Stella Dimovsky discusses her first acting experience in the Swarms of drifting shadows

(SD): I made myself ready for the role by practicing the scenes on the call sheet every night (if I received a script). Also, when the talent gets a little break so the crew can set up, me and all the actors and actresses in the next scene practice. If I have a scene with a large amount of dialogue, my acting coach, Sayla makes sure I have my voice ready and then practices the dialogue with me. I’ve been to a workshop in a famous place called talent.inc. They told me every actress and actor needs to learn how to be patient to get a role. Not just them, but everyone tells me something like “you could do a million auditions but only get one role”. Of course I believed them, since they are experienced, but I guess I just got lucky this time. They also told me when I practice dialogue with a script, I need to read the other person/people’s part to know my cue. This applied very well to this movie because I was never too late or too early to say my dialogue after another person does.

(SD): Like I already mentioned in the first question, I struggled with trying to stay awake on set. It was a bit easier to stay awake because I had to focus on getting the dialogue perfect. On some nights I didn’t get my recommended hours of sleep for my age, but I trained my body to wake up early. I find it impolite if I demand to go home on a late shooting night. I wanted to get in my big comfy bed like everyone else probably would, but I tried to keep my cool. If I was going to become a professional actress I would have to learn what’s professional and what’s not. Furthermore, if I decided to go home and miss a scene, that’s minus one scene without me. For my first major role, I would love to be in as many scenes as I can no matter what. Lastly, I would miss all the great moments in that scene that probably would’ve looked better with me in it. I never would want to leave the crew members and the talent not seeing me at set when I’m on the call sheet. In my opinion, that’s impolite and unprofessional.

 

(SD): The production process was very exciting since we got to go to new locations. The first location, in Caledon, was very far from where I live and was cold at times, but I enjoyed breathing fresh air with all my friends on set. Every take at a different location was better and better and I loved seeing me and the other actors and actresses on set improve so quickly. The pandemic thankfully, didn’t really interact with our working process. Everyone had to wear a mask, but that’s understandable and I’m used to wearing one because I can’t enter my school without a mask covering my nose and mouth. I felt super safe because I knew I could hug my friends on set without worrying about the coronavirus, since everyone got tested. While on set I didn’t even think about the virus, just the fact that we were filming a movie without having to worry about our health. They’re no issues that I’ve faced filming “Swarms of drifting shadows” during a global pandemic. I felt too safe to worry about my health.

 

(UM): Please tell us a bit about the dynamics with the other performers? How were you able to create chemistry in a limited span of time?

(SD): I can’t even explain how much I liked working with all these talented and kind-hearted actors and actresses. At first, I was so worried because I found out I was the only kid in the movie. The second I came through the door on my first day on set, I already knew I’m going to make so many friends based on everyone’s smiles. I didn’t just establish good chemistry with the talent, but with the crew too. Everyday on set, I would get my makeup done beautifully, done with lots of love and precision. Everyone including me is absolutely thankful to have Kaitlyn as our make-up artist. Same with Sarah, these people are so skilled. Next, we have our talented and creative costume designer, Alex. She always made sure I was warm. She worked so hard dirtying up every piece of clothing but she never stopped. For the rest of the crew, we made incredible inside jokes and I will forget them. Now, for the amazing actors and actresses. They all made my experience so much better by comforting me and giving advice when it comes to doing scenes with them. I don’t just work with them, they’re all my friends.

(UM): Is there any specific experience that you will remember from this movie?

(SD): I’ll always remember every single part of this experience using the pictures and videos I have since it’s my first movie ever. I find that every part of the process was to be kept as a memory forever. Some of the examples of these memories are the hot chocolate when it gets cold with Beata, me and her on top of the roof and way more. I’ll never forget any of the people I worked with since they’re so amazing and talented. There is no specific part I will remember, because every part of the filming process was fantastic.

(UM): Do you have any advice you’d like to give up and coming actors?

(SD): The advice I would like to give to future actors and actresses is everything you want will happen if you believe in yourself. This advice came from my personal experience. After the first audition with you, I felt like I wasn’t good enough because I’m a beginner. My mom told me that I was great and I needed to believe in myself. That’s exactly what I did. When I did that, I got the role! Other actors and actresses should do this too. Not just to get a role, but to always tell yourself how amazing you are will get you far in life.