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— by Larry Carroll
Imagine a world where the president of the United States chooses to ignore the press, focusing instead on his own black-and-white view of the world — even as his approval ratings collapse. Consider a reality in which tens of millions of eyeballs are regularly glued to a ridiculously successful TV program featuring wannabe singing stars competing for fame and fortune while a heartless judge mocks their aspirations. Ponder, for a moment, an era in which terrorists hope to come up with a scheme to destroy the very things that America holds dear.
The comedy "American Dreamz" is being marketed as a work of fiction. This is one dream, however, that doesn't require much imagination on the part of its audience.
"He's Simon, all right," actor Tony Yalda recently admitted of the inspiration for Hugh Grant's tough-talking judge Martin Tweed. (Yalda plays an unknowing cog, caught up in the scheme to destroy America's favorite reality show.) "But there's a little bit of that weird, sleazy Ryan Seacrest vibe creeping in there too."
Similarly, Dennis Quaid is hardly denying that the nation's current leader was his inspiration for President Staton, a clueless, publicity-conscious politician hoping an appearance as a celebrity judge will increase his popularity. When Yalda's character and those around him cook up a plan to get a contestant — their contestant — to the final round, simultaneously taking out the president and the game show, the film takes on a provocative tone that will hardly keep the brain of the average American idle.
"We're not completely similar," actress/singer Mandy Moore insisted when discussing her character, aspiring singer Sally Kendoo. "The reason why she's driven is sort of that sense of insecurity, which I think is rooted in all of us. It's why she acts the way she does, but also why she has that desperation for fame — to escape the life that she's leading."
"I don't think she necessarily knows what's in store for her, but anything's better than the situation she's in right now," Moore continued, filling in some of the details of her small-town character's motivations. "I don't know if I necessarily relate, in that sense, but I have a bit of that fire in me. I obviously did when I was younger and starting out."
"But," she added, grinning. "I'd like to think I'm not as manipulative and conniving as Sally is."
So, not everything in "American Dreamz" is meant to be taken as a literal reflection of reality. But that doesn't mean that the cast isn't very much captivated by a blockbuster show with crooning contestants.
"Chris!" Yalda loudly affirmed when asked to name his pick for this season's "American Idol" winner. "Chris is the sex god, a good dad, and he's got the little sad story."
"I like Elliott," offered Sam Golzari, the film's terrorism-sponsored contestant, Omer. "Elliott has diabetes."
"Oh, diabetes, everyone has diabetes these days," the skeptical Yalda shot back. "But Chris has two children. He put his dream on hold. Vote for him, America. Vote for Chris!"
Moore, who's also an "Idol" fan, said she thinks Chris will win, "But I like Taylor Hicks and I like Elliott.
"I don't know how to pronounce his last name," she continued, laughing. "But I like him."
"I watch the show, and I love the show," Moore said of her "Idol" obsession. "I don't want to be mean to anyone, but there were a couple of people — not from this season, obviously, because we filmed 'Dreamz' like a year ago — but, I had my eye on a couple of people and imagined what they were like off-camera, and perhaps used that as a little bit of inspiration."
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Still in her early 20s, Mandy Moore has already proven herself a versatile screen star. Here are a few films that feature her in diverse roles:
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"I think I captured a little bit of America's insanity, and I'm proud of that," Yalda suggested, adding that his character was also based on a few of his favorite "Idol" contestants over the years. "All those auditions that I watched, where there's always that one closeted gay guy who comes in and says, 'I want to be a star!' I think I embodied that."
"Since day one when that show came on, with Kelly Clarkson, I was there; I know the pains and triumphs of 'American Idol,' " boasted Yalda. "I cry with them any time they show those little clips, 'Let's just have a little moment with the contestants.' "
In fact, one former contestant's early moments proved to be the ultimate inspiration for the "Dreamz" actors.
"Fantasia's audition stuff," Yalda remembered. "We had it on set and I'd watch it in the trailer, and I was just like, 'Oh my God.' I would start crying, because I heard her version of 'Summertime.' Beautiful. It was just stunning. I loved her."
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