An Interview with: Zac Efron Zac Efron is a young man on the edge of stardom. He has been on stage since he was eleven, performing in musical theater. A guest shot on the television show Summerland turned into a recurring role for him. His performance in the Lifetime’s Miracle Run won Zac a nomination for a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Mini-series or Special – Supporting Young Actor. But, it has been the Disney Channel’s Original Movie High School Musical that has given Zac the most acclaim. This TV movie has become the biggest hit for the network, scoring blockbuster ratings and a double platinum soundtrack. Zac has the distinction of being the first singing artist to debut two charted songs the same week on the February 4, 2006 Billboard Hot 100. The following week there were five song credits for Zac on the charts simultaneously.

As he sat down with a group of reporters in the fashionable Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, there was a quiet confidence in his demeanor. He laughed at himself when his voice cracked and seemed in awe that a group of adults would be interested in what he had to say. Even though he is much sought after as a performer, Zac is very much a polite and gracious young man.

This movie High School Musical has been called Grease of its generation. How does it feel to be compared to performers of the caliber of Olivia Newton John or John Travolta?
It is an honor. We (the cast) have been admiring their work for so long. Even to be thought of in the same light is just a pleasure.

Where you surprised by the phenomenon of High School Musical?
Everyone said how great it looked in the dailies, but we’re in the industry and we’re used to hearing that. You have to take everything with your own grain of salt. I was expecting the worst just for my own sanity. We realized that is was hopefully going to be a good product by the time we finished. But after it aired we just watched everything take off and watching everyone’s reaction (was amazing).

Were you a drama geek in school?
I was a drama cool guy. The second you step on stage and fall in love it with it; you are a drama geek. I think drama geeks are cool. But they are drama aficionados. I was never part of the theater program in high school, but I was in theater.

Your character Troy is the captain of the basketball team. How are your skills on the basketball court?
I’m not very good at basketball but I redeemed myself with this movie.

What is so appealing about your character Troy?
The thing that makes Troy so cool in the movie is that he doesn’t consider himself cool. You have to be cool without playing cool--to be modest.

What were your friend’s reactions to your sudden fame?
(The cast) are all experiencing this for the first time. I am lucky enough to have friends so far from the industry that they don’t care. I come home and it’s a reality check. It’s a free coupon to deflate your head. It is great to go home and hang out. I’m the same kid. It is when you are in the industry with actors and actresses that maybe your perspective gets changed.

What was your first reaction on seeing High School Musical as a Number One recording?
Oh, they have a typo here! High School Musical--what’s that? You see Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, High School Musical… Really? No way.

Did you have any role models growing up?
I didn’t have a role model growing up. I like Arnold Schwarzenegger because he was a cool superhero guy. I wish I could do action films. How cool would that be -- MI 4. It would be very neat.

Your co-star in High School Musical was Vanessa Anne Hudgens. What was the audition process with her like?
We got paired from the very beginning of the interview process. Somehow the casting directors knew. Immediately we started having fun. It was an audition and we knew that we had a slim shot from the very beginning. We went in and gave it all we could. At the end of the day our headshots were still together and we were still performing. When they let everyone go home, we were still a group. They picked us from the beginning.

You are on the cover of magazines such as Tiger Beat. How do you feel about being a teen heartthrob?
How do I feel about being a heartthrob? That is a loaded question. It is a great feeling. I am very thankful and I realize that I got very lucky.

As a heartthrob what do you look for in a date?
I think a girl should be really easy to talk to. I think it’s great at the end of the night when you look at your watch and say “Oh my gosh, I gotta leave” when you’ve been talking for several hours.

What do you do in your spare time?
Hanging out, surfing and traveling. We get to go to Australia, London and Singapore (for the press tour). Our schedules have gotten more hectic.

Any fear of being typecast in high school roles?
It is tough not to be typecast after this role so I’m looking for a meaty role (in the future).

What is next for Zac? Do you have a game plan?
We are going to try and do it again (the High School Musical sequel is expected in 2007). But, we are going to have to work. A game plan? Absolutely not, it’s all up to the next job. We are all just actors who can sing and dance a little bit.

What are your feelings about High School Musical as a family film?
You have to watch the movie from a kid’s perspective. You have to take it for what it is -- a small budget film (that took off). It’s great that parents and kids can watch the movie together and not feel awkward.

High School Musical is available on DVD May 23