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13-year-old actor rakes in the business
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Actors twice his age would kill for Acworth teen Justin Martin’s current career trajectory. Buzz readers will recall Martin recently earned praise for his performance in the Kenny Leon-directed ABC TV adaptation of “A Raisin in the Sun.”
Poor thing. Now, Martin has landed a role in “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” the latest sequel to the ultra popular Disney franchise.
Martin, 13, has been cast as one of three new sophomore students for “High School Musical 3,” which will begin filming soon in Utah for theatrical release in October.
Other new cast members include Matt Prokop and Jemma McKenzie-Brown. Returning stars include Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Ortega.
Martin, who found his calling as an actor at age 7 when he appeared in a play in a Decatur church, earlier portrayed Young Simba on Broadway in “The Lion King.”
But the “High School” role has the potential to launch Martin into the tween stratosphere, especially since Efron, Hudgens, Bleu and crew have made no secret about wanting to move on after the second sequel wraps. And well, Disney (being Disney) will likely want to keep the franchise going as long as the Mouse House is making plenty of cheese from the franchise.
BRYAN-MICHAEL COX STAYING BUSY
Buzz got Atlanta’s Grammy-winning songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox on the phone to talk about the online talent search he and Colgate-Palmolive launched this week, but first we opted to chat him up about:
Mariah Carey: “L.A. [Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid] just paged me and told me I’m going to have the second single on her album.” Cox also had a hand in her monster ballad “We Belong Together.” “I’m also working on Usher’s new record, Mya’s new single, Trey Songz, Monica. Brandy’s been in and out of Atlanta, and we’ve been working with her. I just reunited with the twins in Jagged Edge, so we’ll be doing something. Q Parker [from Atlanta R&B quartet 112] and my group, Dirty Rose, as well.”
His growing TV exposure :”Yeah, being on ‘Making the Band’ [working with the group Day 26, in stores this week] was a good look for me, too. I also did that show ‘VH1 Man Band,’ which was just greenlit for a second season. We did that in Orlando the first time around, but what I’m trying to propose to VH1 is that the Atlanta community is involved this time around. I’m also developing ‘The Studio — Exposed.’ It’s something we did on YouTube that Viacom is interested in, about how we make music. And how what happens around us, in the studio, influences that.”
The talent search: “Doing something online is just a natural progression for the music industry,” he said of the “MaxFresh Video Music Competition.” “People forget that [Atlanta rapper] Soulja Boy was discovered that way.”
Interested artists can upload video auditions at www.myspace.com/colgatemaxfresh through April 14. Prizes include an original song written and produced by Cox. And Cox himself has offered some tips, exclusively for the Atlanta Music Scene blog on ajc.com.
‘AMERICA’S NEXT TOP STALKER’?
A man charged with stalking Tyra Banks has been ordered to stay away from the host of “America’s Next Top Model” or face going to jail.
Brady Green, according to a criminal complaint, has followed Banks from coast to coast since January, sent her letters and flowers, and tried to telephone her. Last week he was issued a court order requiring him to leave her alone.
Green, of Dublin in Middle Georgia, was arrested when he showed up several times March 18 at the Manhattan building where “The Tyra Banks Show” is taped and asked to speak to her, a misdemeanor complaint filed in Criminal Court says.
The complaint says building custodian Edward Troiano told police Green also had appeared at Banks’ Los Angeles studio “on multiple occasions” and asked to speak to her. He said Green had sent her letters and flowers there and had tried to reach her there by phone at least five times, the complaint says.
Banks, 34, told police that Green’s actions had caused her to fear that she was in danger.
Police charged Green, 37, with stalking, criminal trespass and harassment.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Leonard Nimoy is 77. Actor Alan Arkin is 74. Actor James Caan is 68. Singer Diana Ross is 64. Singer Steven Tyler (right) of Aerosmith is 60. Actress Jennifer Grey is 48. Actor Michael Imperioli (“The Sopranos”) is 42. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 40. Actor T.R. Knight (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 35. Actress Keira Knightley (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) is 23. Rapper J-Kwon is 22.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Uh, terrorists, can you please hurry up and kill us all?
Seriously.”
Gawker.com reader posting a review after watching Monday night’s season premiere of the brain cell snuffing-yet-addictive MTV docusoap “The Hills.”
Contributing: Sonia Murray, Alan Smithee and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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