Parents' Guide to Fame High

Fame High's four stories are all compelling, but documentarian Scott Hamilton Kennedy doesn't dig deeper into some of the family issues. Zak's controlling father, or how Brittany and her mom's decision to move to Los Angeles (although the parents are still married) affects her family -- those could be expanded on. Grace's storyline is the deepest, because not only is she brutally honest about how strict her parents are, but her parents also share their hopes and fears about a daughter going into dance instead of something more stable, like law or medicine. There are no major disasters along the way, but the film does show how, no matter how talented these kids are, the road to a professional career in the arts has only a 2.5 percent chance of success.

The four teens depicted deal with everything from sweet flirtations and nerve-wracking auditions to a string of various disappointments. Some of the parents are enthusiastic about their teens' careers, while others are proud but worried about the prospect of having a kid in show business. It would have been fascinating to hear more from the LACHSA teachers who've met year after year of hopeful musicians, dancers, actors, and artists, but, as-is, the adolescents' experiences offer an eye-opening, entertaining story about the importance of arts education and the passion and discipline (and thick skin) required for budding artists to become professionals.