Episode 1 School for Stars

Millions dream of fame, success and life in the spotlight,

but few realise what it takes to make it to the top.

Lift!

We're back for series three...

Good morning, everybody.

..inside one of the most famous stage schools in Britain.

ALL SIGH LOUDLY

This is London's Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts,

where, as well as having normal lessons, like maths and English,

pupils learn to sing, dance

and act like professionals.

And it's here that, for some of them, dreams of a career on screen

and stage really can come true.

# One way or another

# I'm going to find you

# I'm going to get you Get you, get you, get you... #

It's going to be a term of tough, testing exams...

I can't believe how quick the GCSEs have actually come round.

..life-changing auditions...

Remember the audition for EastEnders?

-You've been offered the role.

-Oh, my God!

..spectacular performances...

..and every pupil will be competing for a role

-in the huge end-of-year show.

-Fight for it!

This is what life is like for those really seeking the big time.

This is the School For Stars.

Previously on School For Stars... Kedar proved

a big acting hit on the set

of CBBC show, Wolfblood.

But will Mark be as impressed with his dancing

now he's fighting for a place in the end-of-year show?

I've been in Newcastle for three months.

Going to Mark Webb's isn't the best.

After struggling to keep up when she first started at the school...

I did. It's just that I got confused on which way to go.

One step at a time.

..has Paris finally got her first big break?

There's your script. It's for a part, Zakia.

I'm going to be really nervous,

because I've never done an audition before.

And having won a scholarship

at the school, will a full-time place be more

than Sadie bargained for?

I've done something wrong. I feel really stupid.

It's the summer term at the School for Stars

and the first day back can often make people nervous,

especially if you're one of the newest pupils,

like 12-year-old Sadie.

Sort of, really worried.

Because, obviously, I haven't got that much training.

I started when I was ten and there's people who start dancing

when they were three and they know what the deal is,

they know how high the standards are.

So, I don't know. It's a bit...

..mixed feelings, I have today.

But Sadie's mum is the one person who can reassure her.

You'll be fine. You've been doing this on Saturdays for how long?

-Two years?

-No, a year and a half.

-No, it is two...

-Right. You'll be fine.

What if there are people there better than me and I'm not as good as them?

You've just got to be Sadie, do what Sadie does.

You've got nothing to worry about.

The headmaster of the school is Mr Vote

and the welcome-back assembly

is an ideal time to talk about what the summer term holds.

Good morning, everybody! ALL: Good morning, Mr Vote!

Ah, it's so good to see you all back again.

Right, OK.

To say that this term is dominated by examinations

is a bit of an understatement, really,

because we have just got them from everybody, from every quarter.

You've got ballet, you've got tap, you've got modern examinations,

you've got singing, LAMDA exam

and, of course, GCSEs for poor Year 11s.

And, of course, at the end of term we have got

our whole, entire academy show.

Right, OK. Up you get.

Sadie's nerves aren't being helped by the fact

that she's running late and has already missed assembly.

See you later. Love you.

But with just enough time to say a quick goodbye to mum,

she rushes to find out her timetable.

-Hello.

-Hello!

FRIEND SHRIEKS

What have you got on Thursday?

-What's that?

-Singing audition prep?

-That's new!

-What?!

I missed assembly because the trains were late, but I've got my timetable

and I've got acting, jazz and ballet

and I'm really happy about that, so quite excited now!

As Year 10 student Max settles back into school,

he has a solo dance exam coming up.

And although he's had heaps of time over the holidays to practise,

he hasn't prepared anything for his teacher to see.

You know I've got this modern exam in two weeks, yeah?

I haven't got a dance.

-And you know how bad I am at dancing.

-I'll help you out.

I'm not bad, but I struggle with it.

When I make up some choreography, I just look absolutely stupid doing it,

so I need to...

Cos when you've taught me dances before, they've been good.

You obviously know what you're doing.

We'll see if Ms Hill can...

Or, so she has something to work with.

We'll get in at eight o'clock and start. Gives us 45 minutes

to just rehearse, really.

So with good friend and band-mate Luca on board to help,

Max is hoping to create a last-minute dance from scratch.

MUSIC: "Lights On" by Katy B

As Sadie settles in,

she shares classes with pupils who have a range of abilities.

And keeping up with them is proving just as tough as she imagined.

My splits aren't my strong point.

I can do them if I really, really, really, really, really warm up.

But...

..just got to keep trying, keep stretching.

Hopefully, I'll be able to do the splits by next week.

Someone who knows better than anyone

about what it's like to be a pupil here is old-timer Reece.

How are you guys getting on with your GCSEs?

Going good?

BOTH: No.

OK.

I feel it's going OK,

but there's definitely a few areas where I need to, sort of, get better.

I definitely need to do some more revising.

You haven't done any revising?

Do you think that you're on top of all the exams?

I think I'm, like,

-midway.

-Yeah.

-I need to revise a bit more.

I've got all the basic facts,

but I need to put those facts into questions, I think.

Hopefully, we will do well.

I think it's just a thing of just wanting to do well,

so you can make your mum and everyone proud of you.

Like, they've sent you to a school

and you've come away with something, you know?

LAUGHTER

It's only halfway through the first day back,

but has Sadie already made her first big mistake?

I've done something wrong.

I'm supposed to do jazz now,

but I've just done jazz, instead of acting, and I didn't know.

Now, I'm really, really confused.

Oh, I've mixed them up.

Just tell Ms Ellison that you muddled it up.

She's here.

-Are you going to get changed?

-I don't know.

Ms Ellison?

I've done something really wrong and I feel really stupid.

What have you done?

Cos we usually have jazz first, I read the timetable...

Oh!

-Yep? It's OK.

-I've switched them. I'm sorry.

-OK.

-So you know now that you've got acting with me first.

-Yeah.

-It's all right. Don't worry.

-Could I possibly do your class now?

-Would you like to?

-Yes, please.

-OK.

-Thank you so much.

Sadie may have avoided a telling off this time,

but she's learning fast that there's little room for error

if she's going to be successful here.

Today was OK.

A few minor hiccups,

but it was OK. It was good.

MUSIC: "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke

Max has arrived at school early,

to try and work out a routine, in time for this morning's class.

I'm just practising my modern dance for my exam and I'm just waiting

for Luca to come, cos he was meant to be here at eight, but he's late.

And from the looks of things, Luca's help couldn't arrive too soon.

FUNKY MUSIC

Oh, crap. What was it there?

All Max needs to pass his exam is a 60-second dance routine.

While Max loves to sing and perform, dancing just isn't his thing.

Is that all on that "Oh" bit?

-That's all it is.

-Mmm-hmm, yep.

And kick off.

Just jump onto that foot.

-Onto what, this one?

-Yes.

Yeah, like that, but take this one off. So turn it round like that.

Just like that. Just jump. Jump on it.

I just look like an old man doing it.

-Yeah. Do it by yourself, so I can see it.

-Do it by myself?

-Yeah.

-What if I muck up?

-Doesn't matter. Just go again.

And we'll get them to delete it.

HE LAUGHS

I think that might be the way forward.

Right, is it...

FUNKY MUSIC

Uh...

Is it that fast?

OK. Hang on. What time is that?

Cheers, Luca. I can make the other 30 up at home or something...

..I guess.

Powder puff!

The school is home to 275 pupils, aged 11 and up,

and it's helped megastars like Leona Lewis and Pixie Lott

on their road to success.

-Hi, guys.

-PUPILS: Hi!

In order to get professional work,

every pupil here is offered representation

by the school's agency,

which is on the top floor and run by Anna.

Basically, my job is to find the students on the books

work in the industry.

I'm about to go down to find Paris and Bessy

for a casting that they have for a television role.

There's their scripts and now I'm going to go and find them.

Today, it's the turn

of friends Paris...and Bessy

to get a visit from Anna.

TEACHER TALKING

-Sorry to interrupt.

-You need..?

Can I talk to Bessy and Paris, please?

Can you come up to the agency after you finish your class?

OK, you two?

Thank you.

I'm really excited. I hope it's an audition for something good

that you get paid for.

I think it's probably an audition, but I'm not sure.

I hope it's an audition, cos they're good.

I'm really excited.

BESSY HUMS TUNE

I hope it's not something like, "Oh, you forgot to pay your agency fees!"

If this is an audition, I'm going to be really, really nervous,

because I've never done an audition before

and, even worse, it would be against one of my friends, Bessy,

so it could be really awkward if one of us gets it

and then the other one doesn't.

Hi, girls. Come in.

Anna and the school's agency have already bagged a professional role

for Year 7's Tommy.

But juggling school with a role in London's West End isn't always easy

and performing a matinee on a weekday means he's often in a hurry.

In the first three weeks of coming here, the agency asked me

to do an audition for Singin' In The Rain in the West End

and I'm currently doing it now and it's amazing to be on the West End,

cos that's what my dream was, ever since I was about six.

I've been coming to this school for about three quarters of a year now,

and it's really fun.

It's just amazing to be here.

Sorry I'm late. Train delayed, because... Yeah.

Quickly put your tap shoes on, then.

No, I'm not actually late much,

but it has to be today when they're practising my exam I have to be late.

Back, six, seven, eight...

HE COUNTS OUT BEAT

Erm, exam people, on the pickup ball change,

can you try and have a flat foot?

Back, six, seven, eight.

A one and a two and a three and a flat!

Better.

OK, Georgia swap places with Tommy, cos he's got his exam.

So, last week we did drop-pickup, drop-pickup, drop-pickup,

-toe, ball change, didn't we?

-Yeah.

Tommy's going to demonstrate for us. Ready?

Yeah, nice. Good, well done.

Dance is my favourite, then, it goes singing and acting,

because I'm not too keen on acting.

I'm not very good at picking up the words, learning words and everything.

Tommy's enthusiastic. He'll take away what you've said to him.

He'll process it and he'll come back the next week

and he will have practised it.

He went away in the Easter holidays

and he must have done quite a lot of practice,

because he came back and he really did know what he was doing.

Right. You both have castings for...

Do you watch a programme called The Dumping Ground?

-Yeah, I love that!

-No.

Well, that's what the casting's for. You need to watch it.

-You're covered.

-I love it so much.

It's for CBBC, so it's a very nice part.

There's your script.

It's for a part and the part is Zakia.

-So that's yours, Bessy. There's your script.

-Mmm-hmm!

-And that's your time and where you're going to.

-OK.

So if you can, cos it's on Saturday, try and learn as much as you can.

-OK.

-Cos it just looks nicer, if you can do some of it off book.

-OK, thank you!

-Paris, there's yours. Same part, so you're in competition.

When you've read the character brief, if you can,

dress like you'd think they might dress and that sort of thing.

You can practise together.

Yeah, she said that, already.

So, best of luck and then let me know how it goes.

-I'll keep my fingers crossed for you on Saturday.

-Thank you!

-Thank you!

-Thank you, bye!

-Bye.

-Bye.

-Have a good time.

-I'm really excited, cos it's my first audition.

-Woo!

-Yay!

I always say to the students, "You can only do the best you can do,

"but I do expect you to do the best you can do."

I think we have to roughen up. Be like, "What up, fam?"

"Yeah, I went to da shops, yeah? And I bought some McDonald's."

THEY LAUGH

Max's dance teacher, Ms Wilkins, isn't impressed

with his lack of preparation, and she's on the war path.

I'm looking for Max.

Max has a modern dance exam soon

and he should have prepared one little piece for me. One solo.

That's all. I've done all the rest of the work

and he's just got to do that one solo himself.

If Max hasn't been practising, I will be very angry.

He should have been practising. I really hope he has been practising.

I'm now going to go and see if I can find him in the canteen

and find out.

Max.

What? Erm...

-Where's Max?

-In English.

Max. I'm looking for Max.

Come on, Max.

-Please tell me you've been working.

-I have.

-Lots?

-Yeah, with Luca.

We're getting in at eight o'clock, so it's fine.

-Excellent.

-Seems to work.

So when am I going to see it?

-It's up to you.

-4:30pm?

-4:30pm, yeah, OK.

-You come and find me?

-I will, yeah.

-With your iPod that's working?

-With my iPhone that's working, of course.

-We look forward to it.

OK.

Fingers crossed.

For Paris and Bessy, their audition is big news,

and friends are there to give them some advice.

-Do you have to learn a script for the audition?

-Yeah.

How long is it?

It's five pages long, but it's not all Zakia speaking, so it's fine.

I think it's three scenes.

I don't know what to wear, though.

I think you should wear your own clothes,

to try and show your personality more. Whatever the character is,

if it says the character is quite quiet,

then I'd go in something a bit more settled,

but if its says the character is quirky,

then I'd go in something a bit more outgoing.

Oh, yeah, and we can't be posh.

-You can't be posh?

-No.

"Can't be posh!"

I think you just need to be yourselves.

Smile a lot.

It's Saturday morning

and the day of Paris and Bessy's audition

for a part in the Tracy Beaker spin-off, The Dumping Ground.

Don't be nervous.

You've practised enough.

-Just rest your voice till the main...

-Audition.

-Yeah.

I think I'm more nervous than you.

-I don't think you are.

-I am, trust me.

-No, you're not!

I am very nervous.

With their parents just as anxious as they are,

the girls have planned to meet up beforehand, to calm their nerves.

But Paris has had extra cause for concern.

-My voice is getting better.

-Yeah, it is.

It was really bad yesterday morning. It was like...

HOARSE: "Hello."

"Come to the dark side"

How unfair is that, though,

that my first audition, I've got a sore throat?

Yeah, it is, kind of, unfair.

My voice has gotten a lot better since yesterday,

but it's still really rough.

The worst thing that could happen is that my voice, kind of, goes

and then I can't speak.

I don't really know how to say the first line.

-The first scene?

-Yeah.

Yeah, I'm nervous about that one, too.

It's like, "I'm sorry, I tripped", but are you supposed to trip?

Oh, I'm going to trip.

-"Oops!"

-You fall over and break something.

I have done quite a few auditions before,

but I don't think I'm a pro yet, so I am obviously nervous.

But I am also really excited, cos it's The Dumping Ground

and everyone wants to be in that.

Paris and Bessy's audition is held in a private house,

where access is highly restricted, meaning our cameras are banned.

As they make their way to their audition,

all they can do now is give it their best shot.

Karen is head of musical theatre at the school

and the end-of-year summer show she organises

is something every pupil wants to be involved in.

Guys, as quickly as you can, can you come and sit down for me, please?

We are, obviously, straight now into your show rehearsals.

So everything you are doing in your lessons,

even if it's not a show number that you are rehearsing,

you have to understand that you are working on your stamina,

on your technique, everything else.

So I do not want to hear, "Do we have to go to ballet?

"Do we have to go to tap? But I'm not in that number."

I don't want to hear that, at all.

You need to be responsible for looking and being the best

that you can possibly be and you can only do that

if you get to your lessons.

So, please, everything you do, from this minute,

you need to really focus towards your summer show.

So, audition-wise, in your classes, in your musical theatre classes,

you are going to be auditioned right the way through today.

So, please, please, please, no-one coming in, "Can I do it again?

"Can I just... I know I can do it better."

Do it fabulous the first time.

OK?

And one person keen to shine in the end-of-year show is Kedar.

He's been hard at work on the hit CBBC series, Wolfblood.

But he's back to school now and hoping to win

a role in Mark Webb's routine for the end-of-year show.

Featuring the school's top dancers,

it's the routine all the seniors want to be seen in.

About to go into Mark Webb's audition for the summer show.

I've been in Newcastle for three months.

Just came back on Thursday last week, so back here now.

Getting back into college and stuff.

Just getting back into the swing of things. It's good. It's hard.

The most exercise I've done in three months

is walking up and down stairs, so going to Mark Webb's isn't the best

but getting back into it is fine, I guess.

I'm looking for seven girls, seven boys.

I'm looking for team players and I want to give people,

for me, personally, someone that's going to be here every week

and someone that I can depend on

and someone that wants to be here and do it

and give me heart and soul.

Yeah?

Thank you. Boys...

During the audition,

Mark will be looking for dancers who can learn the routine quickly.

But more importantly, who can deliver it the best.

...in the club.

Ah-ha.

Dropping like

dom-i-noes.

Dropping like

dom-i-noes.

Good.

MUSIC: "Dropping Like Dominoes", by Wildboyz

HE SHOUTS

After months away from dance classes,

it's not easy to keep up with Mark's instructions.

-DICTATING LYRICS:

-..all the boys, ah-ah.

Again. Let's go. Pull out.

Whoa! Again. Again.

Mark's only looking for seven boys for this dance number,

so Kedar has to up his game.

Come on! Come on! Come on!

MARK SHOUTS INSTRUCTIONS

Get me?

Right, if you want to be in the business, let's go.

One more.

Kedar is trying his hardest,

but will it be enough for the school's toughest teacher?

Fight for it. Always remember, fight, mate.

Don't leave the door thinking, "I could have given more."

Heart and soul, do you understand?

Fight for it. Yes?

Fight for it. Want it.

And Kedar isn't the only person fighting for a role.

Paris and Bessy haven't seen each other

since their Dumping Ground audition at the weekend.

-How did it go?

-Um...

It went really well, I think.

-How was yours?

-It went really good.

She got me to do the whole of it, so I guess that's good.

Yeah. She made me do the first scene twice, though.

Yeah, she made me do that. I think she made me do it three times.

She went back on it again. I was like, "OK!"

How many people were there?

There was one girl when I got there, but then, another girl went out

and then, there was, like, another two when I got out,

so there were quite a lot of people.

There was like...

There was one girl when I was waiting

and then there was another girl

that was waiting, that was after me, and there was only two people.

So I guess there's loads of people auditioning, so it's a bit...

They said they liked my husky voice.

I was like, "Ha! All right!"

A husky voice?

I told them I have a cold, and they were like,

"So is your voice normally like that?

"Is it different?

"Is it basically the same?" And I was like, "Yeah!

"It's only a tiny bit different."

MARK SHOUTS ENCOURAGEMENT

Fantastic.

After an exhausting audition, it's time for Kedar to find out

if he's impressed Mark enough to get a lead in his prestigious routine.

Congratulations, everyone. You did fantastic today.

Stay for me.

Stay for me.

Stay for me.

Stay for me.

Stay for me.

Stay for me.

Stay for me.

Thank you, everybody else.

Sadly, it's a no for Kedar, this time.

Thank you. Well done, everybody else.

Kedar, you know, he's a great lad.

He's got a lovely energy about him, but obviously, he's been away

and he's been filming, so, of course,

he's going to be a bit rusty.

He's been doing this series and he coped with it all right.

But it's, like, if you don't go to the gym every day

and you decide to go after a year, you're not going to be able

to do it properly, so for me, he needs to get back in class

and he needs to pull up a little bit more, really.

Mark didn't choose me for this number.

I haven't been here for so long.

The boys who've been here for nearly three months doing it every week,

pushing and pushing and pushing

would obviously have more of a chance than me.

I salute every one of you, because...

Even yourself, you've been off.

You stayed with it.

So I salute that. Do you know what I'm saying?

It's not today. It's about tomorrow.

So if this one doesn't happen for you, chins up.

What do we do with the negative energy? We turn it to a positive.

This is learning curve, do you understand?

Yeah?

Since auditioning, Bessy and Paris

sadly never heard back from the casting producers,

but along with Kedar, they're learning all too quickly

that rejection is just part of the show business world.

With even more hard work, dedication and a positive attitude,

tomorrow could bring something bigger and better.

Next time, on School For Stars...

..it's show time for Max and Ms Wilkins...

Please, Max! Come on!

-..Tilly is feeling the pressure...

-I never really cry.

I'm feeling so much pressure right now.

..and Tommy takes on some of the best

that the school can throw at him.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd