‘Bring It On’ Choreographer Tony G Chats New Sequel And Franchise’s Future

It’s finally here! “Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack,” the sixth “Bring It On” film, has arrived to put some cheer back in your end-of-summer mood.

Last week, International Business Times premiered an exclusive clip from the film, but now that the whole movie is here to watch, a full-on “Bring It On” commentary, in the form of an interview from the franchise’s choreographer Tony Gonzalez, is necessary. And readily available.

Gonzalez, known as Tony G, has choreographed all of the cheerleading films, except for the first one, and has a lot to share and reveal about this new installment, the casting process, working with Vivica A. Fox, Solange Knowles, Hayden Panettiere, and the franchise’s future. He even has the perfect celebrity in mind to star in a possible sequel. Keep reading to get all the scoop on everyone’s favorite cheerleading franchise!

International Business Times: How does the word “worldwide” from the title fit in with the movie’s theme?

Tony Gonzalez: In the world of cheerleading, people try to follow the western civilization way of doing cheer, but the best thing about our movie and what it’s trying to portray, is allowing people to not think that they have to look like a USA team. Be yourself, do you and show off what your country is all about.

IBT: What was the casting process like to find the film’s leads – Cristine Prosperi, Jordan Rodrigues and Sophie Vavasseur?

Gonzalez: There’s a big casting process. As a co-producer of this movie, I was able to sit in with our director on pretty much all of the casting. Everything kind of comes down to a mix of: can they dance, do they have some kind of cheer background, what’s their ability, and are they athletic? That’s kind of the breakdown of what we look for. I have to be honest, when I’m there to help out, I’m not even looking to see how good they are or how great they are. I’m just looking, do you fit the mold? I don’t even know what that mold is until their energy or their excitement that their delivering in their lines.

Like Jordan, I knew he danced, but I didn’t know he danced. And Cris and Sophie said that they dabbled a little bit here and there and again I didn’t know what a little bit here and there meant.

IBT: Does Vivica A. Fox do any choreography in the film? What was it like working with her?

Gonzalez: Vivica Fox does not do any choreography at all. She came in and came out, and did her job like nobody’s business. It was like she delivered her goods. Obviously she’s seasoned, but again, not knowing how seasoned she was, she just came in and destroyed it. Did what she had to do. Made it sparkle. It was amazing.

IBT: Why do you think there is finally a new “Bring It On” film after eight years?

Gonzalez: I don’t have the perfect answer for that. Eight years is quite a long time. I’m so involved in the industry that I’m asked all the time when something is coming out. And all I can say is that social media is a big driving factor and a big force. It’s amazing that it’s coming back out. It’s amazing that I’m still a part of it.

IBT: Which “Bring It On” film was your favorite to choreograph?

Gonzalez: It’s really hard to say. There’s a scene in every movie that has my heart, that gets my attention. But in five and in number six. The reason that I go to number five and number six is the directors that make it a little bit more dancier. And I love anything that’s a little more dancier.

IBT: How did the “Shabooya” scene from “Bring it On: All or Nothing” come about and what was it like working with Solange Knowles and Hayden Panettiere?

Gonzalez: Solange and Hayden was a story itself. We should’ve had a documentary. They were brilliant, funny, entertaining actors and not knowing what I was getting into with Solange and those guys coming out with “Shabooya,” just wanting to say let’s do the “Shabooya,” and make it feel like Solange did it. That it wasn’t a Tony G step. The brilliant thing about “Bring It On 3” was not only was I the supervising choreographer on there, but I was able to also ask other choreographers friends of mine to pop in and say, “Hey, can you come in and give some ideas and styles?”

That “Shabooya” scene came out and what we wanted it to look like was nothing like something Hayden on her side would do. And we delivered the goods.

IBT: Do you think there will be another “Bring It On” sequel?

Gonzalez: I hope that there’s another film after this. Whether I’m involved, and whether other people are involved, I think that there should be a TV show, I think there should be more ideas about “Bring It On.” “Bring It On,” to me, is about just learning and moving and growing with the times.

To bring out new movies, is only to instill to the young kids that there’s opportunities, there’s avenues, there’s other things to reach for.

IBT: Who would you want to star in the next sequel?

Gonzalez: There’s people that come to my mind when I think of the franchise. There’s a young girl that comes to my mind right now. She’s a singer, her name’s Becky G. And the reason that she comes to my mind right off the bat is that she’s the size of a flyer. And not that the story has to be about a flyer, but she’s five-foot. She’s Latina. She’s a great singer. She has three top-40 songs on the radio in the last two years. And why she comes to mind is that she's current and relevant in the social media, Snapchat, Instagram world. I see her stuff quite a lot.

And then you see dancers on the social media world, too, guys and girls, and you say, “Hey, that person should be doing it.” But, I mean, my idea for the next movie, is my idea, I won’t share, is completely different. If somebody wants to hear it, I will let the big wigs know, “Why don’t we do something like this because it’s never been done.” And then hopefully go from there and see what they do. Because I also think if you do things that have never been done and then add some flavor of the franchise to it, then you’re still staying true to our role.

“Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack” is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.