Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars

Last updated

Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars
Harriet The Spy Blog Wars DVD cover.jpg
DVD cover
Based on Harriet the Spy
by Louise Fitzhugh
Written by Heather Conkie
Alexandra Clarke
Directed by Ron Oliver [1]
Starring
ComposerTrevor Yuile
Country of originCanada
United States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerJonathan Hackett [1]
Cinematography Alwyn Kumst
EditorBen Wilkinson
Running time87 minutes
Production company 9 Story Entertainment
Original release
Network Movie Central/The Movie Network (Canada)
Disney Channel (U.S.)
ReleaseMarch 19, 2010 (2010-03-19) (Canada)
March 26, 2010 (2010-03-26) (U.S.)
Related

Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars is a 2010 television film starring Jennifer Stone [1] [2] that premiered on March 19, 2010, on Movie Central and The Movie Network in Canada, and on March 26, 2010, on Disney Channel in the United States. It is an adaptation of the book Harriet the Spy , by Louise Fitzhugh, the second after the 1996 Harriet the Spy film that starred Michelle Trachtenberg as Harriet. The film was produced by 9 Story Entertainment. Vanessa Morgan, who starred as Marion in the movie, went on to star in My Babysitter's a Vampire and its subsequent television series, which also aired on Disney Channel.

Contents

The film centers on Harriet M. Welsch (Jennifer Stone), an 11-year-old in the book, changed to a teenager for the film. Jennifer Stone told Popstar magazine, "We're basing it off the charm of the first book. They aged Harriet up to 16, and it still deals with mean girls, except it matures that a little. It's a bit more of mean girls having to do with gossip and heartthrobs and all that. The first book was written in the 60's so we're trying to bring it up to 2010. We're putting our own spin on it."

It is the first Disney Channel film since 1997 that was not promoted as a "Disney Channel Original Movie" and the first released through 9 Story Entertainment. It was co-produced in association with Disney Channel and Canadian pay TV channels Movie Central and The Movie Network. However, according to the Disney Channel website, the film is listed as a Disney Channel Original Movie. [3] [ better source needed ]

Plot

Young spy Harriet M. Welsch (Jennifer Stone) crosses paths with popular student Marion Hawthorne (Vanessa Morgan), as the two girls compete to become the official blogger of their high school class. After Marion has started blogging, Harriet lags behind because she reports what she finds interesting. Unfortunately for Harriet, her classmates do not share her views and state that her blog is boring. Harriet's nanny, Golly, suggests that she write something is of interest to both Harriet and her classmates.

Harriet sets her sights on a big pop star, Skander Hill (Wesley Morgan), who is in town starring in a movie, Spy Teen 2: The Sequel, that her father, Roger Welsch (Doug Murray), is producing. However, Violetta Welsch (Shauna MacDonald) claims that Harriet has a crush on Skander. Despite her disdain for the star of the film, Harriet starts blogging about Skander Hill. First, she goes to stalk him by doing a father/daughter visit, but Skander has an outburst and Harriet is forced off of the set.

When Harriet goes to the hotel where Skander is staying, she finds him arguing with other producers of the movie. When he switches shirts, Harriet notices a birth-mark on him and takes a picture, also stealing a water bottle. It only makes the other students love him more. Marion and her friends invite Harriet over and watch "Spy Teen". She lies and runs downstairs to talk to Skander. However, it is Sport pretending to be Skander. The posse gets excited, but Marion's still suspicious.

The next time Harriet goes to the hotel, she disguises herself as a maid and steals a hotel receipt signed by Skander, but Skander notices her, and she runs away. She shows Marion the signature, but Marion claims it is a forgery. Skander spots Harriet stalking him and follows her to Janie's house. Meanwhile, Harriet's friends decide to cut off their friendship with her because she is too obsessed with Skander. They feel left out and claim that Harriet is befriending the people whom she once despised. While leaving, Harriet bumps into a chemical made by her eco-friend. This causes a loud noise to emanate from Janie's room, which Skander believes to be someone trying to blow him up.

Back at the set, Skander accidentally starts a food fight, which Harriet tries to record, but she notices her father and does not record. When she follows her nanny Golly, she deduces she has a boyfriend. After a long argument, Harriet figures out that Golly is leaving, which causes an uproar in the family. Marion asks Harriet for real proof. Harriet goes back to the set and is put in as an extra, and later Skander comes up to her and devotes his anger to her, while she was recording.

Soon after, she puts the rant on her blog, which Marion puts on the web. Skander quits the movie because he realizes Roger's daughter is the spy. Harriet soon gets back with her friends, and Sport makes a basket. Harriet gives Skander a heartfelt apology, but Skander still quits because he wanted her to stop her blog, but Roger will not allow that, as he believes Harriet is an avid writer. Then Skander gets a major role in another movie. He hugs Harriet and kisses her on the cheek, and then he rejoins the movie, returning everything to normal.

Harriet gets the blog (while Marion loses because she violated the rules to publicize Skander's rant), and at the end, magazines show a possible relationship between Skander and Harriet.

Cast

International releases

CountryNetwork(s)PremiereTitle in Country
Canada The Movie Network and Movie Central March 19, 2010Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars
United States Disney Channel March 26, 2010
Australia Disney Channel Australia June 19, 2010
New Zealand
Argentina Disney Channel Latin America June 27, 2010Harriet la Espía: Guerra de Blogs
Mexico
Chile
Venezuela
BrazilHarriet a Espiã: Guerra de Blogs
Germany Disney Channel Germany July 9, 2010Harriet: Spionage aller Art
Austria
South Africa Disney Channel Africa July 16, 2010Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars
United Kingdom Disney Channel UK & Ireland July 23, 2010Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars
Ireland
Spain Disney Channel Spain July 24, 2010Harriet La Espia: Guerras del Blog
Russia Disney Channel Russia October 6, 2010Шпионка Хэриэт: Война блогов
Israel Disney Channel Israel October 7, 2010הארייט ומלחמת הבלוגים
Italy Disney Channel Italy October 22, 2010Harriet la spia
Iran IRIB TV2 May 20, 2011جاسوس هريت و جنگهاي وبلاگي
France Disney Channel France October 27, 2010Harriet L'espionne : La Guerre Des Blogs
Netherlands Disney Channel (Netherlands/Flanders) October 22, 2010Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars
BelgiumDecember 24, 2010
Poland Disney Channel Poland December 18, 2010Harriet szpieguje: Wojna blogów
Romania Disney Channel Romania December 18, 2010Harriet Spioana: Războiul Blogurilor
Hungary Disney Channel Hungary December 18, 2010Harriet A Kém : Blog háború
Czech Republic Disney Channel Czech December 18, 2010Válka blogerek
Slovakia Disney Channel Czech December 18, 2010Válka blogerek
Bulgaria Disney Channel Bulgaria December 18, 2010.Хариет Шпионина: блог Войни
Arab World Disney Channel Middle East December, 2010Harriet the Spy (as a part of holiday special)
Greece Disney Channel Greece December 25, 2010Xάρριετ η Κατάσκοπος: Πόλεμος στο Διαδίκτυο Internet Wars (as a part of Christmas holiday special)
TurkeyDisney Channel TürkiyeDecember 25, 2010Ajan Herriet Günlük Savaşları (as a part of Christmas holiday special)

Related Research Articles

<i>Harriet the Spy</i> Espionage-themed 1964 childrens novel by Louise Fitzhugh

Harriet the Spy is a children's novel written and illustrated by Louise Fitzhugh that was published in 1964. It has been called "a milestone in children's literature" and a "classic". In the U.S., it ranked number 12 in the 50 Best Books for Kids and number 17 in the Top 100 Children's Novels on two lists generated in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Hudgens</span> American actress and singer (born 1988)

Vanessa Anne Hudgens is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in Thirteen (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical film series (2006–2008), which brought her significant mainstream media success. The success of the first film led Hudgens to acquire a recording contract with Hollywood Records, with whom she released two studio albums, V (2006) and Identified (2008).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Lee Chester</span> American television and film actress

Vanessa Lee Chester is an American actress. She began her career as a child actor in the films A Little Princess (1995) and Harriet the Spy (1996), before her breakthrough role in Steven Spielberg's The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997).

<i>Harriet the Spy</i> (film) 1996 film by Bronwen Hughes

Harriet the Spy is a 1996 American coming-of-age comedy film directed by Bronwen Hughes in her feature film directorial debut, and starring Michelle Trachtenberg in her major film acting debut. It co-stars Rosie O'Donnell, J. Smith-Cameron, Gregory Smith, and Vanessa Lee Chester. Based on the 1964 novel of the same name by Louise Fitzhugh, the film follows a sixth-grade student who aspires to become a writer and spy.

Ron Oliver is a Canadian writer, director, producer, and actor who started with the cult hit Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II. He was also a host on Canada's YTV for the shows YTV Hits, The Ron Oliver Show, Oliver's Twist & Rock 'n Talk. He has gone on to direct various television and motion picture scripts. He has been nominated twice for the Directors Guild of America Award. Oliver directed several episodes of both Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps.

<i>The Barefoot Executive</i> 1971 film by Robert Butler

The Barefoot Executive is a 1971 American comedy film starring Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn, Wally Cox, Heather North, Harry Morgan, and John Ritter, about a pet chimpanzee, named Raffles, who can predict the popularity of television programs. Produced by Walt Disney Productions and directed by Robert Butler, it was one of the "gimmick comedies" Disney was known for in the 1960s and 1970s, and was frequently shown on The Wonderful World of Disney from the late 1970s through the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Stone</span> American actress (born 1993)

Jennifer Stone is an American actress. She is known for playing Harper Finkle on the Disney Channel Original series Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012) and in the Disney Channel Original Movie Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie (2009). She has also played roles in various television films, including a voice role in Dadnapped (2009), the main character in Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars (2010) and Abby Hanover in Mean Girls 2 (2011). Stone received critical praise for her work on the independent film The In-Between (2019), which she co-wrote and starred in.

<i>Dadnapped</i> 2009 television film

Dadnapped is a Disney Channel Original Movie which premiered February 16, 2009. Starring actors from Disney Channel Original Series, the movie had 4.6 million viewers for its premiere. Although the story centers on a hostage situation, the kidnappers are inept and the film "practically oozes kid-pleasing content".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Morgan</span> Canadian actress (born 1992)

Vanessa Morgan Mziray is a Canadian actress. She is known for her roles as Beatrix "Bird" Castro in the MTV teen drama series Finding Carter, as Amanda Pierce in the Family teen comedy series The Latest Buzz, and as Sarah in the Disney Channel / Teletoon film My Babysitter's a Vampire and the television series of the same name. From 2017 to 2023, she portrayed Toni Topaz in The CW teen drama series Riverdale.

<i>Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie</i> 2009 film directed by Lev L. Spiro

Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie is a 2009 American made-for-television comedy-drama fantasy film based on the Disney Channel Original Series Wizards of Waverly Place. It was directed by Lev L. Spiro and filmed primarily in San Juan, Puerto Rico in February and March 2009. The full cast of the series starred in the film, although Jennifer Stone only had a small role at the beginning of the film. The film focuses on Alex Russo having to reverse a wish she made that her parents never met after being grounded during a trip to the Caribbean.

<i>Sharpays Fabulous Adventure</i> 2011 American musical television film

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure is a 2011 American direct-to-video musical romantic comedy film and High School Musical spin-off starring Ashley Tisdale. Set a year after the events of High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008), the film centers on Sharpay Evans' life after graduation and her efforts to obtain a role in a Broadway show.

Wesley Francis Morgan is a Canadian actor and model, whose roles have included Skander Hill on Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars, the recurring role of Sam on Degrassi: The Next Generation and Prom King Josh in The Rocker. He played Brody Cooper on the show Really Me.

<i>Violetta</i> (TV series) Argentine telenovela

Violetta is an Argentine telenovela filmed in Buenos Aires, Argentina and developed by Disney Channel Latin America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and production company Pol-ka, debuted in Argentina, Latin America and Italy on May 14, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clara Alonso (actress)</span> Argentine actress, singer and TV hostess

María Clara Pancha Alonso, known professionally as Clara Alonso, is an Argentine actress, singer, and television hostess. She debuted as an actress in the 2007 Argentine remake of High School Musical. Since 2007, she has acted in various Disney Channel programs in Latin America. Alonso is best known for her lead role as "Angie Carrara" in the Disney Channel Latin America Series, Violetta.

<i>Bad Hair Day</i> (film) 2015 television film directed by Érik Canuel

Bad Hair Day is a Disney Channel Original Movie which premiered on February 13, 2015, starring Laura Marano and Leigh-Allyn Baker. The story centers on 16-year-old Monica Reeves, who is running for Prom Queen at her high school. One day, she wakes up with crazy hair after combining loads of different products. But Monica soon has bigger things to worry about when ex-police Lieutenant Elizabeth "Liz" Morgan arrives at Monica’s door in search of a $7 million diamond necklace. The two become unlikely friends as they race to fix Monica’s hair for prom and protect the necklace from falling into the hands of a world-renewed jewel thief, Pierce Peters.

Shanica Channell Knowles also known simply as Shanica, is an American actress, singer-songwriter and instrumentalist, known for her roles as Amber Addison on Hannah Montana, Shauna Keaton on Jump In!, and Vanessa on Unfabulous. She has also portrayed the roles of Tichina Arnold on Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le, Simone Burch on The Young and the Restless, and Tahlia on Life-Size 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candelaria Molfese</span> Argentine actress and singer

María Candelaria "Cande" Molfese is an Argentine actress, singer and television host who gained global fame for her role in the Disney Channel Latin America television series Violetta.

Harriet the Spy is an American animated television series for Apple TV+, loosely based on the book of the same name by Louise Fitzhugh. The series premiered on November 19, 2021. Season 2 premiered on May 5, 2023.

Jordan Clark is a Canadian actress and dancer. She won the fourth season of the dance competition series So You Think You Can Dance Canada. She played Giselle on the Family Channel teen drama series The Next Step.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "'Harriet the Spy' casts Jennifer Stone". The Hollywood Reporter . November 6, 2009. Archived from the original on November 10, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  2. Bonner, Julie (March 14, 2009). "Jennifer Stone Set for "Harriet the Spy"". Crushable. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2011 via Disneysociety.com.
  3. Mi/disneychannel/originalmovies/ Disney Channel Original Movies Site