Antoinette Nikprelaj of Rochester is preparing for the role she hopes will launch her to Hollywood stardom. The 24-year-old actress is learning the skills she will need to save all mankind in the year 2099.
Nikprelaj is starring in the upcoming “Scar 23” — a futuristic, sci-fi thriller in which she plays a time-traveling scientist, heroically trying to save Earth — shot entirely at the Livonia-based Maxsar Digital Studios.
“I gave her a screen test and she was perfect. We put her in an apartment near the studio and away from her family so that she can concentrate on her training with our technical consultant Darcy Leutzinger of the Warren Police Department,” said Philippe Martinez, the film’s producer and director. “When I saw Antoinette, I knew she was our star, Scarlet.”
Nikprelaj’s Cinderella story began last year when the former model was urged by her cousin to audition as a stand-in for a Hollywood star who was originally set to play the kickboxing and fearless scientist in the Maxsar film, primed for its first feature-length CGI release.
After the meeting with Martinez, Nikprelaj walked away with the starring role of Dr. Scarlet Sangfro, replacing previously cast actress.
Months of pre-production self-defense and weapons training have been grueling, but the sacrifice proving most difficult for the young star is being away from her husband Nua and 3-year-old daughter Gianna.
“I miss them so much,” said Nikprelaj. “They are my life, but I am doing this also for them, because I see a great potential to become successful.”
In terms of training, she says that staying focused, especially in those sessions when the long hours have exhausted her, is her greatest challenge. Adding that pushing herself beyond her comfort zone taught her that she is a much stronger person than she thought.
“The pressure is on me to make it believable,” said Nikprelaj. “I am working with my acting coach, Megan Brown, on every detail including how to stand and where to put my hands. I actually play several versions of myself — one sexy, one strong and another is very sad.”
Nikprelaj moved into the Detroit area as a child with her Albanian-born parents.
She began modeling as a teenager, landing a national ad campaign for the women’s clothing chain “The Limited.” Her young career soon grew. She appeared in several music videos, then won roles in “Just Go With It” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” playing a mermaid opposite Johnny Depp’s iconic Captain Jack Sparrow.
“Johnny Depp is very kind and talented,” said Nikprelaj. “In the film he tries to kidnap one of mermaids so the mermaids fight the pirates. We had a chance to speak often, and he told me it is important to remain true to yourself, follow heart, and hope people like what you create.”
Depp’s insights are emanating through Nikprelaj in “Scar 23,” written by Stevie Robinson of Dearborn. The $16.5 million film will be the first full-feature computer generated (CGI) film shot in Michigan.
That means, however, that Nikprelaj will not act with anyone — she will stand in front of a 30-foot-tall, image generating green screen for every scene, some that include battles with all sorts of terrifying creatures.
“This will be an acting challenge,” she said. “My imagination has to be very elaborate. I will do lots of fighting, and I am learning to ride a custom made motorcycle, created just for me.”
The willowy 5-foot, 7-inch actress is currently putting in eight-to-nine hour days between her physical training and sessions with Brown.
Through it all, Nikprelag says she knows she’s lucky to have the opportunity, sometimes likening it to her own personal fairytale coming true.
“They have a nickname for me — ‘Cinderorky,’” she smiled. “That’s ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Rocky’ mixed together. An unbeatable combination.”
For more information about “Scar 23,” which is due out in 2012, visit www.cinepropictures.com.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment