Step Up (TV series)
| Step Up | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Holly Sorensen |
| Based on | Step Up film series by Duane Adler |
| Starring |
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| Theme music composer | Kutt The Check |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 20 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
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| Cinematography | Joaquin Sedillo |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 41–57 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | YouTube Premium |
| Release | January 31, 2018 – March 20, 2019 |
Step Up: High Water is an American drama web television series, based on the Step Up film series created by Duane Adler, that premiered on January 31, 2018 on YouTube Red (now YouTube Premium). The series was created by Holly Sorensen, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. On May 22, 2018, it was announced that YouTube had renewed the series for a second season; which premiered on March 20, 2019.
On August 16, 2019, the series was cancelled after two seasons.[1]
Premise
Step Up: High Water follows the students and faculty of "High Water, Atlanta’s most cutthroat performing arts school. When twins Tal and Janelle relocate from Ohio, they find themselves thrust into a world where every move is a test. As they attempt to navigate their new world— on and off the dance floor— they’ll discover just how deep they’re willing to dig to realize their dreams and seize their moment."[2]
Cast and characters
Main
- Lauryn McClain as Janelle Baker (season 1)
- Petrice Jones as Tal Baker
- Marcus Mitchell as Dondre Hall
- Terrence Green as Rigo Octavio
- Carlito Olivero as Davis Jimenez
- Jade Chynoweth as Odalie Allen
- Kendra Oyesanya as Poppy Martinez
- Eric Graise as King
- Faizon Love as Al Baker
- Ne-Yo as Sage Odom
Recurring
- Naya Rivera as Collette Jones
- R. Marcos Taylor as East-O
- Terayle Hill as Marquise
- Al Calderon as Johnny One
- Saidah Nairobi as Electra
- Ashley Greene as Nine Sanders
- Jeremy Copeland as Zo Browder
Guest
- Savion Glover as Quincy Hobbs
- Rick Ross as Himself
- Todrick Hall as Himself
- Robin Givens as Dana
Episodes
Season 1 (2018)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Adam Shankman | Holly Sorensen | January 31, 2018 |
| 2 | 2 | "Solo" | Debbie Allen | Thembi L. Banks & Rochée Jeffery | January 31, 2018 |
| 3 | 3 | "The Running Man" | Rob Hardy | Hadjii | January 31, 2018 |
| 4 | 4 | "Shuffle" | Janice Cooke | Molly Kate Margraf & Jerica Lieberman | January 31, 2018 |
| 5 | 5 | "5.6.7.8" | Janice Cooke | Bryan M. Holdman & William H. Brown | January 31, 2018 |
| 6 | 6 | "Duets" | Michael Schultz | Thembi L. Banks & Rochée Jeffery | January 31, 2018 |
| 7 | 7 | "Dance Craze" | Nzingha Stewart | William H. Brown | January 31, 2018 |
| 8 | 8 | "Ensemble" | Silas Howard | Bryan M. Holdman | January 31, 2018 |
| 9 | 9 | "Choreography" | Charles Randolph-Wright | Holly Sorensen & Bryan M. Holdman | January 31, 2018 |
| 10 | 10 | "Two-Step" | Norman Buckley | Holly Sorensen & William H. Brown | January 31, 2018 |
Season 2 (2019)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Precision" | Lisa Leone | Holly Sorensen | March 20, 2019 |
| 12 | 2 | "Splits" | Mary Lambert | Kenny Neibart | March 20, 2019 |
| 13 | 3 | "Form" | Lisa Leone | Hadjii | March 20, 2019 |
| 14 | 4 | "Vogue" | Charles Randolph-Wright | Rochée Jeffery | March 20, 2019 |
| 15 | 5 | "Inversion" | Damian Marcano | Jordan Heimer & Manuel Figueroa | March 20, 2019 |
| 16 | 6 | "Isolations" | Jessica Lowery | Delondra Williams | March 20, 2019 |
| 17 | 7 | "Attitude" | Dominic Leclerc | Molly Kate Margraf & Jerica Lieberman | March 20, 2019 |
| 18 | 8 | "Azonto" | Janice Cooke | Lou-Lou Igbokwe | March 20, 2019 |
| 19 | 9 | "Improvisation" | Anne Fletcher | William Brown | March 20, 2019 |
| 20 | 10 | "Hip-Hopera" | Fred Gerber | Holly Sorensen & William Brown | March 20, 2019 |
Production
Development
On June 23, 2016, YouTube announced at the annual VidCon conference in Anaheim, California that they were developing a new drama series based on the Step Up film series with Lionsgate Television producing alongside Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan.[3][4]
On June 23, 2017, YouTube announced that it had officially given Step Up: High Water a first season order consisting of ten episodes, each running about 45 minutes in length. The series was described as YouTube Red's first "big-budget, Hollywood-produced television drama" and that its arrival would end up "moving it into more direct competition with players like Netflix and traditional cable networks." In the announcement, it was revealed that each episode of the series would cost several million dollars to produce.[5] A few days later, members of the series' creative team were announced. Original songs for the series were set to be written by singer/songwriter Jason “PooBear” Boyd and “Jingle” Jared Gutstadt. The films series’ choreographer Jamal Sims was expected to choreograph the first episode after which subsequent episodes would be choreographed by Jamaica Craft. The pilot episode was set to be directed by Adam Shankman.[6] It was later reported that Debbie Allen had directed the show's second episode.[7]
On May 22, 2018, it was announced that YouTube had renewed the series for a second season.[8] On January 24, 2019, it was reported that the second season would premiere on March 20, 2019.[9]
Casting
On June 28, 2017, it was announced that Ne-Yo, Naya Rivera, Faizon Love, Lauryn McClain, Petrice Jones, Marcus Mitchell, Jade Chynoweth, Carlito Olivero, Terrence Green, R. Marcos Taylor, Eric Graise, and Kendra Oyesanya had been cast in the series' main roles.[6] On January 19, 2018, it was reported that Savion Glover would make a guest appearance in the series as a teacher at High Water.[10] On August 28, 2018, it was announced that in season two Ashley Greene and Jeremy Copeland were joining the cast, that Rick Ross and Todrick Hall would appear as themselves, and that JaQuel Knight would make a cameo appearance in addition to choreographing episode three.[11]
Release
Marketing
On July 12, 2017, YouTube released a video introducing the show's main cast.[12] On August 13, 2017, the cast of the series, including Jade Chynoweth and Kendra Oyesanya, performed at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards with a highly-choreographed dance routine.[13]
On December 19, 2017, YouTube released the first trailer for the series and announced that the show would premiere on January 31, 2018 with all ten episodes released at once.[14] On January 24, 2019, the official trailer for season two was released.[9]
Premiere
On January 30, 2018, YouTube partnered with Fathom Events for special screenings of the first episode of the series at more than 750 movie theaters. The event also included a screening of the original 2006 Step Up film that launched the five-film franchise, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the television series.[15][16]
Reception
In a positive review, Sonia Saraiya of Variety offered the series praise saying, "This YouTube Red original has found an intriguing way to blend the mediums of dance, film, and soapy teen television, with an energetic, conscious new installment in the series that is a lot of fun to get sucked into."[17] In another favorable critique, Decider's Kayla Cobb described the series as "a genuinely compelling and dramatic story that very well may stand as the best narrative installment of the Step Up universe."[18]
References
- ^ "Series 'Step Up: High Water' & 'Wayne', Pilot 'Dark Cargo' Seek New Homes As YouTube Steps Up Scripted Pullback". Deadline Hollywood. August 16, 2019.
- ^ Cranswick, Amie (December 20, 2017). "Step Up: High Water TV series gets a first trailer". Flickering Myth. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Wallenstein, Andrew (June 24, 2016). "'Step Up' Movie Franchise to Become TV Series on YouTube Streaming Service". Variety. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 24, 2016). "'Step Up' TV Series Produced By Channing Tatum, Other Shows Ordered By YouTube". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Barnes, Brooks (June 23, 2016). "YouTube Red Buys 'Step Up,' Its First Big-Budget TV Drama". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ a b Petski, Denise (June 28, 2017). "'Step Up: High Water': Ne-Yo, Naya Rivera & Faizon Love To Topline YouTube Red Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Kwateng-Clark, Danielle (November 24, 2017). "'Step Up: High Water' Has Debbie Allen Flexing Her Directing Powers". Essence. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Petski, Denise (May 22, 2018). "'Step Up: High Water' Renewed For Season 2 By YouTube". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ^ a b Petski, Denise (January 24, 2019). "'Step Up: High Water': First Look At Season 2 Of YouTube Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ "BWW Exclusively Premieres Clip from STEP UP: HIGH WATER ft. Savion Glover". Broadway World. January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ Jarvey, Natalie (August 28, 2018). "Ashley Greene Joins Cast of YouTube's 'Step Up: High Water' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ Kinane, Ruth (July 12, 2017). "'Step Up: High Water': Meet the Cast in This Exclusive Video". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Fuhrer, Margaret (August 14, 2017). "Watch the Cast of "Step Up: High Water" Slay at the Teen Choice Awards—Then Learn Their Moves". Dance Spirit. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Petski, Denise (December 19, 2017). "'Step Up: High Water': Trailer & Premiere Date For YouTube Red Series Based On Film Franchise". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ McNary, Dave (January 4, 2018). "Film News Roundup: Fathom Sets Premiere Showings for 'Step Up: High Water' Series". Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ "Step Up: High Water Season Premiere Event In Movie Theaters - Fathom Events". Fathom Events. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ Saraiya, Sonia (January 31, 2018). "TV Review: 'Step Up: High Water' on YouTube Red". Variety. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ Cobb, Kayla (February 2, 2018). "YouTube Red's 'Step Up: High Water' Is Like A More Dramatic 'Glee' But With Dancing". Decider. Retrieved July 16, 2018.