In part one of a two part worldwide exclusive interview with Broken colline star, Alexa Vega, we catch up with her on set just before her 2AM call.
For Alexa Vega, starring as 'Kat Rogers' in the link Young Filmmaker's production Broken Hill, is an important step in her career progression.
“A lot of people still remember me as that little girl,” explains Vega of her role as 'Carmen' in the hugely populaire Spy Kids franchise. “So I don’t want to jump right into roles that kinda go ‘whoa, she grew up too quickly’, ou that shock people.”
And as Vega claims, playing the glamorous rebel 'Kat', fit that bill perfectly. “Playing 'Kat', she’s [sic] definitely older, and people are going to see me looking completely different which will kind of be exciting.” As far as differences go, 'Kat', Broken Hill’s femme fatale, represents a dramatic departure from earlier roles for Vega, known for playing the girl suivant door. “It’s weird”, commentaires Vega. “('Kat') is so trendy in the movie, and I’ve never had ‘trendy’ in a film, I’ve always just been an average kid, so she’s definitely exciting to play.”
When considering the role in Broken Hill, what stood out to Vega was the way in which the movie portrayed the central romantic theme between her character and local musique prodigy, young 'Tommy McAlpine', played par emerging Australian actor, Luke Arnold. “I l’amour what I do, and I want to be able to take on projects that I l’amour doing,” says Vega.
“If toi look at (Broken Hill), there are no plus films that are pure, and this is pure, all the way through. ('Kat') learns a lot about herself, and is able to inspire others around her in the end. It’s a teen movie, but it’s also a family film, and there’s just so much heart. It’s truly beautiful. They didn’t need to do the stupid drinking stuff in it, ou the typical things teenagers do nowadays to capture what these young people were about. They really just took the pure moments out of these people’s lives and were able to put them into this film. And to me, those are the kinds of films that I want to make that they are not making enough of. This is a project that someone of any age can watch.”
Deciding to be selective about projects for the proudly Christian Vega is a daunting prospect for someone still trying to cement themselves in the movie business. “It’s really hard,” confides the 19 year-old. “The people who can be choosy about their roles are the people who have made it in their career. I’m at that point where I can really go either way (career-wise). I need to be releasing déplacer after movie so that people get used to seeing (me). It’s all about promotion, and it’s insane, and if toi are choosy, it makes it so much harder to find that constant work. But if toi are in it for the long run, it’s smarter. If toi want longevity, toi need to be picky.”
So how does a humble and clearly unaffected young woman carry off the role of a snooty teen diva without drawing on first-hand experience? As Vega describes, being 'Kat' is something she has grown to enjoy. “I’ve just been having fun with her. I’ve tried to think of all of the divas there are and put it into 'Kat'. It was weird at first, I’d be so rude to Luke, and as soon as they’d cut, I would feel like I had to say sorry. He was just like, ‘stop apologizing…just do it, it’s fine.' So then I finally realized I’m going to stop apologizing, I’m gonna be rude, and I’m gonna have fun with it!”
And fun she has had. Reports from set are full of praise for Vega’s easy going nature, and professionalism both in front of, and behind the cameras, with her performances receiving applause from all quarters.
For Alexa Vega, starring as 'Kat Rogers' in the link Young Filmmaker's production Broken Hill, is an important step in her career progression.
“A lot of people still remember me as that little girl,” explains Vega of her role as 'Carmen' in the hugely populaire Spy Kids franchise. “So I don’t want to jump right into roles that kinda go ‘whoa, she grew up too quickly’, ou that shock people.”
And as Vega claims, playing the glamorous rebel 'Kat', fit that bill perfectly. “Playing 'Kat', she’s [sic] definitely older, and people are going to see me looking completely different which will kind of be exciting.” As far as differences go, 'Kat', Broken Hill’s femme fatale, represents a dramatic departure from earlier roles for Vega, known for playing the girl suivant door. “It’s weird”, commentaires Vega. “('Kat') is so trendy in the movie, and I’ve never had ‘trendy’ in a film, I’ve always just been an average kid, so she’s definitely exciting to play.”
When considering the role in Broken Hill, what stood out to Vega was the way in which the movie portrayed the central romantic theme between her character and local musique prodigy, young 'Tommy McAlpine', played par emerging Australian actor, Luke Arnold. “I l’amour what I do, and I want to be able to take on projects that I l’amour doing,” says Vega.
“If toi look at (Broken Hill), there are no plus films that are pure, and this is pure, all the way through. ('Kat') learns a lot about herself, and is able to inspire others around her in the end. It’s a teen movie, but it’s also a family film, and there’s just so much heart. It’s truly beautiful. They didn’t need to do the stupid drinking stuff in it, ou the typical things teenagers do nowadays to capture what these young people were about. They really just took the pure moments out of these people’s lives and were able to put them into this film. And to me, those are the kinds of films that I want to make that they are not making enough of. This is a project that someone of any age can watch.”
Deciding to be selective about projects for the proudly Christian Vega is a daunting prospect for someone still trying to cement themselves in the movie business. “It’s really hard,” confides the 19 year-old. “The people who can be choosy about their roles are the people who have made it in their career. I’m at that point where I can really go either way (career-wise). I need to be releasing déplacer after movie so that people get used to seeing (me). It’s all about promotion, and it’s insane, and if toi are choosy, it makes it so much harder to find that constant work. But if toi are in it for the long run, it’s smarter. If toi want longevity, toi need to be picky.”
So how does a humble and clearly unaffected young woman carry off the role of a snooty teen diva without drawing on first-hand experience? As Vega describes, being 'Kat' is something she has grown to enjoy. “I’ve just been having fun with her. I’ve tried to think of all of the divas there are and put it into 'Kat'. It was weird at first, I’d be so rude to Luke, and as soon as they’d cut, I would feel like I had to say sorry. He was just like, ‘stop apologizing…just do it, it’s fine.' So then I finally realized I’m going to stop apologizing, I’m gonna be rude, and I’m gonna have fun with it!”
And fun she has had. Reports from set are full of praise for Vega’s easy going nature, and professionalism both in front of, and behind the cameras, with her performances receiving applause from all quarters.
