Interview: Cassie Scerbo from Bring It On: In It To Win It

In Bring It On: In It To Win It, Southern California high-school senior Carson (Ashley Benson) arrives at the all-important “Cheer Camp Nationals” determined to lead her squad, the West High Sharks, to victory. But chic New Yorker Brooke (Cassie Scerbo) and her team, the East High Jets, are equally steadfast in their pursuit of the competition’s coveted “Spirit Stick.” As tension mounts between the two rival squads, Carson falls for fellow cheerleader Penn (Michael Copon), not realizing he’s a Jet. When Brooke discovers the budding romance, she raises the stakes by challenging Carson to a one-on-one cheer-off. A spectacular “cheer fighting” sequence erupts into a no-holds-barred brawl and cheerleaders on both sides are suspended from the competition. With their dreams of taking home the top prize all but shattered, the leaders of both squads realize they’ll have to take drastic measures to stay in the game.

We had the honor of sitting down with Cassie, who plays Brooke in the film, to talk about her role, the training that went into it, and about the young starlet’s future.

How would you compare this film to the previous ‘Bring It On’ films?

Well the similarities are obviously that you know that there is the two squads as in all The Bring It On. There is the captain who has a little more attitude, which I happen to play, and is a little bit more rude especially in this one I play a very mean character at least in the beginning. And there’s always the sweeter captain, the more wholesome, usually a less, um, what can I say, usually less urban type of captain. And this was the same with that. The difference is that this actually takes place in cheer camps which as most of the others take place in the school and then they all come together and they compete for the national and for their school. Where this one is all done at a cheer camp and we filmed at the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando and also in Universal which is really awesome cause we had a great location.

So that would be the difference, is that this one is more of a cheer camp not so much schools competing. And what’s really cool about this one, unlike like any other, this one has like a Westside story feel where there it is the East Coast Jazz and the West Coast Sharks, and I’m the captain of the East Coast and then there’s Corbin who is the captain of the West Coast. And we, we have this, this really cool cheer rumble in the middle which is kinda like choreographed cheer fighting. It’s really interesting, it’s really different.

Now did you have to do anything special to prepare for the film?

Yes I actually did. We actually had three weeks of cheer boot camp with Tony G who is the choreographer in Bring It On. And we had to learn, we are actually the first actors of any Bring It On to do all of our own stunts. Ashley and I learned how to fly and we we do the the whole ending stunt on our own which is the huge stunt that you know makes the whole movie and the finale. So that was really fun, and I don’t know it was great. I just, I am one of those people who is like, whatever I do, I have to go all out like I have, I’ve become so passionate about it. I also learned to do the flips backwards onto their hands and it’s a bit challenging at first but you just learn that to trust everyone who’s picking you up, and I have no problems with heights so it was really fun.

Was that your favorite part about filming? Doing your own stunts?

Um, sort of. I met someone really special on set who I am dating now.

Aw! Can you give us any details?

Well he’s in the move as well. All I can say is that in the movie his name is something you can write with.

Well congrats!

Thank you! So it’s been really, really amazing. It’s been really special!

Now this was your first movie correct?

Yeah. It’s my first big role in a movie. I’ve done things here and there but this is my first big role. I just, I finished uh a film with Pauly Shore, but like I said this is my first big role, big production.

Is it what you thought it would be at all or completely different?

It was what I thought it would be and even more. It was so amazing. I thought it was so cool that I had my own trailer and all these things. There were so many people on set… There where so many cheerleaders around all the time, and dancers, and like I am one of those really down to earth people, like even when the actors had their own tent I would be in the cheerleaders tent with all the guests. And, I just think it was so much fun! There were so many people on set to me, and it was great. It was everything I thought it be and more. And it’s what I’d loved to do forever. So, it was great, a great experience.

Awesome! Now you’re a member of a World champion dance group, right?

Yes, I am.

I guess that had to help you with filming this movie? Did you get to use any of your own moves or anything like that?

Yeah, I brought all my energy, and I brought everything from my dance ability into this movie. Cheering and dancing have a very common… they’re very similar. I mean the only thing that is different, I would say, with cheerleading is obviously the stunts, and it’s just a little more precise and sharp. So it was really cool being able to pick up the choreography quick, because I’ve been doing it for so long and I feel like performing it is just its own category, whether it be cheerleading or dancing. You’re a performer, I’m a performer, and it’s great to get the expressions that I would give in hip-hop all that ump and that attitude and incorporate them into the cheer world. I hope, in the movie, it proves that I just love performing whether it be dancing or cheering.

Do you want do more movies in the future? Or do you want do more dancing? Which tops out for you?

I really would love to be one of those celebrities, hopefully, that is not just an actor who turns singer or actor only singing because she is an actress. I really have a passion for all of it. I feel like whatever you doing you’re performer; you know you’re doing it for the audience. You’re telling a story whether it is singing and you know that you’re singing and expressing your soul and whatever you feel at that moment. And when you’re acting you should let go of everything and just let out how you feel, and I feel like it almost all contributes to one another which is really cool, and I want to do this forever.

I don’t know if you know, but I am also in a group called the Slumber Party Girls on CBS on Saturday mornings, and what’s really cool is that we are a singing group who also has our mini shows in between, so it shows that we can do all of it.

What’s next in the future for you? What can your fans look forward to?

Well there’s this thing of course and the Slumber Party Girls have a movie musical that’s going to be coming out. We start production probably in the next few months but I don’t know exactly when it will be coming out yet, or anything more about it. I do know that we have a deal with Mattel as well for Barbie dolls and toys. We are also signed to Geffen Records, so there will be more music. So lots of things with Slumber Party Girls I have to look forward to for!

Now is that going to be weird at all for you having like a Barbie doll modeled after you?

I think it’s the coolest thing ever. I think it’s so awesome. I can’t wait for kids to be able to have a little doll of me and be able to play with the slumber party doll. I think it’s so cool! It’s not weird at all!

Interview By: Emma Loggins