Episode 8 School for Stars

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

but few realise it takes years of hard work.

-Motivation, commitment, let's do it!

-It's got to be sharp, guys!

We're going behind the scenes of one of the most famous

stage schools in Britain...

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...

the pressure's on Danielle and Mitch as they compete for their dream job.

We're only doing it once, make the best one first time.

Ella and Jordan face a rough ride when dancing with senior students.

It's nerve-wracking. You don't want to get in the way or get shoved over!

And Layton's acting skills are put to the test.

I usually get called "the dancer". I am out of my comfort zone.

The Italia Conti Academy Of Theatre Arts trains young people

for careers in performing arts.

And Year 11 Layton is already on his way to becoming a star.

Layton, come on, push it on a bit.

One of the school's best dancers, Layton's already starred

in the West End musicals, Billy Elliott and Thriller.

Hello!

But Layton hasn't landed a big role for almost three years.

Your name's only been on the board two minutes.

I know, I just got informed...

A few weeks ago, he auditioned for a part in a TV drama.

He's come to the school's talent agency to see if he's got it.

-Kerry Maley...

-Yes.

..would like to offer you the part of Russell in Postcode.

-Oh, wow!

-All right?

-Yes!

-Congratulations!

-Thank you very much.

-All right?

-I'm very happy.

-Of course you are.

Layton's landed a major role in a TV show, but not as a dancer.

It's an acting job.

I just got offered a part in a three-part drama for CBBC.

It's a lead role. I had my audition last week and I just found out.

I'm pretty... Look at this, I'm thrilled.

I've not done anything for a while now, so...

It's a lead role, which I'm very happy about,

and it will just give me something to work towards.

This school teaches pupils to be a triple threat,

which means they have to sing, dance and act equally.

But since he's mainly a dancer,

come shoot day, the pressure will be on Layton.

# There'll be trouble when the kids come out

# There will be lots for them to talk about. #

Two more students hoping to land big roles

are dancer Mitch and singer Danielle.

Last week, they auditioned against all their friends for a dream job,

-performing on a cruise ship.

-All of you...recalled.

They impressed the judges so much, they were put through

to a second round of auditions, which start today.

This time, Mitch and Danielle are up against professional performers

from all over the country -

all desperate to land that dream job sailing around the world.

It's weird going into a room and everyone's up against each other.

It's quite intense. Everyone's working out who everyone is.

Mitch has always suffered from nerves in auditions...

When I started doing auditions, I was shaking before I went in.

And today is no different.

No-one kind of really talks to each other that much,

like, just before you go in.

All right, guys, we'll take you up.

Mitch is called up to the audition room.

After a quick practice to learn the routine...

-Remember why you're here...

-..it's showtime.

We're seeing this once, so you've got one crack at the whip for it,

so let's get it right first time. Right, let's go for it.

He has just one chance to impress the judges. Can he hold his nerve?

One, two, three, four...

MUSIC: "Americano" by Lady GaGa

It's over, but Mitch feels his nerves got the better of him.

It wasn't great. I blanked out halfway through.

I was like, "I don't know what comes next."

He just has to hope the casting agents didn't notice.

And now, it's onto the singers' audition

and Danielle's turn to face the casting agents.

-Heya!

-Hiya, all right?

-Yeah, good thank you.

-How Many Tears?

-Yes, please.

# How many tears through the years can I cry?

# How many tears

# Until my heart runs dry?

# So many...

# Tears. #

Lovely, thank you, Danielle.

-If you just want to wait outside.

-That's fine, thanks very much.

It's an emotional performance and Danielle's happy

she's done her best, but she's about to get a surprise.

The casting agents now want to see

if the singing auditionees can also dance.

It's something Danielle wasn't expecting and isn't prepared for.

What did I think?! I don't even have any dance shoes on me.

Oh, I've got a t-shirt. What else have I got?

Rummage. Baggy trousers.

Grabbing the few clothes she has suitable to dance in, she needs

to get changed, and quickly, because upstairs the audition is starting.

Guys, well done for getting through to the dance section.

We're not looking for dancers, we're looking for singers that can dance.

Danielle's made it, just.

As she doesn't have all her dance kit, she has to dance barefoot.

Places, everybody. Be happy, have fun! Come on!

DANCE MUSIC

Today's audition is over, but will Danielle and Mitch

make it through to the next round? It's time to find out.

All right, guys, thank you for today.

I'll read out names that we'd like to invite back on Friday,

our final recall day.

Mitch and Danielle need their names to be called out

to make it through to the final audition.

Carlton Connell, Dennis Mayer,

Gregory Hazel...

Paul Edwards,

Mitchell Jarvis.

Mitch is through, but Danielle is still waiting.

Jordan Loran, Louis Fox, Claire Riley,

Danielle Black.

She's done it! Both Mitch and Danielle are through.

Yes! That next step is a bit closer

and it makes you want it even more.

I'd love to get it! But we'll see, we'll see.

Danielle's pleased, but Mitch is still angry

that he couldn't control his nerves.

That wasn't amazing, like. I didn't perform amazingly,

but it's all right.

The final audition is now just a few days away

and, for Mitch and Danielle, it promises to be the toughest

and most important audition of their lives.

# All the boys and the girls, they got it going on

# When the beat kicks in... #

Auditioning is just a part of life at this school.

There, boom, crack it!

But that doesn't make it any easier.

Before an audition, I feel really, really nervous

and I just get really, really scared and worked up.

In auditions, I get nervous, but when you get in, you have to hide it

cos they don't want someone that's nervous.

If you have an audition and you've got to each round

and it keeps going on, then you get more attached to it,

so when you don't get it, it does hurt.

Term pupils have been auditioning for the end of term gala,

but even those who've landed major roles know they can't relax.

If they don't perform well in rehearsals

they'll be dropped and replaced.

Today, gala director Hayley Newton is running

all the senior performances to see if everyone is up to the job.

Even though she's a junior, top dancer Ella has been asked to dance

in the senior students' Michael Jackson routine.

It's an honour to get this.

They're saying, "we can rely on you to be mature about it, instead of

"being all silly about it", because that's usually what young people do.

Ella has to perform a highly-technical solo routine,

with the help of backing dancers, Jordan and Ed.

The three juniors will be performing alongside dancers seven years older

and they know if they don't keep up, they'll be dropped.

It's nerve-wracking as you don't want to get in the way or shoved over.

If we do get it wrong, they'll obviously just stop it. Oh, well.

MUSIC: "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson

The dress rehearsal gets underway. Ella, Ed and Jordan watch on

as the seniors perform, knowing their Michael Jackson song

is just moments away.

# Are you OK, Annie? Annie, are you OK? #

If they want to keep their roles, they'll have to perform perfectly.

# Annie, are you OK? Are you OK, Annie?

# Annie, are you OK? Will you tell us that you're OK?

# Then you ran into the bedroom

# You were struck down it was your doom

# Annie, are you OK? So Annie, are you OK?

# Are you OK, Annie? You've been hit by...

# You've been hit by... A smooth criminal. #

It's a fantastic first rehearsal. All three of them nailed it.

That went really well. Especially the walk over.

It's a great start,

but they know if they slip up at any point before the big night,

there's lots of older dancers more than ready to take their place.

Manchester lad Layton's got several dancing roles in the gala,

but today he's not dancing, he's acting.

Layton's filming scenes for TV drama Postcode.

There's cameras, film makeup and even stunt people.

I am shooting a wee little scene about skater people.

Today's location is a skate park and while Layton films his scenes,

professional BMXers and boarders perform tricks in the background.

Thankfully, Layton doesn't need to do any boarding himself.

I am awful at skateboarding. I wish I was good, but I'm not.

-Kick flip.

-Yeah, you can do it!

-Bit of a kick!

As exciting as it is, filming brings pressure.

This is Layton's first big professional role for years

and he wants to get it right.

But he's worried his acting might be a little rusty.

I usually get called "the dancer". I am very comfortable when I dance.

I'm kind of out of my comfort zone a bit.

I'm not as confident acting as I am dancing, so....

In his first scene, Layton has to react to a skateboarding accident

while filming on his phone.

-Argh!

-But filming one scene isn't as straightforward as it looks.

-Let's do one more like that.

-We're going again.

You know when you photographed him? You went like this...

And then I walked round him. Shall I do that again?

Do that again when we film it. There's one more shot.

261, take one.

And...action.

Layton has to act out the same scene again...

and again...

and again.

They want to do a close-up on people's face,

they want to change angles, they want to go from the back of you.

You could do a 30-second scene that takes three hours to film.

-What did you do?

-I fell over!

Layton knows all his lines, but in this scene,

the director wants him to improvise.

Layton, in terms of your character, continuing to film him

in agony may be... No, but you could ask him if he's OK, couldn't you?

I don't know what to say to him! I don't know how to comfort him.

I'm like, "Are you all right?"

With several more scenes left to film,

it's going to be a long and challenging day for Layton.

Another day at school, another assembly.

-Good morning, everybody.

-ALL: Good morning, Mr Vogt.

And today, headmaster Mr Vogt is handing out merit certificates.

I'm now giving out our certificates of achievement. Can I ask...

Just like most schools, pupils receive merit points

-for good behaviour.

-We have Rihanna...

Aspiring actress Mimi has earned enough points to get a certificate.

-I have Mimi...

-It's a big turnaround for Mimi,

who at the start of term found herself in detention.

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

Mimi seems pretty pleased with her merit certificate but unfortunately,

today, Mr Vote is also handing out detentions and Mimi is on the list.

On at least five separate occasions, you have fallen short

of the standards that you've probably expected of yourself

and certainly that we expect of you.

You are invited to attend detention next Thursday afternoon.

LAUGHING

I said to myself, I wasn't going to have another one. Here I am!

I did have plans to turn over a new leaf before

and I'm feeling like I've...

I've betrayed myself.

So this time, I'm going to turn over another new leaf

and it's going to work this time.

Mimi's dream is to make it big in film and TV.

'My ambition is to become a professional actress.'

Why didn't you just come right out and say so?

'I like theatre but I would like'

to act more in like films and TV.

And she's already had some professional jobs.

I've done theatre before. I did a play called Kin.

I did an advert as well. A Christmas Matalan advert.

When I'm acting, I feel as though I want to give my best.

I want to give all my effort and have something amazing afterwards.

If she keeps ending up in detention the school could restrict

Mimi from going to auditions and even attending acting class,

so she knows she has to stop getting demerits.

For both Danielle and Mitch,

the biggest audition of their lives has arrived.

It's their final cruise ship audition.

It's the last time they'll see us

and the last opportunity to get them to see what we're about.

Whoever gets picked today will be sailing around the world,

singing and dancing for eight months.

It's what Danielle and Mitch have been studying for

ever since they started at school, and competition is fierce.

It's just when we have to perform, that's when the nerves will go.

There's just 70 spaces up for grabs.

In his last audition,

Mitch only scraped through, after his nerves got the better of him.

Today is Mitch's last chance to prove he's up to the job.

So this is the last opportunity we've got to see these guys.

Three o'clock this afternoon, we're making our decisions.

It's the last chance to show them what you've got. Anything can happen.

We've got to go in there and show them what we can do.

In amongst all the other dancers, Mitch and Danielle have one dance

and one chance to show the judges what they can do.

OK, then, guys, we're only going to do it once, so make it

the best one first time. Here we go!

DANCE MUSIC

All Mitch and Danielle's years of school training

has to be poured into this performance.

The judges are looking for technique, talent and energy.

Mitch and Danielle's audition is over.

The judges still have lots more performers to see,

so all they can do is head back to school and wait to find out

if they've landed the job of a lifetime.

That was so good. SHE SINGS

Earlier in the week, Ella and Jordan impressed everyone by keeping up

up with all the seniors at an important dress run.

And today, the two have teamed up again,

to go for another big gala role.

Assistant director Kyle DesChamps is looking for a boy and a girl

to dance to a Frank Sinatra love song on the gala's closing night

and Jordan and Ella are determined to win the role.

It's good having a really good partner,

but it's also knowing your partner and having a really good friendship.

I'm like, really good friends with Jordan, he's like my brother.

But Ella is such a good dancer,

Jordan will have to work hard to keep up.

-I want to do it with Ella...

-Yes.

-..so I've got to be really good.

-Yay!

In today's audition, Jordan needs to prove the two of them

can work as a couple...

..which isn't easy when you're shorter.

It's harder because he's smaller but Jordan is really good as a partner.

Can the boy lift the girl? That's big question number one.

Sometimes, you can have a girl who's just a little bit taller,

you know, than a boy. It's definitely, definitely a challenge.

To get this role, Jordan and Ella need to prove

they have comedy timing. In the middle of the dance,

Kyle wants them to deliberately bump into each other and fall over.

Turn around....

This should get a big laugh from the audience,

but, at the minute, Kyle looks unamused.

We have pressure to get it right

and if you get it too wrong too many times, you might be cut.

Finally, Kyle asks Jordan and Ella to run through the entire routine.

One. One, two!

MUSIC: "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" by Ed Sheeran.

Ha-ha, again, yes.

OK. So thank you for today.

Kyle looks happy.

All Ella and Jordan can do is wait for him to make his decision.

If they get it, it will be a dream come true for these two friends.

On set, dancer Layton's about to film his final scene of the day.

Layton, can I have you in the number one, please?

It's been a long day. Being more comfortable dancing than acting,

Layton's had to use all his training to get the job done.

If you were talking to each other, you may not notice.

How cosy are you two at this point?

But this scene, like the ones before,

needs to be filmed more than once. A lot more.

Action!

Action!

Action!

Each time he does it, Layton has to get his lines right,

because on a film set, time is money.

-Can we do one more like that?

-Going again.

It's about keeping the energy up to produce the line

with the same effects and emotions as the first time. It's hard.

Take two... Take six...

Take seven...

-You got very gloomy. It should be "Hi. It didn't go very well."

-Did I?

You've always got to be vigilant

and know what's going on or else you can mess up.

We did that scene so many times. You've just got to carry on.

-And we've cut, thank you.

-That's the scene.

Finally, the scene is over. Layton's put in a strong performance

despite feeling out of his comfort zone.

Whether it's in front of the camera, theatre or dancing, I love them all.

I want to do this for the rest of my life.

# When I grow up I wanna to be famous

# I wanna be a star I wanna to be in movies

# When I grow up I wanna see the world. #

It's the end of another school day.

Although not for Mimi.

We're about to go into detention. Again.

I'm not looking forward to it. I'm going to happy when it ends.

She's collected seven demerits for things such as being late for class.

I turned over a new leaf and it went bad.

I'm going to turn over another one. It's going to be the last one.

The last one. Promise.

At this school, detention is usually a punishment of writing an essay

or writing lines, but Mr Vogt has decided to try something different -

a good old-fashioned talking to.

We are now very near the end of term.

Many of you have got quite a collection of demerits.

You haven't brought the right books, been late to class...

You haven't known the time... A collection of misdemeanours...

They accumulate. Once you've got one, it stays with you.

These things not only interfere with your learning,

but they interfere with...

..The deed that you actually commit that gets you the demerit,

but how you respond to the chastisement, right?

30 minutes later and Mr Vogt's happy he's made his point.

Enough said. I'm going to ask you to go forth, think about this,

make sure I don't have any more demerits. Go forth and be lovely.

We learned more about why certain things happen, like.

It's not just about what you do,

it's about how you respond.

My turning a new leaf is basically turning a new leaf

and I'm going to start to improve on everything I'm doing wrong.

Today at school, there's big news.

Selection for the Sinatra dance has finally been posted on the board.

And Jordan is keen to find out if he got the part.

Ella and Jordan had a tough session with choreographer Kyle,

to see if they could dance together.

It's definitely a challenge.

Jordan's seen the board and now it's Ella's turn.

And he wants it to be a surprise.

Look! Gala.

Are you in the gala?

Yay!

They got it and will be dancing together

on the gala's closing night.

That means with the Michael Jackson routine,

they'll be performing twice on the biggest night of term.

It's a double-whammy for Ella and Jordan.

Mitch and Danielle are waiting to hear if they've landed

their dream job, sailing around the world on a cruise ship.

I'd love to go. But we'll see.

They've battled their way through three rounds of auditions

against hundreds of professionals. Mitch struggled with nerves

and Danielle didn't always bring the right clothes,

but they made it to the last round.

The casting agents have released the names of the performers they want.

So Danielle is off to see Nina and see if she's got it.

This would be her dream job.

Come on in.

-I've had a phone call.

-Right.

-They really love you,

-but you're on their reserve list at the moment.

-OK.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that some people don't want to go.

It's bad news. Danielle hasn't made the final list.

Being a reserve is good, but Danielle wanted more.

Obviously there was disappointment,

but at the end of the day, you can't dwell on it.

I'm so used to being knocked back. Everyone is.

Knowing Danielle's not got the job, Mitch prepares himself to see Nina.

Hello.

If he gets it, he'll be dancing in shows for eight months.

I've got news for you.

They've offered you a contract!

He's done it. Mitch will go straight into his first job.

It's such a great way'

to start my career and to see the world, as well.

People pay to go travelling. I'll be getting paid to go and see the world.

Well done.

I'm really excited.

It's not always easy stepping out of your comfort zone...

..but if you never challenge yourself,

you'll never know what you're capable of.

# Everything's going to be OK The streets will lighten up our way

# So we dance on, dance on We know we can dance on... #

Next time on School for Stars...

Jade and Rhianna have their friendship challenged...again.

I know there is rivalry. If there wasn't, it wouldn't be healthy.

Callum gets more than he bargained for when he dances with Reece...

I caught Callum's nose when I was punching him.

..and Ross, one of the school's youngest movie stars,

gets the red carpet treatment, at his very own star-studded premiere.

I'm at the Horrid Henry premiere and it's just hectic really!

This is life at the School for Stars.

Subtitles by Red bee Media Ltd

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