By Naomi Kirsten

Monique Coleman talks about life before High School Musical, and takes DG behind the scenes of the sequel! Check it out!

DG: How has your life changed since the success of High School Musical?

Monique: One of the biggest ways is that less than a year ago I was working regular jobs, from babysitting to selling purses and handbags to waitressing. I was a struggling actress, and now I feel like I’m really able to live my dream!

Did you always believe that your dream was in reach?

I was working really hard back then. Each thing I did made me feel one step closer to my goals. I was learning something on every acting job, something I could take with me to my next project. I’ve always believed in putting your best foot forward and working as hard as you possibly can on everything you do, because you never know what’s going to happen.

What have you learned from working on the HSM movies?

I’ve learned that, as an actress, you always have freedom. [Director] Kenny Ortega gives us the opportunity to help develop our characters. I contribute to what costumes I wear. It’s taught me to be involved—not to take over, but to listen first and then come up with ideas and bring them to the table.

Did you make any suggestions for Taylor in the first film?

Yes. They asked me what kind of book bag I wanted for her and I said, “I don’t want a book bag. I want a rolling suitcase because I don’t think Taylor would want to carry anything.” I take my character very seriously.

What was a typical rehearsal day for High School Musical 2 like? 

The rehearsal process started in pre-production. The cast would get together and the choreographers would teach us the dances. In this film, all of the principal actors—me, Ashley, Zac, Vanessa, Corbin, and Lucas—learned the dances at the same time as the principal dancers in the film. That was really a testament to how much each of us has grown over the last year and a half. Our dancing had really improved!

What was the filming process like?

The musical numbers could take anywhere from one to four days to film. Regular scenes can take all day and depend on the number of angles they need, how many people are in the scene, and the location. We also have to deal with the weather and environment. St. George, Utah, where the movie was filmed, is very dusty! There was a lot of sand everywhere, so we had to make sure that the sand wasn’t blowing into the shot, or that the sun was in the right position. You can't exactly tell the sun where to be, so it’s really up to the crew to get the scene done as fast as possible so we wouldn't have to worry about what happens when the sun went down!

What advice do you have for a girl who may want to reach for her dreams, but is scared to because of what people at school might think?

It’s hard right now but it’s hard for everyone. It’s important to realize that some people will grow with you and others will grow apart from you. Think about the kind of person you want to be years from now, and whether the things you are doing now are the steps you need to take to get to that place. Sometimes, those things may not line up with what your friends are doing or who they are. Those are the times when you have to picture yourself older, doing the job you want to do, living the life that you want to live. That should give you the courage and confidence to be yourself

For more on Monique, check out the Girls' Survival Guide 2007!. And don't miss Monique in High School Musical 2, Friday (August 17) at 8 p.m. on Disney Channel.