USA: Rising star Zac Efron draws a crowd at the Hollywood premiere of his new film, "17 Again"

Record ID: 220405

  • Title: USA: Rising star Zac Efron draws a crowd at the Hollywood premiere of his new film, "17 Again"
  • Date: 16th April 2009
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 14, 2009) (REUTERS) MOVIE POSTER OF "17 AGAIN" ZAC EFRON SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS AT THE PREMIERE EFRON ON THE RED CARPET ARRIVAL LINE FANS CHEERING EFRON WITH CO-STAR MICHELLE TRACTENBERG JONAS BROTHER ON THE RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZAC EFRON ON THE CROWD AT THE PREMIERE, SAYING: "It's crazy, this is my hometown, this is where I live. It only took me 5 minutes to get here. Having driven by this place empty so many times, it's a bit different to see all these people show up to something you are involved in. It's pretty cool. CO-STAR LESLIE MANN BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZAC EFRON AT TAKING ON THE ROLE IN THE FILM SAYING: "It's everything. I want to take the fans along with me. I also want to up my game, elevate the material, deliver better performances every time. It's about changing it up constantly." VANESSA HUDGENS BEING INTERVIEWED AT THE PREMIERE MATTHEW PERRY AT THE PREMIERE CO-STAR MICHELLE TRACTENBERG (SOUNDBITE) (English) CO-STAR MATTHEW PERRY ON ANY ADVICE HE GAVE EFRON ON FAME, SAYING: "I was all geared up to do that, but I don't think he really needs it. He's got his head on straight. I talked to him mostly about video games." WIDE SHOT OF RED CARPET ARRIVAL LINE
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA83J9O5BXQH608RN15RRFWOQQV
  • Story Text: Zac Efron's arrival at the premiere of his new film, "17 Again" shut down Hollywood Blvd., as fans packed the streets around Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles on Tuesday (April 15, 2009), hoping for the chance to catch a glimpse of the rising star.

    "It's crazy, this is my hometown, this is where I live,"
    explained Efron. "It only took me 5 minutes to get here. Having driven by this place empty so many times, it's a bit different to see all these people show up to something you are involved in. It's pretty cool."

    "17 Again" tells the story of Mike O'Donnell, played by Efron, who back in 1989 was a star on the high school basketball court with a college scout in the stands and a bright future in his grasp. But instead, he decides to throw it all away to share his life with his girlfriend Scarlet and the baby he just learned they are expecting.
    Almost 20 years later, Mike's (Matthew Perry) glory days are decidedly behind him. His marriage to Scarlet (Leslie Mann) has fallen apart, he has been passed over for a promotion at work, his teenage kids think he is a loser, and he has been reduced to crashing with his high school nerd-turned-techno-billionaire best friend Ned (Thomas Lennon).
    But Mike is given another chance when he is miraculously transformed back to the age of 17. Unfortunately, Mike may look 17 again, but his thirtysomething outlook is totally uncool among the class of 2009.
    And in trying to recapture his best years, Mike could lose the best things that ever happened to him.
    For Efron , the film represents a major step as he looks to break out from his teen idol status to that of a major Hollywood leading man.

    "It's everything. I want to take the fans along with me. I also want to up my game, elevate the material, deliver better performances every time. It's about changing it up constantly," said Efron.
    Hollywood veteran Matthew Perry, who plays the adult version of Efron's character says he decided against giving Efron advice on dealing with fame.

    "I was all geared up to do that, but I don't think he really needs it. He's got his head on straight. I talked to him mostly about video games," said Perry.
    Among the other notables showing up at the premiere included the Jonas Brothers and Vanessa Hudgens The film is directed by Burr Steers from a screenplay by Jason Filardi.
    It opens this Friday (April 17, 2009).
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