High School Musical
High School Musical Pt. 2
After filming HSM, my life was pretty much back to normal. I was going to auditions, but I also wanted to pursue my education. So when I got the call to do HSM 2 I was in Paris studying Economics. I was what you would consider a starving student. I was so thrilled when I found out that I'd be reprising my role as Kelsi in "High School Musical 2."
I was also pleased to see that my character Kelsi evolves in the sequel. In the first HSM Kelsi was shy and I don't think that she was really able to showcase her talent the way she does in the second movie. In HSM 2, Kelsi experiments with music a little more, she becomes more confident, and she gets to sing! I'm a trained dancer (ballet), but I'm not a singer so I was a little nervous going into the scene. Vanessa and the rest of the cast were very supportive though and they totally made me feel comfortable. Kelsi also definitely learns her own inner strength in this movie when she finally confronts Sharpay for being such a bully. Kelsi was a shy girl in the first HSM and it's nice to see her stand up for herself. The theme for the sequel is about friendship and loyalty. The story tests the friends' relationships with each other, their plans for the future, and their cohesiveness as a group. I think it’s wonderful that these important life changing situations can be represented in a production that reaches so many young people.
Olesya Rulin -High School Musical 2 - "You Are The Music In Me"- Music Video. Featuring: Zach Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens.
HSM 2 really changed my life in terms of exposure. When HSM first premiered I was still working at a regular job, and shoppers were recognizing who I was. That was a little strange at the time. I was very appreciative that they liked my work, but I wasn’t used to being recognized like that. With the success of HSM 2 and HSM 3 being released later this year, I know that I have to be prepared because being a part of such a phenomenon means being recognized in public. It is still very important to me as a person to have my privacy, but I love talking to fans and being with people. I believe that every individual needs to retain a certain amount of privacy because that time alone nourishes the soul, and it actually allows you to be able to give more as a result.
I remember attending the HSM 2 premiere event and thinking that the paparazzi, the fans and just the general excitement of it all seemed like a crazy dream. I had been busy shooting Major Movie Star with Jessica Simpson so I hadn't seen the movie, except for a few clips, so I was very excited. HSM 2 is wonderful and I was so pleased at how Kenny Ortega was able to retain the freshness and creativity of HSM into HSM 2. I can't wait for HSM 3!
"High School Musical 2"
"High School Musical 2" has all the fun, music, and dance of the original only bigger and better. It’s summertime and the gang is ready for three months of fun in the sun. Troy, Gabriella, Kelsi, and the rest of the gang all get summer jobs at the posh country club Lava Springs. There’s also another musical to prepare for, the Midsummer Night's Talent Show. The only drawback is that Lava Springs is owned by the parents of none other than Sharpay and Ryan Evans. This summer, Sharpay's got her eyes on Troy and she is up to her usual tricks. Kelsi on the other hand is busy composing for the country club's musical and she composes another romantic ballad for Troy and Gabriella to sing. In this second installment, Kelsi sings "You Are the Music in Me" in a solo and eventual duet with Gabriella.
However, it’'s not all fun and games for the gang at Lava Springs. Conflict arises when Sharpay convinces Troy to sing with her at the talent show. Sharpay steals the song Kelsi wrote and changes the ballad into a more upbeat version. Despite Sharpay's numerous plots, Troy and Gabriella do get the chance to sing together and all's well that ends well in a big finale that finds Troy and Gabriella sharing their first kiss. Fans will love the musical sequences, with songs such as "What Time Is It?", "Everyday," and "All For One."
Director Kenny Ortega is true to form with his own brand of catchy musical and dance sequences. Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Olesya Rulin, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel all reprise their roles from the original movie. When "High School Musical 2" first aired on the Disney Channel on August 17, 2007, the movie received 17.2 million viewers, breaking the record as the most watched basic-cable telecast in history. In the United Kingdom, the film became the most viewed program in history drawing 1.2 million viewers. Now available on DVD with included special bonus features, "High School Musical 2" more than lives up to its predecessor. The film has become an international hit with people of all ages and the students from East Side High will remain in our memories throughout the ages.
