The Corbin Bleu Interveu!
GRACE: Let’s start with your new Disney Channel Original Movie, Jump In.
When does it premiere?
CORBIN: It comes out in January, on the 12th.
GRACE: In the movie, you play a boxer who gets into jumping rope, specifically double dutch. What was more challenging for you, the boxing or the double dutch?
CORBIN: I definitely have to say that the boxing was more challenging because the double dutch is kind of similar to dancing and I’ve been dancing my whole life. I started when I was about 2. Double dutch involves a rhythm, the ropes hitting back and forth. So as long as you can hear the ropes and you follow the rhythm, it comes pretty easy, sort of like dance moves.
GRACE: I’ve seen double dutch and with the two ropes flying in different directions I think, "OK, this is going to be tricky"!
CORBIN: It is tricky at first just trying to get in and out of the ropes, but once you’re in, it’s actually pretty easy.
GRACE: I guess I’d be afraid of getting hit by the ropes.
CORBIN: The thing is you can’t be worried if they’re going to hit you.
Besides it really doesn’t hurt that much. I got hit plenty of times.
GRACE: But it’s probably nothing like getting hit in boxing.
CORBIN: Oh yeah. That’s why the boxing was more challenging. Also, the boxing just involves a lot. You do push-ups, sit-ups and weights. It really works out your entire body.
GRACE: Now your real dad actually plays your dad in the movie. How did that come about?
CORBIN: Well, they offered me the movie first. Then they had the idea of having my dad in it so they brought him in. He actually had to audition for the role and he just blew them away in there.
GRACE: Wow. So what was it like working with your dad?
CORBIN: It was awesome. Him and I are really close. I mean we’re actually friends. So it was cool. We got to go to work together during the day and then at night or whenever we finished we would go out to dinner and just hang out. Also, he’s been my acting coach my entire life since he’s been doing it way longer than I have. And that was cool to be able to work with my coach because our styles of acting are the same. So everything really came together pretty nice.
GRACE: ( turning to Corbins’ dad, David Reivers) And what was it like working with Corbin?
DAVID: This is what I tell most people. I got the opportunity to work with one of the best professionals in the business. He’s very prepared when he comes to work. He knows what he’s doing and I never had to worry about any challenging situations. We’d go in and we’d do what we had to do. And there’s a lot of connection there of course being father and son.
GRACE: Your co-star in the movie is Keke Palmer from Akeelah and the Bee.
What was it like working with her?
CORBIN: It was cool. Keke’s funny. There’s a pretty big age gap between us. She’s 13. I’m 17. And she’s got a lot of energy. So it was fun getting to work with her. It was one of those things, whenever everybody came to work and they were groggy and tired, she was totally up and ready to go. So when she came to the set, everybody was able to get going.
GRACE: Any fun stories from the set?
CORBIN: I think one of my favorite things that I got to watch every single day was one of the characters named Felix, played by Gene Mack. He was so funny. He plays a boxing coach in the movie. In the gym where we shot, he would put on real boxing gear and just go at it. He would stand there at the punching bag and just make up his own moves. He’d punch and then he’d kick it, then turn around and do some weird karate things to it. He wasn’t boxing whatsoever. And I mean he was working, just pouring sweat. Meanwhile we’re getting ready to shoot and he’s totally going at the punching bag. It was just really funny.
GRACE: Not only do you star in the movie but you also sing one of the songs on the soundtrack.
CORBIN: Yeah. It’s called Push It To The Limit and the music video for it came out on Thanksgiving.
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GRACE: It’s also rapidly becoming one of the most requested songs on Radio Disney. Corbin definitely has a hit with this one. You can check out Push It To The Limit by Corbin Bleu right here.
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GRACE: You also have your own solo CD coming out right?
CORBIN: Yes, it's currently titled Another Side and the release date is April 17th. The first single hopefully will be out in February but we haven't decided what it will be as of yet.
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GRACE: I can’t wait. What type of music will it be?
CORBIN: It’s kind of R&B mixed with pop. You can think very similar to Justin Timberlake style with an Usher or Chris Brown type of thing going on as well.
GRACE: Did you write any of the songs?
CORBIN: I co-wrote 5 of them. Of the ones I actually co-wrote, one is called Homework . Which is not about school work but it’s about the guy doing his homework on a girl. He’s trying to figure out what kinds of things she likes. One of them is called Mixed Up. That’s the one that is really about me. Like my entire life, it’s very mixed up in general. I do a lot of different things. I’m east coast, west coast. My dad’s black, my mom’s white. I’m really kind of mixed up in a lot of different senses.
GRACE: Very Yin-Yang.
CORBIN: Exactly. It’s a whole balance thing. Another one of the songs is called We Come To Party. I think that one pretty much explains itself. Then there’s Never Met A Girl Like You and the last one is If, as in if she says yes.
GRACE: Do you have a favorite song on the CD?
CORBIN: That’s a hard question. I mean the first song I recorded, I was like "This doesn’t sound like me." It was just really weird. Then as I started to record more, I got used to my voice and grew more comfortable with it. Then I started to have my favorites. But I would say my favorite is definitely Mixed Up. Mainly because it has a real big connection to me and that I wrote it. Also the beat is really cool too. It’s really upbeat. It’s sort of like a chant almost. It’s really fun.
GRACE: Do you play any of the musical instruments on it?
CORBIN: Not on the actual album but I do play piano. We actually have some songs that are geared towards piano, that way, when I do a live tour, I’ll be able to sing and play.
GRACE: When you’re listening to music, who do you listen to a lot?
CORBIN: I have a very eclectic taste in music. It depends. I could be listening to Fallout Boy or I could be listening to Billy Joel, just a complete spectrum.
GRACE: When it comes to singers and musicians, who inspires you?
CORBIN: My favorite artist is Prince. Mainly because he plays every instrument and he’s incredible at it. He’s got an incredible voice. I got to see him live on his Musicology tour. He’s just an incredible performer. He gets up there and he does his thing. I just really love his music. I always have.
GRACE: If you could perform with any singer, who would it be?
CORBIN: Lenny Kravitz. He’s another person that I really look up to. He gets up there and he just rocks.
GRACE: When it comes to movies, who would you like to act with?
CORBIN: I always say the top 3 people I’ve always wanted to work with would be, #1 my dad, which we can now check off the list. Then Denzel Washington and, my all time favorite, Johnny Depp.
GRACE: I heard that when you were at the Teen Choice Awards this year, you didn’t get to meet him.
CORBIN: First of all I didn’t get to meet him but then I didn’t even get to see him on stage. He came out right after we accepted our award so I was backstage doing interviews. I completely missed him. I was so bummed that day.
GRACE: And of course your award was for High School Musical. I understand you start shooting part 2 real soon.
CORBIN: We start shooting in February. But right now we are working on High School Musical – The Concert Tour. It’s not an actual performance of the movie. It’s a concert where we’re going to be singing some of the songs from the movie. Also, me, Ashley and Vanessa have our own records so we’ll be singing some of our own songs. Lucas will be doing his emcee thing. Monique has her Dancing With The Stars and she’ll be doing some ballroom dancing. It’s just going to be this really big fun concert.
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GRACE: Take it from me, If you love High School Musical, you’ll love the tour. I was lucky enough to see the first public performance. (Thank you Mr. Reivers & Corbin) It was awesome. You’ll be dancing and singing along to some of your favorite numbers and a few new ones, including Corbins high energy Marchin'. So check to see when the tour hits your town and get your tickets fast. You won’t want to miss it. Check out these exclusive photos from the concert.
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GRACE: Speaking of Monique, when she was on Dancing With The Stars, I think I saw you in the audience.
CORBIN: I was. I went to about 5 showings, which was fun. It was really cool.
GRACE: Too bad she didn’t go further.
CORBIN: I know. But I’m very proud of her. Just the fact that she got that far. Though I think she was kind of relieved as well. It’s nerve wrecking and it takes such a big toll. She hadn’t done much else for eight weeks just dancing in the studio, working, working, working. So it’s cool for her to get a little break now.
GRACE: Back to High School Musical 2 , When can we expect to see it?
CORBIN: I think it will be out in August because the whole movie takes place during the summer. It is supposed to be when schools out and it takes place at Ryan & Sharpays family’s Country Club. The boys get summer jobs there and everyone will be hanging out by the pool. It’s kind of like Dirty Dancing. It’s going to be a fun one.
GRACE: Have you seen the entire script and musical numbers yet?
CORBIN: Not at all. I’ve heard some ideas but other than that, nothing.
GRACE: So what have you heard?
CORBIN: One big surprise that I did hear was that Ashley’s character is going to try to get a little bit of revenge and get Zac’s character to kind of like her.
GRACE: ( shocked) Really!?
CORBIN: Well that’s what I hear but I haven’t seen the whole script yet. And it’s funny because we keep saying "Can we please see a script so we can at least start working on it. We’re going to be filming pretty soon."
GRACE: I know in your book it says that you are kind of a perfectionist?
CORBIN: Yes I am. I just want to get to work and get it all right.
DAVID: This is a pretty important project for Disney Channel. They want to get it right. So they keep doing re-writes, keep re-working the script.
GRACE: I guess they want it to live up to the first one.
DAVID: I don’t know. I don’t think that’s the important thing. I just think they want it to be good.
GRACE: So do you think that your character, Chad, will get more screen time in this one?
CORBIN: I definitely think so. I even think I have a musical number with Lucas. I think. I’m not quite sure yet.
GRACE: Really! I wonder what that’s all about?
CORBIN: Yeah, but it should be pretty cool.
GRACE: Is everybody back for Part 2?
CORBIN: Everybody’s back. All the actors, the director's back, producer’s back. We’re back in Utah again. It’s the
whole deal all over again.
GRACE: So how do you think this will compare with the first?
CORBIN: We all know the first one has become a cultural phenomenon. There’s no lying about that. They’re calling it the new Grease. It’s taking over the world in lots of different ways. You know, it’s going to be hard to do the same thing with the second one. It’s almost impossible actually.
GRACE: But, you had no idea that was going to happen with the first.
CORBIN: Exactly. It was a complete surprise to everyone.
GRACE: You were hoping it would be big, but you didn’t know it would be that big.
CORBIN: The thing is, we all knew it was going to be pretty good. During filming we all felt something really good coming together. We knew it was going to be a good movie but just not this crazy…
GRACE: …worldwide phenomenon.
CORBIN: Yes. That’s exactly what it is. So, with the second one, we’re not trying to beat out the first or do the same thing we did with the first one. We’re just going to make a great movie. That’s what we’re going to do. It’s not going to be better or worse or anything like that. It’s just going to be another great movie. We’re just trying to make a wonderful sequel.
GRACE: I know your life really changed after that one. Overnight celebrity.
CORBIN: Oh yeah!
GRACE: People knew who you were just not as much as they do now.
CORBIN: Exactly. It’s been pretty cool. Like I said, I started working when I was about 2 years old. So I’ve always been involved in the industry and I’ve gotten used to it. But High School Musical is definitely the thing that stepped it up to another level and put me out there as an actual household name.
DAVID: It’s created opportunities.
CORBIN: A lot of opportunities. It created the opportunity for Jump In. It created the opportunity for the album, this tour we’re doing. It’s opened a lot of doors.
GRACE: With all the new projects you’re doing this year, you’re going to get even bigger.
CORBIN: Let’s hope so.
GRACE: You’re going to be pulled in all different directions with interviews and parties.
CORBIN: Well, that’s already happening now. Just because of the success of High School Musical, everybody wants to talk about it. So I’ve already experienced a lot of that. It’s one of the things that comes with the territory and I definitely wouldn’t give it up.
GRACE: When it comes to dealing with everyone wanting your attention, How do you stay centered and how do you relax in those situations?
CORBIN: Really good question, seriously. First of all, I have my family. As a family, we’ve all stayed really close. We all know to keep ourselves grounded. What we’re given can be taken away from us just as easily.
GRACE: Anything can happen.
CORBIN: Exactly. You never know. So you always have to keep yourself grounded, keep yourself humble. We’ve been very blessed in our careers and everything.
GRACE: The past couple years you’ve been working in Hawaii on Flight 29 Down. Now this year you’re working on the High School Musical Concert, then shooting the sequel, then possibly your own concert tour. What’s it going to be like being away from your family that much?
CORBIN: It’s going to be hard. It’s definitely difficult. When it came to Hawaii, I was out there for about a total of six months. It was beautiful but still, when you’re away from your family that long…
GRACE: Well hopefully you won’t be away from home too much and you’ll get some free time this year.
CORBIN: When it comes to free time, I don’t know how much I’m going to have. I think my schedule is already booked until the end of August.
GRACE: What do you do when you’re not working?
CORBIN: You know what? I try to relax as much as I can.
GRACE: Are there any activities that you like to do?
CORBIN: Anything just kind of normal. I go to the movies with my friends. Or like last night, I went to a friend’s house and we just ordered some Chinese food and sat around watching tv. I never get to do that very often so whenever I’m not doing anything, I just end up sitting around.
GRACE: So if you had the time and you could go anywhere or do anything, What would you do? Where would you go?
CORBIN: Well if I could go anywhere, it would be Australia. I’ve always wanted to go there. It’s the number one place I want to go. When it comes to do anything, I don’t know. I’ve always been a person who’s up for anything. I like to do a lot of different things, even learning new things. Anything like bungee jumping or skydiving, I’d be up for that.
GRACE: So what is on Corbin Bleu’s current wish list?
CORBIN: There’s not much that I really want. A hit album, that would be good. I don’t know. For me right now, everything I have, I’m very happy with. When it comes to material items, there’s nothing I can think of. If anything, just clothes. I’m a huge clothes person. I love clothes. I love jewelry and I’ve always been into fashion.
GRACE: In February, right around the corner, you’ll be turning 18. That’s a big one.
CORBIN: Oh yeah! I’m excited actually. It’s going to be pretty cool.
GRACE: Any birthday plans?
CORBIN: I’m going to be in Utah filming High School Musical 2 at that time so I don’t know. This will be my third birthday in a row that I haven’t been home. Let’s see, my 16th birthday I was in Hawaii. My 17th birthday I was also in Hawaii. Now my 18th I’m going to be in Utah.
GRACE: What about school? Did you graduate?
CORBIN: Yes. I graduated this last year.
GRACE: Any plans for college?
CORBIN: Definitely. I applied and got into 4 schools. I am accepted at Pitzer University. I also got into Hofstra, Pamona and Stanford.
GRACE: It’s really in the future for me, but I’ve got my eye on a culinary school. I love to cook.
CORBIN: Oh my gosh. I actually have a big interest in the culinary arts as well. Sometime in the future, I’d love to go to a culinary school.
GRACE: I’ve heard you were also a straight "A" student. What’s your secret?
CORBIN: The fact that I’m a perfectionist. It really is. I’m one of those people, I freak out when I get a "B". I get really mad at myself so I work really really hard. And my dad can tell you, I can probably be annoying sometimes because I want everything to be so perfect.
DAVID: I have to try to tell him sometimes, Art is not perfect.
GRACE: Because of your celebrity, you’re now considered a role model for a lot of kids, myself included.
CORBIN: Thank you.
GRACE: How does that make you feel?
CORBIN: It’s an incredible feeling. I’m very, very proud. I’ve always had people that I’ve looked up to, such as my dad or Johnny Depp, Denzel Washington or Prince and Lenny Kravitz. Now to sit there and realize that other people look up to me in that same way, it’s just a feeling like, WOW. I can’t really believe it but I’m happy and it’s a great opportunity to be able to inspire others.
GRACE: I guess now you have to watch what you do.
CORBIN: Actually, I always have watched what I do. Now it’s just cool because other kids see the right things to do.
GRACE: Do you have any words of wisdom to share with everybody?
CORBIN: Of course. For me, my whole life has always been about following what I truly want to do. So don’t let anybody tell you anything different. I know, especially for kids in elementary, middle and high school, other kids will try to tell you what you should do or what’s the cool thing to do and not what you truly want to do. With me, I’ve always been into dancing and acting. Everyone else was into sports. It was always like I was weird for being into that kind of stuff. And look what it’s made me now. I’ve become very successful in it. As long as you follow your dream and you truly do what you want to do, don’t pay any attention to what anybody says.
GRACE: How do you deal with the peer pressure and negative comments?
CORBIN: You just got to ignore it. Even though it’s hard to, you really got to know in your heart that it’s what you want to do. Also just know that as long as you make it what you want in your life, you’re going to be successful with it.
GRACE: What do you do when it comes to rumors?
CORBIN: Those are the hard ones. You got to try to ignore them too. I mean there were rumors on-line that I was with Ashley, with Vanessa, one with Brenda Song and one said I was with Miley Cyrus. Then of course there are other weird rumors that go around. The truth is, the bigger you get as a celebrity or anything else, the more rumors are spread about you. If people are not spreading rumors about you, that means they’re not paying attention to you. So the more rumors…the better?
GRACE: …or the more rumors the worse.
CORBIN: It’s a catch-22 kind of thing.
GRACE: There’s an upside and a downside.
CORBIN: Yet again, as long as you know the truth, then it shouldn’t matter to you.
GRACE: Do you ever get nervous?
CORBIN: I do. In fact I actually have a really good story for you. A few weeks ago, I did this event. It was for Stephen Schwartz. He wrote the songs for the musical Wicked. He also wrote Pippin and Godspell. He’s done a lot of great projects. Anyway, they were opening up a new theatre and they had this whole tribute to Stephen Schwartz. They brought in a lot of big names in the industry to go onstage and perform some of his songs. Ben Vereen was there, who was in the original Pippin. He’s an incredible theatre and Broadway legend. I was there to sing Corner Of The Sky from Pippin. I was soooo nervous. I got up there and I was shaking and I actually forgot the words.
GRACE: Oh my goodness!
CORBIN: I didn’t actually not sing. I just sang whatever came out of my mouth. So the first line I messed up, but I sang the line from the second verse. OK. So I sang the second verse. Then I go to the third verse and I’m like " I have no idea what I’m about to sing". So I just chopped up things I’d already sung and I pretty much made up the whole song. All of this with Stephen Schwartz, the actual writer, sitting right there.
GRACE: I get nervous too sometimes when I sing but what I find is once I start singing, it goes away.
CORBIN: That usually happens with me too, but it didn’t happen that night for some reason. It was because I messed up the very first line so I was off right from the start.
GRACE: I guess you weren’t very happy with that performance.
CORBIN: No I wasn’t. Me being the perfectionist that I am. All night I was going, "What was I doing!"
GRACE: You also do a lot of events for charity. Giving back is very important to you. I understand that you are an ambassador with the Starlight Foundation.
CORBIN: I’m actually a part of a couple different charities. Starlight Starbright is just one of them. A lot of times, the different charities approach you and they were one of the first that did approach me. I’ve done a lot for them. They are really hands-on with their charity. It’s not just about donations. I actually go to the hospitals and visit with the kids. I like that. I also just joined another group called Famous Phone Friends. I get the phone numbers for different kids in hospitals with various illnesses and I call them up to say hi and just to talk to them.
GRACE: …and give them a few words of encouragement.
CORBIN: Yeah, but really just to make them happy. When you’re in that kind of situation, it can be hard. And it makes you feel good. That’s exactly why I do it. You know that you made a difference in that person’s life.
GRACE: That’s very nice. So tell me, do you have a nickname that people call you?
CORBIN: Yes I do. It’s right here on my ring. Bleuman. My dad’s been calling me that since I was born. It’s always been my nickname. I also have a belt buckle that says it. My corporation is Bleuman. Bleuman is everything.
GRACE: You know what’s crazy? My favorite color is blue.
CORBIN: You know what’s crazy? My favorite color isn’t blue.
GRACE: What is your favorite color?
CORBIN: Gold.
GRACE: Well that’s a good color too. So tell me something else that no one in a million years would ever guess about you.
CORBIN: Hmmm? My entire room is in leopard.
GRACE: OH WOW!
CORBIN: Because my favorite colors are gold and black. So you figure leopard spots. In fact, here, I’ve got a leopard on my phone. I’m obsessed with leopards.
GRACE: So where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
CORBIN: That’s a good question. I really want to get into directing and producing as well. Now with the music career, hopefully that will take off. I also want to do alot of feature films. The fact that I like to do different things, I want to play different characters. I want to be able to play in a horror movie. I want to be able to do an action film; completely opposite characters. One reason why I look up to Johnny Depp is because he’s able to play just about any character. He plays Willy Wonka, then he does something like Pirates Of The Caribbean and then something completely different like Finding Neverland.
GRACE: You’re a triple threat; actor, singer, dancer. What’s next for Corbin Bleu?
CORBIN: It’s funny, I’ve been learning all these different skills. I learned basketball with High School Musical. I learned jump rope and boxing with Jump In. I said the next movie I want to do, it’s got to be either ice skating or swimming.
GRACE: OK. Let’s see. I’ll say something and you give me a word or two to describe it.
CORBIN: OK
GRACE: High School Musical?
CORBIN: Energetic.
GRACE: Your family?
CORBIN: Close
GRACE: Your life?
CORBIN: Oh wow! Eventful. Surprising.
GRACE: Your career?
CORBIN: Taking off.
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If you want to learn even more about
Corbin Bleu, pick up his new book,
Corbin Bleu Up Close and check out his website at CorbinBleu.com.
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Hi. This is Grace. I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I enjoyed doing it. I just want to say thank you again to Mr. Reivers for setting this up and to Corbin for spending the time with me. Thanks also for inviting me to the concert and letting me hang out afterwards. You guys are probably the nicest people in Hollywood. You deserve all the success that’s coming to you. And let me tell you, it’s going to be a lot.
Ti Amo.
