Episode 2 School for Stars

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

but few realise it takes years of hard work.

We're going behind the scenes

of one of the most famous stage schools in Britain.

Motivation, commitment, let's do it.

It's got to be sharp, guys.

Where 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 on School For Stars, Max and Jordan are forced to put

their friendship aside and go head to head for the same part.

Ga-ga ba-ba ga-ga ah!

It's make or break time as Take That's choreographer

decides who is ready for the big time.

Absolutely rubbish.

And new girl Paris has to prove that she is more than just a singer.

One, two, stretch!

The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts is a school with a difference.

The 305 pupils here are aged between 11 and 19

and spend half their time studying,

the other half singing, dancing, and acting.

Here, here, bend, drop, up.

This year the school is 100 years old

and in just 11 weeks' time they're staging

a huge end of term centenary gala show in front of celebrities,

casting agents, and famous ex-pupils,

which means every student is desperate to be involved.

# You make me feel like I

# Live in a teenage dream... #

Auditions are already under way

and competing against each other to sing a Frank Sinatra love song

are best friends Max and Jordan.

It'll be quite tough

if one of us get it and one of us don't.

He's, like, a very good singer, Max,

and it's going to be a bit of competition.

# I adore you... #

The boys already tested their friendship when both tried to impress

head of musical theatre Karen in a tense audition

where Jordan failed to hit the high notes.

# Why shouldn't we fall in love

# Our hearts are made of it

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

But Karen's decided to give Jordan a second chance.

She wants seen who has the best chemistry with the leading lady.

# I've got a feeling... #

Who is none other than Jade, Max's girlfriend.

First up is Jordan.

-BOTH:

-# But I adore you

# So strong for you

# Why go on stalling

# I'm falling, love is calling

# Why be shy?

# Let's fall in love why shouldn't we fall in love?

# Now is the time for it

# While we are young let's fall in love. #

Max doesn't look too happy,

but watching your girlfriend and your best mate singing

Let's Fall In Love, who would be?

Jade, there was very nearly an arm came up to reach with Jordan,

it was nearly there, but because Max is here

you thought better of it.

-Shall I leave and you do it again?

-No, acting, acting through song.

I know, I know.

Now it's Max's turn.

# Let's fall in love

# Why shouldn't we fall in love

# Now is the time for it while we are young

# Let's fall in love. #

Is Jordan actually loving how awkward it's getting?

# Let's fall in love... #

With the audition over, Karen has concerns.

OK, I now have to tell you what worries me.

There was a better chemistry with you two

because it didn't matter, you could act and you could pretend

and you could reach for each other and touch.

But you two found it hard to make eye contact,

OK, so that might be helping my decision,

you're nervous to actually show each other that you care

for fear of what friends will say,

-for fear of what we're thinking.

-Holding you back.

So what's worrying me now is that's now holding you back.

So Karen has a tough decision to make

and it's bound to upset one of the three best friends.

It's hard when you're acting and Max is staring.

There were little bits where we were going to hug each other

and reach for each other and then you see Max

and you're like, "No, let's not do that."

If I had to choose I think it would be Jordan,

only because it's not awkward.

I don't want to offend Max though, but I just think

it's so awkward and I think it's so much easier to sing with Jordan.

Jade seems to have her mind made up, but now it's all down to Karen.

In just a few days she'll decide who will get this dream role,

so will it be Max or Jordan?

This school encourages competition and ambition,

and no-one's more ambitious than year ten golden-boy Tyler.

Everyone wants to be number one, to be the next Johnny Depp,

Angelina Jolie, or they want to be the next Rhianna.

Everyone here are working very, very hard

for this opportunity to become big.

With so many people wanting to become famous,

the school teaches its pupils to be triple threat performers.

A triple threat is where you can sing, dance, and act.

For Tyler, being triple threat is already starting to pay off.

I've worked a lot as an actor, I got a job in a short film called

Monsters and Rabbits, then I got two years in the West End Oliver.

Most recently, I've done a TV series called Camelot.

As well as being an actor, singer, and dancer,

Tyler is also aiming to be one of the world's youngest stuntmen.

My dad is a stuntman, he got me into the business

and introduced me to all these people, actors and stuff.

I've done sword fighting and horse riding, that kind of stuff.

Tyler is a big talent, but in this school

it's not enough to be a perfect performer.

Each pupil has to keep up with all their regular schoolwork too,

which Tyler admits he has not been doing lately.

Over the past few weeks, Tyler has been turning up late for class

and picking up lots of de-merits.

This earned him a detention from headmaster Mr Vote

but Tyler didn't turn up.

It's the day after detention and Mr Vote is on the warpath

with his sights set firmly on detention-dodger Tyler.

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

before you go downstairs.

The school takes discipline very seriously

and if Tyler is going to achieve his dream of becoming a star

then he needs to start following some rules.

-Last night...

-Yeah.

Er... I sort of forgot.

I kind of ended up in the art gallery

and realised when I got home I was meant to be with you.

-Not good.

-No, I'm sorry.

Not good. Next Wednesday afternoon 4:30, Mr Vote, detention.

Mr Vote has given Tyler one last chance

to prove he's learned his lesson and attend his detention.

But after his talking to, Tyler still seems fairly relaxed.

I forgot all about it.

It's cool.

If Tyler forgets next time

it definitely won't be cool with Mr Vote.

# Now, now, now come on... #

With the end of year gala just weeks away,

every pupil at the school is fighting for a role.

Alex left his home town behind him to follow his dreams at stage school.

In my town there wasn't much to do, but there was a dance school

and that's what I did, I was one of a kind sort of thing.

It was just pushing something I loved

and I learned that it was way out of a circle that I hated,

I took that road and I'm having the time of my life.

Alex is desperate to prove he's ready for a lead role in the gala.

I would say I am quite competitive, but I'd say I'm driven as well.

I want it so bad, I want to become something.

I don't really want to settle for less.

For today's audition only a handful of pupils

will be chosen from the entire year, so the pressure is on big time.

So from here, I need to set this first section now.

The audition is being taken by top choreographer Mark Webb.

Used to working with superstars like Beyonce and Robbie Williams,

he expects the very best from his pupils.

Over 16 years of being in the business,

I've seen some amazing things, worked with the best.

I've worked with Blue, Steps, Take That,

Girls Aloud, Boyzone, Destiny's Child, the list goes on.

One and four-four, one and four-four, watch that, yeah?

Boom boom. It's hot, it's rock 'n' roll.

To be a great dancer,

I think number one thing is dedication

so I expect that from them.

If I say be here at 9am

that means 8:30 practising what we did the day before.

Passion, want to be here, want to do it,

with them two things I think you can achieve anything,

anything in life really.

All of us are front-runners, let's go.

-Want to be the best, yes?

-ALL:

-Yes.

Want to be the best though serious, want to be the best. Here we go!

Mark gives the class and an hour to perfect the routine

just as he would with his professional dancers.

If they can't pick up the moves this quickly, they've got no chance.

Pull. Lock. Lock. Boom-boom, hit-hit, stop.

Head circle, stop, hip, hip.

Tuck-tuck, out in, head-head,

push-push, head, boom-boom, yeah man, yeah.

Tighter, it's got to be tighter.

I don't want to see one arm out, yeah?

People lagging behind.

So is Alex keeping up?

It's very high impact, high energy,

and I think that's what Mark is trying to capture with this number.

-Up-down, slide hip.

-He'll tell you if it's wrong.

He'll tell you if it's right,

but more often than not he'll tell you it's wrong.

# It's gonna get it's gonna get

# It's gonna get louder

# We're gonna get we're gonna get

# We're gonna get stronger

# We're gonna feel, gonna feel gonna feel better

# You can't turn this energy inside... #

It's got to be massive, it's got to be big and crazy.

Ba-ba ba-ba ja-ga ah!

Right, late every time, it's got to be sharp, guys.

Stop thinking about yourselves

and think about the group as a whole.

It's like a football team,

the defence play bad, forwards won't get a chance to score.

It's crunch time, Mark splits the class into groups

so he can look at each performer.

Which means, for Alex, every single move has to be perfect.

Absolutely rubbish, it was rubbish.

Right one more, come on, one more with counts.

At the crucial moment, Alex has messed up.

Now he has one final chance to save the audition.

MUSIC PLAYS

But he misses the moves again.

I am frustrated, I don't want to be second-best

because I'm not here to be second-best,

I'm here to be the best.

And when that's not happening, I feel stupid.

Gutted with his performance,

Alex tries to convince Mark he can do better.

-I just wanted to apologise.

-Yeah, don't worry, man,

you'll be all right, we'll get it together.

Has Alex done enough for a place in the gala?

There's nothing he can do now but wait.

-I love you all, have a lovely day.

-ALL:

-Thank you.

God bless. Thank you!

Starting at any school can be scary, but imagine how scary it must be

when the pupils around you have this much talent.

New girl Paris recently had her first day at school.

When I first got here I was really nervous

that I wouldn't make any friends.

I looked at everyone in their groups and I thought I'm never going

to make friends here because they've already made groups ages ago.

And then Georgia and Molly helped me.

What was it like on your first day?

-On your first day...

-I came into the lockers and I was just like,

-"Can I go home now?"

-Then you came over to get changed

and I said, "What's your name?" and you were like, "Paris"

and I was like, "OK, I'm Georgia", and you were like, "OK."

Do you feel settled in

or do you feel like you're still really pretty new?

Do people still call you "new girl"?

Not that I know of, unless it's behind my back.

'Paris is becoming a really good friend of mine,'

we're like that right now and it's me,

Molly, and her, just like all best of friends.

She's a really good friend.

Me, Molly, and Georgia are so alike in some ways

and it's just like we're meant to be best friends.

We've even decided,

even though it's a bit early, to move to LA when we're 18.

Yeah, we're talking about moving to LA together.

We've already been searching for houses and everything.

Paris came to stage school as a singer.

Let's have a bit of Who Will Buy.

# Who will buy my sweet red roses

# Two blooms for a penny... #

And it's clear that everybody here is impressed so far.

# ..two blooms for a penny. #

Great.

But although Paris may have the singing sorted,

if she's going to get the dream house in America

then she still needs to improve in her other classes.

In her first week, Karen had to help Paris with her high kicks.

I did it, I got confused on which way to go.

OK, you need to stretch your feet, you've got to work on that

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

OK, one more step to go through.

So she may have made progress making friends,

but can the same be said for her dancing?

Since I came here, the first time I was really bad at kicks,

I couldn't even lift it up to my hand,

but then now I practise at home in the garden all the time,

I think I've really improved.

I'm a bit nervous because of all the other people,

they're doing really good kicks.

Last time I was watching them it was like, "I will never do that."

So now can I have some presentation?

The dance lesson begins

and will practice in the garden be enough to get her through?

Supporting legs, please!

Think about it, five, six, seven, and one...

With her new friends watching on, it's Paris's turn.

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

One, two, stretch! Good girl, OK.

Guys, I'm going to use you as the teachers.

Paris hasn't been with us very long, I'm going to ask Paris

to do two straight kicks for me

and you show me how you could help Paris by correcting her.

So if we step on your right foot, so step,

kick, step kick, OK, stop.

What can I correct, what was wrong there, yes?

Don't lean forward, don't roll on your toes when you kick.

Good girl, well done.

Now you've been here some of you right from year seven

and Paris has only just joined us,

so with all your knowledge and wisdom,

please help her because you just have done already.

Well done, guys, excellent work.

So Paris still hasn't quite got the hang of the high kick,

but she's determined to get it right.

I'm not as good as I want to be.

I want to be able to really lift my legs up,

but I'm getting there slowly.

It feels really good just to know that my friends are there

to help me with my kicks,

knowing which leg to start on and which one to do.

If Paris is going to become the LA star she dreams of,

mastering the high kick is only just the beginning.

It's detention time and once again headmaster Mr Vote

is waiting in an empty classroom, but is Tyler going to show?

-Ah, hello, Tyler.

-Hi, Mr Vote.

I really do not know what detentions are made of,

I'm not really looking forward to it, but I've got to do it.

I would like for you to think about

and to write me a short essay about the game plan

for the future, what my goals are short and long term,

and what I think I'm going to have to do to get there.

Tyler wants it all, stuntman, pop star, dancer, actor,

so at least detention has given him the chance

to focus on how to achieve his goals.

'I think it's good because instead of writing lines,

'which'll dig into your mind and be going

' "Don't do this again, don't do that again."

'I think writing an essay makes your mind work a bit more.'

At he end of the day, the kind of things you have got going for you

at the moment, fabulous sort of potential, things like that.

You've got so many good things

you've got to make sure that you don't miss out on the little things.

Thank you very much, Mr Vote.

-I hope not to see you here again.

-Don't worry, you won't.

So has he learned his lesson?

Now I think I'll just think of the future

because I've got my GCSEs coming up, I've got it all coming up

and I've kind of got to just stop messing about.

That will be my last detention of course, they all are.

Up on the ninth floor of the building, Steve and Nina

run the school's casting agency helping students like Tyler

get auditions for all the top shows.

I'm just very conscious that this is a really big audition.

Nobody springs to mind right away,

but if you e-mail me everything over, I'll have a good look at it.

This is where casting directors from films,

commercials, TV, and theatre come to find their stars.

And it works. Ex-pupils include everyone from Sharon Osbourne

to Naomi Campbell.

Although they're at school,

some pupils are already on the road to stardom.

I've played Billy Elliot.

-I've done commercials.

-I was in Lion King.

I did Harry Potter.

..the Royal Variety Performance.

Oliver Twist where I did singing, dancing, and acting.

All right. See you later.

One pupil waiting to hear about a part is Katie

who's in her final year.

Nina got her an audition for a new feature film,

a tough drama set in London,

and nothing could have prepared her

for what the producers asked her to do.

I had to beat box.

I can't beat box to save my life,

but I beat boxed and then I had to sing a song, I just sang a pop song.

Then they asked me to read some lines of the character Steve, a boy.

Today is Katie's 19th birthday, but all she can think about is the film.

If she gets the role, it could change her life.

My dream job would be acting in a film definitely,

a massive worldwide film.

Katie has been called to Nina's office.

Could it be that she's going to star in her first ever movie?

-Happy birthday.

-Thank you.

-Have you had a nice day?

-Yeah, lovely.

Good. Right, before we get on to that, how did your audition go?

-Yeah, really well.

-Good.

We got there and there was two girls, one from here

and one I didn't know, and then two boys.

So the phone call that they've just given me then

to say to you that the character of Steve is now going to be Stevie

makes sense to you? Yay!

-Are you actually serious?

-Yeah.

-Have I got the part?

-Yes, well done.

So against the odds, as Katie auditioned for a male role,

she's got the part.

So they're going to make the character Steve

into Stevie, which is now a girl, so it's two girls and two boys.

-I'm so pleased, well done!

-Wow.

-Brilliant, happy birthday, love.

-Thank you.

'I've just got a role in a film,'

which is amazing, I'm so excited.

I can't believe it, it's my first proper film

and I don't know I'm just...

I'm scared because it's my first acting role on screen,

but, no, I'm really excited.

Can't wait to tell everyone.

Now it's time for Katie to tell her friends the good news.

-Hello. You know I went to that film audition?

-Yeah?

-I just got it.

THEY SCREAM

Can you believe this?

I know, I can't believe it.

On your birthday, couldn't be a better day.

And they're not the only ones she wants to tell.

-'Hello.'

-Hello, Dad, are you all right?

-'Yes, fine.'

-Guess what?

-'What?'

-I got the film!

-'You got it?'

-I've got the job, yeah.

-HE LAUGHS

'Excellent, excellent, well done. That's a start for you.'

Good birthday present.

Katie won't have long to prepare for her role

as they want her on set within days, let's hope she can deliver.

Elsewhere around the school,

other pupils are waiting for their own good news.

As the gala gets nearer, choreographers and teachers

are choosing who will take part in which number.

Alex had been desperate to impress top choreographer Mark Webb

for a part in a routine called American Idiot.

Absolutely rubbish. It was rubbish.

But after feeling the pressure in the audition,

Alex was left wondering whether he'd done enough.

Mark has now chosen his final group and the all-important list

goes up on the school notice board.

-Are you in it?

-I am! I can't believe I'm in it.

If your name's up there you're in,

if it's not then you won't be taking part in Mark's routine.

And of the names on the board,

Alex isn't one of them.

The selection was made for the dancing, I'm not in it,

but I'm going to lose any sleep over it.

Never one to give up easily, Alex decides

he's going to put all of his efforts into getting another role

somewhere else in the gala.

I might go on several numbers, some tap, some contemporary,

some jazz, things like that, and some singing as well.

I'm trying to get myself to be the best I can

so I'll be represented in the best way.

With the centenary gala just weeks away

and only a few auditions left, time is running out for Alex.

Two other students about to find out if they'll be performing in

the school's biggest ever production are best friends Max and Jordan.

After weeks of auditions, only one of the boys will be singing as Sinatra

alongside Max's girlfriend Jade.

Max was the better singer, but Jordan had the better chemistry

so will it be the boyfriend or the best friend?

It's time to find out.

Jordan and Maximilian? Can I have a chat with you.

I must do your theme.

HE PLAYS FOREBODING MUSIC

The moment has arrived.

Over you come.

After careful thought, Karen has made her decision.

So we've been going over your auditions

and you've both done outstanding,

I'm really, really thrilled.

We've taken lots of facts into consideration

and we are now over here is going to be our Sinatra.

So after all the anxious waiting, Max has won the part

and will be singing with his girlfriend,

but there's a surprise but Jordan.

Jordan, you're going to be one of the dancers,

-so is that good news?

-Yes.

I think it's really good news

because it means now you're both in Sinatra

so although you will be singing, you will be dancing.

So it's good news all round, both boys get a part in the gala.

-Max gets to sing and Jordan gets to dance.

-Well done.

Now the boys can finally go back to being best friends.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

And what better way to get the friendship back than playing a prank.

-None of us got it, none of us got it.

-Ha-ha, yeah.

They're going to tell Jade the news,

but pretend that neither of them got the part.

CONVERSATION DROWNED OUT BY CHATTER

WHAT!

Pranks aside, Max is thrilled, but is his girlfriend happy?

I am, I'm very happy.

I think, yeah. I don't know, I just...

I thought it was going to be Jordan so I think I'm quite shocked

because I did think, "OK, so what am I going to say to Max

"when me and Jordan are doing this part."

I'm going over it in my head, "It's OK, don't worry,

"I'm sure everything will be better,"

and then he goes, "I got the part." I was like, "Huh?"

So Jade's surprised and a little worried.

I'm scared to do it with Max because I find it really awkward,

but I think it will get better, I know it will get better.

I just think at the start of it, a bit scared.

So the parts are decided,

Jade and Max will be singing a love song in front of the whole school.

The question now is can the golden couple get over their awkwardness

in time for the big night?

In this school you're taught to never give up on your dreams,

whether it's being the next

George Sampson, Beyonce, or Daniel Radcliffe.

Sometimes dreams come true and sometimes they don't,

but it's better to dream big than never dream at all.

Next time on School for Stars...

..the pressure reaches boiling point as GCSEs begin.

Action.

And Katie finds out if she really has what it takes to be a movie star.

My face on a giant screen is going to be rather funny.

It's all part of life at the School For Stars.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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