Tagline: For fashion. For friendship. For real. High school is about to get a makeover.
The highly popular dolls BRATZ finally come alive in BRATZ, the first live action feature film based on the chic fashion dolls. As the Bratz navigate their way through this story, we will see how the four young women represent honesty, camaraderie and most importantly friendship.
As long as they can remember, Yasmin (Nathalia Ramos), Jade (Janel Parrish), Sasha (Logan Browning) and Cloe (Skyler Shaye) have been “BFF” – Best Friends Forever. Inseparable since they first met, the young girls have always supported each other’s individual personalities, talents and fabulous fashion styles. But now as the foursome enter Carry Nation High, Yasmin, Jade, Sasha and Cloe face a brand new world: a blackboard jungle, where for the first time they discover life as a teenager means dealing with a system of social cliques, all strictly enforced by student body president Meredith Baxter Dimly.
Finding themselves being pulled further and further apart, the girls band together and rise up as “the Bratz” to fight peer pressure, in turn learning how true empowerment means standing up for your friends, being true to oneself and living out one’s dreams & aspirations. The story is a journey that touches upon everyday teenage life; a world full of laughter and celebration; where the multi-ethnicities of the girls is embraced and where the definition of family means loving single moms, divorced parents trying to make it work, a large supportive family or as in Jade’s case, the daughter of an immigrant. BRATZ is directed by Sean McNamara, produced by Avi Arad, Steven Paul and Isaac Larian, and executive produced by Benedict Carver.
Out Of The Box – Bratz Girls Come To Life
“BRATZ is X-Men for girls,” says Avi Arad, the producer behind such notable blockbusters as the “Spider-Man,” trilogy, “The Hulk,” three “X-Men” features, “The Fantastic Four,” “The Punisher,” “Ghost Rider” and a string of other #1 box office successes. So what was it about this project that inspired this legendary producer to take on the task of bringing the #1 fashion doll in the marketplace to life? Friendship… the same theme and value that embodies what BRATZ is all about.
“Isaac is an old friend of mine and he said he was wondering about making the dolls into a live action movie,” says Arad. “I said ‘I think I see my way through it’ and I became really interested in doing it.
“I felt that there is a story to be told to young girls that has to do with empowerment, with believing in yourself. Being a tween is a very tough age and the schoolyard is like a jungle. This movie is very special to me and I felt that BRATZ has the opportunity to appeal to the same philosophical issues as some of the other movies I’ve made like the X-Men films. What makes these dolls really unique is their diversity.”
“Fans have been asking for this kind of a BRATZ movie for a long time,” says Isaac Larian, CEO of MGA Entertainment, the dolls’ creator. “Avi Arad is a creative genius so I knew we would get the kind of film we wanted. This movie is about friendship, it’s about promoting diversity and acceptance of the people who are around you.”
Both these sentiments are echoed by producer Steven Paul, “Avi is Hans Christian Andersen reincarnated, he’s one of the great storytellers of all time,” Paul comments. “If you sit opposite him and you close your eyes, you’ll begin to envision an entire world. I loved the idea that there were these four girls who are best friends and the idea of kids going on a journey with them.”
Inherent in bringing a one-dimensional figure to life is how you create a backstory, a history that meshes and is easily communicated in a storyline designed to appeal to a young but savvy audience. With somewhat of a carte blanche, Arad explains what was at the core in giving breath to these dolls and humanizing them into characters that would resonate with kids.
“In order for you to make these dolls, these characters come to life, you have to expand their environment — you have to give them a home life, parents, aspirations, enjoyments, hobbies and dreams. In a movie you have the opportunity to take all of these things and surround them in real life — family, friends, going to school, talking about their fears, how do they overcome them and how does all that fit together so that kids can relate.”
Having a core audience in place may help in the sense that there is brand recognition but the other reality is there are also high expectations to live up to, especially in considering the sensitivities of loyal fans.
Larian speaks to those issues, “The challenges for us in making this live action versus animation was the girls who buy the dolls. They have their own imagination on how these dolls look. So are they going to be okay or disappointed when they see the live action, real people playing those characters?” asks Larian. “But I think we’ve got a great, great cast and a terrific story so I’m sure our fans will love this film.”
For director Sean McNamara, taking the journey of transforming the dolls into real girls was a great opportunity to work once again with young actors (which is his trademark) as well as exploring another dynamic of filmmaking.
“I chose to direct BRATZ because it’s in my wheelhouse — it’s my genre. I love working with talented actors who are young and just finding themselves. I’ve had the good fortune of finding Shia Lebouf, Jessica Alba and Hilary Duff and directed them in their first television series. BRATZ was a great opportunity to do a film that is a brand and I’ve never done that before. Also, I really like being involved in making great family movies.”
Arad offers insight to what makes a good film. “To make an emotional movie, you have to concentrate on a storyline that works – you want the girls to be cool and to be role models and to do both, you need to tie down their lives.
“Our job as filmmakers is to start from a point of view and inject personalities,” adds Arad. “We have a responsibility and an opportunity to tell a lot more about these dolls by bringing them to life, kids will see different life lessons, life experiences. What is the language? The language we use is music, fashion and friendship.”
The producers were thrilled when they knew they landed the right director, someone who shared the same vision and that had the right sensibilities to work with a young cast.
“Sean is a bright, big teddy bear,” says Arad. “This movie is fun, it’s edgy but it’s really positive. You want a guy that understands and feels our script is full of moments about self-sacrifice, not in an over-the-top way, but just what kids do for other kids. There is a real sense of justice and redemption and that’s a journey Sean was interested in.
“When you’re cutting scenes you want to be able to say, ‘Wow this guys feels the emotion, delivers the emotion and gives the kids an environment to act in.’ Sean gets everything he needs out of these kids in a really fun and respectful way. We were very lucky to get him,” says Arad.
With BRATZ being the hottest selling fashion doll, the open casting call lured thousands of girls across the country to the Los Angeles offices of Crystal Sky.
As Paul recalls, the task seemed daunting at times as the line of girls auditioning seemed infinite. “Casting the four BRATZ was really, really difficult, there were many choices because there’s not just one talented kid out there. Each one has something special that they bring; either they’re a great dancer or someone is a better singer or there’s a little dramatic element to them, so what you end up looking for is somebody that has sort of the best of everything.”
Arad adds, “We looked for girls who gave us a good vibe in the room about themselves and we watched them rehearse together. We also watched their parents. You can tell a lot by meeting the parents of young kids.
“These girls worked really hard to get their roles and we saw so many others that were amazing but at the end of the day you have to pick four. We were also extremely lucky with Chelsea Staub who plays our antagonist, Meredith — she’s an amazingly talented actress.”
For Janel Parrish who plays Jade, she saw the stars working in her favor. “It was kind of ironic when I went to audition because I had just done a voice-over for a BRATZ commercial so I thought it must be a sign. I first tried out for the part of Yasmin and didn’t get it so I took off to Florida with my sister when I got called back to come in and audition for the part of Jade. When my manager called me to say I got the role, I was jumping up and down yelling ‘Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?’ I was so excited, it still hasn’t sunk in.”
For Logan Browning, she flew all the way out to Los Angeles from Atlanta to try for the role of Sasha and was soon told they passed on her. “After they told me I didn’t get it, I went back home and just as I made my peace with it; they called me back to try it again. This time I got it and I was the happiest person on earth,” says Logan.
Nathalia Ramos who plays Yasmin was already in the back of McNamara’s mind after auditioning her for a television series the previous year. “I met her for the first time last year when I was casting for a family show,” says McNamara. “Although she wasn’t right for that at the time, I told my casting director ‘You got to keep a pin in her, we’ve got to know where she’s going.’ When this movie came about I said, ‘Get Nathalia in here.’ She can act, she’s gorgeous, and she’s the right age.”
Skyler Shaye thought her nerves wouldn’t hold out; she got called back six times before landing the role of Cloe. She said that the role wasn’t locked down until they screen tested her and Nathalia together.
Co-producer Kyla Kraman tells about the casting of Meredith. “Chelsea Staub is actually the first person we auditioned for the role, which is a story I love to tell because that almost never happens. What I love about this role is that it’s not just some mean girl and that’s it. Meredith is very happy and friendly, willing to help everyone on the outside and then with a turn of a head, you get a look and you just know she has another agenda. Chelsea walked into the audition and just nailed it.” With cast in place and script in hand, BRATZ went into production.
The Story
Some say that friendship isn’t truly appreciated until it’s tested. This hard lesson certainly isn’t lost on the BRATZ as they navigate their way, individually and collectively, through the trials and tribulations of high school life.
We first encounter the BRATZ getting ready for their first day as freshmen where staying BFFs (Best Friends Forever) is a given between the girls. However, the foursome has never been exposed to the pressures of fitting in and being dictated to by a strict set of social protocol based on cliques.
As the girls expand their horizons, meeting new friends and pursuing their different interests — Jade with her science club, Sasha gets in with the cheerleading squad, Cloe hangs with her soccer team — they soon lose touch with each other. Between homework, socializing and club activities, the BRATZ ‘s friendship falls by the wayside.
Ruling the school like a prison is Principal Dimly (Jon Voight) whose daughter Meredith, embraces the same austere and stern mannerisms of the school’s namesake, Carry Nation. Meredith keeps control of the students by organizing everyone in cliques, and any deviance from her plan unleashes terrifying wrath, where “take no prisoners” is her mantra. Chelsea gives us a picture on how Meredith sees the world and adjusts her behavior accordingly.
“Meredith is student body President, wins the talent show every year and basically the archnemesis of the BRATZ. She’s a type-A personality, a perfectionist, highly competitive, insecure about her status and she’ll win at any costs. It’s all about her in her mind. The way she can get control over the students is by the old divide and conquer strategy, she assigns students to specific cliques and makes sure they don’t stray – and it works until the BRATZ get to Carry Nation High.”
As the story unfolds, we skip two years ahead to where the BRATZ are now juniors and barely acknowledge each other. But just as their fates seemed locked, the stars intervene. Cloe unwittingly causes an all out food fight in the courtyard which lands the four girls in detention, the first time in two years that they are together. Initially the detention period starts with them hurtling insults at each other, they’re full of pointing fingers and blaming anyone but themselves for their estrangement.
Ironically, it’s Yasmin who’s kept pretty much to herself, who holds up the mirror and reminds them that they were once inseparable, they were once a family, a support system. As the BRATZ do some soul searching they reflect back on what’s happened to them and how did it happen — cliques. The girls vow to never let anyone or anything separate them again. The four girls embark on a mission to unite Carry Nation under one banner, where empowerment means standing up for yourself, for your friends and most of all, recognizing and celebrating diversity.
That sounds easier said than done, especially Meredith feeling her control slipping away, decides to hold nothing back by planning her second Sweet 16 Party, hosted by none other than MTV. It’s at this party where the BRATZ’s friendship is truly put the test.
“We have a tendency as humans to put each other down and it’s a way to elevate ourselves and this movie fights all that,” says Arad. “The most important element in this kind of movie is wish fulfillment, live out your dream but really live it out. Give it a shot!
It’s also about diversity and discrimination. Discrimination doesn’t have to be heavy-handed, it can be not being given the opportunity to do what you really want. We have a bunch of girls who learn very quickly that the best thing they have is their friendship and their trust in each other. It’s like that line, ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”
As McNamara explains, the story drew on the personal experiences of the filmmakers as they recounted to each other their own memories of high school and fitting in.
“The producers, writers and I hung out and talked about the fact that we had all lost friendships during high school, not because you want to but you start meeting new people and start hanging out with people that are into the same things as you,” says McNamara.
“This theme of cliques still happens even when you grow up, it’s in the business world — hey they are everywhere. I think that’s what I’m trying to say with this movie is that you don’t have to be part of a clique exclusively. You can have friends all over the place and still be with kids that are into what you’re into…be with your jock friends, your science friends, whomever.”
“We talk a lot about cliques in this movie,” says Janel Parrish who plays Jade. “Not necessarily to cut down them down but to show that they do exist and you don’t necessarily have to belong to one. I know when I was in high school I didn’t belong to a clique. I had friends that were in band, that were cheerleaders, science club. There are a lot of pressures in high school for young girls to belong to a clique and to have a certain place. But this movie shows that you just have to be yourself, no matter what. You don’t have to always be what you think other people want you to be.”
Nathalia being in high school herself says the story definitely speaks in an authentic voice. “This movie is spot on about hitting real issues. I recently made the transition into high school and I know how hard it is. A very similar thing happened to me with my best friend. We’d been in separable since second grade but once we got to high school we started hanging out with different kids and before you know it we didn’t see each other at all,” says the fifteen-year old.
Arad reinforces this idea of celebrating differences and not limiting yourself to just those that you feel are like you. “It’s okay if you hang out with the dyno-guys or cheerleaders…you’re entitled to that and you should — these are people you have something in common with. But it doesn’t mean that there are social barriers there. Give someone a chance and you’ll find out you have more in common that not. Cliques are something to overcome in this world — that’s the social system and if we can unite kids without taking away their individuality, that’s fantastic.
Logan Browning feels very passionate about the opportunity to reach young people at a particularly important time in their lives. “Each of the BRATZ girls has a very different family background and a very different clique they are drawn to so I think everyone will relate to that. Friendships are so important because you can think that you can go to school and be by yourself and be the coolest girl but without true friends, you’re going to be stuck in your life.
“This movie will help young girls see that nobody has the perfect life. People live differently. It’s the 21st century and anything can happen and this movie really helps young girls open up their eyes and to see that — we are all different, we’re not supposed to be the same. That’s what makes you special,” says Logan.
The Bratz
Nathalia Ramos was drawn to the role of Yasmin because she feels like Yasmin is a kindred spirit because so much of her character resonates in her real life.
“Yasmin comes from a very mixed family— she’s Latin and Jewish which is a really unique combination but ironically that’s what I am. My father’s from Spain and Catholic and my mom is from Australia and Jewish. I can relate to Yasmin because she really loves music and wants to sing. The difference between us is that Yasmin is really shy about singing but I love performing,” Nathalia says with a hearty laugh.
“Yasmin is also very independent and self-minded. She knows what she wants. She loves journalism and she also desperately wants to sing but has crippling stage fright. I think a lot of kids will identify with her because everyone has fears and wants to overcome them.”
“Jade is very feisty with lots of attitude,” offers Janel Parrish “She’s very stubborn and says what’s on her mind at the particular moment. But that’s why her friends love her: because she just says how it is. She’s bi-racial — her mom’s is Asian and very traditional and wants Jade to focus on her academics but Jade wants to be a fashionista. She leads kind of a double life where she goes to school wearing mom-approved outfits but as soon as she gets there she’ll change into something “Jade-ified,” as we call it on set. She’ll cut up clothes, put blue streaks in her hair— she’s a bit rebellious. I can relate to Jade because I’m bi-racial and I know what it’s like to have to struggle with the traditional influences of one culture and then kind of wanting to be yourself and step outside the box. When I was younger I went through the some of the same kind of things that Jade goes through. But now that I’m a bit older, I think I’ve found the balance.”
For Logan Browning, she explains that maybe in some aspects, Sasha and herself have six degrees of separation. “Sasha is African American and she’s a cheerleader.. She’s not very outspoken but she’s a leader. She’s very glamorous and has great fashion sense but she doesn’t follow trends — she has style because trends come and go. So she wears what she wants and what she wants says a lot about her. Sasha and I both love to dance and I was once a cheerleader so we’re similar in that way. Differences, I’m not glamorous I just throw on whatever I feel good in, I’m really laid back when it comes to clothes.”
Skyler Shaye says there are some talents that her character Cloe has that she wouldn’t mind having and others she’s a dead ringer for. “I’m not really very athletic so I’d love to be like the girls’ equivalent to David Beckham — that would be awesome. Cloe like me can be a little clumsy and I’m not a dancer so I had to work really hard to get the dance moves down in the musical numbers.”
For Arad, celebrating diversity and having characters that represent the multi-ethnicity and various socio-economic realities in our backyard is what he is most inspired by and takes the most joy in.
“What we have here is the League of Nations with a passion for fashion. More importantly however, the movie offers everyone a place to talk about what does it mean to believe in yourself and we explore that in a backdrop of fun, music, dance and fashion.
“For me what’s really important when you make a movie for this age group is leaving them with something. It’s not being preachy but I believe that the thing that kids need the most is selfesteem and unfortunately I don’t think they get enough in the schoolyard. If kids come out of this movie feeling good and feeling better about each other saying, ‘I wish I hadn’t done that to this girl last year’… if we can make them think about the way they behave, that’s a victory.”
What excites Paul is providing audiences with a film everyone can see together. “I know that young kids are really going to like the four girls and everything they stand for. They’re going to enjoy the acting, the singing and dancing but what I’m really looking forward to is that the whole family will be able to see this film and all come out having had a good time.”
“BRATZ is pure family fun. It’s a feel good movie about empowerment and I think people of all ages are going to love it because it’s a family film with a lot of heart and a lot of laughter,” adds McNamara.
And what do the BRATZ themselves say, “This film has tons of laughter, awesome music, amazing fashion and is a great story about friendship — this movie is all about BRATITUDE!”
Production notes provided by Lionsgate Films.
Bratz: The Movie
Starring: Nathalia Ramos, Skyler Shaye, Logan Browning, Janel Parrish, Chelsea Staub, Anneliese van der Pol, Malese Jow, Stephan Lunsford, Jon Voight, Lanie Kazan, Emily Everhard
Directed by: Sean McNamara
Screenplay by: Susan Estelle Jansen
Release Date: August 3rd, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements.
Studio: Lionsgate Films
Box Office Totals
Domestic: $10,010,209 (38.5%)
Foreign: $16,002.274 (61.5%)
Total: $26,012,483 (Worldwide)