Not exactly 20 years ago, Disney released a film called Camp Rock. Back in those days, TV shows and films were certainly both strangely interesting and musical. We had a series of movies featuring high schoolers singing songs, a show about a teenage singer with what seemed like a split personality, and, of course, 3 brothers singing together in a band. In my high school years, I knew people in my demographic who hated the HSM trilogy with a passion, but students at my school enjoyed it, and a close personal friend who was younger than me thought the dance choreography was cool. I have to admit I agree with him on that. My parents hated Hannah Montana because of one particular news article they read about parents touching a statue for days thanks to a radio contest. At the same time, some people also showed a hefty dislike of the Jonas Brothers. A YouTuber I followed back then made several harmful rant videos; a racist homophobe in my school did offensive MSPaint art of them. I will admit, I’ve only heard increments of two of their songs and couldn’t get into it. But that’s just me. If you enjoyed them back then, that’s fine. If you still enjoy them, that’s fine. Because they’ve still got their positive attitudes and continue to get involved in the music scene. They chose to do another Camp Rock movie, and while I’ve never watched those, I thought now might be a good time to get involved in covering it.
For this article, I spoke to Ella Lucas, who plays the role of Danielle in the movie. Her brother Orlando joins her as well, and they have some great chemistry together both as characters and actors in the production. Plus, it was filmed in Canada, just another reason for me to take on this content. Camp Rock 3 brings back the three brothers playing their roles as, well, a band of brothers. A lot of the songs from the other 2 movies are in this film as well, being new, redone versions. This sounded like music to my ears (even if all my musical interests are from other countries), and I talked to Ella via Zoom just recently while I was on set for a TV series. So tune up your instruments and your vocal cords, as I ask questions and Ella explains what went into the musical movie magic.
HNMAG: Congratulations on your new role in Camp Rock 3. Do you believe this film will be bigger and better than the previous 2?
Ella Lucas: Oh, yes. Absolutely, the first 2 are really iconic, but I think this one is a very elevated version of the first two movies.
HNMAG: You and your brother are going to be siblings in this movie. Will your characters be attendees or camp counsellors?
Ella Lucas: We are the little sidekicks to the main mean girl of camp, so we play backup dancers, influencers, and our characters do go hand-in-hand, but it’s not stated if they’re siblings.
HNMAG: Interesting. Since you and your brother are acting alongside each other in this production, did you draw inspiration from the bond you two have or did you have to add some extra traits to your characters?
Ella Lucas: Absolutely, there were a lot of things my brother and I unintentionally did, and the director caught on to that. She was going, “You guys were doing this hand movement and head gesture at the same time; let’s keep that,” so a lot of the things that we naturally did because of our chemistry. We’re super close with a lot of the same personality traits. When there were moments that we did the same thing at the same time, and that became our thing.
HNMAG: Why was another sequel considered after the 2nd was considered the last? Why do you think it’s necessary to have another movie in the franchise?
Ella Lucas: I grew up on Camp Rock, and it was such an inspiration to me growing up. So I think bringing it back is so amazing for the next generation of young kids who get to grow up on it. Also, to look back and watch the first two. The musical numbers, the messages it has, the storylines, the dancing, the singing, the camp vibe. It’s just very important for younger generations to have an experience like I had when I was growing up.
HNMAG: You must have some past experience in music yourself. Have you played any instruments?
Ella Lucas: Well, I was in piano lessons when I was younger, but unfortunately I didn’t stick around with it. I would love to learn how to play an actual instrument, but I guess the only instrument I’ve played is my body through dance. I’ve been a dancer my entire life, but I would definitely love to dabble in an actual instrument.
HNMAG: Were there any kinds of musical skills you learned while working on Camp Rock 3?
Ella Lucas: Singing was the biggest one for me, as I am not a singer. That was a very cool experience being able to work in a recording booth, use my voice, and get vocal lessons. I’m still in vocal lessons now, and that was really cool. Then, lots of dancing, which I am used to because I am a dancer and have been a dancer all my life.
Ella said singing was the biggest challenge for her, but it was also so much fun, so it looks like she’s adding that to her skill set. I wonder if she’ll do a solo album or EP next with this newfound ability.
HNMAG: Since you have experience in dancing, do you use some of those skills in this movie? Can we even expect some dance numbers?
Ella Lucas: Absolutely. So many dance numbers, and the choreography. Burns did such a great job with this one; it’s very much more elevated than the first two movies. The dance numbers are just incredible.
HNMAG: Having watched the previous Camp Rock movies in the past, what did you really enjoy about those two?
Ella Lucas: I have to say the musical aspect of it, but also the storyline. I felt that it not only catered to young kids, but also to teenagers. I believe those movies still hold up to this day, and the storyline, the message, and the songs are absolutely phenomenal. I actually listen to them on a regular basis, so I think it had a more mature aspect while also being a kids’ movie. It was so cool back then; I was obsessed with the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, and it was also filmed in Canada. So that felt really close to home,e as I was raised in Canada.
HNMAG: Speaking of the Jonas Brothers, they used to get a lot of negativity years ago. But it seems to have died down over the years; do you suppose it will still stay at that low level even after the movie is released?
Ella Lucas: I think for anyone who is in the spotlight, has a lot of eyes on them, there will always be things that people will say about someone. I believe whatever they do, they’ll have backlash for something, but they’re the most incredible people to work with. Incredible people, so outside of the work aspect, they actually invited the cast and crew to their Camp Rock concert in Vancouver, BC, which was amazing. They let us come backstage; they also gave us really good advice and were so happy to pass down the torch to this next generation of campers. I have so much respect for them, and I believe all the love that they get outweighs any of the negativity towards them.
HNMAG: So you have worked with them on set. Are they still as energetic, or has it changed them significantly?
Ella Lucas: Age has not changed them at all, I mean, look at them. They look amazing; I’m still obsessed with them, but I did get to work with them. I even had conversations asking what it’s like working with siblings because now I’m working with my own sibling, so it was cool to get advice on that, and just seeing where they are now gives me a lot of hope and inspiration for my own brother and me, just starting our own journey now. They’re just naturals; you can tell that they’ve done these characters a lot of times. They were so comfortable, and it made me comfortable when I was doing my scenes.
HNMAG: In your scenes, what was the most interesting thing to happen?
Ella Lucas: Wow. Everything was so interesting. I remember the first day coming onto set; it looked exactly like the movies. It was so surreal being there. The cast, we got along genuinely so well; the crew, directors, choreographers, everyone that was a part of this, we’re a family now, truly. It’s not a forced friendship where we have to be friends because we work together; it’s a true friendship. We all are in different spaces, but we still keep in contact all the time.
Ella mentioned they’re bringing back the songs from the first movies that blew up. Interesting to do so, and it was especially interesting for Ella because she grew up with these songs and got to experience covering them with a big family of film types. She couldn’t stop describing the whole thing as surreal.
HNMAG: What other Disney Channel movies would you like to be involved in if they were sequels or even original new ideas?
Ella Lucas: I love High School Musical; that would be so cool if they could bring that back. I would do anything; I’d be a background tree. I’d genuinely die to be a part of High School Musical if I could. They’re also bringing back the Cheetah Girls, which is so exciting; I also loved the Cheetah Girls growing up. There’s honestly so many different franchises, and I just love all of them equally, so I would kill to be a part of any of them.
HNMAG: And are there any concepts or ideas of your own you’d like to have made into a movie?
Ella Lucas: Wow. I mean, I just love doing the aspect of acting and dance. In a movie, I think dance really elevates a show or movie; it doesn’t matter what it’s about. Off the top of my head, I don’t know an exact concept or storyline, but I loved the Step-Up movies growing up because it’s flash mobs and big dance numbers. I love that franchise of movies as well, so doing something kind of like that would be awesome to be part of.
HNMAG: With Camp Rock 3 being in Canada, was it in close proximity or did it require a lot of travel?
Ella Lucas: It was about 15 minutes from where I live, so it was super close to me. The parks were absolutely beautiful; they were filming at Barnet Park in Burnaby. Although Camp Rock is a summer movie, we actually started filming late September into early October, then into Vancouver winter, so it was freezing some days on set. Between scenes, they would come over with our big puffer coats and warm us up. We had hand warmers, foot warmers in our shoes; we were freezing. It looks like summertime in the movie, but it was a bit chilly when we were filming.
HNMAG: Do you think there should be more movies or a TV series after this, or do you feel this is the end of the franchise?
Ella Lucas: Nothing is confirmed yet, but I’m sure there will be more. I think it also depends on how people will see this movie, but we’ve introduced such an amazing cast, so it being the last one doesn’t make sense. I really hope there’s more to come, whether I’m in it or not. To continue this franchise would be amazing.
Well, there we have it. I can’t wait to see what Ella does next in her career. For now, best you watch the first two to get caught up, or even to relive those days from back then. Camp Rock 3 comes out August 13; it marks the official Disney Channel premiere, and it will stream on Disney+ the next day, August 14, 2026.