Taylor Vincent is still reeling with the news of her upcoming television debut. Vincent auditioned for a role back in November for an upcoming movie being filmed right here in Newfoundland. She couldn’t believe her ears when the call came in that she had been chosen for the lead female role.
The movie, called “Hold Fast,” is an adaptation from the classic novel written by award winning author Kevin Major of Stephenville. Hold Fast was his first novel and received three major Canadian book awards. It is a coming-of-age story and considered to be one of the most accomplished and popular young peoples’ novels in Canada, second only to Anne of Green Gables. The film will appeal to a younger audience, the same general audiences that loved the movie ‘Stand By Me’.
Taylor, a 17 year old student of Indian River High School, was one of many drama students across Newfoundland that auditioned for a part in this new movie. The production company, Rock Island Productions from St.John’s, sent out audition applications to all the high school drama departments in the province. Taylor’s drama teacher, Peter Hillier presented the students with the information and Taylor made an appointment for an audition right away. She was so excited to be trying out for her first real acting role. Her first audition with Rock Island took place in Gander in November and then she received a call back for a second audition which took place in St. John’s in January.
The important call, the call that she could only dream about, came on March 9. She had been chosen for the lead female part. Taylor was at a friend’s house in South Brook when a member of the production company called, so her mother received the news first. Her mother called to give her the exciting.
“I just lost it at that point, I started crying and couldn’t stop,” she said. “My friend’s parents thought something was wrong.”
Taylor is no stranger to performing on stage and feels right at home in front of a camera. She has been involved with drama since elementary school and is currently with the Indian River High School Drama Club and takes a theatre class. She has been competing in regional and provincial drama festivals since grade seven and was also a contestant in the Miss Teen Newfoundland Pageant in 2010. She just recently returned from the Provincial Drama Festival in Grand Falls-Windsor. She said even though her drama club didn’t make the provincials this year she was asked to help out as Ambassador for the event. She was happy to participate and saw it as an opportunity to meet new people and take part in the workshops.
For as long as I can remember, this is what I have wanted to do... - Taylor Vincent
When asked why she wants to pursue a career as an actress and what or who inspired her, she said, “For as long as I can remember, this is what I have wanted to do, I love being on stage in front of an audience, I’m not shy at all and I like being in the spotlight. My favourite actress is Rachel McAdams, star of the ultimate love story ‘The Notebook’ and it’s also my favourite movie of all time. I watch anything that Rachel McAdams plays a part in.”
Taylor will be playing the part of Brenda in the movie. A 14 year old girl described as sweet and effervescent. She has met and spoken with the other lead characters chosen for the movie. She went to St.John’s to meet with her co-star Avery who plays the lead character named Michael. The story is about Michael, a 14 year old boy whose parents are killed in a car accident which results in his family being split up. Brenda becomes Michael’s first love after he is forced to move to the city from his beloved fishing village. It was necessary for the two main characters to meet before hand to see if they had chemistry on stage and Taylor said it went really well. The movie is slated to begin production in St. John’s on May 28 and filming will run until sometime in July.
Taking part in this film will mean many changes to Taylor’s life as she knows it now. She will have to move to St. John’s for a while and she says that with final exams coming up, it’s a little scary. However, the production company has informed her that a tutor will be provided to ensure she completes her school year. She has enlisted with an agent recently that has put together a promotional portfolio for her and the agent suggests that she spend the summer in St. John’s to promote herself for upcoming roles, whether it is commercials or film. On May 20 she will attend a convention where she will have a chance to meet other agents, industry professionals and other aspiring actors/actresses.
Taylor plans to pursue a theatre program in University when she finishes high school and says she will go wherever her career takes her. However, she realizes that there are many opportunities for acting in Canada and even right here in Newfoundland. If ambition and enthusiasm are the keys to success, Taylor will go a long way in her pursuit of a career as an actress.
