Justin's part-concert part-biopic comes in 3D

MANILA, Philippines - Nowadays, Justin Bieber, the international superstar, has a schedule that would daunt even the most seasoned recording artist.

On one January sunny afternoon in Los Angeles, the 17-year-old global sensation is inside a soundstage, working with MTV and meeting with select press to publicize his upcoming 3D concert film Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. There is also a rumor that he has costume fittings for an upcoming guest-starring role in a popular crime drama TV series.

One believes it when he says, “I never, never wanted to be famous. I was just putting videos on there (YouTube), just for friends and family. Because I liked doing it. That wasn’t a dream of mine, because I really didn’t think it would happen. I didn’t think it was possible. I never aimed high, I still just kept going, because I thought it was fun.”

His mom Pattie Mallette began posting his performance videos on YouTube never thinking the clips would ever travel beyond the monitors of his grandparents, relatives and friends. They were all wrong. His latest video for the single Baby established itself as YouTube’s most watched of all time to date, with more than 260 million views.

When Atlanta-based Scooter Braun got wind of the Canadian kid with the voice, he says that he recognized the star quality of the singer, and practically stalked Bieber’s mother, flying them both to Atlanta for meetings after long phone conversations. Braun introduced Bieber to Usher, and that led to his signing with Island Def Jam Music Group under three-time Grammy-winning recording executive L.A. Reid who made famous the likes of Mariah Carey, Pink, Rihanna, Kanye West, Avril Lavigne, Dido and Usher himself.

Several million sold records later, it’s safe to say that Bieber has the airwaves in check. Now, it’s time to conquer the movie screen with Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. According to Bieber himself, the film “just kind of happened,” which is to say that once planned, Bieber agreed, and filming of the project was folded into the final leg of his sold-out 2010 tour, leading up to his October concert at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden. On the road leading up to the Garden, Bieber’s days and nights were filmed, so cameras were there to meet family and his road ‘family’, and photograph the young heartthrob engaged in killing time, rehearsing, battling vocal fatigue and performing. Several of his hits are featured via filmed live performances, both at the 20,000-seat arena and elsewhere. Per Bieber: “It’s always weird to have cameras there, but I just kind of didn’t really pay attention to them.”

But despite global scrutiny and an ever-increasing access to him, Bieber tries to remain as close to a normal 17-year-old as an abnormally talented and world-famous 17-year-old can be. Whenever their schooling allows, Bieber’s two best friends are flown in to wherever Bieber happens to be. He says, “he wants to grow as an artist…and do more writing for other artists as well…”

Again, a believable utterance, when one stops to consider the dizzying speed with which Bieber has become a household name. Fast is right. Those numbers say it all: More than 260 million views for Baby on YouTube; more than five million albums sold; millions and millions (and millions) of fans on Facebook and Twitter. When asked if his career feels markedly different now than, say, a year ago, Bieber offers, “It’s still the same. I’m different. I didn’t think it would come this fast, though.”

Bieber’s 2011 concert tour includes several countries where he has not previously appeared, including Indonesia, Israel, Beijing and China. Once the tour ends, Bieber says, “As of March, I will have been everywhere.”

The film Justin Bieber: Never Say Never is distributed by United International Pictures thru Solar Entertainment Corporation showing at your favorite theaters in 2D and 3D Format starting March 23.