"I'm lucky that I get to see some of the best dancers in the world perform on a regular basis. But to be able to deliver these dancers and New York into an audience's lap in 3D so they can feel the rush and get sucked into this world was an opportunity we couldn't miss."
~ Jon M. Chu, Director, "Step Up 3D"

The hip-hop fairy tale that first captivated audiences in the summer of 2006 continues as "Step Up 3D," the third installment of the hit film franchise from Touchstone Pictures and Summit Entertainment, ups the ante as the first dance drama ever to be shot and released in digital 3D.
Acclaimed director Jon M. Chu, who made his feature directorial debut on the box-office hit "Step Up 2 The Streets," returns to direct a multi-talented cast of performers, including "Step Up 2 The Streets'" break-out talent Adam G. Sevani and "Step Up's" Alyson Stoner, who both reprise their original roles, plus newcomers Rick Malambri and Sharni Vinson. Dancers Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Keith Stallworth, Kendra Andrews, Martin Lombard, Facundo Lombard and Oren "Flearock" Michaeli co-star.
New York's intense street-dancing underground comes alive in eye-popping digital 3D as the raw, passion-fueled culture goes global. A tight-knit group of street dancers, including Luke and Natalie, team up with NYU freshman Moose and find themselves pitted against the world's best hip-hop dancers in a high-stakes showdown that will change their lives forever. 
Filmmakers turned to two familiar faces to help bring the new story to life, including MSA student and talented street dancer Moose, portrayed in "Step Up 2 The Streets" by then-15-year-old newcomer Sevani. The filmmakers also called on the character of Camille, portrayed in "Step Up" by the then-12-year-old Stoner. It was the natural progression for the pair, now best friends from MSA, to jumpstart the story by venturing to New York for college, discovering NYC's outlandish, fantastical underground dance scene along the way.
"Everyone's trying to find their identity in this chapter," says Chu. "What I've learned is that ultimately it's not about the destination, it's about the journey, the people that you meet and the things that you learn along the way. Your destination will find itself."
"The message is consistent in all three films: believe in yourself. If you believe in yourself, you can overcome any obstacle that you are faced with in life and achieve your dreams," says producer Jennifer Gibgot. "And it's an incredibly fun way to spend an hour and a half--watching amazing dance and listening to great music."
Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot ("Step Up" film franchise, "Hairspray") of Offspring Entertainment produce with Patrick Wachsberger and Erik Feig of Summit Entertainment ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith," "The Twilight Saga" film series). David Nicksay ("Step Up 2 The Streets"), Bob Hayward and Meredith Milton serve as executive producers. The screenplay is written by Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer, based on characters created by Duane Adler.
The behind-the-scenes production team includes director of photography Ken Seng ("Obsessed"), production designer Devorah Herbert ("Step Up 2 The Streets"), costume designers Kurt & Bart ("Fighting"), innovative hip-hop choreographer Jamal Sims ("Step Up," "Step Up 2 The Streets"), choreographer Nadine "Hi Hat" Ruffin ("Step Up 2 The Streets," "How She Move"), choreographer Dave Scott ("Step Up 2 The Streets," "Stomp the Yard"), choreographers Richmond Talauega and Anthony Talauega ("Save the Last Dance 2: Stepping Up"), Grammy® Award winning music supervisor Buck Damon ("Step Up," "Step Up 2 The Streets") and editor Andrew Marcus ("Step Up 2 The Streets").

FILMMAKERS TAKE DANCE DRAMA TO NEW DIMENSIONS: Third Time's a Charm--in 3D--for Dance Franchise
Filmmakers realized they would need to up the ante on every level to top "Step Up 2 The Streets" and "Step Up." "'Step Up 2 The Streets' had this storybook element to it and I really envisioned the next chapter to be more of a twisted fairy tale," says director Jon M. Chu. "'Step Up 3D' features darker characters who come out of the shadows to play into this underground playground where anything goes." 
"Step Up 3D" will go down in history as the first film of its kind to be shot in digital 3D. "We were looking for exciting ways to take the franchise to the next level and 3D proved the perfect next way to literally step up," says producer Patrick Wachsberger. "This franchise has always made audiences feel like they were seeing the best dance party ever, but now with 3D, it's as if they're in the best dance party ever."
Chu discovered endless potential with the new medium. "In the old classic musicals, the frame itself twists and slides with the dancer and is a part of the dance. With 3D we are able to take the frame to a whole new level, where the audience doesn't just watch the dance, but they are part of the experience," he says. "It feels like a duet between our audience and the dancers."
"We choreographed moments in the dance numbers specifically for 3D," adds Gibgot. "My favorite comment from a recent screening was one teenager saying 'I felt like I was being attacked by dance, but in a good way.'"
"Shooting dance in 3D creates a ton of opportunities to experience dance in totally new ways," adds Chu. "Dancers are leaping into your laps and spinning right towards your face."
A standout at USC film school, Chu wowed the entertainment industry with his award-winning student films ("Silent Beats," "When the Kids Are Away") and upon graduating was subsequently courted by a who's who of Hollywood producers with promising projects.  However, it was Offspring Entertainment's Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot and Summit Entertainment's Patrick Wachsberger and Erik Feig who presented Chu with an irresistible opportunity to helm the second installment to the surprise hit "Step Up." 
Chu, a former dancer, was thrilled to combine his two passions on the big screen for his directorial debut. The fairy tale theme of the series remained but Chu made "Step Up 2 The Streets" his own by injecting the energetic sequel with new characters and raw, inspired choreography that melded seamlessly with the lively storytelling that audiences responded to with "Step Up." Chu's was an unrivaled approach that resonated with audiences with tremendous results. "Step Up 2 The Streets" opened number one at the box office, solidifying the series as a juggernaut of dance and music while simultaneously amassing a following of die-hard fans who still clamor for more of the street-savvy dance moves and compelling story.
And this time, they'll get it in 3D. Says Shankman, "Dance really lends itself to 3D technology. It's very exciting to marry the two and be the first to use this kind of technology to highlight this art form."
Taking 3D to the streets of New York City proved both an opportunity and a challenge. "It is like using a different paintbrush, and your method has to change to use that paintbrush," says Chu.
To ensure that the delicate camera equipment could withstand the vigorous pace of filming, the filmmakers turned to camera impresario Vince Pace, whose company oversaw the design of revolutionary technology used for recent big box-office hits to craft their 3D camera systems. The equipment, normally bulky and highly sensitive, would repeatedly be put to the test as Chu's elaborate dance concepts evolved. Pace modified the camera systems to a more streamlined version that allowed the fast-moving action to be shot more fluidly for stunning 3D vistas.
The filmmakers looked to director of photography Ken Seng, who previously worked on the thriller "Obsessed," to integrate the film's look from both a 2D and 3D perspective. The locale turned out to be as inspirational for Seng as it was to Chu and his cast of dancers. "It's just amazing to work in these iconic places," says Seng, "to be able to translate it all in 3D really lets you be there. My goal was to capture the feeling of when I moved here in my 20s. It was total wonderment as I walked around the city for the first time. Jon and I wanted the audience to feel that. We wanted to use 3D not as a novelty, but as a tool to submerge the viewer into New York City through crane shots and a dynamic camera work."
Filmmakers utilized strategic choreography, lighting and production design to achieve added depth and multiple layers--maximizing the 3D imagery. Seng was looking forward to working with the emerging technology and decided early on to "go big" when it came to his ambitious lighting plans. This approach meshed perfectly with Chu's philosophy. "'Step Up 3D' is essentially an action film," says the cinematographer. "There's so much incredible dance happening and you want to be able to move the cameras around quickly and low to the ground to capture all that movement."
One of the more immediate, if not awe-inspiring, benefits to filming in 3D is the ability to view scenes as they play out in real time, courtesy of a giant television monitor on set. It was a common sight on any given day to see cast and crew circled around the video monitor wearing hip, black plastic 3D glasses. The visible enthusiasm was a good sign, say filmmakers.
"Ultimately," says Chu, "our movie creates a whole new experience in 3D, so it was worth all the hard work. And I think the audience will see that as well. They'll fall in love with the characters and they'll see some of the best dancers in the world."

NEW YORK CITY DIGS:  New Location Inspires New Story
For "Step Up 3D" the story moves from the familiar surroundings of Baltimore's elite Maryland School of the Arts (MSA) to the giddy wonderland of New York City, maintaining the proven formula of timely urban street choreography intertwined with a fresh, original story line.
Says producer Erik Feig, "The 'Step Up' films have always been a great roller coaster ride for audiences around the world--going to locations with relatable characters and seeing amazing dance.  With this film, we knew we wanted to take everything to the next level and New York is the perfect fit for the adventure." Read more

ON THE SET
After weeks of daily dance rehearsals, principal photography on "Step Up 3D" began in May 2009. Over the course of the ten-week shoot, production would hopscotch across the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Iconic locations like Coney Island, Washington Square Park, Grand Central Station and the Brooklyn Bridge were interspersed with the lesser-known, more industrial sections of Brooklyn that illustrated an urban blight essential to telling the story. Read more

POPULATING THE HOUSE OF PIRATES:  Filmmakers Cast Net Wide to Fill High-Action Roles
"Step Up 3D" expands the repertoire of dance by embracing a more global point of view and recruiting young fiery dancers who embodied it heart and soul. Integrating this into New York's hypnotic underground dance scene provided a wealth of options for the filmmakers and would prove to be the crux of this new vision of the urban fairy tale. Read more

MAKING THE MOVE: Tapping the Globe for Intense Dance Sequences
As the birthplace of hip-hop, New York City provided an unmatched multicultural atmosphere, unequivocally cool street style and an ideal backdrop for the film's dance sequences. Director Jon M. Chu maintained the franchise's rough-hewn emotion, introducing a more universal point of view. "We really wanted to open up the dance," says Chu. "Not just do breaking or popping to hip-hop--we wanted to incorporate all types of dance. I wanted to share the joy of all types of dance with everybody.
"In 'Step Up 3D,' we try to tell more of the story through the dance," Chu continues. "All of our actors, all of our dancers--the language they speak best is through movement and gestures. Our approach is a little different than other dance movies."  Read more

STYLING "STEP UP 3D":  Filmmakers Tap Production Designer Devorah Herbert, Costume Designers Kurt & Bart
Helping to meld "Step Up 3D's" New York setting, iconic visual aesthetic, intense choreography and 3D imagery were production designer Devorah Herbert and the costume design team of Kurt & Bart.
Director Jon M. Chu, the consummate detail-oriented director, was singular in his approach to how all of the fundamentals would work together in the film. He'd previously collaborated with Herbert on "Step Up 2 The Streets." This time, the enhanced fantasy element allowed the costume designer to explore her imagination. "The biggest and best challenge on 'Step Up 3D,' says Herbert, "was that there were essentially no limits creatively when it came to conceptualizing this fantastical environment. It's been pretty exciting, especially with the set for the Pirates loft. These dancers live in a place where anything goes." Read more

SOUNDS OF "STEP UP 3D"
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Features Flo Rida (Featuring David Guetta), Trey Songz, Roscoe Dash (Featuring T-Pain). With its underground dance themes, fantastical New York setting and hard-hitting dance choreography, it should come as no surprise that "Step Up 3D" has a great soundtrack. Read more

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

JON M. CHU (Director) has established himself as a versatile and original director with the success of his feature-film debut, "Step Up 2 The Streets." He directed the second installment in the hit "Step Up" franchise, having just graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2004. Chu's directorial effort earned him a 2008 Teen Choice Award.
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, California, 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 20-voice 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.
More recently, 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 ("Step Up 2 The Streets") has grown into a worldwide phenomenon with 45 million views online and appearances on the 2008 Teen Choice Awards and YouTube Live. In addition, Chu recently ventured into new territory with the release of The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD), an online episodic dance opera that chronicles the formation of the most elite dance crew in the world.   

"Step Up 3D" is the first produced screenplay for writers AMY ANDELSON & EMILY MEYER (Written by). The writing career of Andelson and Meyer spans only several years, although the two first met over a decade ago while students at Harvard-Westlake, a private high school in Los Angeles. Both enrolled as freshman at New York University but after only a semester, their passions took them in different directions--Meyer to study literature at Tufts University and Andelson film at USC School of Cinema and Television. It was at USC that Andelson first met director Jon M. Chu, who at the time was finishing up his much-acclaimed musical short "When the Kids Are Away." Upon graduating from USC, Andelson worked at Lions Gate Films for the head of the Development and Production department, and Meyer landed in the mailroom of the William Morris Agency in Manhattan.
After several attempts to work together, Andelson and Chu decided to take matters into their own hands and develop their own project for Chu to direct, a contemporary adaptation of the classic novel "The Great Gatsby." Andelson promptly called Meyer and they began a bi-coastal collaboration on the script that lasted all summer. The completed script garnered them agent representation, meetings with top studio heads and Meyer's relocation to Los Angeles. She now lives two blocks away from Andelson.
Currently Andelson and Meyer are developing several projects, including the adaptation of the young adult novel "Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List," a coming-of-age story of two codependent best friends living in modern-day New York City, for Fox.

DUANE ADLER (Based on Characters Created by) was born in Asheville, North Carolina, grew up all over the Carolinas, and then midway through his teenage years, he moved to the Washington, D.C., area. After attending 18 schools from first grade through high school, he graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a degree in what he calls "Diverse Extremes of Life." This assorted background has lent an incredible multiplicity to his life and his work. The experience of moving from a small town to our nation's capital eventually became the seed for the hit Paramount feature "Save the Last Dance," which Adler wrote (sharing screenplay credit with Cheryl Edwards) as well as "Save the Last Dance 2."
His other screenwriting credits include VH1's highest-rated original telefilm, "The Way She Moves," which was nominated for Outstanding Made for Television Movie at the 2002 ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Awards, the theatrical hits, "Step Up," "Step Up 2 The Streets" released by Touchstone Pictures (on which he shared screenplay credit with Melissa Rosenberg), "Make It Happen," which he also co-produced.
Adler has now been involved with two of the highest-grossing teen romances, "Save the Last Dance" and "Step Up," of the last forty years. He is currently in development on several feature projects including "Venice Beach" for Fox and "Northern Lights." He has also written projects for Fox, Focus Features, Revolution, Universal and New Regency, among others.

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