Original subtitles

Chris Dunn, distinguished alumnus.

Jeez, what an egomaniac.

It really isn't that tough to make it on the outside.

You really believe that, Chris?

I don't understand. Is something wrong?

Mr. Johnson, you don't have a credential.

When you get to the top, this ain't what you think it's going to be.

Well, I said dance like a bird, Johnson. I didn't mean like a pigeon.

Look, I know Michael doesn't like me. That's not true. I decided I want you to

be my lead dancer.

And right here is where you start paying.

And it's my privilege to welcome you to our first video edition of the school

yearbook. I told you we weren't ordinary.

Creative experimentation.

Finding a new way to say or do something.

That's what this yearbook and our school is all about.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy.

We'll turn the pages.

Okay. It looked good, Mr. Jackson. Yeah, you even got all the words right this

time. Thanks to me.

I could do it again. No.

Why, Mr.

Perfection. Well, good luck with your yearbook.

You're going to need it.

Problems? Yeah, we still don't have a theme.

You should take advantage of alumni week.

Interview our illustrious graduates and find out their reflections on what the

school has meant to them.

That's a really good idea.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Jackson.

Nothing.

They want to conduct a re -evaluation of you before the school year ends.

I don't understand. Is something wrong?

No, but it's been two years since your first evaluation.

You mean they re -evaluate every teacher?

Mr. Johnson, you don't have a credential.

I know, but I've been teaching all this time.

I mean, doesn't that count for anything?

Well, of course it does, and your work has been exemplary. But if you want a

next year, I'm afraid you're going to have to submit to the board's wishes.

It's policy.

You're right.

Chris Donlan, distinguished alumnus.

Yeah, yeah, I like that. That's cool.

You know, I've been out of school less than a year, and they asked me to come

back and be a guest speaker.

I hear it was ten years before Al Pacino got an invitation.

Chris, what has the School of the Arts meant to you?

You know, that's where it all started.

The Donlan Mystique.

Someday I figure my fans will come back.

You know, like how people visit Elvis' birthplace?

Look, Chris, what you're saying is the School of the Arts is going to be like a

shrine to Chris Donlan.

Not a shrine. More like a tourist attraction.

Jeez, what an egomaniac.

Donald's going to need a truck to carry his head around that way.

Hey, come on, you guys. It's a real honor being invited back to the school

distinguished alumnus.

Guy's got a right to be a little cocky.

Yeah, besides that, he's gorgeous, talented, sexy, and he's got the best

the city. No, he's probably got the best bod in the entire state. All right

already? Enough about his body.

Get off the couch.

Who's your favorite entertainer?

This might sound a little conceited, but it's me.

Your dance is better than ever. Thank you.

I wish you'd tell it to those big -time choreographers and producers out there.

Is Michael Tadner big enough for you?

The movie star?

And distinguished alumnus of the school, who I talked him to choreographing a

ballet for the alumni week show. And guess who's dancing the lead?

Yourself. No.

Well, I tried to talk him into it, but he said he wanted a male lead dancer.

So I talked him into using you.

That's great.

You better be. It's going to be a lot of big -time choreographers and producers

out there in that office. That is so fierce. I love it. Thank you. I owe you

one. You owe me one?

Yeah. One?

Honey, we're talking about 5, 10, 15, 20. You owe me?

You're going to forget about me when you get to be a big star.

You know I am.

Okay, okay. You're going to get a pop.

I heard about Mr.

Dierenforth and his re -evaluation.

Tell me about it. Ain't nothing like being appreciated, huh?

Leroy, I don't think you need to come back here and teach in this school next

year.

Oh, so that means Miss Grant is going to pay my rent?

No, I'm not going to pay your rent.

You're going to go out and get a job.

Doing what?

Dancing.

Yeah, right.

Well, come on, Leroy. It's time you got out of here and took a chance.

You should be concentrating all of your energies on your own career right now.

Look.

I like my teaching to fall back on. I don't know if I'm ready to get out there

and just strike it on my own. I'm going to strike you on my own if you don't get

on out of here.

Look at all this telepathy.

Yeah, I don't see anybody really doing this.

Hey, wait a minute. Aren't those the Hershkowitz twins, the famous trainers?

Bob and Rob.

They don't look like twins.

They ain't even got the same color hair.

I think one of them's adopted.

Mr. Deer, this is Michael Taffner. This is Bob Deer, our principal.

Hello. Mr. Taffner, what a thrill it is to actually meet you. I was a big fan of

yours and just exactly wanted to stop.

Mickey, you remember me?

Mrs. Burke, how could I forget you?

I secretly left it after you were here.

Mickey, you little devil.

Look, I'm going to go and see if I can find Lee World Johnson. I'll be right

back, okay?

Do you know, Mr. Taffner, we have practically every film you've made in

school video library?

What?

Well, I mean, you didn't actually pay real money for it, did you?

I just love nothing personal.

And Brothers Four.

Miss Dean, will you jump over the axe here? What's your favorite film, Miss

Dean?

Citizen Kane.

Oh, I need one of yours.

Oh, I hated them all.

Hey.

Hi, Chris.

Hey. Listen, I understand you're going to be the guest speaker for my beginning

acting class. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it, you know.

Oh, man, I can't believe all these famous people.

Yeah, it's pretty impressive.

You must feel honored.

To be included.

Yeah, of course. Look,

I'm going to mingle. I'll check you later, all right?

Sure.

Yeah, I don't like crowds.

Well, I thought you should meet Leroy Johnson, since you two are going to be

working together.

Hello, Mrs. Taffner. Look, I've heard so much about you. Do you like hot dogs?

I love hot dogs.

Yeah, Leroy, I'll tell you, there's two things that I really miss about New

York.

The School of the Arts, of course.

And these hot dogs.

You sure you don't want another one?

Positive. I'm so full.

You really miss those two, huh?

Oh, hell yes.

It was the most creative time of my life. I mean, back then I was totally

No fear.

No big image to live up to.

Well, don't you think we should probably be getting back to the party?

Oh, I hate parties.

Only if one more person tells me how much they love the Brothers Ford.

I think instead of this hot dog, I'm going to bite their nose off. Whoa, I'm

glad you told me first.

No, no, you too.

What, are you kidding me?

The barn raising number is my all -time favorite.

You know what part I like especially? I know, when I jump over the axe, right?

It's crazy, you know?

I mean, 30 movies, four Broadway shows, and all people can remember is a damn

jumping -over -the -axe handle trick.

Boy, you'd think I could have left something just a little more important

people to remember than that, huh?

You had an incredible career. What are you talking about?

When you get to the top, it just ain't what you think it's going to be.

Well... Being at the bottom ain't no party either.

Well, you know, when you have a dream, you're willing to take a chance.

Dreams, huh?

Well, I guess you're just going to have to find out for yourself.

Find out what?

Dreams from sleeping.

Are you ever going to graduate?

I can't believe you made it. How are you, Mattelli?

Are you kidding? Not at all. Mr. Mattelli.

Some things never change.

Damn, it's lost on me.

Come here, dude.

What's up, Montgomery?

Bruno!

So what's all the excitement?

Oh, you're so good. I would never make a fool of myself like that. No, neither

would I.

I had this burning desire to be a star.

I figured I already knew it all, so I was just going to breathe through my

classes until I was discovered.

Surprise!

By the second day, I realized I didn't know anything.

I mean, I had to work my ass.

Okay, we're taping, right? All right.

I had to work real hard just to keep up with the other kids.

I mean, you either did it or you were gone, right?

But this school taught me something important.

Nothing worthwhile comes easy.

I mean, a truly valuable success, it doesn't happen overnight.

It's based on a foundation of technique and hard work.

You know, becoming a star isn't really important to me anymore.

Becoming a great artist, that's what counts.

Five, six, seven, eight.

Turn, two, three, four, five, six, seven, down.

Would he stop? The music's still going. Go on, Johnson.

Okay, higher, higher.

When I said dance like a bird, Johnson, I didn't mean like a pigeon.

All right, back.

That's it, up. Now get ready. Barrel rolls. Keep going, keep going.

Come on, in you go.

Arms out, arms out. What do you do with your fingers?

All right, end up. All right, spin.

And hold.

That's enough.

Look, can I at least try this again?

No, that's all for today.

Mr. Tablet, a rehearsal same time tomorrow?

Yeah, same time.

I promise to try to work on the steps, okay?

Yeah, sure.

Damn it, I can't get this right, Miss Grant.

Well, Rich and the cop would have trouble with that variation, honey.

He just expects a lot. I've got to get this perfect. Yeah, but don't you

overwork it. I know you, Leroy Johnson. You're no good when you work too hard.

Miss Grant, you've seen how mad he was.

Yeah, but don't let his attitude throw you.

Michael's always like that. Besides, you have to learn how to work with all

kinds of people.

This just means a lot to me. I don't want to blow this chance.

You're not going to blow anything.

You just do the work and you'll be fine.

You hear me?

Yeah.

We have a special guest with us here today. Up until last year, he was a

here at the School of the Arts.

And, well, since leaving the school, I'm sure he's experienced a lot of

frustration and getting the job and agents and open calls and...

Well, probably a lot of rejection.

And here to share with you what it's really like on the outside is

alumnus Chris Donlan.

What Mr. Seeger said about struggling to get jobs, it may be true for most

people, but not for me.

I got my first big commercial right after I graduated.

So I really don't know how it feels to be rejected at auditions.

Yeah, as far as agents, I always got five or six hounding me to sign, you

So, it really isn't that tough to make it on the outside.

If you're prepared and you got the talent, it's a piece of cake.

Yeah, you really believe that, Chris?

Come on, it happened to me, didn't it?

Well, it's not quite so easy for the vast majority of the actors.

Um, okay.

Uh, any questions for Mr. Donnell?

Yeah.

If it's so easy for you, why are you working at Lou's?

Peter, he's a friend of mine, you know, so I'm just helping him out a little

bit, you know.

Growing up, I was short, and as you can see, I'm still short four years later.

I'm coming to McNeil, forever short, a little leprechaun of you.

So, um, what has the School of the Arts meant to you?

I guess you could say it was my brown tuxedo.

Brown tuxedo. Could you explain that a little bit?

Growing up, I always felt like the world was a black tuxedo and I was a pair of

brown loafers.

I just didn't seem to fit in anywhere.

Then I started classes at School of the Arts and I instantly felt comfortable

here. I was still my weird little self, but I seemed to be okay with everybody.

I also found out that I had this special talent.

I was a good actor.

All of a sudden, I was somebody.

No, Michael, look, I think you're wrong. I think you're just overreacting to one

bad rehearsal.

You want to make that two bad rehearsals?

Just give Leroy a chance to relax and he'll be fine.

Look, Lydia, I just don't have time to babysit my lead dancer. I want this to

a great number.

It will be, and I know Leroy can do it. Look, Lydia, you're wrong.

I mean, I'm sorry, but he just doesn't have it.

And I'm going to replace him.

Michael, Michael, please.

Are you waiting for me?

Yeah. Guess what? What? I decided I want you to be my lead dancer.

Michael, I'm not an alumna. And besides, I'd never do that to Leroy.

Why not? I mean, we'd probably be doing him a favor.

I can't believe you're such a bastard.

Now, look, Lydia, I don't know if you... You don't have the right to come in

here and crush other people's dreams.

Hold it.

Now, damn it, I just wish that somebody had told me the truth when I was Leroy's

age. I mean, I wouldn't have wasted my whole life chasing after something that

didn't exist.

What are you talking about? How can you say that? You've done brilliant work in

the movies, on television, on Broadway.

I've done commercial crap.

Look,

Lydia, try to understand.

I had an opportunity to make a really important contribution to the theater.

To art.

I mean, instead I became a movie star.

The last time I did some work I could be proud of was right here at the school.

What about all those movies you did with these kids? These kids saw you and you

inspired them to become dancers.

Oh, I inspired my agent and my accountant. Wrong. Houston, Texas, 1962.

I sat in the Alex Theater and watched you in nothing personal three times in a

row at a matinee till my eyes were popping out of my head. That was the day

knew I had to become a dancer.

It's a lovely story, but... Oh, Michael, you were good.

Michael, you were great.

Why can't you accept that?

I need a lead dancer.

You've got one.

Look, all I'm asking is for you to give Leroy one more chance. Just one more

chance.

All right.

All right, one more rehearsal.

Leroy, you in here?

Yeah, I'm over here.

Oh.

Mind if I join you?

No problem. Pull up my mirror.

Look, I noticed the other night in rehearsal that you were still having a

bit of trouble with that variation. You know, tonight after my classes, I could

help you. Look, Miss Grant, I'm dropping out of the number.

Why?

Look, I know Michael doesn't like me. That's not true.

Come on, Miss Grant, I'm not stupid. Okay, he was getting ready to replace

but I just spoke with him. He's going to give you another chance.

What if I still can't cut it?

Leroy, I can work with you tonight after my classes. Are you interested? Yes or

no?

Yay or nay?

Yay.

See you later.

Thanks,

Miss Graham.

You know, when I first... came here, I didn't know anything about relating to

other people. My life was music.

But everyone at this crazy school, you know, the teachers and the other

students, demanded that I stop hiding behind my synthesizers and start dealing

with them on a one -to -one basis.

Well, this was fairly difficult at first, but once I started to open up, I

went nuts, you know.

For the first time in my life, I had friends.

The most amazing thing out of all this is that the more I came out of my shell,

the more I grew as a musician.

Okay.

Mr. Seeger, can I get you something?

No, no, I just... Fuck.

If it's about my speech, I'm sorry, all right?

The kids were disappointed, Chris.

They really wanted to know what it was like on you. I told them what it was

like. For me.

You lied.

No, I exaggerated a little.

Why tell those kids all the bad things, huh?

Because it'll prepare them for what's really out there.

Mr. Segal, what do you want from me?

I want you to come speak to him again.

I don't have the time.

Okay, well, look, I'm flexible. We'll make... Oh, I don't want to do it, okay?

You

want a

refill?

No, thanks.

Don, we ought to talk to those kids.

Sure, Lou.

Right after Michael Taffner and Al Pacino tell them about Hollywood and all

movies they've been in.

I'm going to tell them I'm working in a bowling alley?

Right.

What's wrong with that?

It's embarrassing.

Lou, I'm sorry.

No, you're right.

And I don't want you to be embarrassed because you work here.

Donovan, you're fired.

What? Now you've got nothing to be ashamed of.

So go talk to those kids.

So it's been a year since you left. What do you think the school has meant to

your life?

Oh, I have great memories of this place.

The people, the dressing room.

But actually, the first week here was an absolute disaster.

I mean, I really didn't think I would make it.

The criticism was just too much for me to handle, and I think I probably would

have left school if my friends hadn't convinced me not to.

But after that, I just started working on not taking things so seriously, you

know? I just kept... torture myself over every little thing. It had to be

perfect.

And I think what this school taught me was that just to enjoy your work, you

know, and I think that's important because if I'm enjoying myself, the

will too.

Now, when you go to hit those double turns, you got to be fast, fast, sharp,

double, double, axle, and down.

That's what he wants.

Double,

double, axle, down.

And when you hit that down posture, pull up, pull up.

Watch it.

And double.

Double. No, no, no. Glove. Stop.

Slow. A little slow.

Try again.

Just pull up.

Concentrate. Spot.

Five, six, seven. And double.

Double. Okay. No. No. Okay. Don't look in the mirror this time.

Space over here.

Pull up. Pull up. Pull up. Pull up.

Pencil through your head. Here we go. Five, six, seven. And double.

Double.

Leroy.

Learning about choreography, there's a lot more you need to know than how to

make up steps and dance to the beat of the music.

You need to understand how to design lighting, how to use the set and

costume, and how to use props.

Props, these wonderful little pieces of things that can add business and

determine how you're going to move about the stage.

Things that were used from the minstrel days to the Charlie Chaplin days.

to the press standing props.

Now I'm going to show you a piece of choreography that was done on film maybe

years ago that was definitely influenced by the set and by the props.

to have the man who made this move so famous.

Ladies and gentlemen... Excuse me.

Michael, would you wait a minute?

Hey, thanks a lot.

I mean, what a cheap shot.

What are you trying to prove anyway? You really think that old piece of film is

going to make me feel better about my work? You know, you... Oh,

forget it. No, wait. Go ahead. Go ahead.

Tell me what you think about me, really.

I feel sorry for you. I don't want your pity.

For your information, I didn't play that film to make you feel good about

yourself. That film has been part of my curriculum for the past five years.

Like it or not, Michael Taffner, you are part of the curriculum of the school.

It's just too damn bad that you don't have enough sense to appreciate your own

contribution.

Well, Schwartz, I don't have to ask what you've been doing since you left the

school? I'm a Tulo, just so there's no misunderstanding.

I am married, and this is my nine -week -old daughter, Jenny.

And who's the lucky guy?

His name is Bob Rhythm.

Oh, forget it. I've heard all the jokes.

He is the artistic director of the Kenley Players of Akron, Ohio.

We met during summer stock.

Then we fell in love, and... And the rest is history.

Okay, now here's the big question.

What has the School of the Arts meant to you? And Jenny, you're going to have to

let your mom speak for herself.

This is the place where I discovered the real Dora Schwartz.

You know, I was always acting as a kid, always playing roles, trying to be what

everybody wanted me to be.

Then I came here, and everybody had so much confidence and personality, and

I realized I didn't know who I was.

Then after about four years and the help of the people here and the love,

I started to get acquainted with myself.

And you know something?

I really like who I am.

If I hadn't come here, I probably would have never known that.

I wasn't used to it. I didn't have my technique down. I got it.

Uh, we have a surprise guest.

Mr. Donovan has returned.

Thank you.

Right.

Look something else.

You want to do that?

Yeah.

Hi.

Um, first of all, I, uh, I want to apologize for the other day.

Because most of what I told you was a lie.

I'm not a big shot. I'm just another struggling actor like a thousand other

in this town.

Truth is, it's damn tough on the outside.

No matter how much talent you got, you're going to be rejected over and

again.

But you can't give up.

If you really love performing, you got to keep trying.

Always give it your best shot.

And you can't be afraid to fail.

Besides, all that rejection is part of being an actor.

Not a lot of fun, but it beats selling a cyclopedia.

Oh,

there you are,

Mr. Johnson.

Come on, the board's waiting.

Uh, wait right here one second. I gotta take care of one thing.

Here he is now.

Sorry I'm late.

It's all right, Mr. Johnson. Can we just get on with it?

All right, Dad, let's hit it.

Thank you.

Thanks a lot.

I'm glad you all like that work.

I've decided that I'm not coming back to the school next year.

I just want to devote all my time towards my career as a performer.

However, I do thank everyone here for their support.

Honestly, everyone.

I have the greatest amount of respect for anyone who could stand up in front

a class,

and teach, because that's been the most difficult thing for me.

And I'm going to miss working with all the kids here, everyone.

I feel after six years that I just have my wings and I should fly away from this

and that.

However, I thank you, Ms. Grant,

who's been my friend and my teacher.

You showed me the right way, and you always will.

I hope you guys never forget me, because I'll never forget y 'all.

And I'll always love this school.

I was beginning to think you were going to make it.

Well, I'm a little late, but I'm here.

Well, let's see what you got, kid.

From the top.

Got it.

They did look at me and tell me what to see.

Oh, it's enough of the real.

Every time I make you forget the rest.

I got all of these.

And you can set it free.

I can get stone in my head.

Don't you know?

Thank you.