STEP UP REVOLUTION Production Notes - Visual Hollywood

STEP UP REVOLUTION (2012)

PRODUCTION NOTES

STEP UP REVOLUTION Production Notes

Release Date: July 27, 2012 Studio: Summit Entertainment Director: Scott Speer Screenwriter: Jenny Mayer Starring: Ryan Guzman, Kathryn McCormick, Misha Gabriel, Peter Gallagher Genre: Drama MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for some suggestive dancing and language) Official Website: Facebook.com STUDIO SYNOPSIS: "Step Up Revolution" is the next installment in the worldwide smash "Step Up" franchise, which sets the dancing against the vibrant backdrop of Miami. Emily, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, arrives in Miami with aspirations of becoming a professional dancer, but soon falls in love with Sean, a young man who leads a dance crew in elaborate, cutting-edge flash mobs. The crew, called the MOB, strives to win a contest for a major sponsorship opportunity, but soon Emily's father threatens to develop the MOB's historic neighborhood and displace thousands of people. Emily must band together with Sean and the MOB to turn their performance mobs into protest mobs, and risk losing their dreams to fight for a greater cause.

© 2012 Summit Entertainment

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SYNOPSIS Step Up Revolution, the fourth installment in Summit Entertainment's sizzling dance and romance franchise, ups the ante with unparalleled 3D action in sultry, sexy Miami where a group of hot young performers takes to the streets to what they do best—DANCE! Childhood friends Sean (Ryan Guzman) and Eddy (Misha Gabriel) work as waiters at Miami Beach's ultra-posh Dimont Hotel, owned by ruthless developer Bill Anderson (Peter Gallagher). In their off-duty hours, they lead a renegade crew known only as "The Mob," a group of cuttingedge dancers, musicians and artists that captures the collective imagination of the city with dazzling, high-tech, hit-and-run flash mobs that appear out of nowhere—and vanish in an instant. The Mob's outlaw performances attract the attention of Anderson's daughter Emily (Kathryn McCormick), a gifted dancer in her own right. Under pressure from her dad to leave her lifelong dream behind and get a "real" job, Emily has reluctantly agreed to go to work for him unless she earns a coveted spot in the prestigious Wynwood Dance Company. But after witnessing a flash mob, she is determined to join in. After Emily and Sean connect at a dance club, he introduces her to the group, leaving out the fact that she's the boss's daughter. Emily's impressive dance skills win her a place in The Mob, but her presence drives a wedge between Sean and Eddy. When Anderson and his young protege Tripp (Tommy Dewey) announce plans to raze The Mob's neighborhood to build a huge commercial development, the group begins planning their most daring flash mob ever to try to save the waterfront, forcing Emily and Sean to choose between family ties and their love for each other. Step Up Revolution stars Kathryn McCormick, finalist on the hit television dance series "So You Think You Can Dance," and Ryan Guzman in their feature film debuts. Misha Gabriel (Footloose), Stephen "tWitch' Boss (Step Up 3), Tommy Dewey ( "Sons of Tucson" ), Peter Gallagher ( "Covert Affairs" ) and real life choreographer Mia Michaels (Rock of Ages) lead a rich supporting cast, with cameo appearances by fan favorites from the Step Up franchise. Director Scott Speer makes his feature film debut, working from an original screenplay by Amanda Brody. The film is produced by the Offspring Entertainment team of Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot (Hairspray, Rock of Ages), along with Erik Feig and Patrick Wachsberger (the Step Up franchise, Mr. and Mrs. Smith). Bob Hayward, David Garrett, Meredith Milton, Jon M. Chu (Step Up 2, Step Up 3D), Matt Smith and Nan Morales (What's Your Number? Extraordinary Measures) are the executive producers. The film's director of photography is Karsten 'Crash' Gopinath (The River Why). Production Designer is Carlos A. Menendez (The Dictator). Editors are Matthew Friedman (What Happens in Vegas) and Avi Youabian. Choreographers are Jamal Sims (Footloose, the Step Up franchise), Christopher Scott, Travis Wall ( "So You Think you Can Dance?" ) and Chuck Maldonado ( "Dancing with the Stars," Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming). Music Supervisor is Buck Damon. Original music is by Aaron Zigman (What's Your Number?). Costume Designer is Rebecca © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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Hofherr (Black Swan). Casting is by Joanna Colbert, CSA and Richard Mento, CSA.


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ABOUT THE PRODUCTION Starting with the 2006 debut of Step Up, producers Jennifer Gibgot and Adam Shankman have created a series of ultra-popular hip-hop fairy tales that blend the urgency of the latest street dance with the romance of "Romeo and Juliet." Each new chapter in the franchise has brought to the screen even more astonishing choreography and imaginative scenarios than its predecessors. With Step Up Revolution, the fourth film in the series, Gibgot and Shankman unleash the biggest and most challenging film they have made to date, packed with gravity-defying production numbers and talented, red-hot young performers. The producers have pulled out all the stops for the story of a daring and innovative group of performance artists called The Mob. Using the streets of Miami as their staging grounds, The Mob blends music, dance, visual arts and cuttingedge technology in extravagant flash mob performances that appear and disappear in moments. "We all gravitated to the notion of the flash mob," says executive producer Matt Smith. "That is a meticulously planned, well-organized form of dance performed publicly and made to appear spontaneous. It's done live and on the fly, so it's also got an 'anything can happen' feel that we wanted to capitalize on. Flash mobs are so much of the moment in our culture right now. People are out there doing it in the streets, but I don't think anybody has ever done them on this scale with top flight dancers and choreography." The scope and ambition of the film's flash mob dance numbers are unprecedented. "They are not like anything you've ever seen in a movie before, even in the earlier Step Up films," says Gibgot. "It's no longer about two teams battling each other. We've taken something exciting that is the Zeitgeist right now, amped it up and put a whole new spin on it." Taking dance into the streets of a major metropolis opens up the movie in a way that makes it very different from the earlier films, according to Smith. "We go outdoors in front of huge crowds, instead of the club battling you've seen in earlier films. That takes it to a whole other level. And unlike the choreography of the average flash mob, which is pretty rudimentary, we are showcasing some of the greatest dancers in the world doing these elaborately choreographed and staged dance numbers in some very surprising settings." Eventually, Smith observes, the performances turn into something more powerful than just eyepopping moves. "As the character Emily says in the movie, it's time to go from performance art to protest art. That's a turning point for all of our characters. The art form can be used for something greater than just, 'Hey, look at us.' It can be used to deliver a message. And they take that message and then deliver it in really fun, unexpected ways all over the city." The Step Up franchise has already launched the careers of two highly successful movie directors, Anne Fletcher (who went on to helm 27 Dresses and The Proposal) and John M. Chu (director of the upcoming GI Joe: Retaliation and creator of the successful web series, "The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers" or The LXD). To meet that innovative, highly energetic and creative standard, the producers of Step Up Revolution recruited Scott Speer, an award-winning director who has collaborated with Cho on The LXD, and directed videos for Blake Shelton, Ashley Tisdale, Jordin Sparks and Mexican pop sensation Belinda. © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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"Scott understood what this movie needed to be," says Gibgot. "He was constantly working to make each number bigger than the one before and give this movie greater scope than any previous Step Up has had. He was always trying to outdo himself, which was really inspiring to the cast and crew." The energy and audacity needed to create a flash mob drove his vision, says Speer. "The Mob completely takes over the world for a moment. It's an aggressive and liberating form of expression, which is a relatable concept for a lot of young people. You just go into a place, and while everyone else is concerned with their lunch or their work or getting where they are going, you remind them that they could break into dance at any time. And dance is about joy. Life is about joy." The filmmaker's passion for dance was another factor that made him the ideal director for this film, say the producers. "Scott is a lover of dance, as John Chu was," says Gibgot. "He is Jon's protege, but when he came in, he was clear about wanting to make his own movie, while still paying homage to the earlier films. That was important to us." Speer stages each of the film's dazzling productions numbers with the precision and scope of an adrenaline-charged battle scene. "He has the potential to be a great action director," says Smith. "He envisioned the dance numbers like action set pieces. It felt like he came in every day with something to prove." But he also excelled at finding the humanity and romance that are the hallmarks of the Step Up franchise. "Scott cared deeply about the actors and the characters they play," Gibgot says. "He said from the beginning that he wanted to keep what made the last three movies special, which was the love story and the chemistry, as well as the great dance." To build camaraderie within the cast, the director encouraged them to spend time together on set and off. "One thing that is special about a dance movie is that you don't meet at the table read and then go your separate ways until you get to the set," he explains. "We had a lengthy rehearsal process. The cast was hanging out after work, eating together every day. By the first day of production, everyone had bonded through that months' worth of rehearsing and training. It began as a mandate that they spend time together. Eventually it took on a life of its own. They formed a little family." The way the company came together was a new experience for producer Smith. "This is my first Step Up," he says. "I couldn't have asked anything more. There were no egos. Everybody just wanted to make this the best Step Up film there could be." Even producer Adam Shankman stepped in to help, volunteering to run the second unit for Speer. "Adam just brings such enormous spirit to everything he does," says Smith. "Whether it's directing Rock Of Ages and Hairspray or producing the Step Up movies, Adam's energy is off the charts and it's infectious. To have someone with his experience on second unit was invaluable."


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The finished film depicts the world of the flash mob in a way that has never been seen before, says the producer. "You will be going on a ride during which you'll see some of the best dancing and the most amazing dance sequences in the world. And in addition to that, you will see a great young love story in the Step Up tradition. You're going to have a great time!"

THE MOB ASSEMBLES Step Up Revolution, like its predecessors, brings together a young man and woman who might seem on the surface to have little in common, but their mutual love for dance blossoms into a passion that changes their lives. Sean Asa (Ryan Guzman) is the rebellious son of working-class Cuban immigrants who finds self-expression in street dance; Emily Anderson (Kathryn McCormick) is an aspiring contemporary dancer torn between the privilege provided by her father's wealth and her own artistic aspirations. "So much of these movies comes down to the casting," says Jennifer Gibgot. "We got incredibly lucky with our leads. They are the heart and soul of the movie. Once we found them, we were able to tailor the dance sequences for their special gifts." Like Sean and Emily, Guzman and McCormick together become more than the sum of their parts, says Smith. "There's incredible chemistry between Kathryn and Ryan. They're great friends off screen, and it really shows on screen. The movie challenged them, but they were totally up for it, killing it every day." Guzman, who comes from the world of Mixed Martial Arts, had never danced professionally before, and while the filmmakers were impressed by his audition, they were unsure that he was up to the challenging choreography. "He walked in the door with incredible charisma," says Smith. "He was a very strong actor, but he had no dance training at all. Other people were flying in from tours with Rihanna and Britney Spears to audition, and here's this Mixed Martial Arts fighter who never danced before." But Guzman defied expectations with a mixture of grit, determination and natural ability. "Every choreographer he worked with said that either he had danced in a past life or he was snowing everybody, because he picked it up so brilliantly," says Gibgot. "Ryan turned out to be a natural. There's nothing that he wasn't able to do—hip-hop, salsa, everything we threw at him, he did it." Aware of the producers' concerns, Guzman responded by immersing himself in the learning process. He says their doubts made him work that much harder to prove himself. "I was in awe of what was going down around me. The audition process was really scary for me, especially free-styling in front of a bunch of people, but it made me that much more motivated. I was practicing until one o'clock in the morning, and then showing up early to do my thing. I was a little shaky when I saw all the professional dancers in their element, but I pushed past the fear. Even though they had a dance double ready to fill in for me, I said, no way. This is my movie, I want to do everything."


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He gives credit to the film's team of top choreographers for molding him into a dancer in record time. "I have been fight training for years, but dance training was as intense as anything I've ever done in my life," he says. "It's physically, mentally and emotionally draining. But then you look around, and you see the dancers having fun, with big smiles on their faces. I could be frustrated, but when I saw that, it always lifted my spirits." The actor is honored to be a part of the Step Up tradition. "All the movies have been feel-good, date movies," he says. "But I do believe the concept for this one is unique. There are no more dance battles, plus it captures the unique feel of the diverse neighborhoods of Miami. My character has had a rough upbringing. He learned to be a leader on the go. What he wants now is to get his crew to the next level artistically and financially in order to enrich everybody's lives. But his boss wants to destroy his neighborhood, and he's trying to save it using dance. It's an inspiring concept." Guzman says he was lucky to have a talented and supportive director to guide him through his big screen debut. "Scott Speer is an amazing director. When he needs to be serious, he's serious, but for the most part he was very light-hearted. He's very detailed. And he knows how to talk actors, too." The producers had no doubt Kathryn McCormick, familiar to fans of the television show "So You Think You Can Dance," would be able to handle the dance moves. But she had never acted before. "We knew she would ace the choreography," says Gibgot. "Whenever I saw her on the show, I was completely mesmerized. And she looks like a movie star. We took a chance and really worked with her on the acting. She stepped up to the challenge beautifully." Adds Smith: "With acting, what it comes down to is whether or not you believe what they're saying. Kathryn has that going for her naturally, even though she'd never acted before. And, like the character, she lives and breathes dance, so that passion is genuine." When Emily steps outside her privileged existence to join The Mob, she begins to question everything she once accepted as true. "Her world turns upside down," says McCormick. "Everything she believes is twisted, and she had no idea it was coming. She doesn't want to see her father hurt or embarrassed, but she's stuck between him and Sean." According to McCormick, acting forced her to learn to trust in a different way. As a dancer, she has always depended on herself. "As an actor, you definitely have to drop your ego," she says. "You have to dive into the moment and listen to the person who's talking to you. Scott was an incredible director. I always trusted him to tell me the truth. I was really grateful to have someone who cared so much. "We had a lot of dance rehearsals, and then we had acting rehearsals on the side," she continues. "At first, when I was in a dance rehearsal, I couldn't focus on lines, and vice versa. But eventually I found myself in the dance rehearsals thinking, how would Emily do this? It added a different layer." In fact, McCormick and Guzman complemented each other's natural skills, says Smith. "It was © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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actually an advantage that we didn't have two experienced actors who didn't know how to dance or two great dancers who didn't know how to act as our leads. Kathryn and Ryan each brought a different skill set. They raised each other's games." A career in acting was not necessarily on McCormick's radar before she got the call to star in the film. "This is something I never in a million years thought I would be doing," she says. "It is definitely a step up from what I've been doing and it's one of the most challenging things I've ever done." Both she and Guzman have come into their own as rising stars in this film, says director Speer. "The sky's the limit for them," he adds. "I hope it was a great experience for them. For me, it was an absolute pleasure working with them. " Sean's budding romance with Emily creates a triangle within The Mob. The third and most troublesome point is Sean's childhood friend Eddy. Mistrustful of the newcomer from the start, Eddy is enraged when he learns that Sean's new girlfriend is the daughter of the powerful realestate developer threatening his home. Played by Misha Gabriel, Eddy is The Mob's co-creator and computer genius, but he has dance skills to match anyone in the film. "Eddy is a hothead with a chip on his shoulder," says Gabriel. "He's passionate, he's loyal and he's Sean's best friend. They created The Mob to give these kids a voice and an identity. It's a way to put their work out there and maybe be somebody. It becomes an outlet for artistic protest, a way for them to stand behind what they believe. But when this girl comes into Sean's life, it throws Eddy off and all hell breaks loose." The son of a Russian ballet teacher, Gabriel was classically trained, but fell in love with hip-hop in his teens. Moving from his Colorado home to Los Angeles at 17, he began working in commercials and music videos, eventually touring with top musical acts, including Janet Jackson, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and, what he calls "the pinnacle" for a dancer, Michael Jackson. "Misha is a very talented dancer," says Gibgot. "He nailed his audition and he fit the description of Eddy to a T. Once we saw him and Ryan together, their chemistry was so perfect, we knew we had our guys." This is Gabriel's first major acting role. "I'd been primarily a dancer up to this point, but I have fallen in love with acting," he says. "And I've wanted to work for Adam Shankman ever since I saw him on 'So You Think You Can Dance?' He's a brilliant producer and director, and I'm really thankful to be doing this movie with him." Emily's father, Bill Anderson, is played by actor Peter Gallagher, currently starring on the television series "Covert Affairs." "Peter is a song-and-dance man in his heart," says Gibgot. "His first movie was The Idol Maker, and he's a big fan of this genre. He genuinely loves these kids and believes in them. Because he's such a wonderful actor, he elevated a character that on the page was a bit of a classic moustache-twirling villain. It really worked to our benefit, because he made Bill Anderson a much more sympathetic character, which allows you to care about his © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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relationship with his daughter." Gallagher is married to a dancer and has enormous admiration for the hard work that goes into the craft. "Dancers are extraordinary creative artists," he says. "I don't know anybody who works as hard as they do. They're all about work. They never expect to get it on the first try and they're eager to rehearse. Kathryn is certainly all of that and more. He adds that he is an enthusiastic supporter of the idea of creative protest. "These kids come together and express themselves in a very effective and powerful way. "The other element that makes this movie unique is the 3D," he continues. "The special effects are the dancers, and the dances will take your breath away. Scott has such ease with visual language, and the way he added that extra layer with the 3D is really impressive. I think fans of the movies will be really delighted. The dancing and the people are quite remarkable." To fill out the cast, the filmmakers returned to a popular character from Step Up 3 and gave him a prominent role in the new movie. Stephen "tWitch" Boss is back as Jason, The Mob's special effects guy. "Everybody loved tWitch in the third movie," says Smith. "We wanted to give him a bigger part in this one. The backstory is that his character grew up with Sean and Eddy. He went up to New York and joined the Pirates in Step Up 3, but now he's back with his old gang." Boss' intensity and power as a dancer make him unforgettable, says Gibgot. "You can't take your eyes off of him. And he provides a through-line from the last film into this." The actor says that his character is just an amped up version of himself. "I tinker in a bit of everything," says Boss. "I like to figure out how stuff works. I guess I'm just a curious guy at heart and Jason is the same way. That's how I made my way into Step Up 3 and I am thrilled they wrote me back into this one in an even bigger role." The filmmakers also included cameo appearances by fan favorites from earlier movies, including Mari Koda, who plays Jenny Kido, Madd Chadd Smith (Vladd) and Adam G. Savani (Moose). All three have featured performances in the film's spectacular finale. "Moose, Vladd and Jenny are very popular characters. I think fans are going to love seeing these guys as we reveal them one by one. They each have their own little moments." Even the stars of the film were thrilled to see their predecessors back again. "It was great to have past cast members in that number," says McCormick. "They're incredibly talented and inspiring to watch. And because they brought so much history with them, it made my experience that much richer."

DANCING IN THE STREETS Each time Jennifer Gibgot and Adam Shankman have launched a new Step Up film, they have made sure to match and then surpass the energy, diversity and complexity of the previous film's dancing. But with Step Up Revolution, they have outdone all their previous efforts by scaling up © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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the production values and bringing in more different styles of dance than ever before. "From the very beginning, it was important to me to include the full spectrum of dance in this movie," says director Scott Speer. "I believe everyone is naturally a dancer. And every style of dance is really about communicating. The Mob blends many different styles of movement into their flash mobs, including non-dance styles like parkour, which incorporates vaulting, rolling, running, climbing and jumping. I don't think anyone has brought all of these different aesthetics together in a film." By juxtaposing the different styles, Speer believes that he not only shows how well they can work together, he also emphasizes the individual strength of each discipline. "They're almost at their best when they're all cut up against each other," he says. "You really appreciate the hardhitting hip-hop when you see it set up against the elegance of contemporary dance. That's when you can best understand how universal dance is, which is one of the most powerful ideas in this movie." To pull together all the various elements, the producers brought back Jamal Sims, the prolific actor, dancer and choreographer who staged all three earlier films as well the recent remake of Footloose, the Madonna: Sticky & Sweet Tour and Hannah Montana: The Movie. "He has always done incredible work for us," Gibgot. "We've been proud to watch him grow professionally." Sims was encouraged to take his creative spirit to the limit—and beyond. "A big part of our evolution has been introducing new dance styles in each film," Sims says. "Scott's approach was that whatever I could dream up, he would try and make happen. He wanted to take as many different kinds of dance as possible and make them work together." Sims brought in a diverse team of choreographers to help realize Speer's ambitious vision, including Chuck Maldonado, Chris Scott and Travis Wall. "Bringing other choreographers in ensured that the numbers all have a unique look and feel," says Sims. "For example, Chuck is a stepper and he did Stomp The Yard 2. He helped us with the finale, which is an unbelievable blend of so many styles of dance. Chris has a strong tap background and worked with The LDX. Travis has his finger on the pulse of the contemporary dance world. His pieces are very emotional and come from the heart of the movie." Wall was handpicked to choreograph Emily's audition for a contemporary dance company. "We knew that we wanted someone different for that," says Gibgot. "It's a totally different style from the rest of the film and Travis could do that." "He has a different sensibility," says Smith. "Kathryn McCormick trained as a contemporary dancer. She's not schooled in hip-hop, which was heavily featured in the previous films. We still have lots of hip-hop dancing in the movie, but we made a choice when casting Kathryn to bring in something new. Travis was integral to realizing that." A duet between Sean and Emily, the dance plays into the film's "Romeo and Juliet" romance. © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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"Not only do they come from two different places and social strata, the way they dance is different," says Smith. "Ryan brings a much more urban feel. Kathryn's more lyrical." The choreographers worked hard to develop a unique look and feel for each of the large-scale production numbers. "The flash mob scenes are designed to be completely self-contained," says Sims. "Each has a unique palette, location, theme and style of music. They are very different from each other." The pulsating Ocean Drive flash mob that opens the film is designed to grab the audience's attention and not let it go until the film's closing credits. "It is the very first time we see The Mob," says Speer. "And it's one of the biggest sequences in the film. It immediately establishes what is different about Step Up Revolution and captures the idea that these flash mobs are establishing a viral presence in the city. It is a great way to kick off the story." Sims says he always likes to hit hard as the film begins. "That sequence is in your face. It was probably the hottest day we had in Miami. The kids were dancing on top of cars and on the street. Every surface was scorching. We incorporated low riders, dancing with the cars bouncing to the rhythm of the track. There were so many different moving pieces that had to be coordinated and timed perfectly." Flash mobs usually use choreography that is simple enough for anyone to learn, but Sims took full advantage of the talent at his disposal. "The average person, or even the average dancer, would have a hard time pulling this off," says Gibgot. "There were something like 60 people, including parkour artists, which added another exciting element to it." The settings provided as much inspiration as the music for the choreographers as they carefully crafted each of the unique set pieces. "Jamal, Travis and I all came together to choreograph the museum sequence," says Chris Scott. "It was intense. We had people emerging from walls, a fiber optic ballet and several different styles that had to be integrated together. Sometimes the choreography drives the concept, but in this case the concept was driving us. We wanted to portray dance as fine art, just like you see in a museum. We made the dancers into living, breathing works of art. It's magic!" For the corporate-themed flash mob that marks The Mob's first protest, Scott created a highly synchronized escalator ballet performed by identical drones in suits and ties. With dozens of dancers, it all had to be precisely coordinated to work. "They blend in with the business people," says Smith. "They become part of the same faceless crowd—until the performance begins. They all look the same and move simultaneously." Step Up Revolution ends with a breathtaking finale set in a shipping yard, a far larger space than Sims had ever worked in before. "This is a huge finale," he says. "The space had so many possibilities and we wanted to take full advantage. We have the kids doing their rendition of The Warriors, really aggressive and dancing with props. We have a popping routine, then some of the top b-boys and trickers. Finally, we go into a lovely, sensual duet and all these different styles get mixed into one. In the end, it's all connected and reflects the story of the two main © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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characters." It was the most challenging number in the movie, according to the director. "We shot it over a period of five days," Speer says. "It had multiple concepts that bled into each other and there was a lot going on visually with costumes, effects and all kinds of special elements. I couldn't be happier with what we accomplished."

MADE IN MIAMI Filmed entirely in the cities of Miami and Miami Beach, Step Up Revolution takes full advantage of South Florida's unique and visually arresting locations, from the ultra-modern skyline and iconic palm trees to the gritty, colorful ethnic neighborhoods and serene beaches. "Setting the movie in Miami was one of the first choices we made," says Smith. "It's an American city, but a really sexy city with a long-established dance culture. It was the perfect locale." The area's instantly recognizable backdrops telegraph glamour, youth and the contrasts at the heart of the film's story. " Step Up Revolution is a love story set among the haves and have-nots of Miami," Gibgot says. "Miami has an extremely wealthy population, as well as some of the most fabulous luxury hotels in the world. It's an aspirational American city, a place where people experience wealth and glamour and excitement. In the movie, we see the contrast in the lives of the people who stay in those hotels and the people who actually live in Miami and serve them." Miami's balmy climate and outdoor culture lend themselves to the wide-open vistas that the producers envisioned for their flash-mob settings. "We tried to incorporate as much of Miami as we could," says Smith. "We built big, big sets and put lots of people on them. Whether it's in the business plaza or on top of the containers or on Ocean Drive, we expanded the world of this movie in ways we never have before." Production Designer Carlos A. Menendez is a Miami native who knows and loves his hometown, and enjoyed showing it off in Step Up Revolution. "Miami is a magical city," he says. "Geographically it's stunning. It's surrounded by water. There's an interesting mass-transit system and bridges. The Port of Miami hosts containers from all over the world as well as the cruise liners that come and go. And you'll never see skies like this anywhere else. The cloud formations are spectacular." It also has a uniquely Latin flavor, according to Menendez. "There's a tremendous Cuban influence in Miami, obviously. But there is also influence from the rest of the Caribbean and South America. It's a huge melting pot for all these cultures with a tremendous local music scene. There's great music and great dancing on any given night." In no place is that more apparent than on the set for Ricky's Club Habanero, the old school Miami club that Sean and Eddy have been going to since they were children. "This is not the kind of place you'd find out on Ocean Drive," says Smith. "It has a sense of culture, and history. This is where these kids grew up and developed their eclectic musical taste. It's the kind © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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of place filled with families, old men playing dominos, guys playing various instruments there at night. It's not South Beach, it's Old Miami." Menendez infused the set with some of the city's signature color and variety. "The walls are lined with photos and we've layered textures and color throughout. There is even a five-layer diorama of Havana on the back bar." The fictional Miami Museum of International Art and Culture was created on a soundstage for the ambitious, multi-layered dance piece that first sparks Emily's interest in The Mob. "The stage was pretty amazing," says Smith. "We had a giant glowing jellyfish that descends into the middle of the museum. As it lifts its tail, you see the tutus of our electric ballerinas rising up. We have living sculptures, people who emerge from paintings, and all kinds of surprising artistic set pieces." And in anticipation of shooting the finale, Menendez fabricated a scale model of the shipping yard so that he, Speer, Sims and cinematographer Karsten "Crash" Gopinath could coordinate the scene before ever setting foot on set. "It was difficult pulling together all the different disciplines—choreography, cinematography, direction, stunts, parkour," says Menendez. "I gave Jamal Sims tape dots so he could show us on the model where the dancers were going to be. He put them pretty much everyplace!" Each container had a platform mounted and secured for the dances. "We even concealed a trampoline in a container," Menendez explains. "In the end, what mattered most to me were safety and the dance. Those were the first two things on my checklist. The third was showcasing the most amazing views of Miami we could get. The arrangement of the containers was crucial. They were set to frame downtown Miami and Miami Beach in the background." The designer also had to keep in mind that the 3D cameras came with extra equipment that needed to be concealed. "Crash has a specific style of lighting, which is fantastic," he says. "I have a specific design style. We worked it all out together. There were three 3D cameras with a tremendous amount of gear attached, which made it a whole different game than a regular movie. I was constantly trying to hide all of that." Speer had never shot in 3D before and credits Karsten and the film's stereographer Nick Brown with guiding him though the process. "I had to learn to shoot in a different way than I would for conventional 2D," he says. "But I was lucky enough to have an amazing crew." Dance lends itself naturally to 3D, says Brown, and the filmmakers were able to maximize that effect with innovative camera work. "Scott and Crash were very open-minded about trying new things and shooting in unconventional ways. We were able to create volume and depth that is totally comfortable to watch. "We set shots up specifically to get the most out of the 3D medium," he continues. "It's not used for gag effect, like a hand sticking out in front of the screen. We've created moments that look really, really good. The choreographers had to be aware of creating layered dances, so we could get a lot of depth in the shot, but for the most part they choreographed the piece and then we © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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figured out the best way to capture it in 3D using the camera positions and moves." Gibgot was amazed at how successfully the dances translated to the screen. "I didn't anticipate the dance looking this good in 3D," she says. "We were able to take specific moments in the choreography and utilize the 3D and the dancers to heighten the effect. It makes it a more exciting moviegoing experience, that's for sure!" With a fourth Step Up film now under her belt, Gibgot never ceases to marvel at the endurance and commitment of the performers who make them possible. "Dancers are the hardest-working people in the business," says Gibgot. "They are one of the reasons I love making these movies. They don't make a lot of money; they do it strictly for passion and nothing stops these kids. They love what they do so much that they show up every day excited to do it. It doesn't matter what you throw at them—and we've thrown a lot. In fact, even if the cameras aren't rolling, they're still dancing. They can't stop themselves!"


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ABOUT THE CAST RYAN GUZMAN (Sean) is a model, MMA fighter and actor who has caught the notice of Hollywood. Guzman has been seen in television commercials for Old Navy, Gillette, Candies and Oprah Winfrey Network. He has been a successful print model in San Francisco signing with LOOK Modeling Agency at the age of 18 and Los Angeles, where he joined the esteemed Wilhelmina Agency at age 22. He has modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch, Affliction and Reebok among others. Born in Texas and raised in his hometown of Sacramento, Guzman never thought of becoming an actor, much less a dancer. At the age of 7, he developed an interest in martial arts and earned his first black belt in Tae Kwon Do by the age of 10. This led him into the octagon as a MMA fighter in Sacramento up until his fighting license expired in November 2010, which he enjoyed while also modeling. A gifted athlete, he was a sought-after left-handed pitcher with a fastball clocked between 87-90 miles per hour. A shoulder injury ended this career dream while Guzman was still a teenager. KATHRYN McCORMICK (Emily) is an up-and-coming performer skilled in both dance and acting. In addition to performing for director Adam Shankman on the 2010 Academy Awards® telecast, she has worked with choreographer Mia Michaels and starred on a national tour with the troupe from Fox Network's "So You Think You Can Dance." McCormick has danced all of her life. Born in Augusta, Georgia, to a dance-instructor mother and a golf-pro father, she showed promise as a performer early on. By age 11, she was winning tap and jazz dance competitions. At 13, she moved into ballet dancing with the Augusta Ballet. McCormick moved to Los Angeles when she was 19, taking dance classes and competing for film and television roles. Although she did one day of work on the short-lived series "Fame," she found jobs hard to come by. In 2009, after failing to make the cut for two years, she landed a spot on the series "So You Think You Can Dance." During Season 6 of that series, McCormick won the Top Girl Dancer Award. She was asked back as an All-Star performer in 2010. McCormick has also been featured in the music video for Christina Perri's "Jar of Hearts." McCormick gives many hours of her own time to charity work, including working with teens and church groups as a motivational speaker. MISHA GABRIEL (Eddy) was born in 1987 and began dancing at the early age of two. Trained by his mother and famed ballet dancer Irina Brecher, Gabriel quickly built and developed a skill level that put him at the top of the young competitive ranks. As he grew into his teen years he began to explore various other styles of dance, including hip hop, and quickly became a hot commodity and household name within the dance world. He got his first professional opportunity at age 17 dancing for Aaron Carter on tour and has since danced for numerous A-list musicians and performers. That list includes talents such as Janet © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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Jackson, Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, The Pussycat Dolls, Hilary Duff, John Legend, Kylie Minogue, Christina Milian, and Omarion. Over the course of his career he has appeared in numerous national commercials and danced in movies such as Jackass 2, Clerks 2, Center Stage 2, Footloose and The Muppets Movie. As he grew in experience and name, he began working in the world of choreography. He has created routines for Justin Timberlake, The Pussycat Dolls, Cheetah Girls, Raven Symone, Cheryl Cole, Ne-Yo, and Janet Jackson. In 2009, he had the incredible honor of being hired to dance for Michael Jackson on the "This Is It" tour and can be seen featured in the documentary that was filmed of the rehearsals leading up to Michael's passing. He recently choreographed and prominently appeared in Macy's 'Stars of Dance' on "Dancing With The Stars" , and set a piece for Stefano on "American Idol. Step Up Revolution marks his transition into the world of acting. CLEOPATRA COLEMAN (Penelope) became a star in her native Australia at the age of 14 when she starred in the sci-fi television series "Silversun." Born in the small surfing community of Byron Bay, New South Wales, she began acting as a child. Coleman's role as Zandie in "Silversun" made her a household name. She was also the star of the series "Neighbours" and has remained popular on Australian television. Other TV credits include "Blue Heelers," "Attack of the Sabertooth," "Holly's Heroes," "Wicked Science," "Rush" and "The Elephant Princess." On the big screen, Coleman recently made appearances in the films Nothing Comes Easy, Trains and The Crimson Room. She also enjoys a side career as a popular DJ at top international nightclubs. STEPHEN "TWITCH" BOSS (Jason) is best known for his memorable performances on the popular FOX dance competition series "So You Think You Can Dance," where he has captivated America with his jaw-dropping dancing abilities and unmatched charisma. Just short of making the Top 20 in Season 3 of SYTYCD, he came back in Season 4 and redeemed himself, with a spot on the show and the runner-up title as a Finalist. Boss was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama where as a child he was always caught dancing. At times when he wasn't allowed to dance, like at school or church, he would resort to popping and ticking (a popular hip-hop style of dance) that resembles a twitch to most. That was how he earned the nickname "tWitch." Stephen "tWitch" Boss had a breakthrough year in 2010 when he starred in the 3 rd installment of the Step Up franchise, Step Up 3D, The ball kept rolling for tWitch as he also landed a lead role in Stomp The Yard: Homecoming. He then returned to the "So You Think You Can Dance" stage in Season 7, as an All-Star, w here the piece he performed with Alex Wong and choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon, "Get Outta Your Mind" won an Emmy® Award in 2011. He joined The LXD (The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers) in their second season on Hulu.com. tWitch returned to the silver screen when he landed a role as a guest star on the hit FOX show, 'Bones'. In 2011, he showcased alongside Glee's Harry Shum Jr. in the critically acclaimed short '3 Minutes'(www.3minutes-film.com). The year 2012 started with a bang, as he © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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landed a guest star role on the smash hit, 'Touch' starring Kiefer Sutherland, on FOX, which was the #1 show in over 100 countries worldwide. Boss currently resides in Los Angeles and is on the Board of Directors for The Dizzy Feet Foundation that aims to support, improve and increase access to dance education for the underprivileged in the United States. He also launched "tWitch Boss Clothing" in January 2012 that consists of casual street wear. During his career Boss has been able to work with amazing choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Dave Scott, Tyce Diorio and Jean-Marc Genereux. In fact, his memorable performance in "Mercy" aka "The Door Dance" alongside Katee Sheen was r ecently nominated for a 2009 Emmy award for Best Choreography (Mia Michaels). TOMMY DEWEY (Tripp) has been successful in both television series and motion pictures while also working as a creator and writer of television projects. His film credits include 17 Again, On the Doll, Fist in the Eye, I'm Reed Fish and The Babymakers. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Dewey attended Princeton University before moving to New York City to study acting. Once in New York Tommy immediately began landing roles in film and television. His TV credits include "The Mountain," "Roommates," "Mad Men," "CSI: Miami," "Melissa and Joey" and "Sons of Tucson" (which he co-created). PETER GALLAGHER (Mr. Anderson) is an accomplished actor familiar to audiences of film and television and well respected for his versatility and screen presence. He may be best known for starring in Steven Soderbergh's indie classic Sex, Lies and Videotape, opposite James Spader, Andie McDowell and Laura San Giacomo, or Josh Schwartz's long-running FOX series "The O.C." He also played a memorable supporting role in Sam Mendes' Oscar®-winning drama American Beauty, as Annette Bening's lover. Born in New York City, Gallagher attended Tufts University before landing his breakthrough role as teen crooner Caesare in 1980's The Idolmaker. Other film credits include Summer Lovers, Dreamchild, High Spirits, The Player, Bob Roberts, Short Cuts, Malice, The Hudsucker Proxy, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, While You Were Sleeping, To Gillian On Her 37 th Birthday, House on Haunted Hill, Center Stage, Burlesque and, most recently, Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You. Gallagher's busy television career has included roles in such series as "Covert Affairs," "Californication," "Rescue Me" and "The Secret Lives of Men." For his 1986 performance in "Long Day's Journey into Night," Gallagher earned a Tony Award® nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His long list of Broadway credits includes starring roles in "Guys and Dolls," "The Real Thing," "Noises Off" and "The Country Girl." MIA MICHAELS (Olivia) may be a fledgling actress, but she is already a sought-after choreographer who recently finished work on the film Rock of Ages, starring Tom Cruise and directed by Adam Shankman. Michaels has won three Emmy® Awards as a choreographer on "So You Think You Can Dance" and designed dances for such artists as Madonna, Celine Dion and Cirque du Soleil. She made her debut as a television director with "Get Happy," an episode of the FOX hit "House M.D." that featured dancing. Also a producer and creator of film and © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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television projects, Michaels is expanding her presence in the entertainment industry by undertaking more acting roles and directing. MICHAEL "XENO" LANGEBECK (Mercury) is a widely known painter and graffiti artist who also works as a Bboy (break dancer) dancing with the Flip Side Kings. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he settled with his family in Virginia where he first dabbled in some street art and hip hop step. Relocating to Miami, Florida, Langebeck got involved with several underground Hiphop groups. He gained a wealth of knowledge about Hip Hop and its origins from a Miami point of view. Shortly thereafter established his own crews known as KC (Kingdom Come) and FSK (Flip Side Kings). They became his medium from which he taught and spread his knowledge of the Hip Hop Culture. Since then, Xeno has created a name for himself internationally for his painting and dancing. He's appeared in the Korean feature film Hype Nation 3D and has performed on numerous dance tours. He now lives in Los Angeles where he Works as a Street Performer & Tattoo artist to support his two beautiful children, Elovi and Bishop.


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ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHERS JAMAL SIMS (Choreographer) is one of today's most sought after choreographer/directors in the industry, most recently having worked on the recently released Footloose, "Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour" and "Dancing with the Stars." Jamal has also worked with Neil Patrick Harris as the Supervising Choreographer for RENT at the Hollywood Bowl. His other Choreography credits include the Emmy®-nominated "82 nd Academy® Awards" (produced by Step Up producer Adam Shankman), Miley Cyrus Wonderworld Tour (to which he also Directed), Step Up, Step Up 2 The Streets, Step Up 3D, "So You Think You Can Dance" , Big Mama's House: Like Father, Like Son (Martin Lawrence), Hairspray (John Travolta), Hannah Montana the Movie (Miley Cyrus), 17 Again (Zac Effron), Soul Men (Bernie Mac, Samuel L. Jackson), Beauty Shop, Vanilla Sky, and Garfield. Sims is known for his creativity in numerous commercials for brands such as Target and Volkswagon, as well as music videos and stage shows for Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Usher, P. Diddy, Spice Girls, Outkast and Gloria Estefan. Jamal is truly setting the industry standard in choreography. CHRISTOPHER SCOTT (Choreographer) is sought after for his bold imagination and fearless creativity in his work, most recently having choreographed on the Disney Channel Original movie, "Teen Beach Musical." As of late, he has garnered praise for his innovative pieces on "So You Think You Can Dance." His other choreography credits include a "Dancing With The Stars" routine entitled "Duet of a Lifetime," Disney Channel's "Lemonade Mouth," "America's Best Dance Crew," and Gloria Estefan. Scott has also had the esteemed honor of being the Associate Choreographer for the Emmy®-nominated "82nd Annual Academy® Awards." Scott is respected for his ingenuity in the first online dance adventure, "The LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers" (of which he is the co-choreographer, associate producer and plays the role of "Copeland" ) and has furthermore stepped behind the camera to direct two episodes in the acclaimed web series, as well as a 3D short film entitled "Match3d." The LXD has performed live for "So You Think You Can Dance," the Glee Tour, the" 82nd Annual Academy® Awards," TED Talks, "Conan," and more. Scott's on-screen film and television credits include the recurring role of "Hair" in Step Up 2: the Streets, Step Up 3D, and Step Up Revolution, Rock of Ages, Alvin and The Chipmunks, 17 Again, Dance Flick, "Eli Stone," The Hannah Montana Movie and "Glee." TRAVIS WALL (Choreographer) has always been known as a visual musician. He has been dancing since he was three years old, starting at his mother's studio training in jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. In his early years, Travis performed on the Showstopper American Dance Championships television show, where he, along with Dance Energy, won the competition. Travis first got his career started at the age of nine where he was known as the "Dr.Pepper Boy" in their national TV commercial! He made his Broadway debut in the 2001 revival of The Music Man, playing the roles of Eddie Mason and Barney Hix, and understudying the young male lead, Winthrop. Travis has won several regional and national dance titles, including Outstanding Male Teen Dancer (in 2003), being featured in the book "Moving Still: A Live Performance," and later toured with the stage show of the same name. He has also performed with the American Dance Artists Company. In 2006, he became the runner-up in the search for America's Favorite dancer on "So You Think You Can Dance © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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season 2," where he later toured with the top 10 dancers as the dance captain. Now living in New York and LA, he's assisted Wade Robson and Adam Shankman on many TV and movie projects. Travis is as a resident choreographer and guest judge for "So You Think You Can Dance" having created memorable pieces, which led him to be asked to choreograph for "Dancing with the Stars." He was the assistant choreographer on the "82 nd Academy® Awards" and recently set a ballet on the Los Angeles City Ballet Company. Travis choreographed the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards where he worked with Florence and the Machine, Chelsea Handler, Eminem and Drake. Currently The Oxygen network is developing a docu-reality series based on Travis and his dance company Shaping Sound. He continues to keep opening up new doors to his career and leading a new generation of choreographers. CHUCK MALDANADO (Choreographer) A Graduate of the historical North Carolina A&T State University, Chuck received his BS in Marketing Management. As a proud member of both Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity Incorporated, Chuck draws on knowledge from his many experiences, including being a percussionist in the university's marching band. Upon graduating college he received his very first "steppin" /choreography job by auditioning as a steppin soloist for the late Michael Jackson's artistic director, Kenny Ortega. Chuck then went on to choreograph the opening ceremony in Atlanta for the Centennial Olympic Games utilizing 400 Steppers. Chuck is a four-time award-winning choreographer for his work with Stomp the Yard, "The NAACP Image Awards" , Chris Brown's Grammy® performance, and Brighthouse's network commercial. In major motion pictures, Chuck Choreographed Stomp the Yard, Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming, Bewitched and Shark Tale. Chuck has appeared as a Dancer in many films such as Collateral, Dreamgirls, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. He has also choreographed two major motion picture promotional videos for Disney Pictures', G Force and Underdog. Chuck has worked with many major recording artists including Chris Brown, P. Diddy, Ne-Yo, Fergie, Tamia, Missy Elliott, Raven Symone, Ludacris, and Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopez. As both a choreographer and dancer, his work can be viewed on "CSI: NY," and MTV's "Super Sweet 16" and "Blind Date." Additionally, Chuck has worked in several commercials including Best Buy, McDonalds, Hanes, Wendy's, iPod, AT&T, Chrysler, Sears, and Nike. Chuck was also MTV's Choreography Consultant/Artistic Director for Nick Lachey's "Taking the Stage." Chuck is also no stranger to the world of reality dance shows. He has choreographed for MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew," FOX's "So You think You Can Dance," ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," and HGTV's "Design On A Dime." He has choreographed children's shows on Nickelodeon and Disney as well, namely, "Just Jordan," "The Fresh Beat Band," "That's So Raven," "Victorious," and "Big Time Rush." Chuck's choreography has also taken the stage at the Grammy's, BET Awards, Vibe Awards, Soul Train Awards, and Hip Hop Honors. He co-choreographed Kylie Minogue's Promo Tour, Disney's "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam," and most recently, Big Time Rush's newest film, Big Time Movie. Whether Artistic Directing, Choreographing, or Dancing, Chuck Maldonado is known worldwide as one of the best in the business. His professionalism, magnetic personality, and © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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perfectionist attitude make him a pleasure and joy to work with. A Perth Amboy, New Jersey native, Chuck currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS SCOTT SPEER (Director) had a celebrated career as a director of commercials, music videos and television projects before making the transition to feature film. His video for Switchfoot's "Stars" won an MVPA Directorial Debut Award in 2006 and his video for Latin American artist Belinda's "Bella Traición" won Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamerica. Speer directed episodes of Jon Chu's "The LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers" series, including the segments "Duet," "Uprising Begins" and "Tails of Waru." Born in Monterey, California, and raised in San Diego, Speer attended USC. He graduated with a degree in cinema/television (critical studies) in 2004. After college, he signed with HSI Productions in Los Angeles for representation as a music video and commercial director. Speer went on to create memorable videos for artists such as Jordin Sparks, will.i.am, Ashley Tisdale, David Archuleta and Paris Hilton. He has shot national commercials for clients such as Colgate and Sara Lee. AMANDA BRODY (Screenwriter) is a New York City-based playwright and screenwriter. Step Up Revolution is her first feature. ADAM SHANKMAN (Producer) is a multi-faceted filmmaker who has enjoyed success as a director, producer and choreographer. Shankman is currently gearing up to release his adaptation of the groundbreaking hit Broadway rock musical Rock of Ages, which he directed and produced through Offspring Entertainment for New Line Cinema. The all-star cast includes Julianne Hough, Paul Giamatti, Catherine ZetaJones, Mary J. Blige, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin and Tom Cruise. Warner Bros. will release the film in June of 2012. Shankman and his sister, Jennifer Gibgot, are partnered as producers in Offspring Entertainment, who currently have an overall deal with New Line Cinema. Under the Offspring banner, they previously produced the original Step Up directed by Anne Fletcher, as well as its successful sequels, Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D, both helmed by Jon M. Chu, 17 Again starring Zac Efron and the Drew Barrymore starrer Going the Distance. They will release Step Up Revolution this July, the fourth addition to the hugely popular franchise. Upcoming, they are set to produce Tink for Walt Disney Studios, which will star Elizabeth Banks. Shankman is also attached to direct the family dramedy This Is Where I Leave You for Warner Bros., as well as The Nutcracker, an action adventure version of the classic fairytale "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," both under the Offspring banner. In 2009, he served as co-producer and lead choreographer of the 2010 Academy® Awards. The telecast earned a record 12 Emmy® nominations, including two for Shankman for producing and choreographing. © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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In July 2007, Shankman directed and executive produced Hairspray, the feature film adaptation of the Tony® Award–winning Broadway musical. It received three Golden Globe® nominations including Best Picture—Musical or Comedy. In addition, the film's remarkable cast won a Critics' Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble. Shankman began his directing career in 2001 with his debut feature, The Wedding Planner. The next year, he directed the romantic drama A Walk to Remember. Shankman followed with Bringing Down the House, The Pacifier, Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and Bedtime Stories. Prior to launching his directing and producing career, Shankman was one of the entertainment industry's premier dance and physical comedy choreographers, putting his creative stamp on many well-known comedies, dramas, thrillers and animated films. His projects range from The Addams Family to Boogie Nights, Miami Rhapsody and The Flintstones, for which he was nominated for a Bob Fosse Award. In addition, he has choreographed music videos for Whitney Houston, the B-52s, Barry White, Aaron Neville, Chic and Stevie Wonder. He also serves as a judge on the hit FOX reality show "So You Think You Can Dance." A native of Los Angeles, Shankman developed a love for the theater at an early age. Following high school, he moved to New York and attended Juilliard. After five years as an actor and dancer on the stages of New York and regional theater, he moved back to Los Angeles and began dancing in music videos for such artists as Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson. He also performed at the "The 62 nd Annual Academy® Awards" in 1989. JENNIFER GIBGOT (Producer) is partnered with brother Adam Shankman. In 2003, Gibgot and her brother founded Offspring Entertainment and have together produced 13 films. Among her credits are the feature films Step Up, Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D, 17 Again, Premonition, The Last Song, Going the Distance and Rock of Ages. Gibgot has also served as executive producer on the hit films Hairspray, The Pacifier and Cheaper by the Dozen 2. The Los Angeles-born producer began her career running Tapestry Films in 1995, where, over eight years, she set up and produced the films She's All That and The Wedding Planner, among other projects. PATRICK WACHSBERGER (Producer) is the Co-Chairman of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. Mr. Wachsberger served as Co-Chairman of Summit Entertainment and CEO of Summit International, one of the world's most successful international sales and distribution companies, a position he held since he and his partners Robert Hayward and David Garrett bought out the prior Summit Entertainment Group shareholders in November 1993. With over 30 years experience in the production, distribution and exhibition business, Wachsberger had crafted Summit Entertainment into one of the world's most successful international sales and distribution companies. Summit's releases included: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's multiple Globe nominee, Babel, Miss Potter, garnering a Golden Globe® nomination for Renee Zellweger, and international box-office hit Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Disney's Bridge to Terabithia, the George Clooney starrer, Michael Clayton, Mike Newell's Love © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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in the time of Cholera, and Alcon Entertainment's P.S. I Love You, and The Book of Eli. Mr. Wachsberger produced, Touchstone's surprise-hit Step Up, which grossed a spectacular $100M+ worldwide and created a successful franchise. He also produced the Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie blockbuster Mr. & Mrs. Smith and his executive producer credits include Wrong Turn, Vanilla Sky, The Loss of Sexual Innocence and The Bad Lietenant. In April of 2007, Wachsberger, along with Co-Chair Rob Friedman, expanded Summit Entertainment into a full-fledged studio, creating an alternative environment for the creative community to produce, collaborate and participate in successful films. His international expertise led to Summit's most successful films, including, the worldwide Phenomena Twilight Saga franchise, as well as RED and Knowing. In May 2011 under Mr. Wachsberger's leadership, Summit International proudly took home the Palme d'Or for the 2011 Cannes Film Festival for Terrence Malik's The Tree of Life. This remains one of Mr. Wachsberger's proudest moments due in part to his childhood spent in Cannes, France. Prior to running Summit Entertainment, Mr. Wachsberger served as President and CEO of Odyssey Entertainment and Odyssey Distributors, Ltd., founded in 1988. During his six-year tenure at Odyssey, he acquired, co-produced and distributed his first acquisition Pelle The Conqueror; which won an Oscar® for best foreign language film and the Palme d'Or at Cannes, and Time of Gypsies. With Regency Enterprises he executive produced and distributed Sydney Lumet's Q & A and Blake Edwards' switch. He also distributed Ridley Scott's 1492. Before joining Odyssey, Mr. Wachsberger was President of J & M Entertainment, one of the leading foreign sales companies. He began his career as an Assistant Director and Production Manager, working on over twenty films in Italy and France. After directing short films, he moved to the United States where he produced several films with his father, Nat Wachsberger. These included The Killer Force with Telly Savalas and Peter Fonda; and an animated feature film of The Three Musketeers, directed by John Halas. ERIK FEIG (Producer) is President of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, Production. He oversees all aspects of production on behalf of Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment films. Feig is responsible for creating, finding, and managing an annual production slate of 14-16 films released under the two labels of Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment. Recent and upcoming films for the combined company include the worldwide record breaking blockbuster The Hunger Games, the first film in an exciting new franchise and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, the eagerly awaited conclusion to the $2.5B grossing franchise first discovered and shepherded by Feig. In the pipeline for the slate is Ender's Game, based on the sci-fi classic, RED 2, follow up to the worldwide hit, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the next chapter of The Hunger Games series, and other films including Juan Antonio Bayona's The Impossible, the action comedy Now You See Me, and many others. Other successful films developed and produced under his 11 year tenure heading production for Summit Entertainment include the action comedy RED, starring Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, and John Malkovich, Knowing, the sci-fi action film starring Nicolas Cage, Source Code, directed by Duncan Jones and starring Jake Gylenhaal, the romance Letters to Juliet, starring Amanda Seyfried and © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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Academy Award winner Vanessa Redgrave, the action comedy Mr. & Mrs. Smith, starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the Step Up films, and all the films from The Twilight Saga. Critically hailed films developed, produced, or acquired by Feig include the multiple Academy Award® winner The Hurt Locker, including Best Director for Kathryn Bigelow and Best Picture for Summit Entertainment, the recent Jonathan Levine film, 50/50, Best Actor nominated A Better Life, and Academy Award®winner (for song) Once. Feig began his career by packaging and producing the hit I Know What You Did Last Summer films. During the late 1990s, he continued to develop and produce projects for many of the major studios and networks, including producing Slackers for Sony Entertainment, while operating under an overall producing deal with Artisan Entertainment, a then client of Summit Entertainment, since acquired by Lionsgate Entertainment. In 2001, Feig joined Summit Entertainment and in 2007 became a partner in the company as it grew into a worldwide studio, earning producing credits along the way on films as varied as Mr. & Mrs. Smith; Paul Haggis's In The Valley of Elah ; and the films in the Step Up series. Feig is on the board of LA's Promise, a not-for-profit group dedicated to working with disadvantaged public high schools and their communities in Los Angeles. Feig received a BA in English from Columbia University. BOB HAYWARD (Executive Producer) served as COO and a partner in Summit Entertainment since the November 1993 takeover. Previously he was Senior VP of Summit Entertainment Group from 1991 to 1993, heading the company's business affairs and finance divisions. Prior to 1991 Bob accumulated in depth experience in foreign distribution and exhibition, having spent the previous nine years on the road working in 33 countries. In 1982 he joined United International Pictures (UIP) in London which, at that time, was the foreign theatrical distribution joint venture between Paramount, Universal and MGM/UA. In 1983 he was promoted to the international audit division where his responsibilities included auditing UIP's worldwide subsidiaries, sub distributors and affiliated cinema circuits. In October 1985 he joined Cannon International based in London and The Netherlands. His responsibilities included managing Cannon's internal and licensee audits as well as various assignments including supervising the integration of Cannon International and Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment, the valuation of the Thorn/EMI library and its subsequent sale to Weintraub Entertainment and acting as caretaker manager of Cannon's cinema circuits in the United States and Italy. In 1988 Bob established Film Financial Consultants Ltd in London which specialized in providing international audit and consulting services to major film producers and film production companies. DAVID GARRETT (Executive Producer) is the CEO of Mister Smith Entertainment, a company that he founded with Constantin Film in May, 2012. Mister Smith Entertainment handles high quality mainstream features films, and filmmaker driven movies for the global © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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market. They launched in Cannes with two major upcoming productions: Cassandra Clare's #1 best-selling book series adaptation The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, the first film in the highly anticipated action fantasy franchise; and the compelling true story 3,096 Days based on the autobiography of Natascha Kampusch, held captive for 8 years and whose escape made headlines around the world, both from Constantin. Previously, David was President of Summit International and co-founder of Summit Entertainment. During his tenure as President, International, David Garrett served as international supervisor on Summit-produced, co-produced and acquired titles such as The Twilight Saga franchise, RED, Source Code, Knowing, the Palme d'Or winner Tree of Life, American Pie, Memento, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the Cannes official selection Babel, as well Brit productions including Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Mike Leigh's Happy Go Lucky. Born and educated in England where he graduated in Philosophy and Modern Languages (Spanish) from Magdalen College, Oxford, Garrett began his career in the industry in 1981 by producing and marketing documentary films. He was a pioneer in the early days of UK cable and satellite TV development and launched several channels, finally serving as Head of Acquisitions for the The Movie Channel on BSB, prior to setting up the London offices of The Summit Group in 1991. MEREDITH MILTON (Executive Producer) began her career as an intern at Double Negative, a London-based digital effects company, where she was a Production Assistant on Pitch Black. Her first job in Hollywood was as second assistant to Greg Lipstone, Senior Vice President and Head of Television Packaging at the William Morris Agency. She landed at Summit Entertainment in February 2002 as assistant to Erik Feig, President of Production & Acquisitions. She is currently Executive Vice President, Production & Development at Summit. She is an Executive Producer on Step Up Revolution, Step Up 3D and Step Up 2: The Streets, and a Co-Producer on Step Up. Meredith graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a BA in English. JON M. CHU (Executive Producer) has established himself as a versatile, original, and technologically innovative director working fluidly in multiple mediums. Currently, Chu is in post production on the highly anticipated G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation, the second installment to the popular franchise. Paramount will release the film in March 2013. Chu directed the second installment in the hit Step Up franchise, having just graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2004. His directorial effort earned him a 2008 Teen Choice Award. Cumulatively, Chu's two Step Up films have earned over $310 million worldwide. Chu recently released the 3D documentary film Never Say Never, which tells the story of music phenomenon Justin Bieber. The film, released by Paramount in February 2011, grossed almost $100 million worldwide. Chu also created and directs the prolific Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD), a collective of dancers of all styles. He recently launched the second volume of "The LXD," the world's first online dance adventure series through Paramount Digital. LXD has also performed at the Academy® Awards, "So You Think You Can Dance," "Conan," the 2010 TED conference, and © 2012 Summit Entertainment

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on the 2010 "Glee" live tour. Chu is currently developing a new dance-focused YouTube channel. One of five artistic children, Chu developed his love of music and dance at an early age. He began making his own Super 8 films of family vacations and later started shooting short subjects with his brothers and sisters. By the time he was in high school in Los Altos Hills, CA, he was videotaping weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, memory videos for school and video yearbooks—and he knew he was going to be a filmmaker. While a sophomore at USC, Chu made the innovative short Silent Beats, which unfolds its story to a tap-dance rhythm soundtrack. The film went on to win numerous awards, including the Jack Nicholson Directing Award and the Princess Grace Foundation's Cary Grant Award, as well as a scholarship for the burgeoning filmmaker to continue his studies at USC. While at USC, Chu also made the acclaimed 20-minute film When the Kids Are Away, a rousing musical exploration of motherhood that utilized salsa, swing and hip-hop, as well as a 50-piece orchestra and 20voice student choir. The film soon garnered widespread interest in Hollywood—and brought him to the attention of the producers of Step Up 2: the Streets, who gave him the rare opportunity to combine his love of inventive dance and filmmaking on the big screen. Chu has garnered a significant online presence with the success of "The Biggest Online Dance Battle in History," featuring the Adam/Chu Dance Crew, which counts top dancers and celebrities in its ranks. The brainchild of Chu and Step Up 3D actor Adam Sevani has grown into a worldwide phenomenon with over 45 million views online and appearances on the 2008 Teen Choice Awards and YouTube Live. MATTHEW SMITH (Executive Producer) is executive vice president of Offspring Entertainment. He is slated to produce projects based at MGM, Universal and Disney. Previously, Smith served as senior production executive overseeing TRON: Legacy. Born in Kansas City, Smith grew up near Boston before returning home for high school. He attended the University of Kansas, where he majored in film and English. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles and began his career in the mailroom of the former BWCS Agency. Smith went on to become a production executive at Revolution Studios, Weed Road Pictures, Platinum Dunes and other production entities. KARSTEN "CRASH" GOPINATH (Cinematographer) is an accomplished director of photography. His feature film credits include The River Why, starring Amber Heard and William Hurt; ATL, starring T.I. and Lauren London; and the documentary A Hole in the Head. After working his way up as a grip and lighting director, Gopinath began working as a cinematographer on a series of short films. While using the moniker Crash, he quickly gained a reputation as an innovative cinematographer on such music video projects as "The Beyonce Experience: Live," "50 Cent: The Massacre" and "Jennifer Lopez: The Reel Me."


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PRODUCTION NOTES

CARLOS A. MENENDEZ (Production Designer), inspired by the filmmaking process and employing architecture as a structural and aesthetic foundation, began set designing in the early 1990s, and has since worked as production designer on Love Wedding Marriage (2011) and Stopping Power (2007), as well as art director and set designer on films such as The Dictator (2012), Miami Vice (2006), The Lost City (2005), Analyze This (1999), The Horse Whisperer (1998), Wild Things (1998), Speed 2 (1997), and Bad Boys (1995). In addition to his work on feature films, Menendez has designed numerous award-winning commercials in South America, Europe and Southeast Asia. In 2007 he received two nominations from the Art Directors Guild for excellence in production design for Capital One's 'What's in your wallet?' campaign. Menendez was born in Havana, Cuba on May 22, 1961, seventeen days after the Bay of Pigs invasion of the island. In 1968 Menendez and his immediate family left Cuba for temporary exile in Mexico City before rejoining family in the United States under the Cuban Refugee Act. Menendez lives in New York City and Los Angeles. He is represented by Dattner Dispoto and Associates of Los Angeles and United Agents in London. MATTHEW FRIEDMAN (Editor) most recently edited Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption. Other film credits include What Happens in Vegas, Dragonball: Evolution, John Tucker Must Die, English as a Second Language, I Spy, and The Deal. He has also edited a number of pilots for television, including "The Loop" and "Pepper Dennis." Friedman began his career as first assistant editor on the feature The Crew in 1994. He was an assistant editor on Dr. Dolittle, Road Trip, Private Parts, 28 Days, The Muse, Scary Movie 2, and How to Make an American Quilt. BUCK DAMON (Music Supervisor) won a 2004 Grammy® Award, along with Zach Braff and Amanda Scheer Demme, for creating the influential platinum hit soundtrack for Garden State. One of film's most sought-after music supervisors, Damon's recent credits include The Proposal, 17 Again and Beverly Hills Chihuahua. In addition to Step Up and Step Up 2 The Streets, among his additional films as music supervisor are Blow, Knockaround Guys, Mean Girls, House of D, The Last Shot, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, 27 Dresses and Premonition. He also served as music consultant on The Rundown, Erin Brockovich, The Limey, She's All That, Hurlyburly, Out of Sight, Rounders and Life. Damon has also worked as a music supervisor for television's "Freaks and Geeks." He was also a music consultant on "The PJs" and "Felicity." REBECCA HOFHERR (Costume Designer) most recently designed the costumes for the films 2 Days in New York, Winter's Bone, Little New York, and Choking Man. Hofherr worked as assistant costume designer on Black Swan, Bride Wars, The Great Debaters and Reservation Road, among many others. Born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, she attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and earned a degree in business. Hofherr then moved to New York City, where she worked on


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PRODUCTION NOTES

student films before becoming a buyer and assistant costumer on films such as Babel and Imaginary Heroes.


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