Nikki Davis, Twiner Managing Editor
"I've always wanted to act so I wanted a school with a good theater program. If you're serious about acting you have to go to New York or L.A. I didn't really want to do the musical thing, so I was leaning more towards L.A. I researched it. Then I found out it was affiliated with my church. The school was founded by the Disciples of Christ. I took it as a sign," hopeful, up-and-coming actress and Woodbine native Mary Smith said.
A sign it was and all seems to be going well for the aspiring actress who, in her last year of college, landed a lead role in an on-campus, student directed, donation-funded film dubbed "Happy Holidays."
Auditions for the film were held in September of 2006 and Mary has no idea how many other actresses auditioned for the role.
"I just know I had two or three auditions. They wanted to see me read with other people," she said.
After she received the good news of landing the lead, the work began.
The cast and crew began filming in November of 2006 and filmed through Dec. 23. During the majority of the time, filming was limited to weekends as both cast and crew had college courses to attend. Weekend filming consumed about 10 hours of Mary's Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 16.Dec. 16 -23 became crunch time when college students left for winter break - except for many of the "Happy Holidays" cast and crew.
"That week before Christmas we had eight days of eight to 14 hours. I had to be there every day," Mary said.
Mary portrayed the character Clarissa Ryder - a talented, high school painter who dreamed of becoming a successful artist. Mary's character plans to move cross-country to pursue her dream when she falls for an aspiring musician. While enrolled at college, she meets another man that becomes part of her life and a pillar of support.
According to the "Happy Holidays" Web site, www.happyholidaysfilm.com, "'Happy Holidays' chronicles the tumultuous and confusing relationships five characters are faced with. Going through affairs, engagements, promises and heartbreak; Thomas, Charles, Margaret, John, and most of all, Clarissa must learn how to deal with the dream of their past along with the realities of their future."
After the pressured, long-houred work week in December, cast and crew were given six weeks off.
"The film spans four or five years. We had to take time off to change. I've dyed my hair so many times in the past few months because of the character changes," Mary said.
Filming began again at the beginning of March 2007 and finished by the end of the month.
In April the editing process began. The feature-length film is scheduled to be complete in June or July. "They can start submitting applications to film festivals then because it's an independent film," Mary said. The hope is that a distributor will pick up "Happy Holidays" and sell it to theaters across the nation.
Mary is determined to not let "Happy Holidays" be her end - but her beginning. She graduated from Chapman University May 19 with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Theater Performance and had an interview scheduled with an agency May 29 to enter the work force as a paid actress - even though some tell her she can't.
"I've come to this about everything - (I do it) because people think I can't. Because I am from a small town in Iowa. It seems like a dream or goal a little girl would have and grow out of. I'm going to prove it. I can work that hard and be that successful person. I'm always pushing my boundaries and if things are getting too easy, I need to take the next step. The challenge motivates me," Mary said.
Hopefully, the challenging steps she has taken so far will pay off. If anyone is interested in supporting Mary's film debut in "Happy Holidays", buttons and other "Happy Holidays" paraphernalia are available for purchase on the "Happy Holidays" Web site at www.happyholidaysfilm.com.
"The money will go to the film and it's a way of promoting the film - so anyone who purchases a button or anything can be a part of letting people know about it," she said.
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