted by his parents, he started at 2 and hasn't quit. "At a party, it was a good thing. I could dance and everyone thought it was great." In middle school, however, peers made fun of him when he admitted he was taking ballet classes. His argument: "Where else do you get to run around with beautiful girls?"
Lessons led to performances. Performances led to jobs. Jobs pointed the way to "High School Musical," "the biggest thing in my life.
"It's honestly made me who I am right now. During the past three years, I've grown up with that cast. (The film) changed my life."
It also launched a franchise for the Disney company.
In addition to two TV movies, the concept prompted a concert tour, netted its stars solo CDs and paved the way for "High School Musical 3," a big-screen venture headed to theaters this fall.
"It should be a great movie," Bleu says without hesitation. "The music is great. The storyline is very emotional. Everyone put their hearts in it."
Set during the final year of high school, it follows the regulars (including Bleu's basketball-playing Chad) as they make their way through prom, graduation and those final goodbyes. "It's the last year for the Wildcats at East High."
But is it the last year for Bleu, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and the rest? Yup, says Bleu. "There'll probably be more 'High School Musical' films but not more with this cast."
Instead, he and the others are branching out into other facets of entertainment. Currently, Bleu and Drew Seeley (one of the first film's songwriters) are on tour, testing their concert abilities. In January, Bleu will be seen in "Free Style," a film about a teenager hoping to make the Grand National motocross racing team.
Another learning curve? You bet. "I'm a person who believes everything happens for a reason. I like moving forward. I tend to not look back."
But where does he head after "High School Musical"?
That new film provides a clue, Bleu says. A second album does, too.
"I've been able to write on all the songs," he says. "It's been nothing but fun."
Then, too, there's the tour -- which stops at the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa, Saturday. It features dances by Travis Payne, songs from the actor's first and second albums and a Prince cover -- but nothing from "High School Musical."
Nothing from "High School Musical"? "That's the whole point," Bleu says. "You're not coming to see Chad. You're coming to see me and this is very much who I am."
Still, vestiges of Chad linger.
That Chad 'do that launched a thousand imitators, for example, is still in place. ("It's part of the look but if a role comes along and I'm asked to cut it. I'll do it. It's hair. It grows back.")
Then, too, there's the tween-age adulation, guaranteed to make any of the six stars prey for kids on the prowl. ("Mostly," he insists, "it's a positive thing.")
Gone, though, are the three watches Chad wears in the first film.
"I was in the fitting room talking to Ray our propmaster and we were looking over the watches. I was trying to figure out the character and, since Chad's quirky and off the wall, I decided, 'Why not all three? They could be set to different time zones in different parts of the world.'"
The decision stuck and a trend was born -- with everyone but Bleu.
He's not a three-watch man.
But he is a guy who knows never to say never.
A "High School Musical" reunion?
"Maybe 30 years from now," he says.
"I'm horrible at basketball," the "High School Musical" star says.
When he was cast in the Emmy-winning Disney Channel film, Bleu knew he'd have to do a lot of preparation. "I traveled everywhere with a ball. I'd take it to dinner with me. There wasn't a single second I didn't have it in hand."
The goal: To look like he actually knew what he was doing.
Since then, the 19-year-old has tackled boxing, rope jumping and motocross for film roles. "I'm the kind of person who gets bored very quickly," Bleu says. "I like to learn new things...and test the water."
Dancing? It's second nature. Prompted by his parents, he started at 2 and hasn't quit. "At a party, it was a good thing. I could dance and everyone thought it was great." In middle school, however, peers made fun of him when he admitted he was taking ballet classes. His argument: "Where else do you get to run around with beautiful girls?"
Lessons led to performances. Performances led to jobs. Jobs pointed the way to "High School Musical," "the biggest thing in my life.
"It's honestly made me who I am right now. During the past three years, I've grown up with that cast. (The film) changed my life."
It also launched a franchise for the Disney company.
In addition to two TV movies, the concept prompted a concert tour, netted its stars solo CDs and paved the way for "High School Musical 3," a big-screen venture headed to theaters this fall.
"It should be a great movie," Bleu says without hesitation. "The music is great. The storyline is very emotional. Everyone put their hearts in it."
Set during the final year of high school, it follows the regulars (including Bleu's basketball-playing Chad) as they make their way through prom, graduation and those final goodbyes. "It's the last year for the Wildcats at East High."
But is it the last year for Bleu, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and the rest? Yup, says Bleu. "There'll probably be more 'High School Musical' films but not more with this cast."
Instead, he and the others are branching out into other facets of entertainment. Currently, Bleu and Drew Seeley (one of the first film's songwriters) are on tour, testing their concert abilities. In January, Bleu will be seen in "Free Style," a film about a teenager hoping to make the Grand National motocross racing team.
Another learning curve? You bet. "I'm a person who believes everything happens for a reason. I like moving forward. I tend to not look back."
But where does he head after "High School Musical"?
That new film provides a clue, Bleu says. A second album does, too.
"I've been able to write on all the songs," he says. "It's been nothing but fun."
Then, too, there's the tour -- which stops at the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa, Saturday. It features dances by Travis Payne, songs from the actor's first and second albums and a Prince cover -- but nothing from "High School Musical."
Nothing from "High School Musical"? "That's the whole point," Bleu says. "You're not coming to see Chad. You're coming to see me and this is very much who I am."
Still, vestiges of Chad linger.
That Chad 'do that launched a thousand imitators, for example, is still in place. ("It's part of the look but if a role comes along and I'm asked to cut it. I'll do it. It's hair. It grows back.")
Then, too, there's the tween-age adulation, guaranteed to make any of the six stars prey for kids on the prowl. ("Mostly," he insists, "it's a positive thing.")
Gone, though, are the three watches Chad wears in the first film.
"I was in the fitting room talking to Ray our propmaster and we were looking over the watches. I was trying to figure out the character and, since Chad's quirky and off the wall, I decided, 'Why not all three? They could be set to different time zones in different parts of the world.'"
The decision stuck and a trend was born -- with everyone but Bleu.
He's not a three-watch man.
But he is a guy who knows never to say never.
A "High School Musical" reunion?
"Maybe 30 years from now," he says.
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