In "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" I play Donny, a sophomore at East High who idolizes Troy (Zac Efron) and Chad (Corbin Bleu). He is the ball boy on the basketball team and is partners in crime with Jimmie "the Rocketman" Zara, who is played by Matt Prokop, another one of the new cast members.
I have a little 9-year-old sister, so of course I knew about HSM prior to getting the role. For the audition, I had to sing HSM songs, learn HSM dances and perform scenes. It was unlike any audition I' ve ever been on but it was extremely fun, and I met a lot of people that I still keep in touch with. Once I got the role, the other cast members and I had about a month and a half of dance and scene rehearsals. For 30 hours a week we studied just about every form of dance you can think of, including hip-hop, jazz and ballroom.
On our down time we'd play video games or go to movies. I hung in Corbin [Bleu]'s room a lot. He has a Wii, so we'd play Smash Bros. I also got Rock Band for my birthday so we played a lot of that too.
The folks in Salt Lake City have been so great to all of us. After shooting, we'd go out to the restaurants, and the local people were so warm and welcoming. There were a lot of locals in the cast; for example, a lot of the dancers were from Salt Lake City.
What's fascinating about the High School Musical series is that it's gone global and EVERYONE knows about it. This is a great project to be a part of, and I feel really blessed because there's not a kid in the world that wouldn't want to be in the cast. It's something that you'll be remembered for forever.
"High School Musical 3: Senior Year"
The latest installment of the popular Disney Channel franchise moves to the big screen following the popularity of television movies HSM and HSM 2. It's the East High gang's senior year, and another out-of-this-world musical is underway. Justin Martin was one of three new actors cast in the film following an international search for new Wildcats. He joins Matt Prokop and Jemma McKenzie-Brown as sophomores taking the musical baton from seniors Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Olesya Rulin and Monique Coleman. Kenny Ortega will once again direct.
Fans can look forward to outstanding musical and dance numbers along with a captivating storyline that speaks to all generations. "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" promises an elaborate musical finale reflecting the main characters' experiences, hopes, and fears. The high-energy musical and dance sequences will stay true to the HSM format, but HMS 3 promises to be bigger and better than the first two movies.
Official High School Musical 3: Senior Year website
