She's an alien of extraordinary ability and soon you can see her on the big screen in a science fiction space opera.
Estevan's Lara Taillon has a role in the upcoming Neil Johnson film, Starship: Rising.
She landed the role after working as a casting consultant for the Space Command film franchise, stumbling into a part after being asked to do some screen tests by the director.
Taillon spoke with the Southeast Trader Express from Los Angeles last week, where she has been residing since August.
The experience of working on a science fiction project, something she didn't have much of an interest in before, has opened her up to a whole other side of filmmaking and storytelling. It was her first experience acting in front of a digitally filled-in green screen.
Taillon found herself chatting with Johnson, who doubles as a producer on the project, and he told her he had some shots to take with a green screen. He asked her to help him out by standing in and she obliged.
"Just some tests shots maybe. I had never worked on a green screen before," said the actor. "I go and I help him, and he's like 'Uh, we gotta put you in this movie.'"
She ended up working for a few days, even acting alongside the director, who has a cameo in the film.
"I've never shot sci-fi before. I wasn't really into sci-fi, so I didn't know a lot of his leads," Taillon said, noting she wasn't sure exactly what kind of screen time she would have in the film. "Who knows what's going to come out in the finished product? You never know how much of your scenes are actually going to be in once the edit comes in and they figure where they need to go and what they need to cut."
Even though Taillon doesn't know what part her character will play in the final product, she is very happy to have been given the chance to be involved in the movie.
"It was a pretty wicked experience."
The movie is looking to open in May, possibly at the Cannes Film Festival.
Taillon had a great time working under Johnson, who she called "serious on set in the best way possible."
She said she was very comfortable on set, despite it being her first time performing in front a green screen. After casting consulting work, Taillon eventually became the casting director for the films.
"We had an international talent search," she said, noting her job was to go through videos.
After people voted on their top choices, Taillon made callbacks to actors for auditions.
She continues on with the Space Command series, leading the casting department. She said the production is incredibly international, and they have looked at close to 7,000 auditions for various roles in the series.
"I just fell into a place for the moment," she said. "I don't know where it's going to take me."
Taillon is now looking forward to pilot season, and while she hasn't put a lot of thought into a television career, she is hoping to do a number of auditions in the coming weeks and months in preparation for the many pilots that shoot in the spring. But even shooting a pilot isn't a guarantee of a job, however. She pointed out a pilot is simply a pitch to networks.
"You just don't know, but as long as it keeps me auditioning, I don't mind," she said.
She said she is used to having auditioned over the years, and likes that part of her job after working with some coaches who she said have really helped her with those skills.
"I've had people putting me in the right mind frame and polishing me up for the season," Taillon said. "That's what you're built for. Auditions don't really freak me out."
The best-case scenario for her is to hitch up with a show that is shooting somewhere in Canada, because she has missed the Great White North since moving to L.A.
Taillon is continuing to pitch her web series Necessary Action, which she began producing last year.
"There's interest in it because it's a female-driven show. Most are male-driven, but you can see the industry changing in that aspect."
She said a lot of the feedback she has received is in tightening and tuning the idea.
Taillon is also in the process of getting her work visa in the United States and because of her status as an alien of extraordinary ability in the arts, she was told she needed an online fan page, something that can generate views. She is a little embarrassed and tentative about promoting the site, but anyone can like her Facebook fan page, and that may help her with her immigration status.
