Episode 1 School for Stars

Many people dream of fame, success and life in the spotlight.

But few realise it takes years of hard work.

It's got to be sharp, guys!

We're behind the scenes of one of Britain's most famous stage schools.

Motivation, commitment. Let's do it.

Pupils learn to cope with rivalry, sacrifice and rejection every day.

Russell Brand, Pixie Lott and Leona Lewis all studied here.

But this series is about the talent of tomorrow.

This is the School For Stars.

Coming up... A tough first day at school

as a new pupil struggles to fit in.

I wish I could just go home.

Two best friends turn into rivals as they fight for the same part.

If Jordan gets the part, it'll be quite awkward.

And things become tense...

I'm trying as hard as I can, but I never get noticed!

..as one pupil confronts her teacher.

I just wanted to ask you about the way you choose parts.

The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in Central London

teaches performing arts to children aged 12 to 18,

focusing on singing, dancing and acting.

It's a new term for the 305 students that come here,

and what a term it's going to be.

To celebrate its 100th birthday,

a spectacular all-singing, all-dancing, end-of-term gala

-is being planned.

-You want to be the best!

And in just 12 weeks,

an audience crammed full of celebrities and showbiz agents

will be watching the students showcase their talent.

But this school's not all about performing,

as every pupil has to complete their secondary education,

and this term, more than any other, will be extremely hard work.

..People lagging behind.

So on her very first day here,

new girl Paris is right to feel a bit nervous.

I'm really worried that I might not make any friends.

Hopefully, I will.

Paris has left all her friends behind at her old school

to follow her dream of becoming a singer.

But she's really worried about learning to dance.

I am extremely nervous. I haven't done dance before.

I'm quite scared of how embarrassing it will be if I get things wrong.

Love you.

Like most of the pupils at this school, Paris has a dream.

My whole life, I always knew that I wanted to be a singer.

I used to sing in the shower.

It's not just like a hobby to me, it's my passion.

8:45am, and time for Paris's first assembly,

where the whole school gathers for the start of the term.

Can I say welcome back?

PUPILS CHEER

A very anxious Paris is about to be singled out

by headmaster Mr Vote.

We have a new person. I'm going to ask Paris...

THEY CHEER

Right!

This young lady is Paris,

and you have been welcomed in the traditional way.

You've got a busy day. Thanks, Paris. Sit down.

It's going to be a very busy day indeed.

Paris will spend half her day doing academic studies

and the other half of her day singing,

acting and first up, dancing.

Having never set foot in a dance studio before,

Paris is feeling the pressure.

I am slightly worried

because I haven't done any dancing before, and this is my first time.

I won't exactly be able to do

the flexible things and the moves like other people will.

# I came to move, move, move, move

# Get out the way of me And my crew... #

Class starts with a warm-up, taken by Head of Musical Theatre, Karen.

Paris seems to be coping well.

# Just here to do, do, do, do #

But things are about to get a lot tougher.

Karen wants the students to high- kick their way across the floor.

Believe in it, guys! Come on!

Smiles on faces!

For Paris, there's nowhere to hide.

MUSIC: "Can You Feel It" by The Jacksons

Karen decides it's best to take Paris to one side

for some one-on-one coaching.

BACKGROUND CHATTER

I got confused on which way to go.

All I want you to do is think about your feet for now.

Beautiful stretched feet. We'll work on that.

And then next time we'll work on your arms, as well.

One step at a time. All right?

Karen showed me how to do them because I got stuck.

I was confused on which way to go.

Everyone was doing it and then it's just me going the wrong way!

First days are always tricky

and Paris's isn't over yet.

It goes up. Then it goes "aahhh."

The dance studios at this school may be popping with performers...

# Man in the mirror #

..but outside class, the corridors are alive with one thing. Gossip.

Gossip is pretty major here.

-There's no privacy.

-No privacy at all!

It will be round the school within a matter of minutes.

Everyone eventually finds out about anything you do.

-Even the teachers find out.

-The teachers find out.

Yes, like any school, who's going out with who matters,

and one couple are the firm Romeo and Juliet of year eight.

ALL: Max and Jade!

How long have they been going out for? Like, since October.

They're really cute together.

Max asked Jade out by text message

and they've been seeing each other for seven months.

She's got a good personality, which is good.

She's over the top a little bit, but it's quite funny at times.

You can talk to Max for ages and he'll just talk and talk.

Can you catch chicken pox from a chicken?

He doesn't really stop talking.

Can you catch chicken pox from a chicken?!

But Max doesn't spend all his time with Jade.

There's also his best mate Jordan.

I became friends with Jordan in a dance. He helped me out.

-He was pretty bad! Sorry!

-Yes, I was quite useless.

These two best friends may be angels in the dance class,

but after class, they're definitely masters of mischief.

Have some spaghetti Bolognese!

Oh, they're jokers, they are!

Absolute jokers!

Food fight!

We don't necessarily mess around, but we have a laugh in a silly way.

JORDAN SHOUTS

I hid his ballet shoe once.

You hid it?

I've shut Jordan inside a locker before.

I had to get a new... Where is it?

I don't know. It weren't there the next day!

They're going to find out now, aren't they?

But in this school, it doesn't matter who your best friend is,

chances are, you're going to have to compete against them.

And for Max and Jordan, that's exactly what's going to happen.

Paris has been having a testing first day.

-She was singled out in assembly...

-I was told to stand up

in front of the school to introduce myself

and it was so nerve-racking.

Everyone just looking at me... It's quite scary.

..and in her first dance class, the high kicks proved too much.

But things seem to be looking up for the wannabe singer.

THEY CHATTER

The new girl has made two new friends, Molly and Georgia.

On my first day, it was just horrible!

I didn't like it. I felt so shy. I hated being called the new girl.

The three friends have finished performance training for the day

-and now have maths.

-Merci!

At first I thought, "I'm not going to fit in here."

I thought, "I wish I could just go home right now."

Then the girls came up to me and were really friendly.

OK, let's kick off. Something strange and stupid.

OK, random numbers. What I want is the square number.

-What's one times itself?

-One.

Very good. She's got her first question right!

CLASSMATES GIGGLE

Paris, an easy one, five times five.

25.

25. Thank you. And the next one. Go, Molly.

Always in my other schools, I would stand up because I was so excitable,

and now I've got people that are excitable with me!

With maths over, Paris's classmates give the new girl some hot tips.

Don't forget your ballet shoes.

THEY GIGGLE

Tie up your hair,

and just do everything you should do.

It might be a bit difficult because everybody knows each other.

She felt a bit left out, but she's got us, you know?!

MUSIC: "Firework" by Katy Perry

To celebrate the school being 100 years old,

a glamorous end-of-term gala show is being planned.

And already, rehearsals are under way all over the school.

Five, six, seven, eight!

It's the biggest gala the school has ever put on

and will feature a fantastic array of musical routines,

all performed in front of a celebrity-packed audience.

Boom, boom, ah, ah.

Every student wants a lead role

and competition for main parts is fierce.

But with very few going round,

there's going to be a lot of disappointed performers.

But Reece is one of the lucky few.

He's landed a lead role in year nine's version

of Latin dance routine "In The Heights".

One and two, three.

Four, five, six.

It's quite a big draw because I'm playing one of the main parts.

I've got to practice, practice, practice.

For Reece, this role is a first stepping stone

to his future career as a dancer.

I started dancing when I was seven. I want to be in West End shows!

This is training me to be one of the best,

so I'm really happy.

It's just so free when you're dancing.

The adrenalin just rushes through your body.

Stage school is expensive

and Reece's mum works hard to afford to send him there.

The young dancer never forgets the reason he is here.

One of my biggest drives in this school is to make my mum proud.

I am doing this for my mum because she's done so much for me.

# See the sunlight

# We ain't stopping

# Keep on dancing Till the world ends #

Up.

Good. STUDENTS CHEER

Reece may have the lead, but a group performance is nothing

without its backing dancers. Like Natasha.

I made a few mistakes today. I need to get warmed up and get into it.

Natasha is on the back row,

but it's still important she gets her moves right

if the routine is to look good.

There's pressure,

especially when it gets closer and closer to the gala.

They're going to be working really hard

and the teachers are going to get more stressed out about it.

While Natasha watches from the back,

lead dancer Reece is getting involved in some partner work.

One, two, three and four.

-You smell like Wotsits.

-I know. I just had cheesey puffs!

Reece has to pick up fellow pupil Rhianna and spin her round smoothly.

But it's all a bit messy at the moment.

Rhianna and Reece, be careful.

I'm so scared. He has to land me down and then I have to kick.

You've got to be quite strong when doing this routine

because you could drop her, so...

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

And one and two, three, four, five.

As a lead dancer, Reece knows he has to get it right.

There's quite a lot of pressure,

because if you mess up or something, then everybody's like,

"Well, you didn't get it right"

and they start talking about they should've got the part.

The lift still needs work.

OK, we'll come back to that at some point.

Is there any questions about anything we've done today?

But more practice will have to wait.

The rehearsal is over and it's time for lunch.

BACKGROUND CHATTER

For Reece, having a main part is a dream come true.

But for those without a lead, it can be frustrating.

Natasha is finding it all a bit too much.

Natasha's a bit upset because she feels like she doesn't have a solo,

and that the people that do have the solos are just as good as her.

I haven't got a part, I'm just in the background.

It really upsets me. I don't know what I can do to make myself better.

I'm trying as hard as I can, but I never get noticed.

Luckily for Natasha, best friend Estelle is on hand.

Right, Tasha, everything that's just happened,

you need to promise me that you need to leave it behind.

You know that you can do it. You know!

You've done three years of watching people getting main parts, yes?

So you need to stay strong and show other people,

even if it's someone in the chorus line, do you know what I mean?

She wants the spotlight, but doesn't everyone?

Doesn't everyone want to be out there on the stage?

What's the word I'm always saying to you, the "B" word?

-Believe.

-Yay!

-It's only because of Justin Bieber, though!

-No, no, no!

-Come on, what's the word?

-Believe.

-Say it again.

-Believe.

-A little bit louder.

-Believe!

-Thank you!

But Natasha's not alone in her frustration,

because fighting for roles is all just part of a performer's life.

At school, we're always competing.

Everywhere's competitive.

# Pressure, pressure, pressure... #

We're not just here to go through school.

# I feel so good! #

When you get into the real world

it's going to be on a so much larger scale than it is now.

Jordan, I wonder if we'll have singing this lesson.

Even between best friends Max and Jordan,

the competition doesn't stop

and their friendship is about to be tested.

We're doing Frank Sinatra.

And there's a part in a song, called Let's Fall In Love,

and it's just us two.

They're both auditioning for a duet at the end-of-term gala.

Not only that, but the other half of the duet

is Max's girlfriend Jade.

Hola.

Whoever gets the part will serenade her in front of the school

at its biggest production ever.

If Jordan gets the part and has to sing with Jade

it will be quite awkward, but I suppose it is acting.

If I get the role, I'll be happy but I will feel sad for Max.

I don't know what Jade will think, but she'll get over it!

The boys going head-to-head has got the whole school talking.

They should pick Max because they're boyfriend and girlfriend!

But Jordan's really cute!

Because they're best friends

it's a bit tougher, because it might be a bit awkward.

Obviously, it's going to be a bit awkward for Jordan.

-Jordan's so cute.

-But Jade's so much taller than Jordan.

They're going to be like, "Hello!"

-Has Jade got the girl part?

-Yes.

-She's an amazing singer.

-She's so good!

And Jade is worried.

Hopefully, they'll be OK. I don't want any tears.

She can hope. But with both boys desperately wanting the part,

it's going to end in disappointment for one of them.

One week into the new term, and at today's assembly

a handful of pupils are in serious trouble.

-Good morning, everybody.

-ALL: Good morning, Mr Vote.

Just like many schools, pupils are given demerits

as a punishment for breaking rules.

If a student gets more than five demerits, they end up in detention.

I'd be very interested to have a conversation with...

..Tyler,

with Fifi,

with Mimi...

Several students are given detention

and will have to stay behind after school one night this week.

You have managed to fall below the standard sufficiently often.

For Mimi, detention is a bit of a surprise.

I turned over a new leaf about five months ago

and then it came back to haunt me.

And for Tyler, this is a totally new experience.

I've never had a detention.

It'll be interesting to see how that goes.

It's not for me being a naughty boy.

It's more for me turning up for class a bit late.

But that won't happen again!

As someone who's never had detention,

this is all a bit inconvenient for Tyler.

-Tell your parents you'll be there till quarter past five.

-Five?!

Oh, next Wednesday? I'm booked. I'm going out for dinner.

-Off you go, guys.

-Looks like Tyler will have to cancel his plans.

Natasha is finding her rehearsals for the gala frustrating.

The year-nine pupil is fed up with always being a backing dancer

and wants answers.

There's lots of people who get the same parts every time

and I think that that must be for a reason,

and I'm interested to hear what the reason is.

Natasha's decided to talk to Karen, the Head of Musical Theatre,

and ask her why she never gets a lead.

-Hi!

-Hello.

Would I able to have a word with you quickly, Karen?

If you just give me two minutes...

MUSIC: "Someone Like You" by Adele

I'm a bit scared!

I don't know what she's going to say.

When you wait, you have time to think about things

and it makes it scarier!

Do you want to come in?

Come in.

I just wanted to ask you some things about the way you choose parts.

I've had lots of trouble in the past with trying to build up confidence

-and build up what I need to do to get the parts...

-Right.

..and I was just wondering what I need to do next.

There is one show this year, sadly, so there's only one cast.

If I could give a part to every single one of you, I would.

Nine times out of ten it casts itself,

purely dictated by height, as well as talent.

But you have beautiful looks, you have charm, intelligence.

It's not just about now, this week and this month and this show,

it's about how phenomenal you are going to be

as an adult going out there.

Have faith in me, my darling, because it will come.

-Does that make sense?

-It does. It's made it a lot clearer.

-Has it?

-Yes.

-Are you all right?

-Yes.

After chatting to Karen,

Natasha realises that she needs to keep up the hard work

and have a little patience.

# Never mind, I'll find

# Someone like you... #

I knew that I couldn't play beside someone who was smaller than me,

so it makes sense.

I'm happy because she said it wasn't to do with my talent.

Learning to deal with rejection will be just as useful to her

as handling success.

Back to class for Natasha, and she can't wait to tell her friends

all about her chat with Karen.

I was asking why everyone got cast with the same parts!

I was scared she would take it the wrong way.

-What did she say?

-She said I'm too tall.

The situation that we just had with Natasha is very common,

purely because it's not a fair business.

She'll be fabulous. She's a talented young lady

and it will all fall into place for her.

The end of another busy school day.

The classrooms are empty. Everyone's gone home.

Everyone, that is, except those on detention.

But one student hasn't turned up.

Tyler must've gone on his dinner date.

-Next Wednesday.

-Oh, next Wednesday? I'm going out for dinner.

Headmaster Mr Vote isn't happy.

But for the remaining pupils, the show must go on.

For the next half hour, I want you to compose your mind

upon the topic on the board, which is...

"Things that I've done that I ought not to have done.

"Things that I have indeed done that I could've done much better."

Off you go.

Mimi is in no doubt why she's in detention.

I forgot my folder, my dictaphone,

I forgot my ballet tights, I forgot my hair stuff.

It's all forgetting really!

Aspiring actress Fifi

has the most demerits in school, ten in total,

and nearly all of them for breaking the makeup and nail polish rules.

We're not allowed to wear nail polish,

but I love it, otherwise it looks really boring.

Unless it's for a performance, only years 10 and above can wear makeup.

But for Fifi, makeup makes her feel better.

I feel really self-conscious sometimes in this school.

I feel like it is hard to fit in

because you've got a lot of big personalities around you.

I'd like to think they won't be back,

but I know the characters we have here.

They probably will be.

I'm determined. I'm going to turn over a new leaf completely

and get more merits.

Well, I'll try!

For best friends Max and Jordan, it's crunch time.

The day of their audition has arrived.

They're both competing for the same part,

a duet at the end-of-term gala,

singing with none other than Max's girlfriend, Jade.

I feel a little bit nervous. I hope I get it!

I'd be very pleased if I got this solo part,

but I'd also feel sorry for Max.

They're going head-to-head,

singing alternate parts of a song from the Frank Sinatra musical

in front of the school's Head of Musical Theatre, Karen,

and Head of Music, Simon.

OK, so what we're looking for now is the Sinatra.

It depends on how it sits with your voices

and how your characters develop.

Think about it, focus. Sinatra. OK?

This is it. If the boys want a lead role

in the school's biggest performance of the year, it's now or never.

MUSIC: "Let's Fall In Love" by Frank Sinatra

# I have a feeling It's a feeling I'm concealing

# I don't know why

# It's just a mental, incidental

# Sentimental alibi

# But I adore you

# So strong for you

# Why go on stalling?

# I am falling, love is calling

# Why be shy?

# Let's fall in love

# Why shouldn't we

# Fall in love?

# Our hearts are made of it

# Let's take a chance Let's fall in love

# Let's fall in love

# Let's fall in love #

-MUSIC ENDS

-Good boy. Well done.

-You've been listening to the original.

-Yes.

Don't do it any more.

OK? You've got to stop listening to that original.

All right? Well done, boys. Thank you for your time.

-Yes.

-You've got a lesson.

The audition is over and Jordan's not happy.

As I went for the high bit, I couldn't quite reach it.

I don't know, but... Things happen.

I think Max has got the better voice for it.

But the decision isn't that simple,

as Karen and Simon can see potential in both boys.

The other thing is, Jade is the girl.

-We need to see who can sing to Jade.

-That's want I want,

I want to see how they work together and how their voices blend.

-Shall we have Jade in next week?

-Absolutely.

Both have something going for them. Each was to his own.

We're not going to make a decision today.

We're going to wait till both boys get together with Jade

and then we'll decide.

So now Jordan and Max will have to audition again

but this time, sing with Max's girlfriend Jade.

The start of a new term brings new challenges.

And sometimes school feels really hard.

All you can do is keep on going...

# You show the lights that stop me Turn to stone

# You shine it when I'm alone

# And so I tell myself... #

..and never forget to follow your dreams.

Next time on School For Stars...

Tyler's in big trouble.

Tyler, would you like to see me after assembly, please?

And Max and Jordan's fight for a lead role in the gala continues.

-Shall I leave and do it again?

-No! Act it!

This is life...

Boom, boom!

..at the School For Stars.

# You show the lights that stop me Turn to stone

# You shine it when I'm alone #

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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