The new movie “Fame” takes place in a high school and features lots of catchy music and dancing by students — a formula that has been pretty successful at the movies recently.

But unlike the “High School Musical” films, “Fame” takes a more realistic look at just how hard you have to work to become a stage or film star. It’s an exciting and creative process, for sure, but the movie makes it clear that the path to fame can be full of disappointment, too.

Set at a fictitious performing arts high school in New York, the film follows a group of talented students through four years at the school, both in and out of class. (Ask your parents about “Fame”; it may be that they were big fans of the 1980 musical when they were your age.) Two of the actors, like the characters they play in the movie, love what they do, and that makes the hard work worth it.

“I don’t see it as work; being on set is my fun time,” says actress Kay Panabaker, 19, who plays the shy acting student Jenny. You may have seen Panabaker as Georgie in “Nancy Drew” a couple of years ago, and she has appeared in Disney Channel movies and shows including “Read It and Weep” and “Phil of the Future.”

Panabaker has worked as an actress since she was 10. (Her older sister, Danielle, is also an actress.) But even though she loves acting, she’s not too caught up in that world.

“I may not act for my entire life,” she says. “If I weren’t an actor, I’d want to either be a teacher or an animal trainer.” Panabaker grew up with dogs, but right now the only pets she has time for are her three goldfish: Squishy, Squishy’s Friend and Squashy.

Panabaker’s co-star in the film, on the other hand, is pretty sure he’ll be involved in music for a long time. Asher Book plays her boyfriend Marco in the movie, a role that showcases his beautiful voice.

The youngest of three kids, Book was always singing at home. At 6 he auditioned for Disney’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” on Broadway and won the part of Chip the teacup. He traveled for different roles through his school years in suburban Washington and finally moved to Los Angeles before high school with his mother and sister.

Once he was settled in California, his childhood became a little more normal. “It was only when I was young that I was traveling with a tutor,” he says. “I did all four years at a normal high school.”

Now 21, Book continues to work hard on both acting and music, though he calls them “two different worlds.” He’s lead singer for the pop group V Factory but still takes voice lessons. “No matter how good you think you are, you always need to try to improve,” he says.

There is one thing, though, that Book wishes would come a little easier. “I’m not too good at surfing,” he says.

But he keeps trying.