Cassie Scerbo in Bring it On 4 - In It to Win It

I love the Bring It On movies and never thought I'd be doing the sequel. But when I auditioned for the role of Brooke, I just totally kicked butt - and got the role! The franchise is like a cult - it's got kids, teens and even an adult following. I think it's because the films have an energy that people find entertaining and exciting. This fourth installment is different because it has a certain form of unity (I can't give it away, so you'd have to see the movie). It also has a Westside Story theme, which is both classic and unique in today's teen movies

It was amazing being part of such a large cast - it was like one big party on the set at all times! The cast and I worked really hard and performed some really intense routines in the movie. My background as a gymnast helped and I'm pretty athletic, and of course I've competed in the hip-hop dance world so my body was used to the choreography. I also happen to be weirdly, overly flexible! Then again it was still a little different because dance (hip-hop) is more flowing and spontaneous, while the cheerleading routines were more sharp and precise. We had three weeks of intense training. It was like a "Cheer boot camp." There was a lot of hard work, but it definitely paid off in the end. It was great working with choreographer Tony G and his awesome assistants, Jonathan and Joe!

When production began for the movie, I had the mindset of going all the way and being the absolute best I can be, it's just my personality, a little bit of an over-achiever =/ lol. Even though I've never been a cheerleader, being the way I am the cast and I managed to do all of our own stunts in this movie, and luckily I have no fear of heights because a lot of the routines required elite stunts and height. It's an amazing feeling to be shot up into the air - I completely trusted the guys who were spotting and catching me. Plus they were extremely talented and very muscular ;) haha.

On my free time I got together with the "real cheerleaders" from the movie, and we went to local cheer gyms. I really wanted the extra practice and to be even more prepared for the more complicated cheer scenes. They taught me the more complicated stunts. I learned rewinds, pike-rewinds, full-ups, double downs and basket tosses just to name a few! Which is where I got my on-set nickname "skills." Haha, especially after getting my rewind in about nine tries! Those of you familiar with the cheerleading world will know what I'm talking about and actually know just how challenging those moves are. One of my proudest moments was when I landed the "dueling dragon." There are no words to describe my feeling when I landed that! Which put me right into character, I WAS Brooke, and that was just an amazing feeling, especially feeling the unity between Carson and I, in that very moment.

Even though I loved the physical aspects of my character I did suffer some "spills" doing the routines. Also, I literally had bruises of handprints on my arms from the guys carrying and tossing me up. There were some falls as well but luckily no major injuries. My co-star Ashley and I pretty much lived off of this muscle cream called Arnica! I guess the bumps and bruises is what made my experience shooting the film so realistic - with no stunt doubles - I really lived out my character, Brooke, so it was definitely worth it.

Brooke is an intensely passionate and determined cheerleading captain from New York with A LOT OF ATTITUDE! She's so fiercely competitive and such a perfectionist that she acts like a drill sergeant. In one scene Brooke says, "I love the smell of hairspray in the morning." Haha I just loooooooove that quote! She's led her squad the East High Jets to victory in the Nationals and she's determined not to let any other squad take the championship. Brooke is definitely passionate and that's where she and I are alike and I think doing the routines really helped me embrace the character. In the beginning of the film Brooke is mean - that's where she and I ARE DIFFERENT. Brooke's character does soften up though. Her significant transformation in the end shows how people can CHANGE and it's beautiful. I really loved playing Brooke because I got to step out of the box and turn into a completely different person, which is why I do what I do!

I had an amazing time doing the film although it was hard being away from my family. My family is my everything and they've been really supportive and just like the teams in the movie - we're all in it together. I hope you watch the film and love it just as I loved being a part of it. Let me know what you think. You can post your comments on the message center!

Movie Synopsis

Filled with high-energy gravity defying cheerleading routines, romantic intrigue, and even more of the fun loyal audiences have grown to love, Bring It On: In It To Win It stars Cassie Scerbo as Brooke, the intensely passionate cheerleading captain determined to lead her squad to victory in the Cheer Camp Nationals.

When cheerleader Carson (Ashley Benson) of the West High Sharks from California encounters Brooke (Cassie Scerbo) the cheerleading captain of the East High Jets from New York, things heat up between the girls and their squads. It's the West High Sharks versus the East High Jets competing for the coveted "Spirit Stick." When Carson falls for Penn (Michael Copon) a member of the rival East High Jets, tension mounts up when Brooke discovers the budding romance. Brooke challenges Carson to a one-on-one cheer-off that turns into one of the most exciting "cheer fighting" sequences in the Bring It Ons franchise history. When both squads are suspended from competition, Brooke and Carson realize that they must take drastic measures to stay in the game.

Bring It On: In It To Win It mixes daredevil routines with romance giving the movie a classic West Side Story theme. The movie follows in the footsteps of the highly successful Bring It On franchises, but takes the athleticism up a notch by having the young stars perform all of their own stunts. With ground-breaking choreography by Tony G. and a compelling story line full, Bring It One: In It To Win It will capture the imagination of many Bring It On fans. The movie stars Cassie Scerbo (Slumber Party Girls), Ashley Benson (Days of Our Lives), Jennifer Tisdale (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody), Michael Copon (One Tree Hill), and in their feature film debuts, Anniese Taylor Dendy and Noel Areizaga.

Presented by Universal Studios Home Entertainment Family Productions and Beacon Pictures, Bring It On: In It To Win It is the latest installment of the hugely popular franchise that's resulted in over $250 million in home entertainment sales. The DVD has original bonus features and deleted scenes. Directed Steve Rash (Bring It On: All or Nothing, Can't Buy Me Love), the film features ground-breaking choreography by Tony G, a compelling story line full of adrenaline filled stunts that brings this successful franchise into another level that fans will love.