Five years ago, film executives would have laughed out loud if someone had pitched a musical about a group of squeaky clean American high school students.
But in 2006, a low-budget made-for-television Disney movie starring Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale changed everything.
'High School Musical' quickly became an international phenomenon, spawning two sequels, several top 40 records, three number one soundtracks, several stage shows, millions of DVD and CD sales and over $250 million in box office takings.
Since then, Hollywood has gone musical crazy, starting production on a series of new films as well as remakes of classics including 'Footloose'.
The latest film to cash in on the craze is 'Bandslam', starring Vanessa Hudgens, fellow Disney star Alyson Michalka and young rock singer Gaelan Connell.
It follows Will Burton (Connell), a teenage music nerd who moves to a new school when his mother - played by former 'Friends' star Lisa Kudrow - gets a new job.
Keen to make a good impression with the school's "cool" kids, Will is excited when his new friend Sa5m (Hudgens) - the 5 is silent - tells him about Bandslam, an annual music competition that offers a recording contract to the winning band.
The pair begin rehearsing frantically, but before long Will is approached by Charlotte Banks (Michalka), the most popular girl in school.
Charlotte wants Will to help her rock band win Bandslam so she can take revenge on her self-centered ex-boyfriend.
Thrilled to be popular at last, Will agrees to help Charlotte and their band is soon favourite to win the contest.
But as he gets more involved with Charlotte, Will starts neglecting his commitments with Sa5m, something he comes regrets when his new friends turn on him.
Eventually, music saves the day, ending old feuds and sparking new friendships - and a romance or two.
Unlike the 'High School Musical' franchise, the film's soundtrack features alternative rock tracks by bands like the Velvet Underground, Wilco, Nick Drake and David Bowie.
Director Todd Graff thinks this fact distances the movie from its bubblegum pop ancestors.
He said: "Every once in a while on set I would think to myself, I can't believe we got away with this. I always thought if it only sent one kid to listen to a Velvet Underground record, it would be worth it to me."
Surprisingly, most reviewers agree with Graff, with one even declaring the film a complete departure from the "frivolity coated in sickly-sweet apple-pie pop that is ââ¬ËHigh School Musical'".
Another branded it an "intelligent teen film" that avoids "teen film cliches" while delivering an entertaining character drama.
Even Michael Phillips from the Los Angeles Times had some words of faint praise for the film.
He wrote: "ââ¬ËBandslam' is a pretty good movie given that the odds of it having been a pretty bad movie were steep."
Every once in a while on set I would think to myself, I can't believe we got away with this. I always thought if it only sent one kid to listen to a Velvet Underground record, it would be worth it to me.
Hudgens' performance was also commended, with various critics declaring she "outshines" the rest of the cast.
Unfortunately, good reviews have not translated into commercial success.
The film grossed just $2.25 million on its opening weekend in the US, failing to make it into the week's top 10 releases.
But regardless of critical praise or commercial failure, Hudgens has vowed not to appear in another musical.
The 20-year-old actress has decided to stop singing "for a while" to focus on sharpening her acting skills.
She said: "I mean, I love musicals, I really do. I grew up doing them, so it'll always have a place in my heart. At the same time, it's nice to be able to separate the two and just be able to focus on films.
"It's a lot of fun playing different characters and taking on new journeys."
The singer-and-actress - who is currently filming her first major non-musical role, in 'Beastly' - has also insisted she has no plans to release any more albums.
She added: "Honestly, I'm kind of taking a break from music right now. I'm just focusing on films and acting. I feel like when I'm doing something I really want, I focus on that and try to not spread myself all over the place."
Despite this, Hudgens is the first to admit 'Bandslam' challenged her acting and musical skills.
After three teeny-bopper 'High School Musical' films, the star found it "very hard" to adapt to the movie's rock style.
She said: "It was awkward for me. I don't do rock... that's not my thing."
In the end, a computer game came to the rescue.
Hudgens and her co-stars spent hours playing Rock Band - an interactive music game that allows users to play a variety of instruments or sing along to popular songs - on a Nintendo Wii games console before each scene.
The actress is quoted as saying: "We would not stop playing Rock Band! It was ridiculous. When we had lunch breaks we would go into the trailers and play Rock Band and I sucked at the drums.
"Ryan Donowho, who is the drummer in the movie, was incredible. He could play it on expert and not miss a single beat so I was intimidated by that and everybody else was good at guitar so I usually got stuck with vocals."
Hudgens also had trouble with the film's love scenes.
Previously, she has only had to cuddle up to real-life boyfriend Zac Efron, making her romantic scenes with Gaelan extremely "awkward".
She said: "It's not like, 'Oh that was so romantic'. In reality it is so awkward but it's just part of the job."
Hudgens' co-star Michalka also puckers up to Connell in the film.
Unlike Hudgens, she couldn't wait to shoot the steamy scenes.
Michalka said: "Gaelan and I were really comfortable with each other. We had known each other for months. I was just like, 'Dude, we're going to kill this! Don't worry about it. It's going to be sick.' We just pumped each other up and it turned out really good."
Lisa Kudrow was similarly enthusiastic about the film.
The 46-year-old actress raised eyebrows when she announced she would be starring in a teen movie but she never understood why - to her it was always a "great story" with "loveable" characters.
She explained: "I really fell in love with Gaelan Connell's character Will, who is my son in the movie. I liked that he knew a lot about music. That was his only way to fit in for the first time ever.
"He was smart enough to know he didn't really fit in, and he knew why he wouldn't but he just couldn't change who he was.
"The really nice part was you just knew he'd be OK. There isn't any anxiety about whether he's going to kill himself. It's just about how heartbreaking and hard it can be to be a normal teenager in your average high school."
Lisa also saw a lot of parallels between her character's relationship with Will and her relationship with her own 11-year-old son Julian.
She said: "Kids sometimes say something insensitive to your child and you want to strangle them. All of a sudden you get really protective. You just want to step in and look after them.
"All those instincts were in this script. The film also captured the way your relationship with you child changes as they get older. Certain things suddenly become inappropriate - like walking in on them in the shower, which happens in the film.
"You think, 'How come it was ok to do that last week but you can't do it now, or ever again?' That was all in the movie in a really realistic way."
'Bandslam' was released in the UK last week.
By Kerry Coleman
Five years ago, film executives would have laughed out loud if someone had pitched a musical about a group of squeaky clean American high school students.
But in 2006, a low-budget made-for-television Disney movie starring Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale changed everything.
'High School Musical' quickly became an international phenomenon, spawning two sequels, several top 40 records, three number one soundtracks, several stage shows, millions of DVD and CD sales and over $250 million in box office takings.
Since then, Hollywood has gone musical crazy, starting production on a series of new films as well as remakes of classics including 'Footloose'.
The latest film to cash in on the craze is 'Bandslam', starring Vanessa Hudgens, fellow Disney star Alyson Michalka and young rock singer Gaelan Connell.
It follows Will Burton (Connell), a teenage music nerd who moves to a new school when his mother - played by former 'Friends' star Lisa Kudrow - gets a new job.
Keen to make a good impression with the school's "cool" kids, Will is excited when his new friend Sa5m (Hudgens) - the 5 is silent - tells him about Bandslam, an annual music competition that offers a recording contract to the winning band.
The pair begin rehearsing frantically, but before long Will is approached by Charlotte Banks (Michalka), the most popular girl in school.
Charlotte wants Will to help her rock band win Bandslam so she can take revenge on her self-centered ex-boyfriend.
Thrilled to be popular at last, Will agrees to help Charlotte and their band is soon favourite to win the contest.
But as he gets more involved with Charlotte, Will starts neglecting his commitments with Sa5m, something he comes regrets when his new friends turn on him.
Eventually, music saves the day, ending old feuds and sparking new friendships - and a romance or two.
Unlike the 'High School Musical' franchise, the film's soundtrack features alternative rock tracks by bands like the Velvet Underground, Wilco, Nick Drake and David Bowie.
Director Todd Graff thinks this fact distances the movie from its bubblegum pop ancestors.
He said: "Every once in a while on set I would think to myself, I can't believe we got away with this. I always thought if it only sent one kid to listen to a Velvet Underground record, it would be worth it to me."
Surprisingly, most reviewers agree with Graff, with one even declaring the film a complete departure from the "frivolity coated in sickly-sweet apple-pie pop that is ââ¬ËHigh School Musical'".
Another branded it an "intelligent teen film" that avoids "teen film cliches" while delivering an entertaining character drama.
Even Michael Phillips from the Los Angeles Times had some words of faint praise for the film.
He wrote: "ââ¬ËBandslam' is a pretty good movie given that the odds of it having been a pretty bad movie were steep."
Hudgens' performance was also commended, with various critics declaring she "outshines" the rest of the cast.
Unfortunately, good reviews have not translated into commercial success.
The film grossed just $2.25 million on its opening weekend in the US, failing to make it into the week's top 10 releases.
But regardless of critical praise or commercial failure, Hudgens has vowed not to appear in another musical.
The 20-year-old actress has decided to stop singing "for a while" to focus on sharpening her acting skills.
She said: "I mean, I love musicals, I really do. I grew up doing them, so it'll always have a place in my heart. At the same time, it's nice to be able to separate the two and just be able to focus on films.
"It's a lot of fun playing different characters and taking on new journeys."
The singer-and-actress - who is currently filming her first major non-musical role, in 'Beastly' - has also insisted she has no plans to release any more albums.
She added: "Honestly, I'm kind of taking a break from music right now. I'm just focusing on films and acting. I feel like when I'm doing something I really want, I focus on that and try to not spread myself all over the place."
Tagged in Vanessa Hudgens