E-News Article - Jessica Holt

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    By Jim Lavoie

    Fresh off her outstanding performance as the lead actress in NB Film Co-op member Gia Milani's, A Dark Radius (award-winning short film at the Silver Wave Film Festival - Best NB Short Drama) in which she was nominated for best actress, Holt is now taking on the complete polar opposite to her own personality in a feature film called Plaster Rock.

    Holt is in the role of Michelle, a former Miss America, in Plaster Rock, now in production by Global Universal Pictures, being directed by Jackelyn Giroux up on the Tobique.

    "Michelle is actually a difficult character for me to play, because as I read the script it was obvious to me that she is a little insecure and doesn't make decisions well," Holt states. "I think life has knocked her around a bit, making her a little uncertain and timid. So with Michelle, I am submissive and frightened a lot, whereas anyone who meets me knows I am the complete opposite

    "Playing Michelle was fun though because she is very different from any other role I have done. I would be very interested to try playing someone like her again. I'll always have a soft spot for my little beauty queen snow bunny."

    When Holt first saw that she was going to be cast in a thriller-horror she was ecstatic.

    "As soon as I heard we were shooting a horror script, I wanted to do my research. I'm a big fan of the genre, so I had a terrifying 'study session' where I watched my faves and got some inspiration."

    Not surprising when you look at her background, which reveals her passion for writing scripts like Omaha Fly By - NB Film Co-op and Ghana, Ward 6 which has been optioned to Shore Road Pictures.

    She is an assistant set carpenter, distinguished in art department and prop works. She loves being right in there when special effects are needed.

    "Having experience working with FX came in handy, because we do a lot of cool stuff in this film. Don't want to give anything away, but let's say I put my skills to good use," she says.

    Holt is also an assistant gun wrangler, a high demand skill, and has worked in that capacity on the popular Television series Trailer Park Boys. There are actually very few gun wranglers, for film and television, available in the industry. Holt is quick to praise her mentor.

    "I got my start in film working for a respected art director/gun wrangler and very talented artist Gary Ferguson. He showed me the ropes of designing, creating and shooting a beautiful movie, how to deal safely with firearms and FX and most importantly "" how to be a professional on set. I can still hear him saying 'Ears up! Eyes on the action! He taught me to combine the artistic and technical aspects of the industry. Once you find the balance, you are free to love every minute in production. I still do!"

    Holt is a 5'8" brown-haired beauty and active dynamo who enjoys motorcycling, horseback riding, kickboxing, archery, dancing and singing (co-founder with Whitney Ilsley of Cabaret at boom nightclub, 2007 Fredericton). She has her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Thomas University, a Film Certificate in film and television (NB Film Co-op, NB Film and Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour), Robert McKee Story workshops in Los Angeles.

    One person who feels Holt has a bright future is Gia Milani, winner of the 1st Annual Slamdance Script Accessible Competition with her feature script All the Wrong Reasons, which will be honoured in Utah in January 2010.

    "I wrote a script in 2008, called 'A Dark Radius,' about sex trafficking in Canada. People don't realize trafficking happens across our country, including here in Fredericton. I wrote it out of frustration because I can't take these traffickers down, so I created a fictional vigilante style heroine to be able to do what I couldn't," Milani said.

    "The previous year, I had been to rehearsals for a Cabaret charity show for Transition House. Jessica Holt was part of the show, and was a real standout. I'd met her in a writer's workshop but didn't know that she could perform until this show. She was bold and witty and I was impressed.

    "When I wrote A Dark Radius I had her in my mind. So much so that I named the character Jessica Dark - and I never changed it. Luckily, when I approached her about it, she was game to take on an action role. She had not acted before at that point (though she has many times since) but was quick to be able to step into her character and flesh it out. She was a great sport - doing fight scenes in -17C degree weather. I was lucky to have her and I look forward to see what she's going to take on next."

    Holt is passionate about the film industry and would love to take on as many projects as possible in acting. In the interim she will continue to upgrade her training for both sides of the camera which only enhances opportunities for employment in the film industry.