The Camp Rock-themed birthday party featured in the Prime Video series "Sterling Point" was an unintentional nod to the beloved Disney Channel Original Movies, according to series creator Megan Park. The homage, which included balloons with Jonas Brothers faces and t-shirts spoofing an iconic scene, was a "happy accident" that gained additional significance when the production discovered it had filmed outdoor scenes at the exact location used for "Camp Rock."
In the fifth episode of "Sterling Point," titled "I'm Not a Shots Girl Either," the recently inherited island estate serves as the backdrop for Connor's 18th birthday celebration. The party draws inspiration from "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam," with Connor referencing the film by stating, "This is not ‘This is Me’ era."
The timing of "Sterling Point's" release on Prime Video, just over a week before the premiere of "Camp Rock 3" on Disney Channel, led many fans to believe the references were a planned tie-in. However, Park explained to DECIDER that the timing was also coincidental.
"We also didn’t realize that we filmed some of the outdoor stuff at the exact spot that Camp Rock was filmed at, which was thrilling, obviously, for us," Park said. "We were all very excited about that. But no, all that was happening at the same time we were filming. Somebody—I think [EP] Josh [Schwartz]—there was an article that dropped and he sent in the group chat. He was like, ‘Well, here we go. This is perfect timing.’ But yeah, that all worked out perfectly."
Details of the party included green and gold balloons featuring the Jonas Brothers, a cake with Alyson Stoner's face, and custom t-shirts. The t-shirts depicted a spoof of a scene where Stoner's character, Caitlyn Geller, is praised for her keyboard performance. In the "Sterling Point" version, Connor's face is superimposed onto Caitlyn's, with the text altered to read, "He's really good!" Actor Nikko Angelo Hinayo, who plays Sully, confirmed that these shirts were a wrap gift for the cast.
Hinayo also shared that he kept a "Free Poot" sticker from the set. This sticker references a viral internet meme from 2015 that originated on Tumblr, featuring a photoshopped image of Demi Lovato. Lovato has since acknowledged the meme, finding humor in its origins.
"Sterling Point" is currently available for streaming on Prime Video. "Camp Rock 3" is scheduled to premiere on August 13, with next-day streaming on Disney+.