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    Day Three On The Set Of High School Musical 2

    Posted by Laura Saltman June 14 at 02:16 PM | Comments (26)


  • It's the third and final day of my trip to St. George, Utah where I've been hanging with the cast of "High School Musical 2." I realize now how special this experience has been after the numerous emails I've received from co-workers and friends with nieces, children, cousins and grandchildren. Everyone wants me to bring something back from the set for them. In the interest of fairness I decided it would be best to simply not bring anything back except my memories. That way no one will feel bad if I didn't bring them something and did for someone else. Besides won't seeing my interviews (which begin airing in July) be enough of a gift? Ok. Probably not but at least that's how I justify not bugging Zac, Vanessa, Ashley, Lucas and Corbin for autographs.

    Fortunately, this was going to be a much shorter day than yesterday as my crew had a plane to catch back in Las Vegas (about a two-hour drive). We arrived to set around 9:30am after a quick stop at the craft service tent where the head cook/chef gave us a tour of his domain. I must say he was very proud of his barbeque grill which I kid you not was the size of an SUV! Then it was off to set which today was the front gates of the Entrada Country Club which is serving as the Lava Springs Country club where Sharpay and family are members and the rest of the cast are going to be working. The morning's shoot is Sharpay and her brother Ryan arriving to the club in her pimped out pink convertible.


    Before the action begins we have some time to interview Lucas Grabeel who plays Ryan Evans. The poor kid is exhausted. He and Corbin Bleu were the principal actors in the baseball number yesterday. They must have done like fifty takes and then worked late into the evening. So, needless to say this early call time was getting to him. It was also very bright and very sunny already which is tough to take when you are that exhausted. We agreed that Lucas could keep his sunglasses on during our interview. You'll notice when the film comes out that Ryan will always be wearing a page boy cap. It's a throwback to the twenties and it sort of fits his character so perfectly.

    Lucas is then pulled away to begin filming his scene in the car with Ashley. I walk over to set and meet director Kenny Ortega's dog, Manly, a yorkshire terrier who not only has a role in this movie as Sharpay's dog Boi but has it's very own director's chair and trailer (ok technically he has to share the trailer with Kenny). Kenny comes over to introduce himself to me and thanks Access Hollywood for coming. It's rare that the director of a film would actually want an entertainment news show barging in on their production. You can tell just how proud he is of this project. We walk over for a sit-down to talk about the film. He tells me why he is so protective of the material. Kenny doesn't want any information leaking out because he wants it to be a surprise for the audience. That's going to be tough but I admire his enthusiasm. I bring up the recently announced feature film project being kicked around that is said to be a Halloween themed "High School Musical" film. He hadn't heard much about it and so far has not been asked to direct but says she would jump at the chance to do it. None of the principal actors at this time had been approached yet either. My guess is if HSM 2 is a hit (and you know it will be) they will fast track a feature film.

    Ten minutes later and the crew is set up for the next shot which means Kenny must jet off. This non-stop day continues as Corbin Bleu has arrived to the set. He is by far the nicest, most down-to-earth of all the cast members. He's also been the most friendly towards me allowing me to shoot my DV camera whenever I want. The others have been more standoff-ish since these are the more personal off-the-cuff moments on set. Corbin has a much bigger role in the sequel and as well he should as he is one of Disney's fasting rising stars. On this day in March his single had just been released on Radio Disney and the album was coming soon after. He had also been featured with his dad in the Disney flick, "Jump In."

    We chat for awhile and then it's time for him to take us on a tour of the grounds... the home away from home for all the cast and crew. This was quite the production and when you see it on Access Hollywood in the coming weeks (sometime in July!) you would never know what went into it. All you will see is Corbin driving around in a golf cart giving us a tour. What you wont see is the golf cart behind him with the camera, the golf cart behind the camera crew with the publicists and the golf cart behind them with me and the general manager of the country club. Corbin takes us to the pool where the cast likes to chill on their days off. Then he cruises us by the casitas where they all live and much to my delight we run into Jared Murillo who by now I have surmised is definitely Ashley Tisdale's boyfriend. He playfully dodges my questions about her saying they are "just friends." The boy has learned well. This declaration is of course blown when Corbin drops Jared off at set and immediately walks over and plants a kiss on Ashley. They are cute together.

    Lastly, Corbin takes us on a tour of the golf course and up to the place they call movie rock. A crowd gather outside on the patio of one of the homes situated on the golf course to watch us filming. Corbin and I say our goodbyes and then he's off. As I leave I chat with the family on the deck. They tell me how respectful the cast and crew has been of the country club. Mostly everyone was excited to have the production filming here so what little noise and commotion they have caused has been worth it especially since the kids got to be extras in a scene.

    That's a wrap. My crew heads off to catch their flight and I head back to the Green Valley Spa for a nice relaxing weekend in St. George, Utah.

    Thanks for all your comments. I think I answered some of your questions in this blog. Someone asked me about whose room was next to whose. I'm not 100 percent positive but I do know they were all next to each other. I do like Vanessa but admittedly I'm an Ashley girl. I've interviewed her several times and just find her to be a great gal. In fact i'm seeing her today on the set of "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody". On the set in Utah was the first time I had ever met Vanessa. She sure is a cutie though. As for Zac, if you have seen the music video out for HSM2 then you know his voice sounds great! I'm thrilled they chose not to dub it. Oh and no I don't consider family an entourage. I mean agents, managers, assistants, stylists... Hollywood "people."

    Be sure and check back for more info and scoop on "High School Musical 2." Look for all of my interviews to begin airing on Access Hollywood as well as exclusive web only stories on AccessHollywood.com in July!

Comments

I thoroughly enjoyed your blog regarding HSM2. I look forward to seeing your pieces on HSM2 on Access Hollywood in July!

Posted by: Serena | June 14, 2007 02:56 PM

Laura, what an incredible experience you had! I really enjoyed reading your blog... sounds like its going to be a great film! Please keep us all updated about HSM 2 and let us know when we can expect to see interviews on Access Hollywood! Awesome job!!!

Posted by: Bob | June 14, 2007 03:06 PM

LOVED the interview! Can't wait to catch your on screen interview! Please let us know wen we can expect them!:D GREAT WORK!

Posted by: Kiran | June 14, 2007 07:19 PM

thank you so much for blogging about your incredible experience, i really enjoyed reading all about it!!

Posted by: christine | June 14, 2007 07:22 PM

Is there anymore information about Vanessa or Zac?? I wish you would have interview them more...they are the main stars! Plus we all want to know about their relationship. lol :) Great blog though..thanks for keeping us informed! :)

Posted by: Anonymous | June 14, 2007 07:26 PM

neices and nephews loved it. look forward to more!

Posted by: Denise | June 14, 2007 07:46 PM

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME!! thanks for posting!

Posted by: margaret | June 14, 2007 09:16 PM

thanks for sharing your
experiences with the cast
they r all young and working pretty hard as I've read. thanks for your dedication u rock
they're awsome cant wait til hsm2

Posted by: jen | June 14, 2007 09:42 PM

agree w/ serena!

Posted by: ilse | June 15, 2007 12:48 AM

Wowee! I am sooo excited! You have to let us know when the interviews are coming out in July!

Posted by: Izzy | June 15, 2007 02:46 AM

It sounds like you had loads of fun!!i which i could go on set of HSM 2!! its so rare!! Ashley must really be sweet and cute!!lucky you!! Jashley is so official!

Posted by: Tracy | June 15, 2007 03:15 AM

you must write more about zanessa ... thsi is so boring and if you write about zac and nessa its must be so interesting!

kiss

Posted by: vanessa | June 15, 2007 04:20 PM

sounds amazing:)
thanks for sharing it with us!
reading this just makes me sooooooo excited for the movie:)
i wish i could meet the cast:(

Posted by: Laura | June 15, 2007 04:42 PM

i love ashley so much ! shes so kind and down to earth. thanks for this blog! you did a great job :) btw im an ashley girl too !

Posted by: taylor | June 15, 2007 06:39 PM

thinks for making jashley official. i thought it was for a while but i was not sure. so thanks! xxx

Posted by: Rebecca | June 16, 2007 10:18 AM

omg thats so cool...it looks like ur stay at HSM 2's set was awesome...i just wish i would meet the cast one day...i love Zanessa & Jashley together haha they're so cute...and im glad u had lots of fun haha and speaking about the spa...ive just been to the spa yesterday...i went for a manicure and pedicure and a facial and a mud bath...

btw when ur gonna know when the exact date for the sneak peak at HSM2 plz post it...thnx

Posted by: Rana | June 17, 2007 08:08 PM

I loved all your info about being on set of HSM 2. My Favorite parts were zanessa and jashley. they're cute together. :) I cant wait to see all your footage in July. I'm counting down the days till july! (ok not really) thanks anyways! - Alexis : )

Posted by: alexis | June 30, 2007 12:26 AM

Good job! Those were great interviews. I am SO happy about Jashley. YAY! :D

Posted by: Maria | June 30, 2007 12:13 PM

Awesome. I just wanted to say that I love all of the HSM crew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Mallory | July 3, 2007 11:28 PM

YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST

Posted by: ANGELICA | July 14, 2007 08:09 PM

Is Emily Folker your neice?
To:Kenny Ortega

From:Alexis

Posted by: Alexis | August 8, 2007 08:04 AM

you guy's rock

Posted by: Anonymous | August 21, 2007 07:27 PM

i would love to act in high school musical or even meet the cast.i can sing dance and act.i love to do it all.i wish i could become a star or someone famous woul find my true talent.corbin and monique from high school musical are my idols.i would just like to meet or become someone famous.

To corbin and monique

Posted by: jhanell davis | September 9, 2007 08:14 PM

hi I love u, u are very hot togeather

Posted by: Jessica | September 22, 2007 11:30 AM

Hey. I love High School Musical. Both of the movies! I wish I could come and get to see the set and meet Corbin, Vanessa, Zac, Monique, and the rest of the actresses and actors. That would be way cool! Is it possible? If Corbin or Vanessa or Zac or Monique is reading this right now. Is it possible if you could email back to tell me if it is possible to come see the High School Musical et if you do another movie?

Posted by: Melissa Husereau | October 24, 2007 03:57 PM

Go Wild Cats Your Even Better THan ALL THE ARTIS^TS TOGETHER

Posted by: Isabelle | October 24, 2007 08:23 PM


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