BuzzSugar

Watch, Pass, TiVo, or Rent: Fame

BuzzSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:30:31 PDT

I had semi-cynical feelings about the remake of Fame when I first heard it was being cast, but flash ahead two years later, and the trailer has me kind of pumped to see it on Friday. The music numbers look flashy, and it's got So You Think You Can Dance alum Kherington Payne, so I fully expect to be toe-tapping in my seat.

But here's the dilemma: I also really loved the original Fame. The characters were just these fragile, but impassioned people - and there were pirouettes on cars! It will always have a place on my list of dance movies.

I still want to see this new version - 'cause basically I'll see any film that features Capezios - but I'm hoping that it's different enough from its predecessor so I can just enjoy it for what it is: a total guilty pleasure.

Are you going to check out Fame this weekend? Or will you wait until it comes out on DVD, so you can do your dancing at home?

First Real Fame Trailer Looks Cute

BuzzSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:30:14 PDT

We've met the dancers and the director, and now there's a trailer for the actual Fame remake itself. As a fan of dance movies in general (even documentaries that include dancing), I'm already interested in this movie and the trailer only increased my curiosity. Take a peek at the preview and tell me: Will the Fame remake be included in future "greatest dance movies" lists?

Fame opens Sept. 25. To check out the trailer,

Meet Some of the Fame Dancers

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:30:08 PST

There's no official trailer yet for the Fame remake, but we now have a little taste of what we can expect to see - at least in terms of the dancing - when the movie hits theaters Sept. 25. And, as far as the dancing goes, it looks like this might be a pretty entertaining movie. In this video the movie's director, Kevin Tancharoen, mentions that they auditioned over 700 dancers for the film. Can you imagine making it through that audition process and being picked for the cast - out of 700 people? Maybe it's because I'm not exactly, ah, a gifted two-stepper, but I'm pretty darn impressed by people who can truly do it. I'm excited to see a full-on preview for this movie, but for now I'm enjoying this video with some interviews (including a few thoughts from former So You Think You Can Dance contestant Kherington Payne) and lots of dancing. To see it for yourself,

Fame Remake Cast Shapes Up - And Includes Kherington!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:37:16 PDT

The remake of the 1980 musical movie Fame is getting a cast together, and so far there are nine actors who think they're gonna live forever. Notable names among them: Thomas Dekker of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (and the guy who played Claire's possibly gay best friend on Heroes before leaving the show) and So You Think You Can Dance's Kherington Payne. The Hollywood Reporter has more details:

Much like in the Oscar-winning original, directed by Alan Parker, the story will track the failures and fortunes of super-ambitious young performers and their teachers as they navigate a school year at the prestigious High School for the Performing Arts in New York.

"In many ways, the idea of pursuing a career in dance or music or acting is much more palpable now," MGM chairman Mary Parent said. "Anyone with a page on a social networking site is instantly 'famous,' and anyone with a digital camera is a potential filmmaker. The negotiation between fame and real talent is much more immediate and something with which audiences are familiar, and there's a universal relatability to experiencing the trials and tribulations associated with pursuing one's dream, regardless of the arena."

So, this is that "unique opportunity" Kherington mentioned in LA last week! It seems like a smart move for her. And it's actually a pretty good point that a story like this will be interpreted in a very different way now in comparison to when the original hit theaters in 1980. Do you think this story is more relevant today? Or are we spent on shows and movies about talent competitions and trying to realize dreams of becoming a famous dancer/singer/designer/chef/pet groomer?

Kherington photo courtesy of Fox and source