Fast Forward

Fast Forward is a 1985 dance film directed by Sidney Poitier. In the film, a dance troupe from Ohio comes to New York to compete in a national talent competition. Plot "The Adventurous Eight," a group of singing and dancing teenagers from Sandusky, Ohio, crave stardom so badly that they spend their spare time rehearsing original songs and dance routines every day after school. The group has eight members: Matt, Michael, June, Debbie, Rita, Francine, Meryl and Valerie. A tacit promise of an audition from Mr. Sabol, a well-known dance executive, leads them to New York city, which they are not able to reach before he dies. At his company headquarters, the group gets a meeting with the new CEO, Clem Friedkin. Friedkin tells them the show they arrived to perform in has been postponed for three weeks and he doubts they would make it past the first round. After being pressed by the group, Friedkin promises that if they are still in town when he returns in three and a half weeks, he will give them five minutes to audition. The group agrees to do whatever it takes to stay in town. After three days of cleaning the filthy apartment they can afford, they want to eat more than fast food. Matt comes up with a plan to eat steak that night: dancing for tips in a fancy restaurant. The number goes off well, and they get to sit around and eat.