Day Three On The Set Of High School Musical 2

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!