Odessa Young Talks ‘My First Film’ and Why She’s Been ‘Weeping Multiple Times a Day’ Since Joining Jeremy Allen White in Bruce Springsteen Biopic

As a devoted film enthusiast who has spent countless hours binge-watching movies and dreaming about my own big break, I can confidently say that Odessa Young is an actress to watch. Her journey from receiving an email about a project she was already “in” to working on a biopic of the legendary Bruce Springsteen is nothing short of inspiring.


Odessa Young recognized instantly that she desired to contribute to “My First Film,” a reinterpretation directed by Zia Anger, based on her initial feature, “Always All Ways, Anne Marie,” which was unable to gain entry into any film festivals in 2010.

In the movie, a character named Vita (played by a young actress) portrays an fictionalized version of Anger. The storyline revolves around Vita’s efforts to produce a low-budget film in her hometown, while simultaneously dealing with the challenges posed by a demanding partner who pressures her into parenthood for the first time.

For the first time, “Young” encountered “My First Film” during Anger’s tour of the narrative as a form of performance art. In an email, [producer] Taylor Shung sent a script and a warm message from Zia. At that point, Young was already involved in the project because there had been murmurs about it and their interest in him. As a result, Young was thrilled about it.

A fortnight had passed, and I found myself sharing a meal with Zia. At that moment, I confess, I would’ve willingly taken on any project with her. If she had proposed, “I’m creating a live-action adaptation of the Teletubbies, would you be interested?”, I wouldn’t have hesitated to say yes.

Odessa Young Talks ‘My First Film’ and Why She’s Been ‘Weeping Multiple Times a Day’ Since Joining Jeremy Allen White in Bruce Springsteen Biopic

During filming, Young acknowledged that things got a bit muddled because both the actual cast and crew, as well as actors portraying the crew, were present. She recalls, “We had two different signals for ‘action’ and ‘cut,’ which added to the confusion for our real crew.” As she reflects, “Working on any movie can be a bit overwhelming. You start to see cameras even in your dreams. With this project in particular, there was an abundance of activity. To make matters worse, there was another crew filming behind-the-scenes footage about the making of a film within a film.” In essence, it was a wild, camera-filled environment.

Two of Young’s forthcoming ventures are remarkably interconnected rather than autonomous. She will be sharing screen time with Jacob Elordi in the imminent Amazon Prime Video series “The Narrow Road to the Deep North,” a dramatic account that revolves around an Australian physician who gets captured as a prisoner of war during the construction of the Burma Railway during World War II.

Young mentions that her two teenage siblings seldom show interest in her professional endeavors, but Elordi definitely piqued their curiosity. “They got to meet him,” she explains. “They tried to act casual, staying composed. However, they couldn’t hide their excitement.

She notes that Elordi couldn’t have been any better in interacting with her family members: “He had a relaxed yet attentive demeanor towards them. He engaged them with some questions, but didn’t overstep his boundaries. He allowed them to enjoy their time on set, making him fantastic.

In November, production begins on the Bruce Springsteen biopic titled “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” with Jeremy Allen White portraying the musician. It’s confirmed that Young will be playing the role of Springsteen’s romantic interest in the film.

You should know that I’m likely the most devoted Bruce Springsteen fan among my peers, with the possible exception of my father,” Young explains. “Growing up, our house was filled with Springsteen music. I celebrated both my 15th and 16th birthdays at a Springsteen concert. My dad organizes an annual charity event in spring featuring Springsteen covers played by his musician friends. When I learned about the film being made, I contacted my agent and told him I had to be part of this movie, regardless of whether it was a minor role. A few months later, I got the chance to audition for it.

Ever since director Scott Cooper presented her with the role, young actress ‘Young’ has been shedding tears multiple times a day. However, she hasn’t had the chance to meet Springsteen yet. “I truly believe this will lead me on a path from which there is no turning back,” she says. “It’s like I won’t be able to return as the same person once I experience it.

“My First Film” is available on Mubi.

Odessa Young Talks ‘My First Film’ and Why She’s Been ‘Weeping Multiple Times a Day’ Since Joining Jeremy Allen White in Bruce Springsteen Biopic

Read More

2024-09-10 01:46