Fresh from the High School Musical 3 press conference on Friday, the cast of the highly successful made-for-TV movie headed out to Utah to shoot their third installment, which will hit the big screen for the first time this October.  During the press conference, the cast talked about some major developments in the plot and characters of the third movie, which will follow the Wild Cats in their last year in high school.

Vanessa Hudgens, who plays squeaky clean and super sweet Gabriella Montez since High School Musical's debut in January 2006, says that the third movie is “the last chapter for the Wildcats.”  Nonetheless, she says it's good to be back in Utah, as it definitely “feels like home—being back here with everyone, it's amazing.”

As for the new characters we're going to meet in the third movie, Hudgens assures us that “they're all real characters that you know and see in high school.”

In addition, director Kenny Ortega says that he is truly inspired by his mentor, Gene Kelly, who appeared most notably in the film Singin' in the Rain.

“One great thing I learned from Gene Kelly was how to design choreography for the camera versus designing choreography for the stage,” Ortega said in the HSM3 press conference.  “Gene used to say there should be a raison d'etre—a reason for being.  What's at the center of everything?”

Zac Efron's Troy and Vanessa Hudgens' Gabriella seemed to be at the center of the first two movies, with the plot including their growing relationships with their peers.  On the third installment however, they promise to bring in more developments and individual outlook, as the characters are now in the pivotal point in their lives—senior year.

Meanwhile, Hudgens still has other non-HSM endeavors in hand, as she is set to release her sophomore album entitled “Identified” come June 24.  Moreover, she recently landed the list of People's 100 Most Beautiful of 2008.  In fact, she did her People photo shoot without make-up, saying, “Just recently I've learned to be okay with myself without wearing makeup....I started taking care of my skin and realized I didn't need as much as I thought I did.”

The 19-year-old self-admitted “Christian Louboutin freak” told Glamour magazine that she adores style icons Mary-Kate Olsen, Victoria Beckham and Nicole Richie because they “have fun with fashion.”  The best thing for Hudgens when it came to clothing and style is feeling “feminine and sexy—just how a girl should!”


-Valerie Anne del Castillo, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Glamour, People, E!, MTV
(Photo courtesy of People)