Kenny Ortega Interview - Footloose and Chace Crawford
Kenny Ortega, the choreographer/producer/director behind the 'High School Musical' franchise, is heading back into the world of movie musicals with a remake of 'Footloose.' At the 2009 MTV Movie Awards Ortega talked about casting Chace Crawford.
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Transcript: Kenny Ortega Interview - Footloose and Chace Crawford
Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards.
Director Kenny Ortega - Footloose
What can we look forward to with the new Footloose?
Kenny Ortega: "Well, you know, first of all it's all brand new. It's a contemporary piece but that's still is rooted in the same themes and story and characters. You can look for a balance of brand new music - new soundtrack - and some of the classic from the original soundtrack. And Chace Crawford, amazing, dynamic, exciting..."
But why? We don't think of him with music and dancing. Why is he the right guy?
Kenny Ortega: "Did you think of Zac [Efron] before Zac did any. Or did you think of any...Patrick Swayze or Travolta even? I didn't know what Chace was going to bring into the room. All I can say is that he flew in early in the morning from the East Coast. Arrived just so in the zone, so ready and dedicated to do it. He fully invested himself. It was the most colorful and dynamic and fun audition I think I've ever had. And he's awesome and he's ready to do this."
Ever had for any of your films?
Kenny Ortega: "Let me just say that as a director you're always hoping that an actor's going to walk through the door and that you're going to have an experience rather than an audition. And Chace brought an experience in the room with him, you know? He's fun to be with. He's colorful and smart and dedicated. And I mean he was just jumping into everything. When I said, 'Okay, let's dance,' you know the normal would be you'd see a little bit of a [head bop], right? And he just said, 'Okay, where?' 'Face the mirror, man.' And he was there. He took off his shirt, he was in his T-shirt and jeans, and hit it. And that's the kind of man I wanted for this role."
How tough is it going to be to find an actress to go across from that?
Kenny Ortega: "There are some beautiful women who are auditioning for the movie right now and the tough part is going to be selecting between all the gifted ladies, really."
Are you going to try to get someone whose background is in dance or is going to be someone else who we don't suspect will be in that kind of a role?
Kenny Ortega: "Definitely an actress who has a musical ability."
Any more High School Musical in your future?
Kenny Ortega: "I know High School Musical 4 is going to be coming soon. And there's a brilliant director that's going to be taking on the franchise, and I'm really excited about it."
And you're okay to pass the torch on?
Kenny Ortega: "I am, especially to this individual I have great faith in."
What about the fact that musicals have regained such popularity, especially among the younger people? What do you think about that?
Kenny Ortega: "I think it's awesome. I mean there was a time in my life where I thought maybe I'd never see it. And having always loved them and been a fan of them, this last four years has been bliss. It's been absolutely fantastic. And to see the rise and them to come back into fashion, it's fantastic. That I get a chance to do Footloose, that I get to have done three High School Musicals, and I'm looking at five or six other scripts right now that are all either music-driven or full blown-out musicals and it's fantastic."
And it's easier to get studios to say yes now, right?
Kenny Ortega: "Well, in these economic times it's hard to get studios to say yes about anything. But definitely easier than it would have been, you know, 10 years ago."