While you might not know he’s an avid collector of belt buckles (he’s got 90 of them), most teens know Corbin Bleu as one of the hottest new actors and singers on the rise today. The Brooklyn native topped the success of High School Musical with his lead role in Jump In! and then followed it up with the release of his solo album “Another Side.” And, there are no signs of slowing down.
I understand you celebrated your 18th birthday on the set of HSM2. How did you celebrate?
It was so crazy actually; the last three birthdays I’ve spent on sets. I had a photo shoot that morning and then I drove five hours to Salt Lake City [where they filmed HSM2] and then we had dinner. It was funny — I kind of worked on my birthday but then my birthday kind of continued for the next three days because they kept throwing me like these surprise parties.
You’ve had an outstanding year, especially independently with Jump In!’s phenomenal ratings; how has that been?
It’s incredible to be a part of HSM, the project that has launched Disney into this whole other level of success, and then to continue it with Jump In!, and I know HSM2 will yet again break the record. It’s a beautiful, amazing thing. I really feel blessed.
What’s one of your favorite memories shooting HSM2?
I feel my favorite part is just the first days going back into it. We ended up going into the dance studio and we were all a little nervous ’cause we all had to get back into this whole thing and remember what it was like. But it wasn’t like that at all; it’s like we never left. We didn’t have to go through the process of learning each other. We knew each other so well; we’ve done so much together. I think that was my favorite part, feeling like I was back home again.
How about your favorite dance sequence or song?
I Don’t Dance was definitely one of the most challenging numbers that we had. But, also, I feel it turned out really, really well and I am very proud of it. It’s just the answer — sports-wise — to ‘Get’cha Head in the Game’ and has the grandeur of ‘Stick to the Status Quo’ times 10.
Your character Chad in HSM is a sporty guy; are you in real life into sports?
I’m a very athletic person. I’m just not a sports person. I’m a dancer. I’m attracted to anything physical. It started when I was 2, I started to take tap and ballet when I was really young and I was actually accepted to the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.
I read somewhere that you come up with the slogans for the T-shirts you wear in the movie. How did that come about?
That was actually a really great situation. They came up to me and said they want Chad to have really cool sayings [and asked if I] would be willing to write some. I said, “I would love to.” So my mom and I actually sat at breakfast and were tossing back and forth ideas and laughing at each other, it was so funny. It’s really cool because kids always know them and they always come up to me and say, “I love what your shirt says.”
How are you like your character Chad?
I’m so like Chad because before every single game he gets so pumped and gets everyone else around him pumped, the same way I do before a show.
You seem like you have a lot of energy.
Yeah, I do. [laughing] I have three younger sisters ages 14, 5 and 3 — I play with them all the time. I’m very young at heart.
In this crazy Hollywood scene, who keeps you grounded?
My family. Between my parents and my sisters. I have an incredible family; we are all very close. We band together. We wouldn’t be anybody without each other. It’s incredible to be able to have people around me that support me as much as they do and love me as much as they do. I love them back.
Is there anything that scares you about this business?
Nothing scares me in this business. I know that as long as I keep in my own head, [I need to] keep myself true and right, and follow the right path. My thing is staying out of the Hollywood scene. I’m not a partier. I’m not a person who likes to get in a lot of trouble. I’m genuinely just a really good kid.