With its motley, mismatched gang of rock-obsessed friends, the movie “Bandslam,” opening Friday, is like “High School Musical” with guitars (and a scene-stealing performance from Lisa Kudrow) or “The Breakfast Club” with songs.
This time, the Ally Sheedy role goes to “HSM” vet and ‘tween mega-idol Vanessa Hudgens, 21, who plays Sa5m (the 5 is silent), a bookish emo chick with a secret talent. Birdlike and petite, Hudgens is as wholesome and open in person as her most famous onscreen alter ego, “HSM’s” Gabriella. She talks about wishing she could have met Natalie Wood, hoping to evade the paparazzi and praying not to faceplant in Brangelina’s lap.
Sa5m is rarely ever shown in the movie without a book to hide behind. Are you a big reader, too?No, I’m not that big of a reader. More of, like, a scripts reader.
But you must be able to play guitar — all the kids in the movie had to be proficient at their instrument and play live, and Sa5m does eventually rock out like the rest of them.
I only learned a few chords for this one song. It probably took, like, about a week, and then that was really slow, changing chords, it wasn’t that seamless. But after two weeks I had it down to a T. Everyone that had those parts, though, was an incredible musician — the drummer was phenomenal — so I was quite intimidated coming into the project.
The movie has a cameo by David Bowie that was shot in New York because he’s afraid of flying. Were you hanging out on set that day to try and meet him?Yes! I was, like, “Tell me where to go and when to be there okay?” He was so great, nicer than I would have ever thought. But I wouldn’t be able to ask him for an autograph — that would feel so bad. My classic films growing up were “The NeverEnding Story” and “Labyrinth,” which is another reason I love David Bowie.
I read that you planned to audition for “American Idol” before “HSM.” You could have been Kelly Clarkson, if not David Bowie.
It was before “High School Musical” came along. I didn’t go to any auditions because I was 15, though I wanted to go. But I booked “High School Musical” when I was 16, which is when you’re supposed to audition for “American Idol.” I didn’t get as far as planning an audition song or anything.
Auditions have been lucky for you, though. You landed a job on your first one, and only went because one of your friends couldn’t make it.
I did a lot of musical theater growing up, and my girlfriend was doing a bunch of commercials and she couldn’t go to one. She was, like, “You wanna go?” and I was, like, “Sure.” And it was a Travelodge PSA, so it was so random dancing around with a little Travelodge bear.
