I remember 10 years ago, I saw the commercial for a new Disney Channel Original Movie and was getting very excited! I have been a fan of Disney Channel for as long as I could remember and their movies were some of my very favorite. So I was always excited when I new one was coming out. But little did I know was that this movie was going to become basically one of the biggest movies in the world. Really, I don't think anyone knew.
What movie was that? High School Musical.
 |
| High School Musical poster Credit: Disney |
Characters:
Troy Bolton - Zac Efron
Gabriella Montez - Vanessa Hudgens
Sharpay Evans - Ashley Tisdale
Ryan Evans - Lucas Grabeel
Taylor McKessie - Monique Coleman
Chad Danforth - Corbin Bleu
Coach Jack Bolton - Bart Johnson
Ms. Darbus - Alyson Reed
Zeke Baylor - Chris Warren Jr.
Kelsi Nielsen - Olesya Rulin
Jason Cross - Ryne Sanborn
Martha Cox - KayCee Stroh
MORE
The characters and actors weren't the only important part of the film but it was the Director and Choreographers that pulled everything together. Kenny Ortega, director and choreographer, with choreographers Bonnie Story and Charles (aka Chucky) Klapow took the story and ran with it creating the great movie we know today.
Again, I remember being so excited about the new DCOM but I had no idea how great the movie was going to be and it was! The music, the themes, the acting - it all came together and worked.
January 19th is my Mom's birthday so we went out to dinner to celebrate her birthday and I just remember talking about the new DCOM premiering the next night. My Dad was also excited as he's one who also enjoys Disney Channel's movies as well. So we had planned to watch High School Musical together.
I also had to record the movie because my best friend was going to be away for the weekend and she wanted to watch it. Recording it was either a great thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Because after watching High School Musical the first time, my Dad and I became obsessed. So obsessed that every day after I come home from school, we watched it.
Like literally every day, we watched it. Kept it on our DVR even after my best friend watched it. The one sad part about it was because of the long commercials with the cast, the DVR didn't get the whole movie so for about a few weeks, we were always cut off near the ending and I can still remember Troy and Gabriella coming together to continue "We're All in this Together" and that would cut off right there. I still wait for it to stop there when I watch the movie now.
And I know that we weren't the only ones that found the movie so mesmerizing to watch it so many times. I remember going to school and all my friends talking about it. At lunch time, at my table we would talk excitedly about High School Musical and also spelling out the "Go Drama Club" and exclamation point moment at our table.
"Go Drama Club" scene
Credit: High School Musical and Disney
High School Musical made a difference in the fans' lives due to the messages that the film gives off: be yourself, don't be afraid of trying different things, love yourself, and more. I believe my town and schools were already good with letting us doing different things but I know how much it may have helped other schools across not only the United States but across the world.
High School Musical played a major role in lots of people's lives including my own. I was a huge fan. I created a Myspace fan site, I also made a YouTube channel, and then it lead to me writing Fanfiction stories for the movie. It's given me opportunity to better my writing and getting to know fans from across the country/world. Connections were made.
It continued getting better as they made the record-breaking sequel and then the third movie which was in the theaters on the big screen (I have to admit, I went to see it FOUR times in the theaters).
When I think about how this little DCOM made it into a phenomenon, I ask myself the same question I'm sure the cast asks themselves: Why? Why did it become as big as it did?
Well, of course the cast says the fans help but we have to give a lot of credit to the cast, director, choreographers, and crew because they are the main reason why it was as successful as it was. To me, the best part of the films was that it seemed it was never forced. The "break out to songs" always seemed natural and it was because it was fun to do.
The cast and crew always seemed to have fun filming as seen on the behind the scenes. If we see the cast having fun, then we the fans are going to have fun as well.
So I want to take time to thank the cast and crew for making a fun, enjoyable, and relatable movie because without High School Musical, I'm not sure what a lot of people would be doing or if we even have some of the other shows/movies that we have now.
There's just so much more I can say about the movie but I'm not sure I would be able to put it all in words because the High School Musical franchise was just more and it all started with one movie, High School Musical.
Happy 10 Year Anniversary, High School Musical.
Make sure you tune in to Disney Channel on Wednesday, January 20th to celebrate the anniversary as the cast of the movie came together for a special.
Credit: High School Musical and Disney
Again, thank you High School Musical cast and crew for all of our childhood and even adulthood (yes of course I still watch it - who doesn't?).
Until Next Time
CGoerlich <3
No comments:
Post a Comment