When you have a hit movie franchise that has spawned, oh, a gazillion dollars worth of CD, DVD and book sales, the next logical move is to turn that franchise into -- what else? -- a reality TV show.

Disney estimates that High School Musical has been seen by a whopping 250 million people. More than 195 million viewers have watched the bouncy sequel, High School Musical 2. A third film -- High School Musical 3: Senior Year -- is slated to hit the big screen in October, and there's no telling how much ka-ching that film will earn.

Hoping to cash in even further on the tween-fuelled phenomenon, ABC (owned by The Mouse House) has raised the curtain on High School Musical: Get In The Picture, a new reality competition show scheduled to air throughout the summer.

Think American Idol, only a lot less mean-spirited and with more group performances.

This is Disney, after all.

Six talent scouts cryptically dubbed "The Faculty" scoured the United States for nearly three months to find the next Zac Efron or Vanessa Hudgens.

Out of the thousands of squealing fans (ages 16 to 22) who auditioned, only 12 will be selected by The Faculty to attend a summer music program where they'll learn how to hone their singing, dancing and acting skills. Or, in other words, how to become a potential Disney cash cow.

The program, quite naturally, is set at a high school in Utah, the same school where some HSM scenes were filmed.

"We figured we'd breathe some of that air and see if we could capture some of that essence," says executive producer Jay Blumenfield.

The winner will star in his or her own music video that'll play during the end credits of HSM3. That person will also receive a talent deal with ABC and a recording contract for two singles with Walt Disney Records.

Obviously, the scouts are looking for kids with talent. But that's not all.

"The other quality we're looking for is a kid who can be a role model, the kind of kid who has an inner spark and that intangible goodness," says Blumenfield. "Although it's hard to define, I think it's worth trying to find."

That's not all that has been found. Word is a few contestants found love and romance on the set. Blumenfield doesn't deny it.

"It's a family show, but I think if you put 12 talented, excited high school kids together, you're going to get crushes, you're going to get love triangles," he says. "It's all pretty G-rated. But it happens. We've all been to high school. The hormones are flowing."

Unlike every other reality competition show, no one is sent packing on Get In The Picture. Instead of getting booted, the contestants stay on the show and join the chorus ... literally.

"We wanted to make a show about building people up and not tearing them down," Blumenfield explains. "You're used to seeing back-stabbing reality (shows) where everyone just hates each other.

"This is a show I'd be proud to show my kids."