Television shows such as “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance” have added a dose of much-needed reality to the sexed-up, extreme pull the world of fame seems to have on our generation. But despite judge Simon Cowell’s vicious evaluations or Mary Murphy’s shrieks, there is no shortage of people who are still positive they are going to make it big in the world of entertainment.
In promotion for the Sept. 25 release of the remake of the 1980 Oscar-winner “Fame,” which follows a group of New York performing arts high school students seeking success in the world of entertainment, Westwood’s Mann Village Theatre is giving people a real chance to showcase their talents. Anyone who wants to prove singing or dancing abilities is invited to perform at a free talent show on the fore court of the theater this Saturday, Sept. 26.
The film’s themes of struggling to live the dream and reach one’s potential are just as relevant, if not more so, today as they were nearly three decades ago. Chair of the Department of Film, Television and Digital Media Barbara Boyle believes this has to do with the nation’s current leader.
“Whenever you make a remake, you’re always concerned with its relevancy today,” Boyle said. “And of course what could be more relevant given our new president than the idea of hope?”
The possibility of achieving one’s goal is also reinforced year after year through the growing medium of reality TV. In fact, one of the film’s leading ladies, Kherington Payne, has a reality TV past as she was a contestant on season four of “So You Think You Can Dance.”
However, contestants looking for their big break will not be presented with the same level of glamour that Payne experienced. They will have only two minutes to perform their routine. Sound equipment will be provided by the theater.
Contestants will be judged by a panel of three including a theater employee and two other judges who will be selected randomly from the audience. While the judges were originally going to base the winner on a percent breakdown of talent, showmanship and public appeal, the coordinators decided judges will now grade the performances on a one-to-five rating scale.
The Mann Village Theatre general manager Nicole Estrada explained that anybody is welcome to perform, regardless of age, and she said she hopes for “a variety of dance (acts) as well as singing.”
The theater is hoping for a large turnout and will be awarding free passes to see the movie “Fame” for the first 100 applicants. Estrada said that she hopes that this week, being UCLA’s Welcome Week, will attract some fame-hungry students in addition to the general public. The contest’s overall winner will receive a prize pack including iPod speakers, a shirt, bag, DVD and more “Fame”-related goods.
Mann’s house manager Maria Hernandez reinforced that everyone is welcome to audition, and while the theater is providing the free movie passes, “the company who made the movie threw in the prize for the winner.”
The company is providing this talent outlet at other Mann locations as well as part of a multi-city Mann Theatres promotion for the release of “Fame.”
As the winners from the various talent shows go home with their new speakers, they may also be leaving with a greater sense of hope.
“The TV show and original film are such iconic classics because wherever you’re from and whatever your color, your gender, your background, if you have talent and discipline and work really hard, you have a chance to realize your dream,” Boyle said.