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On The Set: 'High School Musical 2'
The countdown has begun to probably the most anticipated TV movie ever, "High School Musical Two."
I'd say most anticipated TV movie sequel ever but I don't think there has ever been a sequel filmed to a TV movie. In March, I spent three days on the set with the entire cast and got a glimpse into life on the set. Over the next week, I’ll share my HSM2 diary:
It's day one of my visit to the set of one of the most anticipated sequels of the summer, "High School Musical 2." Sure this is a movie that's become a phenomenon among the tweeny bopper set but I'm not ashamed to say I fell for its corny song and dance routine when I watched it too.
The sequel picks up as the high schoolers head off for summer vacation and get jobs at the local country club where Sharpay is a member. The serene setting of Southwest Utah stands in for Albuquerque, NM where East Valley High is said to be located.
I traveled to St. George, Utah where the cast has been since early February. Nestled amongst soaring red rocks sits the Entrada Country Club at Snow Canyon where filming is taking place. Today they are filming a big baseball number on the grounds but my day is all about hanging with Ashley Tisdale who plays the rich kid, Sharpay Evans and Zac Efron, the school's resident heartthrob.
I arrive to the set around Noon and just as we pull up to the Clubhouse, where I'm scheduled to interview Tisdale, who should come cruising up in a golf cart but Ashley and Efron. It's a rare day off from filming and both are enjoying a little fun time. Ashley's sporting a green and white bikini and Zac's got his board shorts on. They hit the lounge chairs while we scouted a nice poolside location for an interview.
Thirty minutes later we are all set up for Ashley and I to chat and she throws a turquoise tank over her bikini top and strolls over. No hair person. No makeup person. No star attitude. I'm shooting a mini DV camera for our website. She turns the screen to see what she looks like and we are off and running. I've made a solemn promise to keep the details of the movie a secret so I can't be leaking out too many plot points other than to say that Sharpay will be stirring up trouble for her classmates again. With so much hype and anticipation it's understandable why the cast and crew are guarding the info so tightly. What I can tell you is this is a tight knit group who have remained friends throughout. When not filming they spend their time hanging out in each other’s rooms. Ashley gets coy when I ask if any real life summer romances have emerged. I'm hit with a sing songy "maybe". Later I find out there is definitely a whole lot of love around this set. More on that in a second.
After I pull a big sister and warn Ashley about making sure she wears lots of SPF in the sun, Ashley and I travel over to check out the pink golf cart Sharpay will be cruising around in for the film. She takes me for a spin and fortunately I get to keep all my limbs! Then it's off to the wardrobe trailer for a sneak peek at Sharpay's sequel wardrobe. Think lots and lots of rhinestones. Sharpay is a bikini top fanatic so expect lots of bikini tops under dresses and shirts. I see a trend for the summer starting already. A quick hug goodbye and another warning about sunscreen and my time with Ashley is up. We head off to scarf down some food before it's time to hang out with Zac. Just as we pile back into the van, I catch a glimpse of why I got that coy "maybe" on romance. Ashley calls over one of the dancers, dressed in a baseball uniform for the big dance scene, the two interlock hands and head to the craft services truck. My crew guy reveals this is a dancer from the tour and he has spotted them kissing, so he believes its her boyfriend. Ashley has done such a great job staying out of the tabloids. So, I'm clueless.
We set up for our Zac interview. He is patiently waiting for us, enjoying a little time on the driving range. From a distance, I see him giving some golfing tips to his co-star Vanessa Hudgens. It looks like a scene out of a movie. His arms around her showing her how to swing. As he leaves, he gives her a peck on the lips. Another romance on the set? (About two months later paparazzi photos of them kissing on a Hawaii vacation reveal they are in fact a couple).
Zac sits down and just like Ashley comes with no entourage of "people", though his grandparents are in town and his aunt. Those are the good kind of "people". We chat for a while about the new film where I'm happy to learn he will be singing all his own songs in this film and on the soundtrack. Yes, he can sing but for some reason they decided to dub in someone else's singing voice in the original film. He admits that his singing voice is very different from the dubbed one but hopes his fans will like it. He's singing his own tunes in the soon to be released feature film, "Hairspray" so audiences will get a listen to his vocals before HSM2 premieres. I'm sure they will be thrilled. Just as we were finishing up, a bird decides to relieve himself on my jeans. Isn't this supposed to bring good luck?
Next up, we all pile into golf carts and head out to the course where Zac is going to show me his skills he picked up for this movie. We travel on a path that leads to greens surrounded by incredible black rock, I'm told came from volcanic eruptions eons and eons ago. It's incredibly beautiful and indescribable. Zac hits a few balls as we all watch. He's surprisingly good for only just learning. The publicist bets him twenty bucks he can't make it onto the greens (about 250 yards and over the black rocks). He gets three tries and misses. The publicist offers double or nothing and he goes at it again. This time he hits two on the greens and earns a cool forty bucks. I jokingly offer to let him pay me the money not to run the footage of him missing. He doesn't accept. We head up to the putting green and after two failed tries at making the hole, I tell Zac "Well at least you can sing and act!"
Before he heads off, I ask his grandparents how proud they are that Zac has become such a big star. They reply with a grandparent's PC polite answer, "We're proud of all five of our grandchildren." That my friends is how someone like Zac is able to keep it real. Bravo grandparents.
Check back for more on Monday of day two from my three-day visit to the set!
omg i cant wait till hsm 2!!
Are you referring to Vanessa when you said "no entourage of people?". Whats wrong with bringing your family with you anywhere?Are you not a family person ? Its obvious you are a Tisdale fan.
It must be really cool hanging out with the HSM 2 cast.I think the Ashley/Jared & Vanessa/Zac thing was really cute! I'm really happy for the two couples.It's great that Zac gets to sing in Hairspray and HSM 2,I'm pretty sure a lot of fans will like his voice including me! I can't wait for more updates from your visit.
cant wait 4 hsm2
luv zac and vanessa
their chemistry rox
OMG .. Can't wait for Hsm2!!!
Love them all .. OMG .. Can't wait for Hsm2!!!
Love them all .. <3
I mis you zac in hig shool musical tu
Hi Ashley u rox...!!! I love u... I am ur biggest fan in Singapore!!! Wish u can come here to visit the small island!!! I will be in HollyWood when i am elder while i will be like u! Peace Out... ^_^
COME ON! MORE LUCAS!
I absolutely love the clothes that Vanessa and Ashley wear in the movie and I was wondering what store you bought them from because i want to buy some clothes that they wore.
Paige - Be sure and keep checking back to accesshollywood.com. We will be doing a story about where to get the fashion look of HSM2 soon!
YAY! Ashley's boyfriend is Jared Murillo. (The dancer she held hands with) They ALWAYS hang out. Thats so cute!!
GO JASHLEYY
I can't wait for HSM2 because i heard troy and gaby are finally going to kiss and it is going to be very romantic. I also love HSM2 because Zac Efron is my crush. I HAVE A HUGE HUGE CRUSH ON ZAC!!!!!!!!!
I've been going insane looking for the shirt that Zac Effron wore in the What time is it? music video. Its that blue-ish green-ish stripe shirt. I found the shoes but ive been rattling my brains out looking for that shirt. When is the piece your doing on HSM2 fashion being published??
Thanks!
I am SO EXITED 4 hsm 2 I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
HEY, Jenna, if u look in PEOPLE mag. they have a colome where u can get the styles of clotes that the stars wore u can get sharpay's pants ta troys pants
Hi,
Where is Gabriella Montez's dress from the last song in high school musical 2??
Where's it from?
do u know where i can get sharpays pants. the ones in the beginning of the movie. the gold skinny jeans.. please tell me.
I cnt w8 4 HSM 2 n i am sooo happii dat Zac n Vanessa r a cuple - dey luk soo cute 2getha
x
there are free wakeup calls that you can get from Corbin and Ashley check out the site below, I am so so so excited
hsm2wakeupcall.com
hey i love ur show high school mudical and i can not wait to see high school musical two bye
Hey, I saw the premier last night (WOW) and I was wondering if anything has been posted about any of the clothes they wore in the movie, because I've been searching and still can't find a lot...
Thanks
Hi, I was wondering if you knew or could find out (or if anyone knew) some of the names of the clothing and shoe companies of Zac's aparell in the movie? I believe the shoes are vans? even hunches you have or anythign similiar to what he wears helps! thanks
where did you get vanessa's swimsuit?
Please i really want to know where to get the clothes troy wears in "What time is it?" please dash of salt, please help us!
Vanessas clothing she wore in HSM 2 are sooo cute! where did they get her clothing??
HEY IVE BEEN LOOKING TOO FOR WHERE ALL VANESSAS CLOTHES WERE PURCHASES. THEY WERE REALLY CUTE.
Where did you get the white dress for gabriella when her and troy sang everyday??
The shoes that troy wears are Vans Classic Slip-On In cashemre blue #42 . . . those are the exact pair. they are VERY RARE in large sizes. so good luck!
--Andrew--
zac and venessa are NOT a couple he is dating a girl named kathern she is the one who made his wensite ZEfron.com!!! stupid people! zack is Not and i reapeat NOT!!! dating venassa an hudgens!!!!! i dont care if i spelt her name wrong. so ha ha ha read the septemeber version of M if you dont believe me!!!
Where did you get the white dress for Gabriella when her and troy sang everyday??
why ant zac and venssa going out I WANT TO KNOW WHY?!!!!!!!!!!!
Zac & Vanneser are a perfect couple and this is Ashley Tisdale!!
i defenitely love the shirt that zac efron wore in the movie of HSM2....i am ur most biggest fan in Philippines...i hope vanessa hudgens willi plan to visit here in her homeland...i absoluely watch ur movies every year....i will be on hollywood someday when i am elder while i will be like u...i will be a director like kenny ortega...i hope u can visit here...from:nazer e molina, jr of PHILIPPINES
Zac, Vanessa, Ashley, Lucas, MOnique and Corbin rocks! I hope they can come to Singapore to do a concert on High School Musical
rock on high school musical cast
it is drama alright.but it is still nice
I LOVE ALL OF YOU HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL ..!
vanessa is so pretty and so good in acting and ashley too.
and zac you are the best! zac is the hotter guy EVER !
i'm from Isreal here have a lot of people that want hsm here for a concert tour please come !
i saw hsm 2 and i cant wait for hsm 3 its goanna be awesome and amazing !
=] bye bye [=
vannessa anne hudgens is nudist a fitch!!
Where Can I Get The Tankini Ashley Tisdale Wears In HSM2 ?
I luv the clothes that the cast wear and i wanna no where they got them from!!!!! Please tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey i luv you and zac you guys are so cool! I wish I could meet you guys! I love high school musical so so much!! :) Well anyways I hope I can meet you guys some day!!! :) Love,
Hunter :) @}-l
hey guys..! i love HSM....!i always watch that! hey guys if it is true if you have the concert here in Philippines......? if you have concert here in Philippines i will buy a ticket but if not its okay cause my mother and father will watch it in London/UK...! they will take a picture...! i love you guys especially Zac,Vanessaand Ashley....!!!!!
omg!!! i love that dress that dress Gaby wears when she and troy r singing "gotta go my own way".... so sad:( i wish i could meet them i have cancer and made a wish 2 c them but it didnt happen:( i got to go 2 a Yankee game instead not that great tho
where are you getting all your tankenies I JUST HAVE TO NO!!!! and some of the other dresses
If u want 2 no where vanessa got sum of her clothes go on www.dresslikeness.vanessa-online.org
and you will find loads a clothes she wore! and shoes! i already bought a couple of pairs of her shoes. the ones she wears in what time is it? and the everyday dance that troy isn't in! they're blue and sparkly!
Also I'm going to the HSM On stage version in London in August!!! I'm buying loads of HSM clothes 2 wear!
i found this site with tees for HSM its
chasingthefrog.com/highschoolmusical-t-shirts
i'm getting a creme brulee one and a sassy like sharpay one!
see ya
Marcie x
Where can i find the swim suites that sharpay wore in HSM2??????????????