Alyssa Jacobsen Rise of the Fellowship Interview

Alyssa Jacobsen Rise of the Fellowship Interview

Alyssa was born in Orlando, Florida, but remembers her childhood in Northern Virginia where she spent twenty-one years of her life. Acting was always something she had a passion for, but it didn't seem like a possible career choice at the time. Nevertheless acting never disappeared from her life.

At the age of fifteen she received her first dose of acting by signing up for a drama class in 9th grade and continued taking acting classes all through high school. While she was there, she worked on several different theatre productions and her inspiration to pursue acting became stronger. Alyssa was honoured with the award for Best Thespian her senior year and went on to receive a scholarship for acting.

She studied theatre at the Northern Virginia Community College with an emphasis in acting and went on to play leads as well as contribute backstage for productions. During the summer of 2007 she went on to attend an acting program in London with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where she learned a lot and grew leaps and bounds as an actress.

After attaining her associate degree from NVCC, she took a year off to work and explore her options. She decided Los Angeles would make the most sense for her chosen career path. A month before the cross-country move to LA she auditioned for an independent film company, Opening-Act Productions , and was cast as Lisa, a mean-girl cheerleader in high school (Rise Of The Fellowship, out in December), thus beginning her professional acting career.

Interview with Alyssa Jacobsen

Question: How would you describe Rise of the Fellowship?

Alyssa Jacobsen: I would describe it as a family-friendly zero-to-hero movie. I love the story because it's a fresh take on an action style movie with heroes that are more relatable to a wider audience. Everyone loves to see the little guy triumph!


Question: What inspired you to get involved in acting?

Alyssa Jacobsen: I think a combination of many things. I've wanted to be an actor since I started watching movies. I've always been more artistic then bookish. I understand emotions, I don't understand math. I truly started taking acting seriously when I became really involved with the theatre program in high school. I had an amazing drama teacher who pushed me in the right direction and inspired me to go for it.


Question: What was it about the film, Rise of the Fellowship, which i

nterested you for your feature film debut?

Alyssa Jacobsen: I really enjoyed the story and the originality behind it. It reaches a wide audience. There is something for everyone to enjoy and relate to. I also loved the character I got to play. It's always fun to play the villain.

Question: Can you tell us about your character, in Rise of the Fellowship?

Alyssa Jacobsen: She is a narrow-minded, stuck-up, princess cheerleader who never had to sweat too much to get her way. However, she is also secretly interested in the gaming world, but too shy to get involved. She cares more about her reputation than her actual inter

ests. If that means waiting until she graduates to actually figure out what she likes or who she is, then that's what she's going to do. It's a small sacrifice to be the "it girl" of high school.


Question: What did you enjoy most about being on set of Rise of the Fellowship?

Alyssa Jacobsen: I loved how motivated and passionate everyone seemed about the project. I enjoyed the story. I liked the energy. I loved how supportive everyone was with one another. Everyone on board was so helpful too. It can be incredibly intimidating to be on a set, but Ron and the crew were great and they made such an effort to make everyone feel comfortable. They put me at ease and made it easy to do my job. I loved everything about working on this project.


Question: What did you learn from the difficulties encountered whilst filming Rise of the Fellowship?

Alyssa Jacobsen: Bring an umbrella if it seems a little overcast. Filming doesn't stop just because it rains a little.


Question: Have you seen the Lord Of The Ring films?

Alyssa Jacobsen: I have seen the trilogy and I love them all.


Question: Do you have a preference with modelling or acting?

Alyssa Jacobsen: I love both, but I prefer acting. It's my number one passion and focus. I love expressing my emotions through words and body language. You're fully vulnerable when you're acting but there aren't any consequences because it's not you, it's a character. You feel more comfortable and free knowing you can let it all go. You can't hide anything-everything on film is captured.


Question: Where do you hope to see yourself in five years?

Alyssa Jacobsen: Working in films and/or TV consistently.


Question: What or who motivated your love of acting?

Alyssa Jacobsen: Watching movies and wanting to be in them motivated me to pursue it as a career. I've always loved the concept of playing pretend for a living. I can be a pretty sensitive and emotional person so the idea of getting to use that in my favour excites me.


Question: What do you enjoy most about acting?

Alyssa Jacobsen: I like the ability of being able to step in someone else's shoes and forget about my own problems and just act. It's challenging but also therapeutic at the same time.

Question: What's the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?

Alyssa Jacobsen: Starbucks.


Question: What's next for you, over the next six months?

Alyssa Jacobsen: The big goal will be to stay busy working consistently. Stay positive and book those jobs.


Interview by Brooke Hunter