STEP UP 2 THE STREETS
©Touchstone Pictures. All Rights Reserved. MySpace.com/StepUpMovie
TOUCHSTONE PICTURES and SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT Present
A SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT Production in association with OFFSPRING ENTERTAINMENT
STEP UP 2 THE STREETS
Directed by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JON M. CHU Written by . . . . . . . . . . . TONI ANN JOHNSON
and KAREN BARNA Based on Characters Created by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DUANE ADLER Produced by . . . . . PATRICK WACHSBERGER
and ERIK FEIG Produced by. . . . . . . . . . . ADAM SHANKMAN and JENNIFER GIBGOT Executive Producers. . . . . . . . BOB HAYWARD DAVID NICKSAY ANNE FLETCHER MEREDITH MILTON Director of Photography . . . . . . MAX MALKIN Production Designer . . . DEVORAH HERBERT Film Editors. . . . . . . . . . . ANDREW MARCUS NICHOLAS ERASMUS Costume Designer. . . . . . . . . . . LUCA MOSCA Music by. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AARON ZIGMAN Music Supervisor. . . . . . . . . . . BUCK DAMON Choreography by . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAMAL SIMS NADINE “HI HAT” RUFFIN DAVE SCOTT Casting by. . . . . . . . . . . . . JOANNA COLBERT RICHARD MENTO & TERRI TAYLOR
Unit Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DAVID NICKSAY First Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . . . DANIEL SILVERBERG Second Assistant Director. . . . . . . . . ALISON C. ROSA
CAST
Andie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BRIANA EVIGAN Chase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ROBERT HOFFMAN Moose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ADAM G. SEVANI Sophie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CASSIE VENTURA Missy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DANIELLE POLANCO Hair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHRISTOPHER SCOTT Jenny Kido . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MARI KODA Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JANELLE CAMBRIDGE Monster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LUIS ROSADO Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HARRY SHUM, JR. Smiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LAJON DANTZLER Felicia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TELISHA SHAW Tuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BLACK THOMAS K-Mel . . . . . . . KEJAMEL “K-MEL” HOWELL Rapid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JEFF “RAPID” OGLE Crumbs. . . . . . DONNIE “CRUMBS” COUNTS EBZ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EBONE JOHNSON Kid Rainen . . . . . RYNAN “RAINEN” PAGUIO Cricket. . . . . . . . JAMES “CRICKET” COLTER Alstar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ALISON FAULK Shorty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SHORTY WELCH Troy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TROY KIRBY Machine . . . JEFFERY “MACHINE” MCCANN Blake Collins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WILL KEMP Tyler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHANNING TATUM Sarah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SONJA SOHN DJ Sand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BOOGIE Charlie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AMARR MERRITT Blake’s Class Dancers. . . . . . . . DAISHA GRAF JIMMIE MANNERS SHANE RUTKOWSKI LAURA EDWARDS SAMANTHA ZWEBEN PATRICK BRENNAN Mrs. Serrano . . . . . . . . . . . . . MARIAN LICHA Aunt Maria. . . . . . . . SARAH RIVERA-SCOTT Alejandro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LUIS SALGADO Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KATIE CORRADO Admissions Panel . . . . . . . E. DAWN SAMUEL AVA LENET NICK CORDILEONE
CREDITS 1
CREDITS MSA Auditionee . . . . . . . . . . AMANDA CIERI Businesswoman on Subway. . . . . . . . . . HI HAT Older Man on Subway. . . . . . HERBERT MATZ Subway Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOWARD CHU RUTH CHU LAWRENCE CHU JESS BRADEN CRUZ Subway Baby. . . . GAVIN DANGER RUSSELL News Reporter . . . . . . . . DELIA GONCALVES Bartender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAMAL SIMS Goth Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . KATIE BERENSON OLIVIA CIPOLLA MEGAN KAIN KELLY LAFARGA CARLY LANG MICHAELA SPRAGUE West Coast Riders. . . . . . . . . . . . FLO MASTER CHUCK MALDONADO DONDRAICO JOHNSON RHAPSODY JAMES SHARAYA HOWELL BRANDY LAMKIN BINKIE Jabbawockeez Crew . . . . . . . GARY KENDELL CHRIS GATDULA JEFF NGUYEN
PHILIPPE TAYAG
Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KATE LACEY Vocal Coach . . . . BETTYANN LEESEBERG-LANGE Car Stereo Guy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DAVE SCOTT B Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JULES URICH Ensemble Dancer . . . . . . NANCY THORNTON Club Dancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHASE BENZ Stunt Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . CORT HESSLER
Co-Producer. . . . . . . . . . . . MATTHEW MIZEL
Associate Producer . . . DANIEL SILVERBERG Production Supervisor . . . . . . . . . . YVONNE YACONELLI
Art Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAUL D. KELLY Set Decorator . . . . JENNIFER GENTILE SDSA Leadman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ERIK BORING
Costume Supervisor . . . . . JOHNETTA BOONE
Costumers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AMANDA SROKA KATIE HOWARD KAIRO COURTS
Key Makeup Artist . . . . SANDRA LINN KOEPPER Makeup Artists . . . . . . . . NGOZIKA OLANDU
JANICE TUNNELL ANNABELLE MACNEAL Key Hairstylist . . . . . . . . . . . ARDIS F.COHEN Hairstylists . . . . . . . JANICE KINIGOPOULOS LYDIA BENSIMON BENAIM CHARMAINE HENNINGER
Camera Operator . . . . . . . . . PHILIP PFEIFFER First Assistant Camera. . . . . . RUDY SALAS III Second Assistant Camera . . . . . . . . . . BRADLEY ROCHLITZER Still Photographers. . . . . . . KAREN BALLARD
SAM EMERSON
RON BATZDORFF Script Supervisor . . . . . . . . . . . ROBB FOGLIA Sound Mixers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JIM STUEBE
RICHARD VAN DYKE Boom Operators . . . . . . . . . . JOHN SWEENEY
KRAIG KISHI Cableman/Cable Puller . . . . . . . JASON PETTY Video Playback Operator . . . . CHARLES “CHAZ” LAUGHON
Location Manager . . . . . . . . JOHN LATENSER Assistant Location Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . CAPRICE ERICSON
MATTHEW D. NOONAN
First Assistant Editor . . . . . . . . J. CONOR GUY Assistant Editor . . . . . . . . . . SCOTT HATCHER Post Production Coordinator . . . . . . . . FRANCES P. VALLIERE Editorial Production Assistants . . . . . . . . . AMY WILLIS
ROB BANKS
Supervising Sound Editor. . . . . . . TODD TOON
Re-Recording Mixers . . . . . . STEVE MASLOW GREGG LANDAKER
Supervising ADR & Dialogue Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.W. BROWN
2
Sound Editors . . . . . . . . DONALD J. MALOUF CHARLES W. RITTER NANCY MACLEOD VICTORIA ROSE SAMPSON JULIE FEINER
JOHN KWIATKOWSKI First Assistant Sound Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . MARK A. TRACY Assistant Sound Editor. . . . . . . . . ANN L. THORNBERG ADR Mixer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DOC KANE ADR Recordist . . . . JEANNETTE BROWNING Foley Mixer. . . . . . . . . . . SHAWN KENNELLY Foley Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . LAURA MACIAS
VINCE NICASTRO Additional Re-Recording Mixers . . . . . . . TERRY PORTER
DEAN A. ZUPANCIC Sound Recordists . . . . . . . . . . . . . JUDY NORD
ERIK FLOCKOI Post Production
Sound Services . . . . WALT DISNEY STUDIOS
Chief Lighting Technician . . JEFFERY RENLIE Best Boy Electric . . . . . . . . . RUSSELL WICKS Rigging Gaffer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAY D. KEMP Best Boy Rigging Electric . . . WES SULLIVAN
Key Grip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RAY BROWN Best Boy Grip . . . . . . . . . . . . . TED SPIEGLER Key Rigging Grip . . . . . JULIAN STERNTHAL Best Boy Rigging Grip . . . . MARK A. SMOOT
Property Master. . . . ARTHUR B. SHIPPEE JR. Assistant Property Master . . . . . . . KRISTINA M. KILPE Special Effects Supervisor. . . . BOB VAZQUEZ Special Effects Key Technician. . . . . . . . . . . . . . BEAU SEIDEL
Production Coordinators. . . MELISSA “STANLEY” COHEN
ELIZABETH L. CHAMBERS Assistant Production Coordinators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BETH A. BOYD
ANN S. CHRISTMAN
2nd 2nd Assistant Director . . . . . . AMARANDA SORIA
Assistants to Mr. Chu . . . . . . JASON RUSSELL LIAT BARUCH
ALEX COLLINS Assistant to Mr. Shankman . . . . . . . JIMMY BADSTIBNER Assistant to Ms. Gibgot . . . . . BRYAN KALFUS Assistant to Mr. Wachsberger . . . . . . . DEBORAH ORTEGA Assistant to Mr. Feig . . . . . . BRANDY RIVERS Assistant to Mr. Mizel . . . . MICHAEL SIMKIN Assistant to Mr. Nicksay . . . . . . KATIE “MK” DIESINGER
Construction Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . MICHAEL E. DAVIS Construction Foreman . . . . . . . . . . RONALD J.NAPIER, JR. Production Assistants . . . . . DAVID M. VOGEL
MICHELLE SKANESKI WALTER E. MYAL LARRY CAUDLE ABBY BECKER CLARICE BROWN ROBERT TRELA HALSTON ERICSON-BOHAGER CASE AIKEN ALLYN T. CAMP
SAMUEL AKINYELE
Production Secretary . . . . . CAROL EVERSON Studio Teacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KEVIN MOLL Dialect Coach . . . . BETTYANN LEESEBERG-LANGE
Assistant
Choreographers. . . . . . . . . RHAPSODY JAMES KEJAMEL “K-MEL” HOWELL & TROY KIRBY KRISTI CRADER
Production Accountant. . . . . . . . . . . BARBARA GUTMAN First Assistant Accountant. . . . . . . . . . . . ALONZO NEVAREZ Payroll Accountant . . . . . . . . . . . TANIA LEVIN Assistant Accountants . . . . . . SONIA DAWSON
ALEXANDER ROMAN Post Production Accountant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . JEANIE DANIELS
Unit Publicist . . . . . . . . KATHERINE ORLOFF
CREDITS 3
CREDITS Transportation Coordinator . . . . . . . MICHAEL LUCKEROTH Transportation Captains . . . . . . DUANE KELLY
RICHARD B. COCHIN
Catering . . . . . . . . . . . HAT TRICK CATERING Craft Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AMY PANZER
Casting Assistants. . . . . . JESSE LUCY ALLEN JOHN MCALARY Location Casting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAT MORAN Location Casting Associate . MEAGAN LEWIS Extras Casting. . . . . . . . . CENTRAL CASTING DAGMAR WITTMER MANDY SPRINKLE First Aid/Medics . . . EVELYN S. FARKAS, RN KEVIN DUGARD
Music Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . MELISSA MUIK Assistant Music Editor . . . . . BARBARA MCDERMOTT Score Recorded by . . . . . . . . . DENNIS SANDS Score Recorded and Mixed by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MICHAEL STERN Score Recorded at . . SONY SCORING STAGE Orchestrations by . . . . . . . . . AARON ZIGMAN
JERRY HEY
BRAD WARNAAR
Additional Orchestrations by . . . . . . . MATEO LABORIEL
PAUL BUSHNELL Electronic Programming. . . . . . JESSE VOCCIA Additional Vocals by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LOUD Orchestra Contractors. . . . . . . . . SANDY DE CRESCENT
PETER ROTTER Music Preparation by. . . . . . STEVEN JULIANI
Visual Effects by. . . . . . . . . CIS HOLLYWOOD Visual Effects Supervisor . GREGORY LIEGEY Visual Effects Production Manager. . . . . . JULIA GAUDETTE Senior Inferno Artist . . . . . . . . GREG OEHLER Compositors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SHANE COOK
BOB LYSS Sr. Roto/Paint Artist . . . . . . . LARRY GAYNOR
Titles Designed & Produced by. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PICTURE MILL Color Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . GEORGE CHAVEZ
Digital Intermediate by . . TECHNICOLOR DIGITAL INTERMEDIATES
A TECHNICOLOR® COMPANY Digital Film Colorist . . . . . . TRENT JOHNSON Digital Intermediate Producer. . . . . . . . CARL MOORE Digital Edit Conform. . . EVERETTE WEBBER
MUSIC
“Get Down” Written by Tim Mosley, Trevor Smith, Nisan C. Stewart Performed by Busta Rhymes Featuring Timbaland Courtesy of Aftermath/Interscope Records Under License from Universal Music Enterprises
“Midnight” Written by Armando Perez, Gabriel Aminov Performed by Pitbull Courtesy of TVT Records
“Push” Written by Steve Morales, Enrique Iglesias, Taurian “Adonis” Shropshire, Dan Warner Performed by Enrique Iglesias Courtesy of Interscope Records
“Church” Written by Najm Faheem Performed by T-Pain Featuring Teddy Verseti Courtesy of Jive Records
“Killa” Written by Rodney Richard, Brandon Bowles, Felisha King, Fallon King, Farrah King, Neosha King, Jasiel Robinson Performed by Cherish Featuring Yung Joc Courtesy of Sho’Nuff/Capitol Records Yung Joc Appears Courtesy of Block Entertainment/Bad Boy/Atlantic Records
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“Hypnotized” Written by Aliaune Thiam, Al Gernod Washington (aka “Plies”) Performed by Plies Featuring Akon Courtesy of Slip-N-Slide Records, Inc./ Atlantic Recording Corporation Akon Appears Courtesy of Up Front Entertainment and SRC/Universal Records A Division of UMG Recording, Inc.
“We All Want The Same Thing” (Acoustic Version) Written by Kevin Seward, Andrew Wyatt, Aimee Allen, Henrik Jonback, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg Performed by Kevin Michael Featuring Akil Dasan Courtesy of Downtown Music/ Atlantic Recording Corp. By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
“Let It Go” Written by Theron Feemster, KeAna Pratt, Mischke, Rinat Arinos Performed by Brit & Alex Courtesy of Hometown Entertainment, LLC/Interscope Records
“Whenever There Is You” Written by Oscar Simonsson, Magnus Zingmark Performed by Koop Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
“Diary of Jane” Written by Benjamin Burnley, Aaron Fincke, Mark Klepaski Performed by Breaking Benjamin Courtesy of Hollywood Records
“Bring Me Flowers” Written by Hope Shorter Performed by Hope Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
“Ain’t No Stressin’”
Written by Lambert Waldrip, Christine Taylor,
Jaimie King Produced by Stereo Performed by Montana Tucker, Sikora, Denial
“The Way I Are” Written by Nate Hills, Keri Lynn Hilson, John M. Maultsby, Garland Mosley, Tim Mosley, Balewa M. Muhammad, Candice Clotiel Nelson Performed by Timbaland Featuring Keri Hilson & D.O.E. Courtesy of Blackground/Interscope Records Under License from Universal Music Enterprises
“Girl You Know” Written by Brad Jordan, Dominick Lamb, Tremaine Neverson, Michael Bennett, Lenny Williams Performed by Scarface Featuring Trey Songz Courtesy of Rap-A-Lot Records/Asylum
“3-6-9” (feat. B.o.B) Written by Lincoln Chase, Kay Werner-Kent, Sue Werner-McCarthy, Bryson Bernard, R. Velonskis, Theron Makiel Thomas, Timothy Jamahli Thomas, B. Simmons Jr. Performed by Cupid Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp./ Asylum Records By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing Samples “The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)” Performed by Shirley Ellis Courtesy of Geffen Records Under License from Universal Music Enterprises
“Shake Your Pom Pom” Written by Melissa A. Elliott, Tim Mosley, Ricky Walters, Douglas Davis, Marcus Miller, Mark Stevens Performed by Missy Elliott Courtesy of GoldMind, Inc./ Atlantic Recording Corporation
CREDITS 5
CREDITS “Lights Off ” (Feat. International Jones) Written by Daniel Johnson, Maurice Young, Richard Jones, Charles Young Performed by Trick Daddy Courtesy of Slip-N-Slide Records/ Atlantic Recording Corp. By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
“Independent” Written by W. Gradney, M. Vernell III, T. Hatch, Allen Jeremy Performed by Webbie (Featuring Lil’ Phat and Lil’ Boosie) Courtesy of Trill Entertainment/Asylum/ Atlantic Recording Corporation
“Ching-A-Ling” Written by Melissa A. Elliott, Cainon Lamb, Marshall Leather, Shawn Campbell Performed by Missy Elliott Courtesy of GoldMind, Inc./ Atlantic Recording Corporation
“Lives In Da Club” Written by James Cohen, Najm Faheem Performed by Sophia Fresh Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
“The Humpty Dance” Written by Gregory E. Jacobs, George Clinton, Jr., Walter Morrison, William Earl Collins Performed by Digital Underground Courtesy of Tommy Boy Music By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing Samples “Let’s Play House” Performed by Parliament Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group Under License from Universal Music Enterprises
“Bounce” Written by Timothy Clayton, Tim Mosley, Melissa A. Elliott, Justin Timberlake, Andre Young Performed by Timbaland Courtesy of Blackground/Interscope Records Under License from Universal Music Enterprises
“No Te Veo” (Remix) Written by Jaime Borges Bonilla, Hector L. Padilla Vasques, Randy Ortiz, Joel A. Munoz, Cruz Miguel A. De Jesus, Vladimir Felix “DJ Blass” Performed by Casa De Leones Courtesy of Warner Music Latina By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
“Can’t Help But Wait” Written by Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Johnta M. Austin Performed by Trey Songz featuring Plies Courtesy of Songbook Entertainment, Inc./ Atlantic Recording Corporation Plies Appears Courtesy of Slip-N-Slide Records, Inc./ Atlantic Recording Corporation
“Everything I Can’t Have” Written by Moises Vivanco, Robin Thicke, James Gass Performed by Robin Thicke Courtesy of Interscope Records Under License from Universal Music Enterprises Contains a Sample of “Malambo No. 1” Performed by Yma Sumac Courtesy of Capitol Records Under License from EMI Film & Television Music
“Haterz Everywhere” Written by Bobby Simmons, Carl Murray III, Robert Horton Performed by B.o.B (Feat. Wes Fif) Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
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“Mmm…” Written by Laura Elizabeth Izibor Performed by Laura Izibor Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
“Low” Written by T. Dillard, M. Humphrey, Najm Faheem, H. Simmons, K. Robinson Performed by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain Courtesy of Poe Boy Entertainment, Inc./ Atlantic Recording Corporation T-Pain Appears Courtesy of Konvict Music/Jive Records
“I’m A G” Written by Jasiel Robinson, Bernard Freeman, Djuan Hart, Chris Ussery Performed by Yung Joc Courtesy of Bad Boy Records LLC By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
“Say Cheese” Written by Nate Hills Performed by KC Courtesy of Danjahandz Productions
“The Potion” Written by Christopher Bridges, Tim Mosley Performed by Ludacris Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group Under License from Universal Music Enterprises
“Let’s Go” Written by Kwamé Holland Performed by Kwamé
“Slide N Crank” Written by Kwamé Holland Performed by Kwamé
“Work It” Written by Diamond Blue Smith, Spectacular Blue Smith, Corey Mathis, Joseph Blue Smith Performed by Pretty Ricky Feat. Ckravin Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
“Money In The Bank” Written by Kasseem Dean, Sean Combs, Christopher Wallace, Sean Jacobs, Jason Phillips, David Styles, Kimberly Jones, Eric Barrier, William Griffin, Kia Jeffries, Linda Laurie, Terry Etlinger Performed by Swizz Beatz Courtesy of Motown Records Under License from Universal Music Enterprises
“Is It You” Written by Ryan Leslie, Brent Paschke Performed by Cassie Courtesy of Bad Boy Records, LLC
“Impossible” Written by Nate Hills and Makeba Riddick Produced by Danja for Danjahandz Productions, Inc. Performed by Bayje Courtesy of Eternal Source Productions, LLC/ Atlantic Recording Corp.
The Producers Wish to Thank the
MARYLAND FILM OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
JACK GERBES, DIRECTOR, MARYLAND FILM OFFICE BALTIMORE OFFICE OF PROMOTION & THE ARTS DIVISION OF FILM, VIDEO & TELEVISION, DEBBIE DORSEY, DIRECTOR
THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITIZENS OF BALTIMORE
CREDITS 7
CREDITS STATE OF MARYLAND
MARYLAND TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, RALIGN T. WELLS, DIRECTOR, METRO OPERATIONS
ZIGER/SNEAD LLP AND
CHARLES BRICKBAUER
Still Images
© HANS NELEMAN/ZEFA/CORBIS
© DIGITAL VISION/GETTY IMAGES
© JIM ARBOGAST/DIGITAL VISION/ GETTY IMAGES
© PHOTOMONDO/DIGITAL VISION/ GETTY IMAGES
© HIGHSMITH INC. REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION FROM HIGHSMITH INC.
© INGRAMPUBLISHING
© PLUSH STUDIOS/BLEND IMAGES
Footage of “The Freshest Kids” Courtesy of © QD3 Entertainment, Inc. and Brotherhood Films
Doom3® Footage © 2007 Id Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved
In Memory of MELISSA “STANLEY” COHEN
Lighting Equipment and Trucks Supplied by HOLLYWOOD RENTALS, LLC
Camera Support Provided by
J.L. FISHER, INC. Color by TECHNICOLOR®
Prints by DELUXE®
MPAA #44125
Copyright ©2008 Summit Entertainment, LLC All Rights Reserved
This motion picture was created by Step Up 2 Productions, Inc. for purposes of copyright law in the United Kingdom.
Distributed by WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES
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STEP UP 2 THE STREETS
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
It’s not where you’re from. It’s where you’re at.
The follow-up to the smash box-office hit “Step Up” takes the story of urban street dancing
to the next stage with an electrifying new story of bodies, hearts and dreams in motion. Rebellious newcomer Andie (BRIANA EVIGAN) is an outcast trying to fit in at the elite Maryland School of the Arts while still holding on to her old dream of dancing with an underground Baltimore street crew. The school’s hottest talent, Chase (ROBERT HOFFMAN), is a rising star who’s looking to break out of his mold—by forming a crew to compete in Baltimore’s biggest, rawest street-dancing battle, “The Streets.” Now, as Chase joins forces with Andie, the two simultaneously clash and sizzle, sending Andie’s two worlds into collision. With the pressure heating up on the dance floor and in her life, she must learn to build a bridge between love and loyalty, between freedom and opportunity, between who she is and who she believes she can be.
Driven by hypnotic dance, music and breakout
performances like its predecessor; STEP UP 2 THE STREETS features the directorial debut of up-and-comer Jon M. Chu. With an exciting cast of youthful newcomers, many of whose personal stories of rough-hewn talent and hard-won achievement mirror their characters in the film, the film also reunites much of the production team behind the original film, including “Step Up”’s cutting-edge hip-hop choreographer Jamal Sims, who is joined this time by leading choreographers Nadine “Hi Hat” Ruffin (dubbed “hip-hop’s high diva of dance”) and Dave Scott (“Stomp the Yard”). Patrick Wachsberger and Erik Feig of Summit Entertainment produce with Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot of Offspring Entertainment. The executive producers are Bob Hayward, David Nicksay, Anne Fletcher, and Meredith Milton. The screenplay is written by Toni Ann Johnson and Karen Barna, based on characters created by Duane Adler.
The film stars a multitalented cast who performed all their own dancing including Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman (“She’s the Man,” “You Got Served”), and Will Kemp (“Van Helsing”). Also starring is singer/model/actress Cassie Ventura, Sonja Sohn, Adam G. Sevani, Telisha Shaw, Danielle Polanco and Black Thomas, along with a supporting cast of gifted street dancers discovered in extensive auditions, with many making their feature-film debuts.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION 9
STEPPING UP TO A NEW STORY Accompanied by a soundtrack to be released on Atlantic Records, STEP UP 2 THE STREETS features wall-to-wall rap, hip-hop and R&B, including the smash hit “Low” by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain, plus new singles and videos from T-Pain, Missy Elliott, Enrique Iglesias, Trey Songz featuring Plies, Plies featuring Akon, Cassie, Cherish featuring Yung Joc and more.
FROM THE STAGE BACK TO THE STREETS: STEPPING UP TO A FRESH, NEW STORY
In the summer of 2006, theatergoers were ignited by “Step Up,” a hip-hop fairytale that combined the heated rhythms of street dance and music with the story of a boy and a girl at an elite performing arts academy risking everything for each other and their dreams of dancing. At once rousing and romantic, the film, directed by Anne Fletcher and starring Channing Tatum, was a runaway instant hit at the box office, grossing over $20 million in its opening weekend.
The success was so resounding, there was talk right away of a follow-up, but the producers who had set the first film into motion—Patrick Wachsberger and Erik Feig of Summit Entertainment and Offspring Entertainment’s Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot—didn’t want to just tack a story onto “Step Up”’s fable-like ending. Instead, they made the decision to take an entirely fresh look at their setting— Baltimore’s performing arts mecca for teens, the Maryland School of the Arts (MSA)—and create an even more dynamic experience for audiences who were captivated by “Step Up”’s combo of compelling drama and cutting-edge dance numbers.
If “Step Up” was the story of how a young dancer made it from the streets to the stage, with STEP UP 2 THE STREETS the filmmakers turn the tale around. The new story digs deep into the fairy tale’s roots, taking MSA students from the polished halls of their school back into the heart of Baltimore’s ultra-creative underground dance scene. In the gray zone between these two seemingly disparate worlds, they’ll face the conflicts of love, ambition and loyalty that will help them become the young men and women they want to be in life.
With a new slate of dance films, including Shankman’s acclaimed 2007 hit “Hairspray,” heating up the screen—and an increasing American fascination with the thrills and expressiveness of dance competitions—there was an imperative to give the new film its own electrifying style and sense of authentic storytelling.
The producers recruited a young but already promising director to helm the project: Jon M. Chu—a 2004 graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and a former dancer himself who had won numerous awards for a series of short films (“Silent Beats,” “While the Kids Were Away,” and “Gwai Lo” [“The Little Foreigner”]) that drew acclaim and attention with their unique mix of sharp storytelling and innovative choreography.
Chu had just the energy the filmmakers were seeking. Recalls producer Jennifer Gibgot, “When Jon came in, he already had so many original, unique ideas. He was ready to show off
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all his assets—his love of dance, his inventiveness and, most of all, his passion for storytelling.”
Adds executive producer David Nicksay, “Jon was trained as a dancer himself, and more than anything else, he understands the culture of the streets. He gets what’s going on with the people who feel they have to dance no matter what else is happening in their lives. He understands what makes individual dancers motivated and also, what makes dance movies great.”
Right away, Chu put a new spin on STEP UP 2 THE STREETS, pushing it out of the school rehearsal halls and into the downtrodden, often invisible urban neighborhoods where an illicit battle known as “The Streets” is waged between dance crews hoping to dominate this hidden, underground world. His aim was to give the film a whole new feeling—an edgier, more aggressive posture, yet with just as much humanity and hope as the first film.
“I wanted to step things up a notch because the dance in the first movie was so beautiful. This time, we wanted to use a different, grittier style, taking it out to the streets, where we could incorporate a lot more diversity of movement, everything from tap to double dutch, to salsa, to popping, locking and breaking,” Chu says. “That also opened the door to a lot of new characters.”
Chu was drawn in by the screenplay, written by Toni Ann Johnson and Karen Barna, which sees the MSA school in a time of turmoil and transition, having lost its identity and its once inspiring connection to the city of Baltimore’s steely beauty. The screenplay also introduced two new characters with riveting stories: Andie West, a free spirit and rebellious hip-hop dancer who is still reeling from the death of her mother when she is pushed into going to
MSA, where she must fight to fit in; and Chase, the school’s most popular student, yet one who has his own doubts about the direction of the school’s future, as well as his own.
Andie is an outsider. Chase is a star. Yet they find themselves sharing the same passion for the tough, creative street-style dance moves forbidden at their school—a passion that brings
them together as competitors and friction-fuelled partners as they vie to take part in the all- out dance battle of “The Streets.” Says producer Jennifer Gibgot, “This movie is almost an inverted version of the first movie. It’s really a movie about underdogs and misfits, about the people who nobody wants or
STEPPING UP TO A NEW STORY 11
ROBERT HOFFMAN IS CHASE believes in. Without really trying
to, Andie changes the school and
opens the director’s eyes to
accepting new forms of dance.
And like “Step Up,” it is
ultimately a story about love,
hope and believing in yourself.”
Adds Chu: “This movie is a real
fun ride, but it’s also about
owning the world you’re in,
celebrating what makes you
different, what makes you special. We all get lonely or feel out of place or feel we don’t fit in at times. I don’t think that ever goes away, no matter what age you are or where you are from, but sometimes you just need someone to remind you that there’s a lot of life ahead of you and the world is what you make it.”
Most of all, in approaching these themes, Chu hoped to infuse the film’s dance numbers with the intense and wide-ranging emotions of these characters, who are experiencing everything from anger and doubt to love and the ecstasy of discovering real belief. In every step, stomp, flip and pop, a part of the lives and yearnings of these characters is expressed.
Explains Chu: “What I love most about the characters in STEP UP 2 THE STREETS is that when words aren’t enough, they are able to speak from somewhere else. Their bodies do the speaking, and that’s the common thread amongst all of them—and it’s the driving force of the movie.”
Producer Erik Feig echoes that sentiment: “We are deeply proud of the “Step Up” franchise at Summit. The movies create an instant party, and make you leave the theater in a better mood than when you first walked in—rarer and rarer these days. Jon Chu has pushed himself and this movie more than we ever could have imagined—the dance leaves you breathless, these characters are deeply relatable and likeable, and the music is insanely ‘off the hook.’”
MEET THE CHARACTERS: ROBERT HOFFMAN IS CHASE
There’s no doubt about it, Chase is MSA’s star student. He’s got the charisma, the smarts and the skills to be a big-time professional performer, and he knows it. But that doesn’t mean the pressure’s off, because he doesn’t want to just be technically good; he wants to be different, he wants to stand out, he wants to find the strength to be his own person. Ultimately, he must stand up against his brother Blake, the school’s rigid, classically trained director, to change things up and restore creative freedom to the place he loves.
The filmmakers of STEP UP 2 THE STREETS knew that casting Chase would be key to forging their entire ensemble, as well as to setting off the sparks that heat things up between Chase and Andie, so, as production kicked into high gear, he was their number-one casting priority. A search led them to Robert Hoffman, who began dancing way back in kindergarten, mastering every form, from tap and ballet to jazz and all the way to hip-hop as he grew up, and much like Chase, winning all kinds of awards and competitions.
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Hoffman went on to become one of the breakout stars from MTV’s hit series “Wild ‘N Out,” made his motion-picture debut in “You Got Served” and then lined up a major role in “She’s the Man,” starring with Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum. It was clear from his audition that he was on the cusp of something big.
“Robert is just so natural and so real,” observes director Jon M. Chu. “He has that schoolboyish- charm quality to him, yet he’s also a really special dancer. I knew he was the one who could pull this role off.”
Hoffman was able to nail the character of Chase so closely, in part, because he could instantly relate to him. “Chase is the guy at MSA who has it all going for him, but the one thing he’s never had, which is actually very much a parallel in my life, is someone to tell him to believe in his own voice as a dancer, to tell him to dance how he wants to dance, from the inside,” explains the actor. “When Andie comes to the school, it’s through her that Chase gets rejuvenated. He finds his passion for dance again. She shows him what it’s like to dance from your heart, to really be an individual, and that changes everything for him.”
He continues: “As someone who grew up as a dancer only wanting to learn from people who inspire me and then to inspire other people—the whole experience of being part of this movie has been a dream come true.”
For Jon M. Chu, Hoffman’s real magic is worked when he starts to break out and follow the beat that’s in his heart. “When you see Robert as Chase really pour it out on the floor, it becomes clear that hip-hop is an art form, and even his brother can see the art in it,” says Chu. “Robert makes that transformation happen.”
BRIANA EVIGAN IS ANDIE
The heart of STEP UP 2 THE STREETS is Andie, the young woman from the same tough neighborhood as “Step Up”’s Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum) who must try to find a way to transcend her troubled past and fit in at MSA, while still staying true to her roots on Baltimore’s streets. As with Chase, the filmmakers knew they would need to find someone who had both the dancing skills and the acting chops to make her journey come alive. This led them to a brand-new face: Briana Evigan, who at the age of 7 started dancing with hip-hop choreographer Shane Sparks (television’s “So You Think You Can Dance?”) and has gone on to appear in several music videos and independent films.
It was when Evigan first read with Robert Hoffman—and the temperature in the room soared—that the filmmakers were sold that she was their Andie. “When they read together, it was magic,” recalls Chu. “Briana came alive, and she and Robert fed off each other’s energy just as we hoped.”
Adds David Nicksay, “Briana brought a deep, soulful quality to Andie. She comes off as
BRIANA EVIGAN IS ANDIE 13
CASSIE VENTURA IS SOPHIE CASSIE VENTURA IS SOPHIE very authentic, organic and moving. She’s also incredibly funny and a smashing dancer.”
Evigan, too, was grabbed by the strong affinity between her own struggles as a young actress and dancer and those of her character. “Andie might start the film having lost a lot, but she’s got a goal and dream and she’s not going to let anything get in her way,” Evigan says. “Her mother has died, she has no father figure, and she’s a little unsure about men. But slowly she learns that sometimes you have to put some things aside to let what you want really come to you. By the end, she falls in love with the guy she’s been pushing away the whole time, and she learns about the importance of not only belief but of respect.”
When it came to the demands of the dancing, Evigan
took a new approach—trying to emulate the strength and fury of street dancers. “I had to drop the whole sexy thing that I had developed and break away from that for a more hard-core approach,” she explains. “It was challenging, but I loved it and learned so much. I also loved the way the members of the dance crews each had such strong personalities so that the dancers and their personal relationships stand out much more than they do in other dance movies I’ve seen.”
Most of all, Evigan was inspired throughout by Andie’s unbreakable spirit, which brings her to a place she never expected. Sums up the actress: “When times are really tough and everything is falling apart and you feel like you don’t belong anywhere, Andie shows that you just need to stay strong and keep going and never let anyone step in the way of your dream.”
CASSIE VENTURA IS SOPHIE
When Andie arrives at MSA, she finds herself in a rivalry with one of the school’s most promising and confident female talents: the “triple threat” actor, singer and dancer, Sophie, who also happens to be Chase’s jealous ex-girlfriend. For this key role, the filmmakers chose another newcomer to the screen, Cassie Ventura, the R&B recording artist who makes her feature-film debut and also contributes a song to the soundtrack.
Although, like her character, Cassie is a natural singer, she turned out to be the only member of the astonishingly accomplished cast who had no real dancing experience. But this turned out to be only a minor hitch for Cassie, who honed her natural talent in intensive rehearsals. “I think I was the only untrained dancer in the production,” she admits, “but I knew that if I put my heart into it, people would feel that—and so I just went for it.”
Jon M. Chu was impressed with not only Cassie’s bravery in jumping into the role but with her strong presence that captures Sophie’s intensity and fury. “When Cassie walks into a room,
14
right away it feels like she really owns the space,” he notes. “And I think she really enjoyed playing a kind of bad-guy role, because she herself is so sweet. She also really understood that Sophie has her own arc in the story. She’s not really a villain because, deep down, she’s a lost soul, too, and eventually she is pushed into doing something nice for the first time in her life.”
Cassie loved taking Sophie through major internal changes, from self-centeredness to seeing the bigger picture. “In the beginning of the story, Sophie is a very strong-willed, focused girl, almost like a machine,” she observes. “She has shut down her emotions, but her relationship with Andie forces her to rediscover her feelings and the importance of other people.”
MEET THE DANCE CREWS: THE 410
Andie might find herself dancing in the rarified world of the Maryland School of the Arts, but her heart is back in the streets with the legendary underground Baltimore street crew she has long dreamed of dancing with: The 410. This ragtag crew is made up of a group of strong, flashy personalities whose completely original skills and hard-core passion for hip-hop make them among the city’s most creative and coolest dance teams—and the ones to beat at “The Streets” competition.
Casting the members of The 410, as well as the rival MSA crew, was a blast for the filmmakers because it gave them a chance to witness some of the amazingly diverse and magnetic dancing talent out there today. The audition process began with massive open calls in Baltimore and New York, during which 500 hopeful dancers were whittled down to just a handful of stand-outs under the demanding eyes of the filmmakers and the choreographers. Authenticity was at the heart of every decision—the focus on dancers who could relate to the
material with their hearts as well
as their skills.
The uncompromising leader of
The 410 is Tuck, the intense
street dancer who has his own
feelings for Andie that get
shaken up in the mix. For Tuck,
The 410 is more than just a
dance crew—it’s a kind of street
family who stick together
through thick and thin, and
Andie’s departure to attend MSA, or what he dubs “that prissy ballet school” leaves him feeling both betrayed and jealous. Playing Tuck is Black Thomas, a Miami native who cut his teeth as a dancer in the FAMU Connection, a hip-hop dance troupe at Florida A&M University, then went on to appear in such movies as “Stomp the Yard,” “Dreamgirls” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.”
Like the rest of the cast, Thomas felt a deep empathy for his character and his love of dancing in spite of his emotional confusion over Andie. “What I liked most is that this movie says a lot about how you view yourself, how you represent,” says Thomas. “The 410 is all about attitude. It’s all about unity. It’s all about strength and power. It’s not just about kids dancing, it’s about kids expressing themselves.”
THE 410 15
THE 410 THE 410 The filmmakers were impressed with Thomas’ ability to evoke Tuck’s strength and belief through both his dance moves and his dialogue. “As Tuck, Black has the power to be at once vulnerable and scary,” notes Chu. “We wanted the audience to feel the friction and the threat of the character, and Black had it all. Plus, he’s an amazing dancer.”
The 410 crew’s female leader and Andie’s former best friend, Felicia, was equally vital to the story and the filmmakers found themselves drawn to Telisha Shaw, a rising young dancer who herself received a sought-after scholarship to the Dance Theatre of Harlem that kicked off her career dancing on tour with such artists as Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Green Day, Kanye West and Beyonce.
A playful chorus of “Telisha plays Felicia” echoed throughout the production, but the filmmakers were very pleased with the serious work Shaw brought to the performance. “Felicia is such a hard role,” says Chu, “because she’s Andie’s friend in the beginning, then turns on her quickly, only to come around again at the end. When Telisha came in, she read the scene where she tells Andie, ‘It’s not what you want, it’s what you got’—and she turned it into one of the most memorable auditions I’ve ever been in. She read it in a way that I’d never even imagined that scene, in a way that made me want to cry for her. Telisha portrayed the character as someone who wants to believe in Andie, but everything in her life has shown her something different. She has to come to realize that the way you live your life is a choice you make.”
Also joining The 410 are a number of young stars from authentic hip-hop backgrounds who
bring their own trademark tricks, moves, humor and style to the proceedings: Kejamel “K- Mel” Howell, a dance legend on YouTube and MySpace who also serves as Hi Hat’s assistant choreographer, is K-Mel; Rynan “Rainen” Paquio, who is part of the renowned Jabbawockeez crew, is Kid Rainen; local Baltimore b-boys Jeff “Rapid” Ogle and James “Cricket” Colter are Rapid and Cricket; Donnie “Crumbs” Counts, a world-class athlete and dancer with hundreds
of popular videos on the Internet, is Crumbs; and acclaimed b-girls Shorty Welch and Alison Faulk are Shorty and Alstar.
Danielle Polanco, a Bronx native who began dancing at the Alvin Ailey School as a youngster and was on tour with Jennifer Lopez when she was cast in the film, rounds out The 410 crew as Missy, who brings a salsa touch to her dancing and is the only other person who
16
dances with both The 410 and MSA crew. She, too, found herself deeply relating to what her character goes through in the film.
Says Danielle: “Missy is the kind of person who tries to make the best out of everything. When everybody else is arguing, Missy just enjoys life and looks at the boys. Jon lets us all ad lib and add a little of our own flavors to the character, and that made it so much fun.”
THE MSA CREW
While The 410 are rough and ready with a hungry street sensibility, MSA is filled with polished, lifelong dancers who have had the very best in classical training and harsh discipline. Yet, even at MSA there are those who march to their own beat, who dare to do things a different way, and it is a group of these misfits and rebels who form Chase’s MSA crew—and secretly train to go out into the darker side of Baltimore and compete in “The Streets.”
The crew Chase puts together is every bit as unique and committed as The 410. They include: Monster, played by Luis Rosado, the stunningly acrobatic stunt double for the school plays who’s really a b-boy; Jenny Kido, played by Mari Koda, the Japanese exchange student; Smiles, played by LaJon Dantzler, whose offbeat style the school is trying to hone; Hair,
played by Christopher Scott, the
long-haired tap dancer who the
school hopes will clean up his
act and go to Broadway; Fly,
played by Janelle Cambridge,
the shy girl who turns into a
completely different person
when the music comes on; and
Cable, the gadget guru, played
by Harry Shum Jr.
One of MSA’s most colorful
students, and one of Andie’s best friends at MSA, is the fun-loving Moose, who got into the school as a lighting designer but harbors a passion for dancing. Playing Moose is Adam G. Sevani, who at just 15 years old became the cast’s youngest member when his self-made audition tape had the filmmakers in awe. “When you find someone like Adam and see a star in the making, you have to go for it,” says Chu.
Then there is MSA’s director, Chase’s stuffy older brother, Blake, who is portrayed by acclaimed Broadway star Will Kemp. Chu always thought that Kemp would be perfect to capture the essence of the classically trained dancer who takes over MSA and tries to give it a formal, disciplined structure in the hopes of raising money and improving the school’s fortunes. Indeed, Kemp himself was trained classically at England’s Royal Ballet School, then worked in a contemporary dance company for many years.
Kemp sees Blake as conflicted between his long-buried instincts as a performer and his ambitions as an administrator. When he sees Andie’s audition, it brings that conflict inside him to a head. “He believes he can convince people who are plowing money into the school to pay for a new building by taking a raw talent from the street, training her, and making her worthy of a career. But Blake has a struggle—his reputation is at stake and he needs to get Andie to
17
THE MSA CREW
STREET MOVES toe his line. When that doesn’t quite happen, it makes him reassess what he’s trying to do and if it is the right thing,” Kemp explains.
Also intriguing to Kemp is the contentious and realistic sibling relationship Blake has with his talented but far less conventional brother, Chase. He says, “Chase is a very gifted young man, but in Blake’s view, he is throwing it down the drain because all he wants is to be on the street, to be dancing hip- hop, which Blake has no respect for.”
Kemp, on the other hand, has nothing but respect for the hip-hop dancers he got to know on the set of STEP UP 2 THE STREETS, who were a revelation to the classically trained dancer and actor. “I think these kids are truly amazing,” he remarks. “They work incredibly hard at this particular technique, and some of what they do in this movie is going to look breathtaking on screen.”
STREET MOVES: CHOREOGRAPHY AND DESIGN SET THE TONE
From the beginning, director Jon M. Chu wanted STEP UP 2 THE STREETS to have its own distinct look and feel—one that draws from the explosive creativity and raw emotion of authentic street-dance styles. Chu knew that the film’s entire design concept would have to revolve around strong, original choreography, so he worked closely with a trio of renowned legends in the hip-hop world, who together were able to weave an astonishing array of different dance forms into the film’s gritty tapestry.
Serving as the film’s supervising choreographer is Jamal Sims, who worked with Anne Fletcher on the first “Step Up” as Channing Tatum’s choreographer and has also worked with producer Adam Shankman on such films as “Hairspray.” Among the scenes where Sims’ creative touch can be felt is the joyous and sensuous hip-hop salsa fusion
that takes place at Missy’s house.
Sims was joined by Nadine “Hi Hat” Ruffin, known for breaking new ground as hip-hop’s leading female choreographer and whose tough, inventive and empowering moves for women, as well as her work on the popular videos of hit recording artist Missy Elliot, have brought something fresh and real to the genre. Hi Hat worked with the champion 410 crew,
18
choreographing their numbers as they rise to dominance, weaving break-dance pops and locks into the mix and even using trampolines to take their moves to a higher level.
Completing the threesome is Dave Scott, a native of Compton who danced his way into a career in theater, film and television and came to the fore with the dynamic moves of “Stomp the Yard.” Scott choreographed the MSA crew’s numbers, taking them from funky misfits unsure of their style to dazzling hip-hop stars in their own right.
Sims credits the film’s cast with bringing the work of all three choreographers to life with
so much zeal. “They were all so gung ho and ready to try anything,” he notes. “They’re all the real deal and they just want to dance, which made the process both a lot of fun and very true to the story.”
Hi Hat also gives respect to director Jon M. Chu. “He always knew exactly what he wanted and had every dance planned out in his head, which is a rare thing for a director,” she observes.
Scott admits there was even a little healthy competitiveness between the three—which was encouraged by Chu who kept the choreographers from seeing each other’s work until the last possible moment to enhance the suspense between The 410 and MSA crews. “The dance world is always very competitive; everybody wants to battle,” Scott explains. “Everyone wants to be better than everyone else, but if you’re good, you also give props where props are due. Hi Hat is an incredible choreographer and having her work with the rival crew was very motivating. I think we brought out the best in each other.”
Meanwhile, to highlight the kinetic feeling of the entire film, Chu also worked closely with his design team, including cinematographer Max Malkin, production designer Devorah Herbert and costume designer Luca Mosca, each of whom Chu brought on board because of their innate understanding of rhythm and style.
Malkin, in particular, had his work cut out for him, shooting on-the-fly in Baltimore warehouses and trainyards and trying to add a subtle layer of fairy-tale sheen to this often grey, grimy urban background.
“Max Malkin brought a real visual energy to the movie,” says executive producer David Nicksay. “He allowed it to feel rough around the edges and kind of restless, really capturing the emotional power we were trying to bring out of the characters and the storyline.”
STREET MOVES 19
THE MUSIC THE MUSIC “I was open to being more visually progressive than you usually see in dance films,” adds Malkin. “We didn’t want to create music videos that are separate from the story but to weave the narrative into the dance and vice versa. Jon gave me a lot of freedom to do that and was open to a lot of new and different ideas that I think make the film far more visually expressive.”
Devorah Herbert took Chu’s vision of a gritty, urban fairy tale set in Baltimore and ran with it. “We really focused on the contrast between the world of the MSA students and the dancers from the streets,” explains Herbert. “At MSA, we used a muted color palette with cool, even tones, while on the streets everything is super-textured and grimy, but with lots of splashes of color and graffiti representing the kids’ creative expression.”
The final touches were added by Italian-born costume designer Luca Mosca, who says he “fell in love at first sight with this project, with the energy, the story and the creative opportunities it gave me.” Mosca worked closely with Chu to give each of the dance crews, as well the individual dancers, their own strong, clear personalities. “The 410s I always saw as moving graffiti, dancing against these dark, earthy backgrounds in saturated primary colors,” he explains. “The MSA crew are more muted with a softer palette, but in the finale in the rain
they’re in maroons and mustard yellows and burnt oranges. They come together with a beautiful harmony in a very unpredictable way.”
In the end, the look of the film became every bit as electrifying as the dancing itself. Sums up Jennifer Gigbot: “Jon always knew exactly what he wanted this movie to look like, right down to the graffiti on the
walls. He wanted it to be real and raw and give an authentic feeling for Baltimore—but underlying all of that, he always saw this as a fairy tale. And it has that magic to it.”
A SOUNDTRACK OF THE STREETS: THE MUSIC
There would be no dance at all for the characters of STEP UP 2 THE STREETS if it weren’t for the driving music and irresistible beats that inspire them. Coming on the heels of the gold-certified soundtrack for the original “Step Up,” the filmmakers turned again to music
20
supervisor Buck Damon to bring together an equally compelling, yet completely fresh, collection of music tracks. Damon tapped into some of today’s hottest up-and-coming artists in hip-hop, rap and R&B to forge a soundtrack with the same kind of street energy as the film.
“In the first film, you have hip-hop meeting classical dance, but in this film, the story is about dancers wanting to get back to the streets, so that inspired us to go for a real legitimate hip-hop sound,” says Damon. “We really stripped things back, and there’s a lot less orchestration and a lot more singles that are now climbing the charts.”
Damon worked in sync with director Jon Chu, as well as Mitchell Leib, President of Music and Soundtracks for Walt Disney Pictures, and Atlantic Records, who lent the project their roster of young stars, whom Damon notes were “very appealing.”
Heading up the soundtrack artists is female rapper, singer, songwriter and producer Missy Elliott, whose six platinum-selling albums have established her as one of the leading artists of a generation. “One of my personal favorite songs in the film is Missy Elliott’s ‘Ching-aLing’— it’s an amazing track and it just fits the film like a glove,” Damon muses.
Damon also recruited Miami-based star Flo Rida and the Grammy®-nominated Southern soulster T-Pain for their song “Low,” which sparked some of Jamal Sims’ most inspired choreography and recently became a No. 1 hit single. He was also excited to bring in Grammy®-nominated Atlanta rapper Yung Joc whose indelible song “Girl You Know” is currently riding up the charts.
Other artists featured on the soundtrack include Spanish pop star Enrique Iglesias; contemporary R&B singer/songwriter Trey Songz; pop/soul girl-group Cherish; Ft. Meyers- based underground hip-hop artist Plies; the Grammy®-nominated Senegalese musical star Akon; the 20-year-old twin R&B stars Brit & Alex; as well as Cassie, the R&B singer who stars in the film as Sophie. Adding more diversity, Irish teen Laura Isibor and the sweet-voiced soul sensation Kevin Michael also add songs heard in the film. “I’m really eclectic, so even though the film has a true hip-hop sound, there’s also an emphasis on lots of different, great
melodies—and all those melodic choruses give it a real cinematic feeling,” sums up Damon.
One of Damon’s biggest challenges arose in “swapping out” some of the songs that the dancers had performed to on the set for new songs chosen by the filmmakers in post-
THE MUSIC 21
production. “It’s definitely something you couldn’t have done before computers,” he says. “It seems like it would be impossible, but once you get the hang of how to match the beats, it’s amazing how you can often make the dance work even better to a new song.”
Also appearing on the STEP UP 2 THE STREETS soundtrack are the winners of the film’s special Sing on the Soundtrack Contest—part of a groundbreaking, interactive Internet campaign for the film which gave “Step Up” fans the chance to participate in the new film by singing on the soundtrack, dancing in a music video or appearing in the film. “It was great fun to give someone a chance to make their own musical hopes come true,” says Damon.
For the filmmakers, the contest was another great way to get back to where the heart of the film lies: out on the streets where new discoveries and new dreams are constantly being made.
ABOUT THE CAST
BRIANA EVIGAN (Andie West) makes her major feature debut in STEP UP 2 THE STREETS, after small parts in two independent films and a featured role in the Linkin Park video “Numb,” which has had over 6 million views on YouTube. She started dancing with renowned hip-hop choreographer Shane Sparks when she was seven years old, studying with him for several years before extending her training to other choreographers. She credits him with providing her with the foundation for her future work. She is also the keyboardist and lead vocalist with the rock group Moorish Idol.
Briana comes from a show-business family. Her father is Greg Evigan, the actor/singer/ songwriter/musician who has had two hit television series, “BJ and the Bear” and “My Two Dads,” and a steady career in features and on television. Her mother is actress Pam Serpe. Her older sister, Vanessa, is an actress and brother Jordan is the lead singer in the band After Midnight Project.
Briana currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
ROBERT HOFFMAN (Chase Collins) hit the big screen opposite Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum in the DreamWorks romantic comedy “She’s the Man.” He has also appeared in “You Got Served,” “Say Hello to Stan Talmadge” and, coming in 2008, “Kids in America,” co-starring with Topher Grace.
In 2006, Hoffman appeared in six episodes of the Fox drama series “Vanished” and on the comedy series “Quintuplets” with Andy Richter, as well as guest-starred on “CSI: Miami,” “MTV’s Short Circuitz,” and “Campus Ladies.” Hoffman has also quickly become one of the breakout stars from MTV’s hit series “Wild ‘n
Out,” an improv show produced by Nick Cannon. Currently in its fourth season, the show has drawn many guest stars (including Tyra Banks, Method Man, Lil’ John, Kevin Hart, and Omarion) and has proven to be an impressive talent showcase for Hoffman, as his effortless comedic timing and creative flair consistently keep him on top in the show’s improv competitions.
ABOUT THE CAST 22
In addition to his acting skills, Hoffman has been much soughtafter for his skills as a dancer and choreographer. He shared in an American Choreographer Award for the film “You Got Served,” in which he also co-starred. He has danced in such films as “Guess Who,” “Coach Carter,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “Vanilla Sky.” As a dancer, Hoffman has worked with such stars as Christina Aguilera, Usher, Mya, Marilyn Manson, and Ricky Martin, for whom he also served as a dance double in a music video.
Growing up in Florida, Hoffman was first inspired to dance when he was mesmerized by Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video. He began his dance training while still in kindergarten and went on to attend a fine-arts high school. He later joined Ballet South, headed by American Ballet Company legend Wes Chapman.
When not acting or dancing, Hoffman spends his time making short films. His wide range of self-depicted characters continues to shock and entertain his growing fan base. The videos can be seen on his website at www.punchrobert.com.
British-born London resident WILL KEMP (Blake Collins) comes to STEP UP 2 THE STREETS after an acclaimed and very successful 2007 West End revival of Peter Shaffer’s play “Equus,” co-starring with “Harry Potter”’s Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths. He started dancing at the age of nine and trained at the Royal Ballet School in London. At age 17, he auditioned for and was accepted into Matthew Bourne’s cutting-edge dance company, Adventures in Motion Pictures (AMP). His most prestigious dance accomplishment was winning the lead role of the swan in Bourne’s “Swan Lake,” which ran from 1997 to 2000 in London, Los Angeles
and on Broadway, a role which reportedly prompted then-chief of Paramount Sherry Lansing to call him “the James Dean of ballet.” Bourne created the role of the angel in “Cinderella” for Kemp. The 1999 Los Angeles production of the piece earned Kemp a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award nomination as Best Featured Performer. He also starred in Bourne’s productions of “The Car Man,” “Play Without Words,” and “Highland Fling.”
Kemp has also appeared on stage in Will Tuckett’s productions of “Pinocchio,” “Wind in the Willows,” and “The Soldier’s Tale.” Kemp made his feature-film acting debut in “Van Helsing” opposite Hugh Jackman, then followed with “Mindhunters” and “Miguel and William.” His television credits include broadcast versions of “Swan Lake,” “The Car Man,” and “Pinocchio.”
ABOUT THE CAST 23
Hit R&B singer CASSIE VENTURA (Sophie) was born and raised in New London, Connecticut, and while attending the Williams School on the Connecticut College campus, she began her modeling career. After graduating from high school, she started taking classes at the Broadway Dance Center in order to pursue her career.
She was spotted at a club by producer Ryan Leslie. The two were introduced, and Cassie quickly became the focus of Leslie’s Next Selection management group and was signed to his label, which is distributed by Sean Combs’s Bad Boy Records. Leslie co-wrote and produced Cassie’s first hit single, “Me & U,” in 2005, which reached
#3 on the Billboard Hot 100, #4 on the Billboard Pop 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Cassie has appeared in videos by Kanye West and Mario. STEP UP 2 THE STREETS is her film debut. Her new album will be in stores in May 2008.
ADAM SEVANI (Moose) is a triple threat—an accomplished actor, singer, and dancer. His penchant for performing is a result of having immersed himself amidst his artistic family. His father is an international choreographer and his mother is a musician who, together, founded the renowned Synthesis Dance Center in Universal City. It was there that he befriended many dancers, which led him to the Touchstone Pictures casting executives and with a self-made audition tape to director Jon M. Chu, which inevitably led to his breakout role as the comedic sidekick “Moose” in Touchstone/Summit’s anticipated sequel, STEP UP 2 THE STREETS.
Since his scenes from Judd Apatow’s “Superbad” were edited into the DVD’s special features, STEP UP 2 may have the distinction of being his first work to hit the big screen, but Sevani has already made quite an impression in the realm of music videos, having appeared in Will Smith’s “Switch,” Mase’s “Breathe, Stretch, Shake,” as well as T-Payne’s upcoming single from the soundtrack. He has also performed in a variety of award shows and events worldwide alongside the likes of such talent as Jennifer Lopez among others.
At just 15 years old, Sevani’s Hollywood future looks bright, though when not performing, he excels in athletics, playing drums, creating short films, the visual arts, as well as choreographing his own dance routines, which combine elements of his intensive instruction from age 4, including ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and even martial arts.
ABOUT THE CAST 24
DANIELLE POLANCO (Missy) is a native of the Bronx, New York, and studied at the Alvin Ailey School for four years. Her classical ballet training gave her a technical foundation for the hip- hop, vogueing, and popping she learned later. She also danced with Ballet Hispanico. She has appeared in numerous music videos with Omarion, Touch, Beyoncé, and Janet Jackson. Danielle has also played dancers in the feature films “Idlewild” and the upcoming “Bolden!”
TELISHA SHAW (Felicia) grew up in Memphis and has been dancing since the age of three. Classically trained in ballet, she received a scholarship to the Dance Theatre of Harlem under the direction of Arthur Mitchell. She segued into hip-hop and moved to Los Angeles in 2000. She has toured with artists Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Green Day, Kanye West, Beyoncé, and Shania Twain. She has appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” backing Jackson and, along with performing, was assistant choreographer of Aguilera’s “Stripped Live in the UK.” Her dramatic roles on television have included appearances on “Studio 60 on the Sunset
Strip” “Weeds,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and “Campus Ladies.” Her first feature was the 2005 release “Dirty,” starring Cuba Gooding, Jr.
BLACK THOMAS (Tuck) was born Alfred Nolan Thomas II and is a native of Miami, Florida. He received a BA degree in Theater at Florida A&M University. While there, he appeared in several campus productions, including “Into the Woods,” “East Texas Hotlinks,” and “Dreamgirls.” He was also a member of The FAMU Connection, a performance-based troupe designed to recruit potential students, and part of the FAMU Strikers, a dance troupe that incorporates hip-hop, African, modern and praise dance.
After graduation, Black headed to Los Angeles where he
performed with Beyoncé, Fonzworth Bentley, and Jessica Simpson. He has worked with numerous choreographers, among them Fatima, Fly, Frank Gatson, and AJ Jones, and also previously with STEP UP 2 THE STREETS choreographers Dave Scott and Nadine “Hi Hat” Ruffin.
Thomas has appeared in music videos for Rihanna, Mario, Danity Kane, Stone Crush and Fall Out Boy. As an assistant choreographer, Black has worked on several television shows, including “That’s So Raven,” “Just Jordan,” and “CSI: New York.” Black also appears in the movies “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,” “Dreamgirls,” and “Stomp the Yard.”
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ABOUT THE CAST
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS JON M. CHU (Director), a former dancer and promising young filmmaker, makes his feature-film debut with STEP UP 2 THE STREETS, having just graduated from USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2004.
One of five artistic children, Jon developed his love of music and dance at an early age. He started tap lessons when he was in kindergarten and, by the age of 16, had been trained in instruments ranging from piano to soprano sax. Obsessed with Disney animation, he also began making his own Super 8 animated films and later started shooting short subjects with his brothers and sisters. By the time he was in high school in Los Altos Hills, California, he was videotaping weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, memory videos for school and video yearbooks— and he knew he was going to be a filmmaker.
While a sophomore at USC, Chu made the innovative short “Silent Beats,” which unfolds its story to a tap-dance rhythm soundtrack. The film went on to win numerous awards, including the Jack Nicholson Directing Award and the Princess Grace Foundation’s Cary Grant Award, as well as a scholarship for Chu to continue his studies at USC. While at USC, Chu also made the acclaimed 20-minute film “When the Kids Are Away,” a rousing musical exploration of motherhood that utilized salsa, swing and hip-hop, as well as a 50-piece orchestra and 20-voice student choir.
The film soon garnered widespread interest in Hollywood—and brought him to the attention of the producers of STEP UP 2 THE STREETS, who gave him the long-dreamed-of chance to combine his love of inventive dance and filmmaking on the big screen.
TONI ANN JOHNSON (Written by) is an actress, producer and writer who is a graduate of the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU and a 1994 Sundance Fellow, and currently an MFA in creative writing candidate at Antioch University Los Angeles. She is a two-time Humanitas Prize winner for her teleplays, “Ruby Bridges” (Disney) and “Crown Heights” (Showtime). Other produced credits include “The Courage to Love” (Lifetime) and the Fox pilot “Save the Last Dance.”
KAREN BARNA (Written by) has written for the television series “The Mountain.” STEP UP 2 THE STREETS is her first produced screenplay.
DUANE ADLER (Based on Characters Created by) was born in Asheville, North Carolina, grew up all over the Carolinas, and then midway through his teenage years, he moved to the Washington, D.C., area. After attending 18 schools from first grade through high school, he graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a degree in what he calls “Diverse Extremes of Life.” This assorted background has lent an incredible multiplicity to his life and his work. The experience of moving from a small town to our nation’s capital eventually became the seed for the hit Paramount feature “Save the Last Dance,” which Duane wrote (sharing screenplay credit with Cheryl Edwards). His other screenwriting credits include VH1’s highest-rated original telefilm, “The Way She Moves,” which was nominated for Outstanding Made for Television Movie at the 2002 ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Awards, and the theatrical hit, “Step Up,” released by Touchstone Pictures (on which he shared screenplay credit with Melissa Rosenberg). His next film, “Make It Happen,” which Duane is
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also a co-producer on, is scheduled for a 2008 release from The Weinstein Company. Duane has now been involved with the two highest-Grossing teen romances, “Save the Last Dance” and “Step Up,” of the last forty years, and both are ranked in the top five all-time grosses among dance movies. He is currently in pre-production on his next directorial project, “A Sort of Homecoming,” a musical thriller set in post-Katrina New Orleans. He has also written projects for Fox, Focus Features, Revolution, Universal, and New Regency, among others.
PATRICK WACHSBERGER (Producer) is the Co-Chairman and President of Summit Entertainment LLC and CEO of Summit International. Wachsberger held the title of President and CEO of Summit Entertainment prior to the recent relaunch of the film studio, and ever since he and his partners, Robert Hayward and David Garrett, bought out the prior Summit Entertainment Group shareholders in November 1993. With over 30 years experience in the production, distribution and exhibition business, Wachsberger has crafted Summit into one of the world’s most successful international sales and distribution companies.
Wachsberger most recently produced Paul Haggis’ “In the Valley of Elah” starring Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron and Susan Sarandon. His past producing credits include Touchstone’s surprise-hit “Step Up,” the Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie blockbuster “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” and the sexy caper “Lies and Alibis” starring Steve Coogan and Rebecca Romijn. His executive producer credits include “Wrong Turn,” “Vanilla Sky,” “The Loss of Sexual Innocence,” and “Bad Lieutenant.”
Prior to running Summit Entertainment, Mr. Wachsberger served as President and CEO of Odyssey Entertainment and Odyssey Distributors, Ltd., founded in 1988. During his six-year tenure at Odyssey, he acquired, co-produced and distributed his first acquisition “Pelle the Conqueror,” which won the Oscar® for best foreign language film and the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and “Time of the Gypsies.” With Regency Enterprises he executive produced and distributed Sydney Lumet’s “Q & A,” and Blake Edwards’ “Switch.” He also distributed Ridley Scott’s “1492.”
Before joining Odyssey, Mr. Wachsberger was President of J & M Entertainment, one of the leading foreign sales companies. He began his career as an Assistant Director and Production Manager, working on over 20 films in Italy and France. After directing short films, he moved to the United States, where he produced several films with his father, Nat Wachsberger. These included “The Killer Force,” with Telly Savalas and Peter Fonda, and an animated feature film of “The Three Musketeers,” directed by John Halas.
ERIK FEIG (Producer) currently serves as the President of Worldwide Production and Acquisitions at Summit Entertainment. At Summit, Feig oversees the burgeoning studio’s annual film slate of 10 to 12 feature films, which is generated from a combination of in-house productions, co-productions and acquisitions.
Feig began his career by packaging and producing the films of the hit horror franchise “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” Feig continued to develop projects for many of the major studios and networks, while operating under an overall producing arrangement with Artisan Entertainment, a then client of Summit Entertainment’s foreign sales division. His additional producing credits include “Slackers,” “Step Up,” and “Wrong Turn,” as well as executive producing “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”
In 2001, Feig established Summit’s production banner, which has evolved into the
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ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS production group he oversees today.
Feig received a BA in English, with honors, from Columbia University, in 1992. He is also on the board of MentorLA, a not-for-profit organization devoted to changing how the most challenging public schools in Los Angeles operate.
ADAM SHANKMAN (Producer) is a master of comedy, yet is still able to capture the sensitivity of each story, making him one of the most loved and commercially successful filmmakers of his generation.
Shankman’s “Hairspray,” the feature-film adaptation of the Tony® award-winning Broadway production, opened in July 2007 to rave reviews. It has gone on to gross over $200 million worldwide and become the third highest-grossing musical of all time. The film assembled a remarkable collection of talent, including John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron and newcomer Nikki Blonsky to retell John Waters’ classic story about racism in 1960s Baltimore.
Shankman is currently in pre-production on “Bedtime Stories,” which he will direct and executive produce through his Offspring Entertainment banner for Walt Disney Studios, with Adam Sandler set to star. Additionally, Shankman is producing “Seventeen” in the works also through Offspring, with “Hairspray” star Zac Efron set to star. He is also producing, through Offspring, “All of Me,” starring Queen Latifah and based upon the 1984 film starring Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin.
Shankman and Gibgot’s Offspring Entertainment are set to produce “Monday Monday,” a film about a neurotic teenager forced to relive the first day of high school until he gets it right. Offspring Entertainment is also producing an adult treasure-hunt project in association with Benderspink.
Shankman produced the Sandra Bullock film “Premonition,” as well as “Step Up” for Walt Disney Studios. “Step Up,” directed by his co-choreographer Anne Fletcher, garnered critical acclaim and grossed over $100 million at the box office. In addition, Shankman recently directed the box-office success “Cheaper by the Dozen 2,” the sequel to the 2003 Twentieth Century Fox smash hit family film.
Shankman began crafting an enviable career with his directorial debut, Columbia Pictures’ “The Wedding Planner.” The Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey film was the heartfelt hit of 2001. Shankman’s following grew with his next film “A Walk to Remember,” distributed by Warner Bros., starring Mandy Moore and Shane West. “A Walk to Remember” was nominated for a 2002 Phoenix Film Critics Award for Best Live Action Family Film.
Shankman followed this up with “Bringing Down the House,” a Walt Disney comedy starring Steve Martin and Queen Latifah, which was number one at the box office for three weeks in a row, grossing over $130 million. Shankman followed that up by directing another Disney film, “The Pacifier,” starring Vin Diesel. To date, Shankman’s films have grossed over a half-billion dollars.
Prior to directing, Shankman was one of the entertainment world’s premiere dance and physical comedy choreographers, putting his creative stamp on many well-known comedies, dramas, thrillers, and animated films. His projects include “The Addams Family,” “Casper,” “Inspector Gadget,” “Anastasia,” “George of the Jungle,” “Boogie Nights,” “Miami Rhapsody,” and “The Flintstones,” for which he was nominated for a Bob Fosse Award. Shankman won the Bob Fosse award for his work with Simon West.
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At age 24, Shankman teamed up with influential video director Julian Temple as a music- video choreographer. One of the first videos he choreographed was Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight.” He has also choreographed videos for The B-52’s, Barry White, Aaron Neville, Chic and Stevie Wonder.
A native of Los Angeles, Shankman developed a love for the theater at an early age. After high school, he moved to New York and attended the Juilliard School. After five years as an actor and dancer in New York and regional theater, he moved back to Los Angeles and began dancing in music videos, including videos for Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson. He also performed at the 1989 Academy Awards®.
JENNIFER GIBGOT (Producer) began her career as a producer running Tapestry Films in 1995. Over the course of her eight years at Tapestry, she set up numerous projects and produced successful films such as “She’s All That” and “The Wedding Planner.” Gibgot hired her brother Adam Shankman, already an established choreographer, to helm “The Wedding Planner” starring Jennifer Lopez, which ultimately launched his directing career.
In 2003, Shankman and Gibgot formed Offspring Entertainment and signed a first-look deal at Disney. Over the past four years, Gibgot has executive produced and Shankman has directed the hit “The Pacifier” for Disney as well as the Steve Martin starrer “Cheaper by the Dozen 2” for Fox. Gibgot and Shankman also produced “Step Up.”
Offspring recently released the smash hit “Hairspray,” which has grossed $200 million worldwide and become the third-highest-grossing musical of all time. In 2007, TriStar released the Sandra Bullock thriller “Premonition,” which Gibgot and Shankman produced with Hyde Park. The film has grossed $83 million worldwide.
The duo is developing a number of projects, including the upcoming “Bedtime Stories,” starring Adam Sandler to be directed by Shankman. Additionally, Gibgot and Shankman are producing “Seventeen” with “Hairspray” star Zac Efron set to star. They are also producing “All of Me,” starring Queen Latifah and based on the 1984 film starring Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin. Shankman and Gibgot’s Offspring Entertainment is set to produce “Monday, Monday,” a film about a neurotic teenager forced to relive the first day of high school until he gets it right. Offspring is also producing an adult treasure-hunt project in association with Benderspink.
BOB HAYWARD (Executive Producer) is the Chief Operating Officer of Summit Entertainment, LLC, the new worldwide theatrical motion picture development, financing, production and distribution studio which was created in April 2007.
From 1993 to April 2007, Bob was a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer of the prior Summit Entertainment, which operated as one of the industry’s premier feature film foreign sales and distribution companies in the foreign marketplace. In recent years, the prior Summit Entertainment also successfully embarked into feature-film development and production with “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and “Step Up” amongst other titles. In his 15 years at both incarnations of Summit Entertainment, he has gained extensive industry experience in all aspects of motion picture production, financing and distribution.
From 1991 to 1993, Bob worked as Senior Vice President of the original Summit Group, which he and his partners, Patrick Wachsberger and David Garrett, bought in November of 1993. Bob began his career in the film business in London in 1982 when he joined United
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ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS International Pictures, the foreign distribution arm of Paramount and Universal Studios. In 1985, he joined Cannon International in London and The Netherlands where he managed their internal and licensee audits and was tasked with numerous assignments, including acting as the caretaker manager of Cannon’s cinema circuits in the United States and Italy. From 1998 to 2001, Robert was a founding partner of Film Financial Consultants, Ltd. in London, which specialized in film royalty audits for major independent producers and due diligence for cinema and film library acquisitions.
DAVID NICKSAY (Executive Producer) served as executive producer most recently on “Married Life,” starring Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson and Rachel McAdams, released in fall, 2007. He was Executive Producer on “What’s the Worst That Could Happen?” starring Martin Lawrence and Danny DeVito; “The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle” starring Robert DeNiro, Rene Russo, and Jason Alexander; “The Negotiator” starring Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey; “Flubber” starring Robin Williams; and “Addams Family Values” starring Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia.
As Producer, his credits include “Be Cool” starring John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Vince Vaughn, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Cedric the Entertainer; “Legally Blonde 2: Red White and Blonde” starring Reese Witherspoon (he was Co-Producer of the original “Legally Blonde”); “Agent Cody Banks” and “Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London,” starring Frankie Muniz; “A Guy Thing” starring Jason Lee and Julia Stiles; the high-tech thriller “Antitrust” starring Ryan Phillipe and Tim Robbins; “Up Close and Personal” starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer; “Lucas” starring Corey Haim, Wynona Ryder, and Charlie Sheen; and “Mrs. Soffel” starring Diane Keaton and Mel Gibson.
From 1989 to 1992, Nicksay was President and Head of Production at Morgan Creek Productions, also serving as Executive Producer on six of the company’s pictures, including “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” “Pacific Heights,” and “Young Guns II.”
Nicksay also served as Senior Vice President of Production at Paramount Pictures, where he served as executive producer on “Ghost,” “Coming to America,” “The Untouchables,” “Scrooged,” “Star Trek V,” and “The Two Jakes,” among others.
His television credits include the two-hour pilot for the series “Call to Glory,” and the multiple Emmy®-nominated miniseries “Little Gloria…Happy at Last.”
He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Directors Guild of America and serves on the American Film Institute Education and Training Advisory Board. He also is a judge of the AMPAS Nicholl Screenwriting Competition and a Senior Lecturer in Digital Media at Otis College of Art and Design.
ANNE FLETCHER (Executive Producer) directed the first “Step Up,” bringing her background as one of the film industry’s most-sought-after choreographers to the fore in the hit film’s tight melding of dance and drama. With that auspicious debut, Fletcher went on to direct this year’s romantic comedy “27 Dresses,” starring Katherine Heigl as a 27-time bridesmaid, and will next direct the comedy “The Proposal,” starring Sandra Bullock for Touchstone Pictures.
Fletcher’s extensive choreography work includes two films for Disney, “Ice Princess” and “The Pacifier,” as well as the recent hit comedies “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “Walk Hard.” She served as associate choreographer on the widely acclaimed “Hairspray,” directed by Adam
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Shankman and starring John Travolta. Known for creating the physicality of Catwoman for “Catwoman,” she also provided choreography for “Bringing Down the House,” “Down With Love,” “Like Mike,” “Orange County,” “Bring It On,” “Along Came Polly,” Peter Segal’s version of “The Longest Yard” and “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.” As assistant choreographer, Fletcher has worked on “Blast from the Past,” “Dudley Do-Right,” “The Outof- Towners,” “She’s All That,” “Antz,” “Boogie Nights” and “A Life Less Ordinary.”
Among her television credits are “Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt,” “Maybe It’s Me,” “Six Feet Under,” “Judging Amy” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” in addition to the TV specials “The MTV Movie Awards,” Comedy Central’s “Last Laugh ’04” and “Last Laugh ’05” and “TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV.”
As an actor, Fletcher has appeared on screen in “The Pacifier,” “Bringing Down the House,” “A Walk to Remember,” “Monkeybone,” “Bring It On,” “Boogie Nights” and “George of the Jungle,” among others.
Her producing career includes serving as associate producer on “The Wedding Planner” directed by Adam Shankman.
Born in Detroit, Fletcher began dancing at age 12, was teaching dance at 13, and dancing professionally at 15. She moved to Los Angeles at 18 to pursue a career in dance after graduating from high school. She subsequently traveled all over the world, dancing in industrials and appeared on such television shows as “The Tracy Ullman Show,” “The Smothers Brothers” and the miniseries “War and Remembrance.” After making a music video with Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks for “Dragnet,” she made her screen debut in “The Mask,” which was followed by “The Flintstones,” the first two features of many as a dancer—which ultimately led to her becoming the longtime assistant choreographer to Adam Shankman.
MEREDITH MILTON (Executive Producer) is the Vice President of Production at Summit Entertainment. Her recent producing credits on behalf of Summit include the teen hit “Step Up”—the fifth-most-profitable dance movie of all time—and its sequel, STEP UP 2 THE STREETS, which will be released by Touchstone on February 14, 2008. She is currently in pre-production on “Will,” a Walden/Summit co-production that begins principal photography on February 9, 2008. In addition, she manages Summit’s involvement with films of its client companies, whose pictures include “Babel,” “Bridge to Terabithia,” “Michael Clayton” and “P.S. I Love You.” She began her career at Summit in February 2002 as assistant to Erik Feig, President of Production and Acquisitions. In spring 2003, she was promoted to Director of Development, then to Senior Production Executive in January 2006, and subsequently to Vice President of Production in April 2007.
She began her career as an intern at Double Negative, a London-based digital-effects company, where she was a Production Assistant on the sci-fi sleeper hit “Pitch Black.” Her first job in Hollywood was as second assistant to then William Morris television packaging agent Greg Lipstone.
Meredith graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a BA in English in 1998.
MAX MALKIN (Director of Photography) has had an extremely successful career as a commercial director/director of photography. Among Malkin’s numerous acclaimed commercials are spots for Acura, MasterCard, and Cadillac. His Nike commercials, including the “Magnet” ad starring Lance Armstrong and “Move” for the 2002 Winter Olympics,
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ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS brought him to the attention of STEP UP 2 THE STREETS director Jon M. Chu. He has also shot music videos and his work on Garbage’s 1998 “Push It” video was nominated for Best Cinematography at the MTV Music Video Awards. His first feature was “Blind Horizon” starring Val Kilmer and Neve Campbell for director Michael Haussman.
DEVORAH HERBERT (Production Designer) comes from the world of independent features and off-beat television series. Prior to working on STEP UP 2 THE STREETS, she was Production Designer on the FX series “The Riches” about a family of grifters adjusting to middle-class life in the suburbs. She returned to the series just as STEP UP 2 THE STREETS wrapped. Her feature credits include “The Fluffer,” “Lovely and Amazing,” “Stolen Summer,” “Speakeasy,” “Evil Alien Conquerors,” “Outta Time,” “11:14,” “The Speeding Ticket,” “Mysterious Skin,” “Harsh Times,” “Waiting,” “American Gun,” “First Snow,” and “You are Here.”
ANDREW MARCUS (Editor) has a long and varied list of credits and has cut several films for director James Ivory, beginning with “Mr. & Mrs. Bridge” and followed by “Howards End” (which earned him a BAFTA nomination), “Remains of the Day,” “Jefferson in Paris,” and “Surviving Picasso.” He was editor of director Kenneth Branagh’s film “Swan Song,” “Peter’s Friends,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” and “Frankenstein.” His other feature credits include “The Ballad of the Sad Café,” “Woundings,” “American Psycho,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” “Under the Tuscan Sun,” “A Home at the End of the World,” “Everything is Illuminated,” “Flicka,” and “Tenderness.”
He also served as second unit director on “Much Ado,” “Frankenstein,” “American Psycho,” and “Hedwig.”
LUCA MOSCA (Costume Designer) was born and raised in Italy, where he received a traditional, classical education studying Latin, Greek and philosophy. He was attracted to the arts because he was surrounded by so many accessible masterpieces. Art, being part of the fabric of Italian culture, was taken for granted by his family, who instead steered Mosca towards medical studies and eventually a degree in pharmacy. Once his schooling was completed, however, he moved immediately into fashion and became a designer, first as an assistant in Italian couture houses and then, after moving to the U.S. in the early 1990s, he established his own successful company with a design partner. It was producer Callum Greene who introduced Mosca to the movie business. Together they worked on several films, including “Hamlet” starring Ethan Hawke and Bill Murray, “3AM,” “The Next Big Thing,” “Happy Here and Now,” “The Buried Secret of M. Knight Shayamalan” (for TV), and “Vantage Point” starring Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt, Dennis Quaid and Forest Whitaker. His other credits include Sundance winner “Girlfight,” “When Will I Be Loved,” “Griffin & Phoenix” and the 2008 release “21” starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth. Mosca’s television credits include the series “The Education of Max Bickford,” starring Richard Dreyfuss, Peter O’ Toole and Marcia Gay Harden.
A rising star in film music, AARON ZIGMAN (Music) is rapidly establishing a glowing reputation for his exquisite, lyrical and highly evocative scores. A classically trained pianist since childhood, Zigman had an early foundation for writing
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melody and an ear for what makes a good tune. With a command of rhythm and different styles, he began his musical career as a producer and arranger to popular music stars. Soon his resume boasted names like Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Oleta Adams, Phil Collins, Tina Turner, Patti Labelle, Chicago, Nona Gaye, Carly Simon, the Pointer Sisters, Huey Lewis, Christina Aguilera and Seal.
His passion for orchestration also led him to become an accomplished composer of concert works, having written numerous symphonic pieces. Among his works is a 35-minute-long tone poem divided into 5 movements, written as a tribute for Itzhak Rabin, which was performed by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony. The USC Symphony orchestra recently performed Zigman’s “Impressions,” a suite for a wind ensemble.
Expanding his career further, Aaron began to arrange and orchestrate for feature films such as “Mulan,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “The Birdcage,” “Licensed to Kill” and “Pocahontas.”
Aaron Zigman got his shot at feature-film composing in 2002 when director Nick Cassavetes, a friend who knew of his pop background and his orchestral works, offered him a shot at “John Q,” starring Denzel Washington. He wrote an extravagant six-minute opening montage and recorded it with a 55-piece orchestra and submitted it as a demo. The director, editor and studio were impressed, and he got the job. Not too long after, the two collaborated again on “The Notebook,” starring Gena Rowlands and James Garner, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel. For that project, Zigman used vintage instruments and recording equipment from the ’40s and ’50s to create an authentic sound.
Zigman worked on “The Wendell Baker Story,” the directorial debut of Andrew Wilson and Luke Wilson, starring their brother Owen Wilson, Eva Mendes and Eddie Griffin, “Raise Your Voice,” a vehicle for pop superstar Hilary Duff, and “In the Mix” with R&B superstar Usher. “ATL” and “Take the Lead,” two of Zigman’s more recent releases, have experienced box- office success appearing in the top 10 since their release date, and his “Akeelah and the Bee” soundtrack is available at Starbucks.
No stranger to the urban music scene, Zigman scored Touchstone Pictures “Step Up,” a dance film starring Jenna Dewann, in the summer of 2006. Other recent films include “Flicka,” a drama starring Allison Lohman and Tim McGraw, “10th & Wolf ” with Giovanni Ribisi, James Marsden and Dennis Hopper, “Alpha Dog,” his latest collaboration with Nick Cassavetes, and “Why Did I Get Married,” directed by Tyler Perry.
BUCK DAMON (Music Supervisor) won a 2004 Grammy Award®, along with Zach Braff and Amanda Scheer Demme, for creating the influential platinum hit soundtrack for “Garden State.” One of film’s most sought-after music supervisors, Damon’s recent credits include “Mean Girls,” “House of D,” “The Last Shot,” and “Cheaper by the Dozen 2.” Among his additional films as music supervisor are “Blow” and “Knockaround Guys.” He also served as music consultant on “The Rundown,” “Erin Brockovich,” “The Limey,” “She’s All That,” “Hurlyburly,” “Out of Sight,” “Rounders,” and “Life.” He has also worked as a music supervisor for “Step Up,” “27 Dresses” and “Premonition” and television’s “Freaks and Geeks.” He was also a music consultant on “The PJs” and “Felicity.”
JAMAL SIMS (Choreographer) most recently worked with STEP UP 2 THE STREETS Producer Adam Shankman on the feature musical “Hairspray,” which Shankman also directed.
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ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS Among Jamal’s other choreography credits are “17” (Zac Efron), “Soul Men” (Bernie Mac, Samuel L. Jackson), “Step Up,” “Beauty Shop,” “Vanilla Sky,” and “Garfield.” Sims is known for his creativity in numerous commercials such as Target and Volkswagen, as well as music videos and stage shows for Usher, P. Diddy, Spice Girls, Outkast and Gloria Estefan.
When New York native NADINE “HI HAT” RUFFIN (Choreographer) took a dance challenge some years ago and flew herself to Los Angeles to battle Will Smith’s choreographer, she could only hope for the best. A hip-hop street dancer, she knew she had to take the plunge to get to the next level: out of the clubs and into the studios. It was that leap of faith that catapulted her into a whole new world. She won the dance competition and officially began her career as a professional dancer, soon to turn choreographer, and eventually established Hi Hat Entertainment.
It was her first big-budget video for Montell Jordan, for the single “I Like,” that attracted industry attention. Hi Hat’s goal was to bring something different to the set. She said, “I was tired of watching all the rump-shaker dance moves in videos. I felt that they were ultimately unflattering to the female form. It was my vision to create sexy dance steps that allowed female dancers to showcase their more seductive ability of movement.”
Hi Hat invented sexy hip-hop. Hi Hat’s style attracted video directors such as Hype Williams, Dave Meyers, Brian Barber, and Little X, to name a few, who continued to use her on several of their high-profile projects. Racking up on incredible talent roster, Hi Hat can now claim P- Diddy, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, Eve and Jay-Z among those who have busted one of her moves.
Testimony to Hi Hat’s innovative maneuvering is exemplified in her work for hip hop’s hottest visionary, Missy Elliott. Elliott’s videos have continued to hold the public’s attention for their groundbreaking visuals and out of this world dance moves!
Hi Hat’s talents have taken her beyond the world of artists’ videos. Advertisers have sought her out to choreograph recent memorable campaigns for iPod, Cingular, Diet Coke, and The Gap. Her work has also graced such films as “Shark Tale,” “Chicken Little,” “Hot Chick,” “Bring It On,” “How She Moves,” and “Step Up 2.” Hi Hat has been honored with multiple American Choreography and Music Video Producers Association Awards.
What’s next for the busy choreographer diva? She’s busy building Hi Hat Entertainment, an umbrella organization comprised of dancers, choreographers, writers and EPs, into a major production enterprise. With a company that evolves as much as her dance routines, it’s only a matter of time before she introduces another facet of the business to the public.
From street dancer to choreographer, Hi Hat of Hi Hat Entertainment continues to hold court. Bombarding the entertainment world with her distinctive moves, she takes full reign as high diva of choreography.
Choreographer DAVE SCOTT (Choreographer) danced his way out of Compton, California, and into a multifaceted career in dance, choreography, and artist development spanning music, film, television, and commercials. Prior to his stint on STEP UP 2 THE STREETS, he choreographed “Stomp the Yard,” a coming-of-age drama with electrifying dance sequences that held the number-one box-office spot for two consecutive weeks and grossed almost $75 million worldwide. Scott’s work on 2004’s “You Got Served” won him the 10th Annual Choreography Award for Best Choreography in a feature film and featured B2K.
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Scott was the key ingredient behind the success of B2K, giving them their name, style, hot dance moves, and all-out sex appeal. In just two years, B2K scored two platinum albums and headlined sold-out tours nationwide.
Scott has shaped the images and careers of many other successful artists, including Tyrese, Marques Houston, Ginuwine, Bow Wow and Brian McKnight, allowing them to reach new and unexpected heights in their careers. Scott has lent his talents to several commercial campaigns, including Chevy and Pantene, and the Fox TV success “Bones,” and he choreographed dance sequences in 2004’s “Coach Carter,” starring Samuel L. Jackson, and worked on routines for Olympic gold medal-winning ice skater Tara Lupinsky.
Scott has performed at nearly every major awards show and graced the covers of numerous industry publications, including Dance Spirit and Arena Magazine, as well as features in L.A. Times West Magazine, King, Vibe, and Grip.
Scott received tremendous response for his work on Fox’s hit “So You Think You Can Dance,” for which he choreographed two dance teams, and he returned later in the season to lead a team into the finals. Next on his project list is producing and choreographing an instructional dance DVD expected to be released in early 2008.
He continues to teach master classes in dance nationwide and is in talks to form a production company, which would develop and produce projects of all genres. Also in the pipeline is a movie with legend Debbie Allen, tentatively titled “Buffalo Flats.” He filmed a pilot for Nickelodeon tentatively titled “Dance Throw Down” and is in conversation with both Fox and Nickelodeon networks to produce and direct several television shows and a feature film.
A self-taught dancer who cites Michael Jackson as his biggest inspiration, Scott began imitating the moves he saw in videos and films when he was a teenager. At six-foot-four, Scott was on a basketball scholarship at Weber State University in Utah when he got his first break as a dancer. A local dance troupe set to perform a 10-minute show before a concert by a known rapper invited Scott to replace one of their dancers. It was his first public performance. He began to find work dancing in videos and going on tour, but he discovered that because of his height, there weren’t too many people he could dance with, resulting in his concentration on choreography. He is set as a choreographer on the upcoming feature film “Burning Sands,” starring Elijah Kelley of “Hairspray.”
Information contained within as of January 31, 2008.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS 35
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