PROM

Production Information
Getting in the Action

With the numerous table reads behind them, everyone was ready to be in front of the camera, working under the tutelage of Joe Nussbaum.

Raini Rodriguez comments on her experience, "I've never worked with a director like Joe. He would come up to me before a scene, pull me aside, and want to hear my point of view. Then, when we would rehearse the scenes, he'd be right there, watching, looking for the ‘realness' in the scene, which is so important.”

She confesses, "Nick [Braun] and I were always changing or flubbing lines and improvising something else that wasn't originally in the script. Joe loved it because it's more real. He was awesome to give us that kind of freedom!”

Jared Kusnitz proposes, "Joe Nussbaum is an actor's director because he comes at you with notes from a character's perspective. For example, a lot of directors will say, ‘I want it to look like this,' but Joe's direction is, ‘I really want it to feel like this,' which changes your read on what he wants.”

He adds, "Joe is always open if you want to tweak some words because it doesn't sound how you think your character would sound—he's totally open to whatever ideas you have.”

Thomas McDonell, who stars in his first feature film, says, "Watching Joe direct is interesting because he knows the bigger picture and is dealing with everyone on set, not just the actors but the crew too, and he's really good at juggling them all.”

Janelle Ortiz, one of the newcomers, relays, "This being my first movie, I was so nervous because I had no idea what anything meant—from ‘checking the gate' to ‘first team'! Joe really helped me out, giving me little words of wisdom. I'm just very appreciative that he was my first director for my first movie because he taught me so much.”

Producer Justin Springer maintains, "Joe did a great job at the helm. We really had the best guy for drawing those performances out of the kids. He came to set every day with tons of passion and enthusiasm and was tireless. He loves what he's doing, and that sort of is infectious.”

It'll show in the performances of all these actors and the characters they portray in Disney's "Prom.”

Where's "Prom”?

Though "Prom” takes place in Michigan, it was shot in and around Los Angeles. The filmmakers had to work very hard to find locations—both interior and exterior architecture as well as plant life—that matched what could be found in the Midwest. Needless to say, they had to stay away from palm trees.

The school that represented the exterior and many of the interiors of Brookside High School was the same one used for shooting John Hughes' "Pretty in Pink.” "Nightmare on Elm Street” and "Teen Wolf” were also filmed there.

Both the name "Brookside” for the high school and the name "Bears” for the mascot were chosen during the script stage. After John Burroughs Middle School in Los Angeles was chosen for the location of the school, the production team realized that the school mascot was a bear and the school was actually in the "Brookside” neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The production company was given a community beautification commendation by the city of Los Angeles for rebricking the facade of the historic auditorium entrance and landscaping the front of John Burroughs Middle School.

Music at "Prom”

"Prom” was scored by longtime Joe Nussbaum collaborator Deborah Lurie. Lurie has proven herself to be one of the most versatile composers and arrangers in Hollywood after beginning her career by scoring short films like Joe Nussbaum's celebrated "George Lucas in Love.” She went on to score, orchestrate and compose on several features. Most recently Lurie scored the Lasse Hallström film "Dear John” and the Tim Burton-produced animated feature "9.”

The "Prom” soundtrack album, available April 26th, 2011, is filled with new and original songs by cutting-edge bands, including:

• Those Dancing Days, "I'll Be Yours”
• Neon Trees, "Your Surrender”
• Travie McCoy, "We'll Be Alright”
• Allstar Weekend, "Not Your Birthday”
• Moon, "Time Stand”
• Passion Pit, "Dreams”
• The Weepies, "Please Speak Well of Me”
• Nolan Sotillo, "We Could Be Anything”
• Shere, "In Deep”
• Oh Darling, "Prettiest Thing”
• Simple Plan, "Can't Keep My Hands Off You”
• Girl In A Coma, "Come On Let's Go”
• Opus Orange, "Almost There”
• Shout Out Louds, "Impossible”
• Stick Hippo, "Stick Hippo”

The soundtrack and the film feature two songs by cast members. Thomas McDonell, who has a band called Moon, wrote and recorded "Time Stand” especially for "Prom.” Nolan Sotillo recorded "We Could Be Anything” in English for the film and Spanish to be used in Latin markets.

Additional songs featured in the film include more hits and popular indie bands:

• The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, "Heart in Your Heartbreak”
 • Neon Trees, "1983”
• The Naked and the Famous, "Young Blood”
• East Hundred, "Slow Burning Crimes”
• Smith Westerns, "Weekend”
• M83, "Too Late”
• Katy Perry, "Firework”
• Taio Cruz, "Break Your Heart”
 • Band of Horses, "No One's Gonna Love You”

"Prom” Dresses

Both Nova's (Aimee Teegarden) and Simone's (Danielle Campbell) prom dresses were one-ofa- kind dresses designed by Costume Designer Shoshana Rubin specifically for the film. Both characters are unique and special to the film, so Rubin and Director Joe Nussbaum discussed how they wanted the dresses to reflect the characters.

"It was fun to create the dresses for a dream prom—especially the prom-night scene—and make it special,” says Rubin.

Nova's dress is a soft pink with gold metallic undertones to give an ethereal, princess look. The dress doesn't always look the same, depending on the lighting, and has a "golden moon glitter” tone to it.

The film and soundtrack also feature an original song by Stick Hippo, the awesome band that characters Lucas, Corey and Simone are all fans of.

Simone's dress was purposely designed to blend in with the prom décor as if she were not even there; then later, away from the prom backdrop, she stands out. Simone's dress was especially hand-dyed to create the varying hues.

Both Teegarden and Campbell were excited to have input into their dresses and met with the seamstress when Rubin brought in the fabric choices.

Costume Designer Rubin chose Mei's dress from vintage stock and found Kylie's dress off the rack in a retail store.

Fashion design house Alfred Angelo collaborated with Walt Disney Pictures to dress the remaining female cast for prom night from its 2011 Niki for Alfred Angelo prom collection. Nova's and Simone's dresses (manufactured and distributed by Alfred Angelo), along with the 2011 Niki for Alfred Angelo collection, are available at Alfred Angelo's Signature stores and other retailers across the country.

Check "Prom” Out!

Director Joe Nussbaum considers, "Everyone who shows up to the prom got there some way that was unique to them—whether they're going with a girlfriend or boyfriend whom they've been with for years, or they're going with someone that they've had a crush on and finally asked, or they're going with just a good friend, or they end up going alone.”

Cameron Monaghan, who plays one of the sophomores, agrees, "Everyone, whether they're in high school, going into high school or alre

TOP

Home | Theaters | Video | TV