Episode 2 School for Stars

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

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

Stop! No, sorry.

-We're back...

-Good morning, everybody.

..for series three

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

One, two, three...

..London's Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts...

..where, for some pupils, dreams of a career on screen

and stage really can come true.

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

Previously on School For Stars...

Max finally started to choreograph his exam routine...

I feel like an old man doing it.

..but is it too little too late

as he come face to face with Miss Wilkins?

-I don't want you to fail.

-No, I won't fail.

No, you will if you get rubbish like that.

After Tilly's stint in Billy Elliot, she's failed to get any castings.

Is the pressure all getting too much for her?

It's gotten to the point that I'm crying and I never really cry.

And how will Tommy cope when he's given the lead in a special routine

with the older students?

I don't even know what I'm doing.

All eyes are on the youngest member of this elite crew...

I can't Fame jump.

..and he can't let them down.

The school has a triple threat policy,

which means every pupil has to sing...

dance and act.

The school's launched the career of many famous actors,

from Patsy Kensit to Russell Brand.

And one pupil who wants to follow in their footsteps is Celestine.

She's in year seven and has only been in the school for two terms,

but is already fitting in well.

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah...

I can fit in here, like, cos we're all doing the same things

and we're all different.

And it's a nice different.

A castle! Go!

I like acting the most. I love to act.

-Where are we going?

-I don't know.

But it isn't all smooth sailing for Celestine.

Actors have to learn scripts off by heart - and quickly.

I find it hard to learn scripts because I have severe dyslexia.

I find it hard to remember the words.

And acting alongside others is even harder.

-Thank you.

-I want you to take this script

and then we're going to work really fast on this script.

We're going to give you a big challenge.

I find dyslexia affects when I work in groups

because I can't understand the word and it really irritates me.

I cannot say that word.

I feel like I've ruined everyone else's performance

so I have to really try and learn the script.

I'm also challenging you with the idea that we will learn these

scripts very quickly and can perform these for next week.

It's a bit harder with dyslexia

but you still have to work the same as everyone else.

The ice...land is... The Icelandic is stronger...

I think it's a good skill as an actor to be able to pick up a script

and learn it quite quickly, which is going to be a challenge

for Celestine when she gets older

because of her dealing with dyslexia.

But it's good for her to realise those challenges now because

it won't be as scary as she gets older, as she gets more scripts.

When I get given a script, I go home and keep going over it

until I get it in my head.

But home for Celestine is slightly different.

Along with a few other girls at school

she lives in a boarding house.

There are a lot of talented people outside London,

so it helps people who don't live so close to have somewhere to stay,

and so it saves them having to travel.

I love staying the boarding house because we're like a big family

and it's just lovely.

It is literally like having a big sleepover every night

and it's brilliant.

We sometimes play hide and seek.

It may be fun but living away from home means missing family.

Three weeks until I see my parents.

And my dog! Oh!

It's, like, we're all together, we all have to be there for each other.

Yeah, we all are there for each other.

She may find scripts harder to learn because of her dyslexia,

but at the boarding house Celestine always has support...

-Shall I read the other parts?

-Oh, yes, please.

-Who are you?

I'm one of the waitresses.

I get someone from the boarding house to play the other people

and it just helps me learn it quicker.

What type of hot chocolate would you like?

..which is handy, as Celestine is about to be given

a challenge that will really test her acting ability.

As you'd expect at a performing arts school,

there's no shortage of lively students keen to make an impression.

And year eight's Tilly is one of the liveliest.

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Pineapple!

Tilly's got a really massive personality.

The most bubbly person you'll ever meet.

-She's the life and soul.

-She's really loud.

Sometimes I can actually hear her from a different room, laughing.

But at this school, even the most energetic pupil

can find themselves having an off day.

I'm feeling so much pressure right now.

Like, seriously. So much.

I've got all my exams coming up and it's just getting to me.

She has exams in modern dance, tap and ballet,

and with having to learn all the routines,

Tilly's really feeling the strain.

Tilly, they ended up parallel. Your heels didn't go down.

You started with your knees coming this way. Nasty.

I just feel like they put a lot on my plate,

really, and they should have just spaced it out a little bit because...

It's gotten to the point that I'm crying. And I never really cry.

Having juggled life at school with roles in West End shows

like Matilda and The Wizard Of Oz, Jordan's the perfect friend

for Tilly to confide in.

I've got so much on my mind right now.

Some of the teachers are just comparing me to other people.

People that can literally get their legs up here

and do back-flippy thingies.

Oh...

It makes you so tired as well.

It's just the same as me with tap.

You know how stressed I am with tap sometimes.

Sounding off to her friend seems to have done the trick.

Everyone has bad days. It's just a bad day.

Feel better?

Tilly isn't alone, though.

Max is also under pressure.

His modern dance exam is coming up

and Miss Wilkins wants to see how much practice he's done.

But Max really doesn't excel in dance.

You can't watch by the way.

Put your head down now. It's the rules.

-Max?

-Oh, no.

-Come on, let's see what you got.

-OK.

-Now.

Yay.

So far he's avoided showing her.

Come on.

But now she's pinned him down.

-Have you got something to show me?

-Yes. Luke has been helping me.

Good.

Eyes up!

Please, Max, dance!

Ah, wait, wait, wait.

Can we start again? Sorry.

Miss Wilkins is not impressed.

I don't want you to fail.

-No, I won't fail.

-No, you will if you get rubbish like that.

If Max is going to be ready for his exam, he needs help.

-A lot of it.

-Here we go.

One, two, three!

Smile!

-No!

-No?

Hup-hup, thank you.

-Strong!

-Mm-hm.

-Hut!

-Yeah.

-What is that?

It's like a, you know...

-I could be cooler than you could.

-Probably could, actually.

Miss Wilkins has her work cut out.

But Max is starting to get better.

Ya-ta-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta-ta.

Wow!

It really is getting there. Hallelujah.

It's going to be amazing, isn't it?

Yes, yeah. No, yeah.

-Cos, if not, I will kill you.

-I know you will. I know.

It's been tough but by working Max hard, Miss Wilkins has given him

a fighting chance.

Will he get through his exam?

There's a fair way to go before I'm happy with his exam.

At the moment it's still a bit touch and go,

if you want the truth.

Only I can make it better now so I'm going to have to put in some work

at the weekend and hope for the best.

Like any school, exams are a massive part of life here.

And not just in the usual subjects.

Every performing art has an exam for pupils to work towards.

Start feeling it. Start dancing.

In your own time.

And aspiring actor Celestine

is about to face her biggest challenge yet.

I've got my LAMDA exam coming up.

My partner Sadie, me and her are learning it together

and we'll just keep going through it.

She was pretty sick... there at the end.

Sick and mean.

My line was...

LAMDA'S are external acting qualifications.

Because of her severe dyslexia,

Celestine finds learning scripts difficult.

Our piece we haven't really had for very long.

It's been quite hard to learn it.

Yeah...

All right, all present and ready to go.

Today, drama teacher Miss Everisto wants to see their pieces.

And we start with, please, Celestine and Sadie.

The queen of the Amazon may play with whatever she likes.

The queen of Amazon wears a slip on her head.

You must obey my every commandment.

Like, "Thou shalt not slay thee bossy little sister"?

Go back. "Thy" not "thee".

Like...

-Thy?

-Like, "Thou shalt not slay thy bossy little sister."

Like, "Thou not shalt..."

Go back.

Like, "Thou shalt not slay thee bossy little sister."

-No, "THY bossy little sister."

-Thy bossy little sister.

-Go back.

Like, "Thou shalt not slay... thy bossy little sister."

Um...Celestine,

you're still very nervous.

You've got to relax more. OK?

You've got to get on this, OK?

I can't learn the lines for you.

You've got to get the pictures into your brain.

Picture the room, picture the house,

so that you don't forget what you're saying.

If you can picture the room and everything that is in the room,

then you'll remember what comes next.

OK? You've really got to use your imagination.

And she needs to get to grips with this technique,

as in just a few days' time, Miss Everisto is holding mock LAMDAs.

With Celestine, it is partly nerves.

I mean, she has got the dyslexia, not that that is a barrier,

because it isn't, but what it does do with some pupils,

it makes them feel less confident.

So one of the things with me,

is to get Celestine to be more confident in herself.

Miss Everisto was a bit annoyed that I forgot some of my words

but I tried my hardest to get it in my head.

I'll make sure I'll go home tonight and I'll learn them.

A new day at school and a big day for Tilly.

Hiya.

-Upstairs?

-Yeah.

It may be a Saturday but it's the start of her exams

and this morning it's tap.

I've been working every single minute, every single hour of the day

just working on it and trying to make it as best as I can possibly make it.

Someone else who's been putting the hours in is Max.

Quite nervous.

Yeah, quite.

Today, he has his modern dance exam.

There's just enough time for both of them

to do some last-minute practice.

At the end, instead of just standing and posing,

do...something.

Da-da-boom.

Ahh!

My exam's in, like, ten minutes. I'm really scared.

You'll do well. Don't worry about it, you're really good.

You just need to think to yourself, "I'm better than everyone else."

But I don't know if you should think that but you are really good.

And not... You're lucky you can dance the way you do.

Imagine them naked.

Can Tilly keep her cool or will she crack under the pressure?

The nerves have just got me now.

Like, just waiting here and everything just...

like argh!

This is so scary.

For Max, some last-minute advice from his personal dance coach Luca.

Keep going till the end of the music.

Doesn't matter if you get a step wrong, she won't know.

-Well, she will if I pull a face.

-Well, don't.

-If I go...

That's the thing, don't pull a face.

Just make it look like it's right and she won't know, really.

-Good luck.

-Right, well, cheers for that. See you in a bit.

Ten minutes after going in,

Tilly's exam is done.

And it doesn't look like it's gone too well.

Miss, I didn't do as well as I could've.

Because of my foot. Like, literally, I did...

SHE TAPS

..this part. I literally stepped on it and it fell, like it popped,

and I was literally... I felt like crying.

They won't make allowances, I'm afraid.

Don't worry, don't worry.

It went OK. I tried my best.

Hopefully she knows that I tried my hardest and gives me a good grade.

The results won't be for a couple of weeks

so it's going to be an agonising wait for Tilly,

but now it's Max's turn.

I'm feeling quite nervous now. We're actually outside the door.

He's far from a natural dancer

and a few days ago he didn't even have a routine.

Will he be able to impress the examiner?

All Luca can do is watch his friend perform, and wait.

In only a matter of minutes the exam is over. Has Max done enough?

-How was it?

-Yeah, it was really good.

Couple of bits went wrong.

Not...

-Not anything that...

-Was it obvious?

-No.

Practice with Luca has definitely paid off.

And all the nagging that Miss Wilkins has done has certainly paid off.

So hopefully I should get an all right grade. Maybe.

Turn up...

the music.

At this school, the summer term is always the busiest.

Every pupil not only has their singing,

dancing and stage exams to take,

but they have all their academic exams as well.

On top of that,

they have the spectacular end-of-year show to prepare for.

Grab the audience like that.

But Karen's just about to break some news

that's going to have everyone working even harder.

You all know how important it is that we look after the trust

that supports so many of you.

The trust, sadly, is not a bottomless pit.

I now need us to focus right up to the end of term,

about fundraising for our trust.

The Conti Trust pays the fees for those pupils who win

scholarships to the school.

And as an ex-pupil of the school herself,

is something that is close to Karen's heart.

I was funded as a child,

and without that funding I wouldn't have been able to achieve what

I've done in the business.

Without that trust, some of our pupils here at the moment

would not be able to stay here.

So hopefully by raising awareness we can do something about it.

Every pupil is being asked to fundraise. To do their bit,

the seniors are hitting the streets of London with a dance flash mob.

Flash mobs are group events spontaneously performed in public.

And it's up to senior student Cameron to choreograph the routine.

Change...

Today's the first rehearsal for the flash mob.

Disco classic.

This is one of the only rehearsals we've got, though,

so hopefully we can get it kind of through and finished.

Hearing about the flash mob, year ten pupils Ella

and Jade want to be a part of it.

But first they have to prove they can step up with the big boys

and girls.

-Are you scared?

-Just a bit. Just a little bit.

Doing it with them might be a bit hard

but we'll just have to see how it goes.

We're not used to picking these up that quick.

I've never worked with any of the juniors before.

It's a massive gap of ability and age.

But hopefully they're switched on and ready to go and we can get started.

One, two.

Three, five.

One, two.

Three, four.

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

Shoulder, shoulder - shoulder, shoulder. Bang.

Head...position.

My brain's not working.

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

Five, six...

Keeping up with the seniors is tough.

They're all given a matter of minutes to learn the routine,

then it's time for a complete run through.

My brain is frying but we have to do it. We'll do it.

For Ella and Jade, the pressure really is on.

MUSIC: "Fame Theme Song" by Naturi Naughton & Collins Pennie

Hip-hip.

SHE GASPS

With the clock ticking, will Ella and Jade get the moves down?

Time's also running out for Celestine.

Her mock LAMDA exam has arrived

and she still can't get that line right.

It's like, "Thou shall not slay thy bossy..."

-So it's "Thou, thy".

-Thou, thy.

I always get them mixed, I always say, "Thy, thy."

It may be a mock exam, but the marks they get now

will be a good reflection of what they'll get in the real exam.

I will be playing...

-..June.

-No.

Oh, dear.

Never mind that tricky line.

Celestine's even forgotten who she is.

Do you want something to eat?

What's on that chair?

That is not a chair.

That is a prisoner of war. Caught trying to assassinate her highness.

You're going to ruin Mum's good jacket.

-She never wears it.

-Still not allowed to play with it.

The queen of the Amazon may play with whatever she likes.

After a shaky start, Celestine's found her feet.

But will she get her "thy" and "thou" the right way round?

You must obey my every commandment.

Like, "Thy shalt not slay thy bossy little sister"?

Don't enrage the queen or you will be sorry.

She said it wrong again.

And now with the exam over there's nothing more she can do

but nervously wait for the results.

Celestine, where are you? There you are.

OK, overall, that was much better than last week.

Yeah? Much better than last week.

Very good that you got that line right...

I didn't.

OK, well, I didn't notice.

Sounded right!

It sounded right.

She performed so well Miss Everisto didn't notice her mistake. Result.

Today, what you did today, probably be a merit today.

I probably could have done better.

I hope I get the, "Like thy shalt not slay thy bossy little sister."

I always get that wrong.

So I need to make sure I remember it.

I just hope I get a distinction in the real thing.

At the Fame flash mob rehearsals, it's finally going well for Jade

and Ella.

But it turns out the two year ten girls aren't the youngest dancers

in the routine.

-Tommy, go stand at the front.

-I don't even know what I'm doing.

Yeah, but just watch.

Year seven Tommy has been picked to be in the second part

of the routine.

Really excited. It looks really fun.

And not only is he the youngest, but he has a lead role.

I'm a bit nervous because if I get it wrong

-then it looks really embarrassing.

-Tommy?

-Yeah.

-You'll be in the front here.

-OK.

Tommy will lead us. It kind of needs to go into a triangle.

You'll go - one, two, three and head.

One, two, three and head.

Currently in the hit West End show Singin' In The Rain,

Tommy's used to the spotlight.

But he still has to prove he has what it takes to dance with

the older students.

Step, two, three, clap.

Step, two, three...

Round...to here.

Tommy's picking up the choreography well, that is until...

Roll...step, Fame.

I would really like it if everyone could Fame jump there.

-I can't Fame jump.

-Course you can.

He's just been given a move that he's never done before.

I can't Fame jump.

A Fame jump's like a split jump and everyone is doing it really high.

And then there's me that's only getting half the height.

He's right at the front and there's no place to hide.

Tommy just has to try and get it right.

MUSIC: "Fame Theme Song" by Naturi Naughton & Collins Pennie

It's not a bad attempt

but when Tommy performs the routine in public,

that jump has to be twice as high.

I've got a lot of work to do because it's just a week away.

It's quite hard to pick it up, let alone perform it and everything

but I think I should practise more and then it'll be fine.

It's not all about the flash mob.

Fundraising events are being set up all over the school

and Karen has a challenge for Tilly and her classmates.

We're going to be working on a little medley all about the school.

And we are going to be taking this in front of an audience.

I need somebody who believes that they can start the whole thing off

and get people to literally stop what they're doing

and be able to turn and look.

So if you think that's you, take a step forward.

After what she thinks was a disastrous performance

in her tap exam,

Tilly wants to beat her nerves

and show she has what it takes to sing the lead.

She's not the only one, though,

as Karen wants to hear them all sing solo.

# It's not how you start

# It's how you finish. #

# It's not how you go

# It's how you land. #

When it comes to Tilly's turn...

What's wrong, Tilly? What's wrong, Tilly?

..those nerves are back.

Relax, Tilly. Shake those hands.

My hand's just really shaking.

Don't worry. It's fine, we'll work through it. All right, darling?

How does it start?

Let's just get on with it.

It's not where you start, it's where you finish.

It's not how you go, it's how you land.

-Why am I so scared?

-I don't know.

# It's not where you start

# It's where you finish

# It's not how you go

# It's how you land

# A hundred-to-one shot

# With no ifs or buts

# Can outrun the favourite

# All he needs is the guts

# Your final return will not... #

That's lovely. Good girl.

You've really thought about those vowel sounds.

It's a good recovery but is it enough to get the part?

OK, so my group of five that are here, stay where you are.

It looks like Karen has picked all five girls for lead vocals.

Tilly's gamble of putting herself forward has paid off.

I was so nervous and I nearly cried

because I just haven't felt like I'm right for any part.

Actually getting it just made me feel so happy.

# It's not where you start it's where you finish

# And you're gonna finish on top. #

Life is full of challenges.

And it's easy to let the nerves take hold.

But if you face your fears head on,

then any challenge will turn to success.

MUSIC: "Try" by Pink

Next time on School For Stars...

Tilly bags an audition for a major TV role...

You are going up for the part of Peaches.

She's the kind of gregarious, slightly naughty one.

..Niki's ballet future hangs in the balance...

That is not acceptable for ballet, absolutely not. Go down now.

..and it's crunch time for Tommy.

Will he pull off the Fame jump?

Five, six, seven, eight!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd