“I’m gonna live forever! I’m gonna learn how to fly—high!” If those words stir inspiration in your heart, then you, my friend, are a Fame junkie. The 1980 musical drama about high school kids with big dreams has had a long life as a kitsch classic, but like all good or even slightly-good things from the 80s, its now destined for a remake. They announced the project a while ago but now they’ve finally selected a director—Kevin Tancharoen, a choreographer and dancer who will be making his directorial debut.
The 23-year-old (!!!!! He’s my age and directing a major movie!) told Variety “I grew up in this world; the characters in Fame are me and my best friends. I was the dancer with the number on my chest, I was the choreographer watching my friends dance, and then I produced and directed dancers."
Now before you scream that it’s a terrible, awful idea to let a choreographer become a director, I’ll tell you that you’re both right and wrong. Susan Stroman was promoted from choreographer of the Broadway version of The Producers to direct the movie, and it was a giant flaming disaster. Adam Shankman, on the other hand, was an choreographer-turned-director of unremarkable comedies (Bringin’ Down the House, The Pacifier) until he used his dancin’ skills to direct the wondrous Hairspray. So the rule seems to be that, in dance-heavy movies, a choreographer-director is the best way to go.
I don’t know a thing about Tancharoen’s career, and even though I resent him insanely for taking home what is probably a million-dollar paycheck while I fight with payroll over my 3% raise, I think he can do a good job. He’s gonna make it to heaven! Light up the sky like a flame!
