Lumi Pollack, the 17-year-old actor playing cello prodigy Rosie in Disney’s newly released Camp Rock 3, discussed preparing for her first major role in the long-running musical franchise. She said joining a series associated with Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers was initially daunting, but the cast and crew quickly created a supportive, summer-camp-like atmosphere; the film could raise her profile among its young audience.

Pollack’s character competes for the opportunity to open for the Jonas Brothers’ fictional band Connect 3 and learns to move beyond her comfort zone musically and personally. Although she already played piano and guitar, Pollack learned the cello for the part, rehearsing for up to two hours a day, including in her hotel room; Lovato and the Jonas Brothers serve as executive producers and make appearances in the film.