The movie is centered around very different teenagers, all with a shared love of music.Plot
Will Burton is used to being bullied or completely ignored by his schoolmates, so when cool and popular former cheerleader Charlotte Barnes starts inviting him to spend time with her, the teenager is stunned — as is his single mom Karen. Impressed by his eclectic knowledge of music, Charlotte, a gifted singer-songwriter, asks Will to manage her rock/ska band. Her goal is to take revenge on her egocentric musician ex-boyfriend Ben Wheatley at a regional battle of the bands.Cast
Unsure of what he's getting himself into, Will agrees to help Charlotte's band, including Bug and Omar, eventually expanding it with a crew of like-minded outcasts. Against all odds, the group's sound starts to come together and their prospects for success look bright. Even more surprising, Will starts losing his "loser-status", up to the point there is a potential romance brewing with Sam (or Sa5m), a classmate with untapped musical talents.
Perpetually a misfit, Will strikes up a friendship with like-minded outsider Sam. They are both surprised when the school's "it" girl, Charlotte recruits Will to help assemble a band to compete in "Bandslam," a battle of the bands that is "Texas High School Football BIG." Charlotte's ex-boyfriend Ben Wheatly is poised to win with his band Glory Dogs - Springsteen wannabes down to their hats. For the first time in his life, Will finds he is uniquely suited to not only participate in something, but to truly make a difference.
Aly Michalka as Charlotte BarnesAlso they take part: David Bowie, Farah White, Bobby Bones, Blair Bomar, and others.
Vanessa Hudgens as Sam
Gaelan Connell as Will Burton
Scott Porter as Ben Wheatley
Lisa Kudrow as Karen Burton
Charlie Saxton as Bug
Tim Jo as Omar
BandSlam is directed by Todd Graff, the director and writer of Camp, independent film 2003 (nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival). Story by Josh A. Cagan, screenplay by Josh A. Cagan and Todd Graff.
This film (nowadays in production) is produced by Walden Media and Summit Entertainment. Filmed in Austin, Texas, and New York City. Previously titled Will and Rock On, film's definitive title is BandSlam.
Release Dates BandSlam: (july - november / 2009)
- in Brazil and Canada: July 31, 2009
- in United Kingdom: August 12, 2009
- in Australia: August 13, 2009
- in United States: August 14, 2009
- in Singapore: August 20, 2009
- in Netherlands: August 27, 2009
- in New Zealand: October 8, 2009
- in Italy: September 25, 2009
- in Germany: November 19, 2009
