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Camp Rock

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For other uses, see Camp Rock (disambiguation).

Camp Rock
Extended Rock Star Edition DVD cover
Written by
Directed byMatthew Diamond
Starring
ComposerDavid Kitay
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerKevin Lafferty
CinematographyDean Cundey
EditorGirish Bhargava
Running time99 minutes
Production companiesSudden Motion Productions
Alan Sacks Productions
Original release
NetworkDisney Channel
Family Channel
ReleaseJune 20, 2008 (2008-06-20)
Related

Camp Rock is a 2008 musical television film directed by Matthew Diamond from a screenplay by Karin Gist, Regina Hicks, Julie Brown, and Paul Brown. The 73rd Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), the film stars Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, Meaghan Martin, Maria Canals-Barrera, Daniel Fathers, and Alyson Stoner. In the film, aspiring teenage singer Mitchie Torres (Lovato) visits Camp Rock, a summer music camp.

The film premiered on Disney Channel on June 20, 2008. Camp Rock was the second DCOM to air on ABC's The Wonderful World of Disney after its premiere on Disney Channel and was placed on the iTunes Store for digital purchase shortly after its premiere. The film was watched by 8.9 million viewers on the night of its premiere and is currently the third highest viewed DCOM of all time, behind High School Musical 2 and Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie. A sequel, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, premiered on September 3, 2010.

Plot

Shy singer Mitchie Torres and her family are unable to afford the fees required to attend Camp Rock, a summer music camp. Her mother, Connie, a chef, is hired to cater food for the camp, which enables Mitchie to attend at a discounted rate. Her mother tasks Mitchie to help her in the kitchen when not performing camp duties. Upon arrival, Mitchie meets fellow camper Caitlyn Gellar, an aspiring music producer.

Shane Gray, the spoiled lead singer of the pop music trio Connect 3, returns to Camp Rock at his bandmates' behest to rehabilitate Shane's public image. Shane assumes a position as a dance instructor and is required to record a song with the winner of Final Jam, the camp's closing singing competition. Shane overhears Mitchie singing in a hall; unable to see her before she leaves, he obsesses over finding her, with the camp knowing he is searching for the girl with "the voice".

During Opening Jam, a camp meet-and-greet, Mitchie learns the campers are rich or well-connected. Embarrassed at being able to attend camp due to Connie's catering, Mitchie lies to Tess Tyler (the popular daughter of singer TJ Tyler) and her friends Ella Pador and Margaret "Peggy" Dupree that her mother is the president of the Chinese department of the music channel Hot Tunes TV. Impressed, Tess invites Mitchie to join her group at the disappointment of Caitlyn, who advises against Mitchie becoming friends with Tess.

During lunch, an argument between Tess and Caitlyn escalates to a food fight. Tess portrays Caitlyn as the aggressor of the dispute to Brown Cesario, the camp's director and Shane's uncle; Brown punishes Caitlyn by making her work in the kitchen. Mitchie, worried Caitlyn will learn about her secret, does not defend her, to Caitlyn's annoyance.

Shane shares a song with Mitchie, which is a stylistic departure to his previous music with Connect 3. Doubtful his record label and fans would accept a change in musical direction, Mitchie expresses she likes the song. As Caitlyn arrives in the kitchen and learns about Mitchie's secret, they argue but reconcile at Pajama Jam, a pajama party music showcase, after Mitchie stands up to Tess when Tess attempts to upstage Caitlyn's performance.

Jealous at seeing Mitchie and Shane together, Tess follows her and learns of her secret. Tess exposes Mitchie in front of campers; Shane, believing Mitchie lied to him solely to be with him because he is famous, breaks their friendship and Mitchie becomes ostracized at camp. Tess then deduces Mitchie is the mysterious singer. On the eve of Final Jam, Tess frames Mitchie and Caitlyn for stealing her bracelet, and Brown bans them from all camp activities until the end of Final Jam.

At Final Jam, which is judged by Connect 3, Peggy and Ella argue with Tess and opt not to perform with her as planned; Ella performs with fellow campers Barron James and Sander Loyer. Tess stumbles during her performance after TJ attends and takes a call, and then retreats backstage in tears. Peggy performs a solo song as Final Jam's closing act and eventual winner. When Brown announces the end of Final Jam, Mitchie and Caitlyn make the spotlights flicker; he lets them go on stage, proud they understood their ban was only until "the end of Final Jam". As Mitchie sings, Shane realizes she is the mysterious singer, and they reconcile by singing together. Backstage, Tess apologizes to Peggy and Ella and tells Brown that she staged the theft of her bracelet.

In the extended ending, Caitlyn invites Mitchie, Tess, Peggy, and Ella to the recording studio she built in her garage.

Cast

  • Demi Lovato as Mitchie Torres, a young girl aspiring to be a singer.
  • Joe Jonas as Shane Gray, the spoiled and arrogant lead singer of the popular music trio Connect 3.
  • Meaghan Martin as Tess Tyler, a shallow and self-centered girl known as the "diva of Camp Rock".
  • Alyson Stoner as Caitlyn Gellar, a Camp Rock attendee whom Mitchie befriends.
  • Maria Canals-Barrera as Connie Torres, Mitchie's mother and Camp Rock's new cook.
  • Daniel Fathers as Brown Cessario, Camp Rock's camp director.
  • Julie Brown as Dee La Duke, Camp Rock's musical director.
  • Anna Maria Perez de Tagle as Ella Pador, a Camp Rock attendee and Tess's friend.
  • Jasmine Richards as Margaret "Peggy" Dupree, a Camp Rock attendee and Tess's friend.
  • Jordan Francis as Barron James, a Camp Rock attendee and rapper.
  • Roshon Fegan as Sander Loyer, a Camp Rock attendee and rapper.
  • Nick Jonas as Nate Gray, a member of the popular music trio Connect 3.
  • Kevin Jonas as Jason Gray, a member of the popular music trio Connect 3.
  • Aaryn Doyle as Lola Scott, a Camp Rock attendee and singer.
  • Giovanni Spina as Andy, a Camp Rock attendee and drummer.
  • Edward Jaunz as Steve Torres, Mitchie's father.
  • Jennifer Ricci as T.J. Tyler, Tess's mother and a famous singer.

Production

Camp Rock was filmed between September and October 2007 at YMCA Camp Wanakita in Haliburton, Ontario, and Kilcoo Camp in Minden, Ontario.[1][2]

Soundtrack

Main article: Camp Rock (soundtrack)

The Camp Rock soundtrack features lead vocals from Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, Roshon Fegan, Renee Sandstrom, Meaghan Martin, Jordan Francis and Aaryn Doyle. It was released on June 17, 2008, by Walt Disney Records. Full songs of the album were made available on Camp Rock's official web site for one week beginning June 10, and the full soundtrack premiered on Radio Disney on June 14, during Planet Premiere: Camp Rock. The soundtrack was released in the United Kingdom one month later on July 14.

The album reached top ten in six countries, among which peaked at number 3 for four weeks on the US Billboard 200 album charts, selling over 188,000 units in its first week.[3] It also topped the Soundtrack chart in the country. The album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) after selling over a million copies in the United States.[4] In Brazil, Mexico and Spain, the album was also certified platinum by the PMB, AMPROFON and PROMUSICAE respectively.[5][6][7]

Release and marketing

Home media

The DVD and Blu-ray of the film, titled Camp Rock: Extended Rock Star Edition, was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on August 19, 2008.[8] It was released in November in other countries, and on December 1 in the United Kingdom, only on DVD.[9] Both the DVD and Blu-ray release contains an extended ending with an additional musical number ("Our Time Is Here"), the music videos, sing-along and karaoke functions, a gallery and more bonus features.

Merchandise

Merchandise of the film is sold at Target, Claire's, and Limited Too. They include clothing (such as pajamas, T-shirts, and underwear), bags (tote bags, backpacks, etc.), bedding collection, toys, and dolls of the characters. Play Along Toys, so far, has only released dolls of Mitchie and Shane. On May 13, 2008, Disney published Camp Rock: The Junior Novel, by Lucy Ruggles, the novelization of the film. Target retail stores sell "special editions" of the novel, hardcover books that include photos.

Reception

Ratings

Camp Rock premiered on Disney Channel in the United States on June 20, 2008, with 8.9 million viewers, being the second most viewed Disney Channel Original Movie at the time, only behind High School Musical 2 (2007).[10] Its June 21 showing on ABC had 3.47 million viewers, and its June 22 showing on ABC Family had 3.73 million viewers, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The DVD topped the national home video sales chart for the week ending August 24.[11] The movie's premiere in Canada became Family Channel's second-most-watched movie ever, also behind High School Musical, with 848,000 viewers.[12] Its Disney Channel Italy premiere received 1.14 million viewers in September.[13] According to Billboard the film attracted an audience of 146 million viewers in 160 nations and 30 languages.[14]

Critical response

The film received moderate reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 48% based on 21 reviews, with an average rating of 4.4/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Camp Rock wants to be the next High School Musical, but its forgettable songs and dull premise hold it back".[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 64 out of 100, based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16]

Brian Lowry of Variety stated that "it's difficult not to grudgingly admire the marketing savvy with which Camp Rock was assembled".[17] New York Post critic Austin Smith called it a "really great movie, like a modern-day version of an old Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney picture" in which the kids "put on a show that improves the lives of all who see it".[18] Barry Garron of The Hollywood Reporter admired Matthew Diamond's "solid enough" direction and Demi Lovato's performance. He also said that with Camp Rock, "Disney plucks another fresh face off its deep bench of young talent".[19] Robert Lloyd of Los Angeles Times wrote that the film "isn't particularly good, but it's good at what it does", and called it "inauthentic".[20] USA Today's Robert Blanco called the film "simultaneously overdone and underproduced" and said that "it jerks its way from point to point without bothering to explain the characters' behavior or inject any life into its musical numbers". Entertainment Weekly's Gillian Flynn said "the strange and objectionable thing about the film's morality tale is that no one makes an outright decision to be brave or better", and called it "so rigidly formulated and unremarkable" that by the time the cast sings its finale, We Rock, "it's hard to agree".[21]

Following the critics' line of comparison to High School Musical, Jennifer Frey of The Washington Post said that Camp Rock's music is "in the same easy-to-memorize, dance-inspiring mode" as that of the previous franchise, "but not as catchy".[22] Daily News's David Hinckley agreed, saying that "the songs don't feel as fresh" and "the film is specifically designed to ride on the success of the previous one", but he praised its formula that "goes back to the animated Disney classics of decades past", and called it "catchy and fun, a rock-steady Disney hit". Hinckley also praised the talent and performance of leads Joe Jonas and Lovato.[23]

In 2016, Billboard's Maria Sherman named Camp Rock Lovato's best film to date, describing it as "something of a coming of age tale, one not only about believing in yourself, but accepting yourself".[24] USA Today added Camp Rock to the top ten best summer camp movies of all time.[25] Rebecca Alter of Vulture ranked the film as one of the best Disney Channel Original Movies of all time.[26]

Sequel and spin-off

Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam

Main article: Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam

After the great reception to the official premiere of Camp Rock, being the second most viewed Disney Channel Original Movie at the time, Disney confirmed a sequel to be produced in late spring 2009.[12] Lovato, the Jonas Brothers, Martin, Canals-Barrera, Fathers, and Stoner reprised their main roles. Daniel Kash, Matthew "Mdot" Finley, and Chloe Bridges joined the cast in the new film.[14] Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam premiered on the Disney Channel on September 3, 2010, reaching a total of 7.9 million viewers on its first broadcast, the most for a movie on cable television in the year.[27] The film was directed by Paul Hoen and written by Dan Berendsen, Karin Gist and Regina Hicks. It was shot in Toronto, Ontario, from September 3 to October 16, 2009, filming the scenes at the French River, Kilcoo Camp, The Kingbridge Centre, and Earl Bales Park.[28] It was the last sequel of a Disney Channel Original Movie, until Teen Beach 2, in 2015.

My Camp Rock

Main article: My Camp Rock

My Camp Rock, a singing competition based on Camp Rock, aired between 2009 and 2010. It had five international editions: a Scandinavian, Spanish, Benelux, French and British version, the original. It invited viewers to log online and make a video of themselves singing "This Is Me" and "We Rock" as a group, a duet or a solo. The competition was open to children aged 8 to 16. The best 8 entries were picked to participate in the TV show, and to attend a 4-day intensive Camp Rock-style singing and dancing workshop. They had the opportunity to demonstrate their musical talent to the panel of judges through a range of music and physical activities. In the Final Jam, the viewer vote decided the winner. The prize for the winner was to have their version of a song from the film professionally recorded and released along with a music video. The winner of the first British edition was Holly Hull, 14, from Camberley, Surrey.[29]

References

  1. ^ Disney sets up camp at Wanakita[permanent dead link]. (October 11, 2007) Haliburton Echo. Accessed 2012-02-07.
  2. ^ Camp Rock: Joe Jonas Not Dating Female Co-Star Archived 2009-01-09 at the Wayback Machine. (July 21, 2008) US Magazine. Accessed 2012-02-07.
  3. ^ "Coldplay Cruises To No. 1 On The Billboard 200". Billboard. June 25, 2008. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – Camp Rock". Recording Industry Association of America.
  5. ^ "Associayco Brasileira de Produtores de Disco". ABPD. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  6. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type Varios in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Camp Rock in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  7. ^ "Spanish album certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Select Álbumes under "Categoría", select 2008 under "Año". Select 52 under "Semana". Click on "BUSCAR LISTA".
  8. ^ "Camp Rock: Extended Rock Star Edition release". www.joe-jonas.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2008.
  9. ^ "Buy Camp Rock online at Play.com and read reviews. Free delivery to UK and Europe!". Play.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  10. ^ Ryan, Joal (June 21, 2008). "Camp Rocks HSM, But Not HSM2". E! News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  11. ^ Arnold, Thomas (August 27, 2008). "'Camp Rock' tops DVD sales". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Nordyke, Kimberly (June 24, 2008). "Disney Already Developing 'Camp Rock' Sequel". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  13. ^ Rossi, Simone (September 29, 2008). "Camp Rock, over a million viewers on Disney Channel". Digital News (in Italian). Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  14. ^ a b Bond, Paul (July 8, 2009). "New Crew For 'Camp Rock 2'". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  15. ^ "Camp Rock (2007)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  16. ^ "Camp Rock - TV Show Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  17. ^ Lowry, Brian (June 19, 2008). "Camp Rock Review". Variety. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  18. ^ Smith, Austin (June 19, 2008). "Summer 'Camp'". New York Post. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  19. ^ Garron, Barry (June 17, 2008). "Camp Rock review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  20. ^ Lloyd, Robert (June 20, 2008). "Disney's stamp is all over 'Camp'". LA Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  21. ^ Flynn, Gillian (June 13, 2008). "Camp Rock". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  22. ^ "Critic Reviews for Camp Rock (2008)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  23. ^ Hinckley, David (June 18, 2008). "'Camp Rock' is a rock-steady Disney hit". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  24. ^ Sherman, Maria (October 10, 2016). "'Camp Rock' & Beyond: Demi Lovato's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  25. ^ "10 best movies about summer camp, from 'Camp Rock' to 'Friday the 13th'". USA Today. July 24, 2019. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  26. ^ Alter, Rebecca (May 4, 2020). "All 105 Disney Channel Original Movies, Ranked". Vulture. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  27. ^ Herbert, Steven (September 2010). "'Camp Rock 2' is a hit with viewers". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  28. ^ Ouzounian, Richard (September 1, 2010). "Behind the scenes of Jonas Brothers' Camp Rock 2". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  29. ^ "Photo gallery: the finale of the Disney talent show My Camp Rock". April 27, 2009. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
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