`High School Musical 3' takes box-office curtain call with $15.3M

"High School Musical 3: Senior Year" had an encore performance as Hollywood's top movie for the second weekend in a row, taking in $15.3 million.

The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Media By Numbers LLC:

1. "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," Disney, $15,316,072, 3,626 locations, $4,224 average, $62,034,083, two weeks.

2. "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," Weinstein Co., $10,065,630, 2,735 locations, $3,680 average, $10,065,630, one week.

3. "Saw V," Lionsgate, $9,741,578, 3,084 locations, $3,159 average, $45,469,066, two weeks.

4. "Changeling," Universal, $9,351,560, 1,850 locations, $5,055 average, $10,031,122, two weeks.

5. "The Haunting of Molly Hartley," Freestyle Releasing, $5,423,315, 2,652 locations, $2,045 average, $5,423,315, one week.

6. "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," Disney, $4,864,021, 3,004 locations, $1,619 average, $84,177,645, five weeks.

7. "The Secret Life of Bees," Fox Searchlight, $4,010,668, 1,611 locations, $2,490 average, $25,297,621, three weeks.

8. "Max Payne," Fox, $3,688,253, 2,564 locations, $1,438 average, $35,538,365, three weeks.

9. "Eagle Eye," DreamWorks-Paramount, $3,482,655, 2,007 locations, $1,735 average, $92,616,665, six weeks.

10. "Pride and Glory," Warner Bros., $3,363,452, 2,585 locations, $1,301 average, $11,719,094, two weeks.

11. "W.," Lionsgate, $2,384,386, 1,803 locations, $1,322 average, $22,332,195, three weeks.

12. "Body of Lies," Warner Bros., $2,304,348, 1,414 locations, $1,630 average, $34,551,015, four weeks.

13. "RocknRolla," Warner Bros., $1,872,495, 826 locations, $2,267 average, $2,496,188, four weeks.

14. "Fireproof," Samuel Goldwyn, $1,731,843, 887 locations, $1,952 average, $26,114,966, six weeks.

15. "Quarantine," Sony Screen Gems, $1,125,636, 1,289 locations, $873 average, $30,794,171, four weeks.

16. "Appaloosa," Warner Bros., $819,477, 855 locations, $958 average, $17,261,357, seven weeks.

17. "Rachel Getting Married," Sony Pictures Classics, $711,380, 133 locations, $5,349 average, $3,691,540, five weeks.

18. "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," Sony, $690,225, 679 locations, $1,017 average, $30,777,239, five weeks.

19. "The Duchess," Paramount Vantage, $623,310, 527 locations, $1,183 average, $12,331,518, seven weeks.

20. "Nights in Rodanthe," Warner Bros., $582,336, 737 locations, $790 average, $40,318,422, six weeks.

Via associatedpress

Zac Efron's Showering Pics from 'High School Musical 3' Put on eBay

Some original exclusive pictures of Zac Efron taking shower during the shooting of "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" are auctioned off on eBay.

Several pictures of Zac Efron taking shower, which are taken during the shooting of "High School Musical 3: Senior Year", have been put for sale on eBay. The shots are parts of the five sets of cut and behind-the-scenes pictures from the musical movie that are auctioned off on the site for the public to bid.

Each of the sets, as reported by Just Jared, consists of 500 original exclusive photos. Each shot is a one-shot pic taken from over 80,000 photos. All the pictures feature a number of different "angles, bloopers, behind-the-scenes, promotional shots, etc," Just Jared adds.

In addition to Zac, those pictures also feature his other "HSM" co-stars, including his on-and-off screen lover Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu, and Ashley Tisdale. A peek of the five sets of cut and behind-the-scenes pictures from "HSM 3" that also feature Zac's showering shots can be seen on auction site eBay.

Aside from the report, "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" itself has experienced a box office success, debuting at No. 1 at the movie chart on the last weekend of October. Its whole cast, meanwhile, have been kept busy with a number of promotional appearances.

Via aceshowbiz.com

Zac's a scream at High School date

The global sensation that is High School Musical was greeted by hundreds of screaming teenagers at the UK premiere on Tuesday night.

The third instalment of the American movie was unveiled at the Empire cinema in London's Leicester Square, and fans braved the elements to see their heroes in the flesh.

Zac Efron, 20, who plays school basketball captain Troy Bolton, got the biggest cheers of the night.

He was joined on the red carpet by female co-star Vanessa Hudgens.

Miss Hudgens, 19, hit the headlines for the wrong reasons last year when nude pictures of her were published on the internet.

High School Musical 3 opens in UK cinemas on October 22, and advance ticket sales have topped £500,000.

Via ukpress

High School Musical 3 Breaks Records With the Biggest Advance Bookings for a Movie in Cinema History!

With 3 weeks to go before High School Musical graduates to the big screen, High School Musical 3: Senior Year has broken records with the fastest and biggest advance sales ever in movie history, beating previous record holder "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and "The Lord of the Rings" and all the Bond films.

Audience demand to see the first major cinema event in the phenomenal High School Musical franchise has ensured that some performances are already sold out, with still 3 weeks to go before the film is on general release.

As of 1st October, cinemas across the UK have already taken advance bookings to the total of half a million pounds. Odeon Cinemas, the UK's largest chain puts their total in advance bookings at GBP245, 205. This beats Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the previous all time record holder, which had taken GBP227k at the same stage of booking and which went on to gross GBP48.3m.

Rupert Gavin, CEO of Odeon & UCI Cinema Group says: "This is a phenomenal and record breaking start for High School Musical 3. Our cinemas have been inundated with calls to pre-book tickets for what could be the year's biggest kids and teen audience movie. With schools breaking up for half term just as High School Musical 3 opens, we at Odeon are bracing ourselves for a huge first week run."

Meanwhile fans are preparing for the arrival of all the stars of the film - Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu and Britain's own new wildcat, Jemma McKenzie-Brown - who arrive in London on Tuesday 7th October for the UK Premiere in Leicester Square.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR is released only in cinemas on Wednesday October 22nd2008, throughout the UK. Certificate U (tbc). Running time: 111 mins

Via prnewswire.co.uk

'High School Musical' Star KayCee Stroh Engaged

Which star of the Disney "High School Musical" franchise is planning a late 2008 wedding?

That would be KayCee Stroh, who accepted a proposal from boyfriend Ben Higginson over the weekend, according to People.

"We shot from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m., and Ben was waiting for me in my trailer," Stroh tells the magazine. "He was waiting for me with a single red rose. Then he took me up to the H Rock, a place at the top of a little mountain that overlooks Salt Lake City, and we watched the sunrise. Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him."

The "shooting" Stroh is referring to, of course, is production on "High School Musical 3," a theatrical release now lensing in Utah with original stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Monique Coleman, Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel all on board.

Stroh plays Martha Cox, a smart girl with a secret love for hip hop dancing.

The magazine says that the 23-year-old actress met Higginson, a Salt Lake City production company owner, at a concert in 2007. They're planning to officially tie the knot in late 2008.

Via zap2it.com

New High School Musical 3 Poster

On October 24, 2008, this decade’s biggest pop phenomenon will hit the big screen for the first time in High School Musical 3: Senior Year!

“High School Musical 3: Senior Year” finds high school seniors Troy and Gabriella facing the prospect of separation as they head off to different colleges.

Joined by the rest of the Wildcats, they stage an elaborate spring musical reflecting their experiences, hopes and fears about the future.

With incredible new music and exciting dance numbers designed to take maximum advantage of the big screen, this motion picture extravaganza delivers plenty of high-energy entertainment from East High’s talented ensemble.

Principal photography kicks off May 3 on Walt Disney Pictures’ upcoming theatrical production “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” The all-new feature film will be shot on location in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is set for release in theaters October 24, 2008. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributes.

Via iesb.net

"High School Musical 4" already in works

Even before "High School Musical 3" hits movie theaters in the fall, Disney Channel is starting work on "High School Musical 4."

"We are writing 'High School Musical 4,' " Disney Channel Worldwide president Rich Ross said Tuesday after a presentation at a midtown Manhattan recording studio. It's likely to be a TV movie unlike "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," though that could change. Filming begins in two weeks in Utah.

There's no word on whether the cast and behind-the-scenes talent will gather again for "HSM4," though some characters introduced in the third go-round likely will star in the fourth.

"Are we going to have all the cast back? Probably not," Ross said. "Will we have some of them? I hope so."

Even for a channel that has huge properties in "Hannah Montana" and "The Cheetah Girls," among others, "HSM" is big business. The second TV movie shattered cable TV records last summer with a premiere watched by 18.6 million viewers and it has been a hit internationally as well. It boosted Disney Channel to the No. 1 position among cable networks in primetime in 2007.

Ross said that after the original "HSM," he went to Disney Channel entertainment president Gary Marsh and asked whether there was "a new story to tell" in the saga that launched the careers of Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu.

"We have learned that just putting a number next to a title is a very old idea," Ross said. "We have to have a new story."

Marsh answered affirmatively with "HSM2" and later, "HSM3." Now Marsh and Ross are confident that the "HSM4" script is going well.

Via reuters.com

Vanessa Hudgens Talks Will, First Movie After High School Musical 3

Vanessa Hudgens is moving on from the High School Musical franchise — High School Musical 3: Senior Year will be the last one for her and then there will be no more.

But she’s already got her next project lined up. Hudgens is currently in the process of shooting Will, which will be released in 2009, well after HSM 3 hits the big screen.

But while her next movie will take place in a familiar surrounding (high school) and does have the whole music thing goin’ on, Hudgens’ character is not going to just be another Gabriella Montez. Her Will character is going be significantly darker.

“My look is definitely more dark than in HSM. I play kind of the emo, kept away from everybody else in her own world’ kinda girl,” Vanessa told ET. “She wears a lot of black. She always has longsleeves with thumbs in them.”

Plus, she gets to be in a band in the movie, which is something she never got to do in real life.

“No, I was never in a band…not even close. I was girl groups, but that was pretty much it,” she lamented.

Via portableplanet.co.uk

Vanessa Hudgens ‘furious’ that Ali Lohan wants to star in High School Musical 3

Teen actress Vanessa Hudgens is said to be worried that the presence of Lindsay Lohan’s 14-year-old sister Ali Lohan on-set of High School Musical 3 will cause unprecedented drama - and maybe even steal her thunder.

“When Vanessa heard that Ali was vying for a part in High School Musical 3, she flipped,” says an insider. “She knows Ali isn’t Lindsay, but she’s still weary of the drama the Lohan clan brings.”

High School Musical 3: Senior Year, is the follow-up to Disney Channel’s hugely successful High School Musical 2, and also stars Ashley Tisdale & Zac Efron.

Ali Lohan has previously spoken of her desire to be famous.

“I grew up watching Lindsay,” Ali Lohan told America’s Teen Vogue in its April issue. “It made me want to do what she does. Just the whole vibe. Being there, being on camera, or on-stage, with everybody listening to you … it’s so cool when people look up to you.

“I’ve already been asked for my autograph and it’s just a really good feeling to have.”

High School Musical 3 is due to be released in October this year.

Via showbizspy.com

Dressing Vanessa Hudgens & Zac Efron For High School Musical 3

There a lot of jobs out there that we don’t envy, but having to pick the wardrobe for Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron in School Musical 3: Senior Year is not one of them.

Caroline Marx is getting paid to do exactly that; she’s the costume designer for the upcoming HSM 3 movie.

Marx recently discussed her plans to dress up Hudgens (Gabriella) and Troy (Efron) for the onscreen prom with the New York Daily News. And it turns out that her plan is to give fans the ability to rent the same gear as the stars of the movie.

“I want to team with David’s Bridal and their tux rental company After Hours, which was actually just bought by Men’s Wearhouse,” she explained, “and create two looks, a girl’s and a guy’s, that you can go rent. I want to do like a really cool tuxedo with those slim lapels.”

That’s what we call synergy.

If it all works out like she plans, look for a lot of couples to be copying the prom versions of Troy and Vanessa this autumn.

Via portableplanet.co.uk

High School Musical on London stage

The Disney big hit High School Musical is being turned into a London stage show, it has been announced.

The musical will be the latest new outing for the record-breaking global phenomenon, which first appeared as a children's TV film two years ago.

The production will differ from the 31-date UK tour, which has its official opening on Monday night in Bromley, Kent, and is expected to be seen by 600,000 people.

The London production will open with a 10-week season at the Hammersmith Apollo in June, with actors yet to be cast.

It will be the latest Disney show in London following Mary Poppins, and The Lion King.

The announcement comes as the box office opens for the High School Musical UK tour, following £9 million worth of advance sales.

Around 200 million people have seen the original film since it was first broadcast in 2006 in the US followed by the UK.

The movie won two Emmy Awards and the soundtrack became the world's Number One album.

Unlike the first two High School Musicals that were broadcast on TV, High School Musical 3 opens in cinemas later this year.

The story follows teenage couple Troy and Gabriella, played by actors Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, who face a possible split as they head off to different colleges.

Via ukpress

High School Musical: Zac Efron At The SAG Awards

Last night, TNT and TBS simultaneously broadcast the SAG Awards, the only awards show that celebrities actually showed up to this season, due to the ongoing WGA strike. Zac Efron was the only High School Musical star to be invited but for good reason. The 20-year-old actor was nominated as part of the Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture for his portrayal of Link Larkin in Hairspray. Though he ended up going home empty handed, Efron was a presenter at the ceremony with Debra Messing. The two awarded Edie Falco for her outstanding performance in the HBO series, The Sopranos. E! News caught up with Efron on the red carpet before the event, where he spoke about his favorite movie of the year, his career, and what keeps him grounded.

With all the published reports of young celebrities getting themselves into trouble, E! News reporter Giuliana Rancic wonders how Efron manages to stay out of trouble. Easy, he says. "Lately, I’ve been working a lot so I don’t really go anywhere. I just stay in and practice my scenes for the next day," he admits. Despite his wild popularity, Efron has managed to stay grounded, visiting home any chance he gets. "If I have three consecutive days off, at all, I drive to San Luis Obispo to hang out with my mom, dad, and brother and see some friends," he said.

While some actors try to shed their teen pop idol image as they mature, Efron is nothing but grateful for the success that High School Musical has brought him. “I have so much fun doing what I do. I’m really blessed," he told E! News. "There’s really very little in Hollywood that separates me from a lot of other guys who look just like me. I thank God for High School Musical and how many doors it’s opened. It’s been incredible.”

No Country For Old Men was the film that really got Efron’s attention this year and the guy has good taste. Actor Javier Bardem won last night for Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role and the cast was honored for the outstanding performance in the movie as well.

Via buddytv.tv

High School Musical gang is headed for the big screen

All six stars have signed on for "High School Musical 3," a flick bound to bring teens and tweens flocking to theaters in droves this fall.

The new installment of Disney's blockbuster musical will find East High seniors Troy and Gabriella, played by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, dealing with the prospect of separation as they head to different colleges.

Musical numbers ensue.

Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman also are on board for "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," slated for release on Oct. 24.

Meanwhile, female fans are on pins and needles over the condition of heartthrob Efron, who TMZ.com reported was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles suffering from appendicitis.

Don't worry kids, he'll be just fine. His rep told TMZ, "He had his appendix removed and is recuperating."

Via nydailynews.com