The J Team

{{Infobox film

| name = The J Team

| image = The J Team poster.jpeg

| caption = Official release poster

| director = Michael Lembeck

| writer = Eydie Faye

| producer = {{ubl|JoJo Siwa|Eydie Faye|Ronald "Ron" Fench|Donald "Don" Dunn|Syrinthia Studer}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

JoJo Siwa
Tisha Campbell
Laura Soltis
Julia Marley
Kerrynton Jones
Kiara T. Romero
Alaysia Jackson}}

| cinematography = Thomas M. Harting

| editing = Tod Modisett

| music = Gabriel Mann

| studio = {{ubl|JoJo Siwa Inc.|Nickelodeon Movies}}

| distributor = {{ubl|Paramount+ (United States)|Nickelodeon (EMEA)}}

| released = {{Film date|2021|9|03|United States}}

| runtime = 85 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

}}

The J Team{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=4 February 2021|title=JoJo Siwa to Star & Exec Produce Nickelodeon Live-Action Musical 'The J Team'|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/jojo-siwa-star-executive-produce-nickelodeon-live-action-musical-the-j-team-1234687320/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=5 September 2021|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916161055/https://deadline.com/2021/02/jojo-siwa-star-executive-produce-nickelodeon-live-action-musical-the-j-team-1234687320/|url-status=live}}{{cite press release|date=12 July 2021|title=Paramount+ Announces 'The J Team,' a New Live-Action Musical Starring Pop Star and Social Media Sensation JoJo Siwa, to Premiere September 3|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2021/07/12/paramountplus-announces-the-j-team-a-new-live-action-musical-starring-pop-star-and-social-media-sensation-jojo-siwa-to-premiere-september-3-516513/20210712cbs01/|work=CBS Press Releases|publisher=Paramount+|access-date=5 September 2021|via=The Futon Critic}} is a 2021 American family musical drama film directed by Michael Lembeck, executive-produced by JoJo Siwa and produced by Nickelodeon Movies which debuted as an original film on Paramount+ on September 3, 2021.

Premise

JoJo Siwa is part of a dance troupe that was run by Val (Laura Soltis). When Val retires, she is replaced by the strict Coach Poppy (Tisha Campbell) who brings about harsh rules and kicks JoJo out of her troupe after she fails to live up to her expectations. While rediscovering dancing and friendship, JoJo meets other dancers as they form a dance troupe called the J Team.

Cast

JoJo Siwa as a fictional version of herself{{cite web|last=Hailu|first=Selome|date=August 26, 2021|title=JoJo Siwa on Portraying Herself in 'The J Team,' Wanting to Play Lady Gaga in a Biopic|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/jojo-siwa-j-team-playing-herself-lady-gaga-1235049208/|access-date=September 5, 2021|work=Variety|archive-date=September 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905085109/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/jojo-siwa-j-team-playing-herself-lady-gaga-1235049208/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=JoJo Siwa on 'The J Team' Being Her 'First Big Project' as an Adult (Exclusive)|url=https://www.etonline.com/jojo-siwa-on-the-j-team-being-her-first-big-project-as-an-adult-exclusive-171262|last=Drysdale|first=Jennifer|date=August 30, 2021|access-date=September 5, 2021|work=Entertainment Tonight|archive-date=September 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905085109/https://www.etonline.com/jojo-siwa-on-the-j-team-being-her-first-big-project-as-an-adult-exclusive-171262|url-status=live}}
Marley Winton as young JoJo Siwa
Tisha Campbell as Coach Poppy, a strict and sparkle-hating dance coach who kicks JoJo out of the dance troupe she now runs
Kiyoko Rain Gordon as young Coach Poppy
Laura Soltis as Val, JoJo's former dance coach and Coach Poppy's predecessor
Julia Marley as Nina
Kerrynton Jones as Ruby M., one of JoJo's best friends
Kiara T. Romero as Ruby D., one of JoJo's best friends
Kenya Jordan as Pepper
Kyra Leroux as Jess
Mya Lowe as Sunshine
Marlow Percival as Desi
Chris Francisque as Mr. Melody
Clay St. Thomas as Announcer

Production

{{Expand section|date=April 2022|talksection=Production|section=3}}

In February 2020, it was reported that a JoJo Siwa film project was in the works at Nickelodeon.{{cite web|last=Chmielewski|first=Dawn|date=24 February 2020|title=Baby Shark And 'Chicken Girl' Enter Ryan's World As Nickelodeon Bids For Social Media Lift|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnchmielewski/2020/02/24/viacomcbs-has-lost-its-children-nickelodeon-is-looking-for-them-on-youtube/|website=Forbes|access-date=September 5, 2021|archive-date=13 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913151942/https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnchmielewski/2020/02/24/viacomcbs-has-lost-its-children-nickelodeon-is-looking-for-them-on-youtube/|url-status=live}} In February 2021, Siwa announced on The Tonight Show that title of the project was The J Team, and that she was to star and produce the film. It was also announced that an original soundtrack, including six songs written by Siwa, would be released alongside the film, and that filming would begin that month, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The film was choreographed by Heather Laura Gray and was nominated for the first ever Children's and Family Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography.

Soundtrack

{{Infobox album

| name = The J Team (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

| type = Soundtrack

| artist = JoJo Siwa

| released = {{start date|2021|8|27}}

| recorded = 2020

| genre = Dance-pop

| length = 24:57

| label = Republic

| producer = Matthew Tishler

| prev_title = JoJo's Rockin' Christmas

| prev_year = 2020

| next_title = Guilty Pleasure

| next_year = 2024

}}

The eponymous soundtrack album of the film was released through Republic Records on 27 August 2021.{{cite web|date=27 August 2021|title=The J Team (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-j-team-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1579554395|access-date=5 September 2021|website=Apple Music|archive-date=5 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905085109/https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-j-team-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1579554395|url-status=live}}

All songs are produced by Matthew Tishler and performed by JoJo Siwa.

{{Track listing

| title1 = Dance Through the Day

| writer1 = Andrew Underberg, Jeannie Lurie, JoJo Siwa, Matthew Tishler

| length1 = 2:35

| title2 = One Chance

| writer2 = Gus Ross, Luke Eisner, Underberg, Siwa, Tishler

| length2 = 2:26

| title3 = Only Getting Better

| note3 = J Team Edition

| writer3 = Underberg, Lurie, Siwa, Tishler

| length3 = 2:24

| title4 = Outta the Park

| writer4 = Underberg, Lurie, Siwa, Tishler

| length4 = 2:15

| title5 = U-N-I

| writer5 = Underberg, Lurie, Siwa, Tishler

| length5 = 2:27

| title6 = Back to That Girl

| writer6 = Underberg, Lurie, Siwa, Tishler

| length6 = 2:48

| title7 = Nobody Can Change Me!

| writer7 = Underberg, Ross, Lurie, Siwa, Eisner, Tishler

| length7 = 3:37

| title8 = D.R.E.A.M

| note8 = J Team Edition

| writer8 = Ali Dee Theodore, Anthony Mirabella, Doug Davis, James Keith Petrie, Jodie Shihadeh, Nikki Ann Sorentino, Susan Paroff, Siwa

| length8 = 2:42

| title9 = Nobody Can Change Me!

| note9 = J Team Movie Version

| writer9 = Underberg, Ross, Lurie, Siwa, Eisner, Tishler

| length9 = 3:39

| total_length =

}}

= Performance controversy =

A week after the film's debut on September 15, Siwa called out Nickelodeon on social media for preventing her from performing any songs from the film on the 2022 edition of her D.R.E.A.M. Tour, claiming that she is "treated as only a brand" by the company.{{Cite web|last=Tenbarge|first=Kat|title=JoJo Siwa put Nickelodeon on blast, saying the company won't let her perform new music and doesn't treat her like a 'human being'|url=https://www.insider.com/jojo-siwa-tour-new-music-nickelodeon-movie-musical-songs-2021-9|website=Insider|access-date=23 September 2021|archive-date=3 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803102622/https://www.insider.com/jojo-siwa-tour-new-music-nickelodeon-movie-musical-songs-2021-9|url-status=live}} The situation has been described as similar to that of Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, all of whom were signed to a major children's television network at a young age.{{Cite magazine|date=2021-09-15|title=JoJo Siwa Says Nickelodeon Sees Her "Only as a Brand" Ahead Of U.S. Tour|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/09/jojo-siwa-says-nickelodeon-sees-her-only-as-a-brand-ahead-of-us-tour|access-date=2021-09-23|magazine=Vanity Fair|language=en-US}}

Release

A one-minute trailer for the film was released on July 27, 2021.{{cite magazine|title=JoJo Siwa Breaks Out the Bows in New Trailer For 'The J Team:' Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9606779/jojo-siwa-j-team-movie-trailer-video|last=Daw|first=Stephen|date=July 27, 2021|access-date=September 5, 2021|magazine=Billboard}} A drive-in premiere screening of the film was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on September 3, 2021, releasing exclusively on Paramount+ the same day.{{Cite web|title=JoJo Siwa Makes Red Carpet Debut with Girlfriend Kylie Prew at The J Team Premiere|url=https://news.yahoo.com/jojo-siwa-makes-red-carpet-211857203.html|access-date=2021-09-23|website=news.yahoo.com|date=5 September 2021 |language=en-US|archive-date=2023-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803102622/https://news.yahoo.com/jojo-siwa-makes-red-carpet-211857203.html|url-status=live}} The movie aired on Nickelodeon on November 7, 2021, as well as on TeenNick. The film was also released on DVD on July 12, 2022.{{Citation |title=The J Team | date=12 July 2022 |url=https://www.amazon.com/J-Team-JoJo-Siwa/dp/B09Y3X4C8G/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=1IOD54T8T15BE&keywords=the+j+team+dvd&qid=1657640094&sprefix=the+j+te,aps,145&sr=8-2 |access-date=2022-07-12 |archive-date=2023-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803102622/https://www.amazon.com/J-Team-JoJo-Siwa/dp/B09Y3X4C8G/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=1IOD54T8T15BE&keywords=the+j+team+dvd&qid=1657640094&sprefix=the+j+te,aps,145&sr=8-2 |url-status=live }} Also the film had its television premiere on Nickelodeon across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In February 2023, the film was silently removed from Paramount+.