You’re sitting on beach chairs by a pool interviewing Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, soaking up the hot Miami sun on the set of their new movie. Then you wake up. But for me, this dream was real. To say I’m obsessed with American Idol is an understatement. Last season I watched every episode and I think Justin is supercute and Kelly has an amazing voice. So I wrote an essay for a contest held by ym and Fox which would send someone to the set of From Justin to Kelly With Love. On Monday I received word that I won, and on Thursday a dorky ninth-grader from Farmingdale NY was on a plane to Miami.
When I got to the set, the pool area of the hotel where they were filming looked like one giant beach party. There were lounge chairs, palm-roofed huts and colorful drinks in glasses shaped like coconuts and pineapples. Tons of extras in brightly colored bathing suits were rehearsing a dance for the next shot. I was checking out all the people on the dance platform covering the pool and then I saw Justin practicing moves with the choreographer!
The movie publicist and I slowly made our way around the pool and I was introduced. I couldn’t believe how cute Justin was in real life! His chiseled features. His smile. His hair! He gave me the warmest, tightest hug ever and immediately made sure we were in the shade and that the lights on the set weren’t shining in my eyes. Such a gentleman! We had a brief conversation on how I won the contest and stuff like that (all about me- how cool of him), and then I got Justin to call my best friend and fellow American Idol-obsessed fan, Kim. (Her birthday had been a few days before—she owes me big time!)
So I’m sitting on the edge of a pool, on a movie set, next to Justin. Just when I think it can’t get any better, I’m tapped on the shoulder by the American Idol herself, Kelly Clarkson. We hugged and complimented each other’s outfits (she loved the red tips on my hair, I loved her halter).
Within minutes I’m officially interviewing them both. They’re on break from filming the final dance number for the movie, which is a musical about a guy and a girl who try to get together during spring break but keep facing obstacles. Kelly and Justin say their characters aren’t like them at all. “I’m spontaneous and kind of weird,” Kelly says “But my character is very normal.” Justin tells me: “I definitely think I’m a little wackier [than my character]. But [Kelly and I] enjoy being something other than ourselves.”
Kelly and Justin seem so close – they repeatedly finish each other’s sentences. You’d think it would be strange to do an on-screen kiss with a good friend, not to mention if that kiss happens while tons of people are watching. “It was kind of weird because we’re like brother and sister.” says Kelly. “But [Justin and I] have both done stage kissing.”
Even though it’s been rumored that they are going out, Kelly and Justin are definitely just good friends-in fact, all they seem to do is make fun of each other. Kelly tells me it annoys her when Justin burps. “Thank you”, Justin says, laughing. “We’re just very sarcastic,” says Kelly. “anything we do that’s stupid, we’ll tell each other.” Justin agrees with the being honest thing. “We’ll be like,’Yeah, that’s real cool’” And Kelly sarcastically chimes in ,“Right, you should do more of that in public….”
Justin admits it’s going to be “we-ird” (he sang that) seeing himself on a movie screen. As for Kelly, she says “My first job was in a movie theatre, so it’ll be weird to preview a movie that I’m in.”
Still, they say their main focus is music. Justin’s album is due out in May or June and Kelly’s came out in April, the same month as the movie. Kelly says her album is “based on soul” while Justin says his will be “soul with a little pop mixed in.” There doesn’t seem to be any competition over whose album will do better. Kelly just says, “I hope my album is cool.”
What amazes me is how grounded Kelly and Justin have stayed. I showed them pictures of my friend and me dressed like them for Halloween --I was Kelly, Kim was Justin--and Kelly says “It’s cool that anybody thinks I’m cool enough to [dress like me] ‘cause I don’t. How crazy is that?
Now it’s back to me pre-movie set life. But I’ll need the downtime—I have so many new pictures of Justin to put up on my Web site.