From
PR Newswire:
Nickelodeon Commences Production on Modern-Day, Beatles-Inspired Original TV Movie, Big Time Movie
First-Ever Big Time Rush TV Movie Shot on Location to Feature Covers of Beloved Beatles Songs and Original Music off Sophomore Album Debuting Nov. 21, Elevate
NICKELODEON BIG TIME MOVIE Stars of the Nickelodeon (http://www.nick.com/) hit series and international recording artists Big Time Rush (from left to right: Carlos Pena Jr., James Maslow, Kendall Schmidt and Logan Henderson) headline the network's brand-new original TV movie, Big Time Movie, which will feature covers of the beloved Beatles classics, Help!, Hard Day's Night, We Can Work It Out and Revolution, as well as music from Big Time Rush's soon-to-be released sophomore album, Elevate. (PRNewsFoto/Nickelodeon, Katie Yu) SANTA MONICA, CA UNITED STATES
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Stars of the Nickelodeon hit series and international recording artists Big Time Rush will headline the network's brand-new original TV movie, Big Time Movie which will feature covers of the beloved Beatles classics, Help!, A Hard Day's Night, We Can Work It Out and Revolution, as well as music from Big Time Rush's soon-to-be released sophomore album, Elevate. In Big Time Movie, currently in production in Vancouver, Kendall (Kendall Schmidt), James (James Maslow), Carlos (Carlos Pena Jr.) and Logan (Logan Henderson) head to London for their first big world tour but instead get mixed up in a mission to save the world. With their bags switched at the airport, they inadvertently gain possession of a fearsome device that, in the wrong hands, could destroy the world. Set to premiere in 2012, Big Time Movie is executive produced by show creator Scott Fellows.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111103/NY99890)
"The cool gadgets, outdoor locations and big stunts give this film a truly cinematic feel and transport Big Time Rush into a larger than life environment," said Marjorie Cohn, President, Original Programming and Development, Nickelodeon. "It's a Nickelodeon take on James Bond meets Austin Powers, featuring covers of classic Beatles songs that both kids and their parents can enjoy."
In Big Time Movie, the guys must tap their inner spy as their adventure finds them driving exotic cars and jumping out of helicopters, while trying to make it to their first world tour concert on time. Hot on their trail are evil henchmen named Maxwell, British secret agents and Swedish spies as well as billionaire businessman, Sir Atticus Moon who wants back his precious device code named: "The Beetle," an anti-gravitational device with enormous power. Once they learn they're carrying this precious cargo, the guys get pulled into a madcap mission throughout London, which threatens the onset of their world tour. With the help of teen spy Penny Lane, the guys set out to save Penny's father M16 Agent Simon Lane and stop Sir Atticus Moon's plot to use "The Beetle" to gain world domination.
Elevate, Big Time Rush's second album to be released by Columbia Records/Nickelodeon on Nov. 21, is the highly anticipated follow-up to the group's blockbuster debut, 2010's gold-certified BTR, which has scanned over 700,000 albums. To date, Big Time Rush has sold over 2.7 million combined digital tracks. The album takes the group's distinctive sound to new heights. The songs on the album were produced by top music hit makers including Ryan Tedder, Tricky & The Dream, JR Rotem, and Toby Gad, among others. Elevate features tracks including "Music Sounds Better With U (featuring Mann)," "Show Me," and "All Over Again," plus brand-new music that will debut on upcoming episodes of Big Time Rush.
Now in its second season, Big Time Rush – which follows four best friends from Minnesota who trade in their hockey sticks for music superstardom in Los Angeles -- averages 4.1 million total viewers (+9%, over season one). The launch of the hit series on Nickelodeon drew 6.8 million viewers, making it the most watched live-action series premiere in the network's history.
An international hit, Big Time Rush ranks within the top 5 shows on Nickelodeon among key demos in key markets, including Germany, Korea, Argentina, Australia, the U.K., Canada, Mexico and Holland. Recently, Big Time Rush embarked on a cross-country 30-city summer tour, selling out venues across the U.S. and opened up for Justin Bieber in Mexico for two sold-out stadium shows.
Big Time Rush was created and is executive produced by Scott Fellows. The creative mind behind Nickelodeon's Ned's Declassified Survival Guide, Fellows also executive produced the hit live-action series. A prolific writer, producer and creator, Fellows has written for and produced live-action and animated series including Nickelodeon's The Fairly OddParents, Doug, 101 Dalmatians and Kablam. He served as show runner for Nickelodeon's live-action comedy series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd and has written many of Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards as well as the Teen Choice Awards, the Billboard Awards and the Country Music Awards. In addition, he is the creator and executive producer for Cartoon Network's animated sci-fi comedy Johnny Test.
Big Time Movie is executive produced and written by Scott Fellows (Big Time Rush) and executive produced by Lauren Levine (Bridge to Terabithia, Best Player). Directed by Savage Steve Holland (Better Off Dead), Scott McAboy's Pacific Bay Entertainment is producing.
Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
For downloadable photos and additional information visit: www.nickpress.com.
SOURCE Nickelodeon
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Also, from
C21 Media:
Beatles to hit Big Time on Nickelodeon
A Nickelodeon TV movie based on its live-action music series Big Time Rush will feature classic Beatles hits.
The group's Help!, A Hard Day’s Night, We Can Work It Out and Revolution will all feature in Big Time Movie, which has gone into production in Vancouver ahead of a 2012 broadcast debut.
Big Time Rush creator Scott Fellows and Lauren Levine (Best Player) are onboard as executive producers, with Savage Steve Holland directing and Scott McAboy's Pacific Bay Entertainment producing.
The plot sees the Big Time Rush band members tapping their "inner spy" as they try to save a missing MI6 agent and get to the first concert of their world tour.
"It's a Nickelodeon take on James Bond meets Austin Powers, featuring covers of classic Beatles songs that both kids and their parents can enjoy," said Nickelodeon's president of original programming and development Marjorie Cohn.
Jesse Whittock
4 Nov 2011
© C21 Media 2011
From
First News, the award-winning newspaper for kids:
First News interviews Avan Jogia from Nickelodeon's VicTORIous
Canadian-born actor Avan Jogia plays Beck Oliver in the Nickelodeon hit series Victorious. We hung out with him to talk about school, hot tubs and the crazy things that happen on the set of the show…
You’ve played Beck since the beginning of the show. How has he changed?
I think I want to change characters, actually. I’d like to be Jade next year. Then maybe Mr Sikowitz! No, seriously though, I think Beck and all the characters are starting to find their relationships more, which is a really cool thing. I’m excited to see how far we can take Beck’s acting, I hope we really push it in the coming seasons. In season one Beck played a cockney guy, then there was an episode where he wore a dress. I’d like to try as many characters as we can!
You’re an actor, playing an actor – does that ever get confusing?
You know what, no. What excites me about playing an actor is the wide variety of characters I get to play as Beck. I get to play Beck playing a character. We can do anything with him.
Are you used to doing crazy things for work now?
Yes, very much so. I am becoming completely numb to the craziness, seriously. Just the weirdest stuff happens. In the second season I was in a dress. I wore heels as well and ran in them. I had to shave my legs too. I really went for it!
Tell us about one of the craziest things!
We filmed a scene in a hot tub. That was fun to do. They made the hot tub so they were nice enough to make the water hot. It was kind of relaxing, being in a hot tub when it was quite cold outside, then you realise you’re in a parking lot on a busy street in Hollywood. There was a big stunt too, with lots of people falling into the hot tub, which wasn’t very big. Just an average day, getting people thrown at me in a hot tub!
What is it like being part of a show with a huge cast like Victorious?
It’s really cool. It is like a family. Honestly, it’s not some made-up line where we say we’re like a family and we secretly hate each other. We are like a family. I’ve known Victoria for a long time, since I was 15, so it is nice to have a friend there as well. I lived with Matt Bennett, who plays Robbie, for almost a year. We rented a place together. I think a lot of us came from out of town, so we kind of clung to each other because we didn’t know anyone else!
Beck is a performing arts student. What were you like when you were at school?
What was I like at school? Good question. Well, I was home schooled from grades seven to eight and then in eighth grade I went to high school. I showed up at school in a top hat, tails, cut-off gloves and riding boots. That went down well. So I moved schools again at grade nine and I was there for a few years. I dropped out of school at grade ten to act.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
It’s half and half. I think I should have stuck with high school, but acting and what I was passionate about became a possibility for me at a young age, so I took the opportunity. As soon as this show is done I want to go back to studying. Generally my advice to a grade ten me is to be patient. I’m quite young still but, when you are younger, you have that mentality that nothing comes quick enough and it can be really frustrating. I’d tell myself to relax and things will happen when they will.
Do you feel like you’re getting to relive high school through the show?
Yes, I think it’s the most young environment I’ve ever been in. In high school I wasn’t really hanging out with lots of people. I was always the kid who hung out with the adults and on all the shows I worked on previously I was the only kid. This is the first show I’ve worked on where I’ve been with teens and kids my own age. So that is really an interesting and fun experience for me, to spend so much time with like-minded kids.
What is the big plan for you? What do you want to achieve?
I want to make stuff. I want to make movies and direct stuff and produce stuff and write stuff. I want to go behind the scenes as well as on screen. I think you have to make your own destiny in this world. You get given an opportunity and that is the jumping board; from there you have to build your own path.
Watch brand-new episodes of Victorious every Monday at 6pm! Nick.co.uk/victorious
First News chats to Avan Jogia and Ariana Grande from Nickelodeon's "VicTORIous"
From
First News, the award-winning newspaper for kids:
First News interviews Victoria Justice from VicTORIous
What’s the best thing about playing Tori?
The best thing about playing Tori would have to be being able to perform and sing. Some of the songs that I’ve recorded for the show are just so much fun – I have so much fun dancing and performing to them. Also, her wardrobe; her style is actually very similar to mine. I get to pick out a lot of the clothes that she wears, so she’s kind of influenced by me.
What’s the best thing about being part of VicTORIous?
The show is so much fun to be a part of. The best part would have to be the people that I work with. We have so much fun together and it’s always like a big party on set.
How do you prepare for an average episode of VicTORIous?
We usually get the script over the weekend, or the day of rehearsals, so we rehearse from Monday or Tuesday, where we go through ever scene. Then we do these things called run-throughs, which is kind of like putting on a play of the entire episode in front of all the writers and some people from Nickelodeon, and then on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we usually film. It’s a lot of work and sometimes we film for very long hours, but you know, I’m doing what I love and it never really feels like a job!
In one of the upcoming episodes you got to work with Ke$ha – what was that like?
Working with Ke$ha was great! I didn’t really know what to expect at first, but she has a really cool personality. She’s very down to earth and very real. She is who she is and doesn’t really care what anybody else thinks and I think that’s kind of awesome.
Do you know of any other celebrity fans of VicTORIous that might surprise us?
I heard that Stephen Tyler from American Idol is a fan, which is really cool! Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters as well; his kids are big fans. He came up to me at the MTV Video Music Awards and said: “We have to get a picture together!”
The show recently merged with iCarly for a one-off special, iParty - what was that like to film?
Filming that was such a good time! I love the iCarly cast; they’re all such nice, funny people, so it was really cool to hang out with them for two weeks. There were lots of laughs!
What other Nickelodeon show would you love VicTORIous to merge with for a one-off special? SpongBob Squarepants?
That’s such a good question! And I think SpongeBob is a really good answer! To see myself in cartoon form would be crazy. That would be really cool – I’m so up for it.
A lot of kids out there would love to be in your shoes – any advice for breaking into the industry?
I think for a lot of kids the idea of being famous and being on TV is very glamorous, but that’s not really what it’s like; there’s a lot of hard work that goes in to a show like VicTORIous. There are actually a lot of things that you have to sacrifice, but at the end of the day, for me, it’s worth it. Just remember that practice… makes permanent!
Watch new episodes of VicTORious Mondays at 6pm on Nickelodeon nick.co.uk/victorious
