Former Atlantan Rae'Ven Kelly is considering calling the metro area home again.
After weeks here on the set of the film "Preacher's Kid," the Los Angeles actress just can't get Georgia off her mind.
"We fell back in love with the Peach, bottom line," says Kelly, who played little Adlaine Harper in the TV series "I'll Fly Away." "So I think we might be bicoastal again."
She will certainly be back in town to promote "Preacher's Kid," due in theaters in the spring. But beforehand, here's what the 23-year-old had to say about her role, what she's been up to since she left for the West Coast when she was 12, and how she spent some of her free time in Atlanta:
Q: What kind of character do you portray in "Preacher's Kid"?
A: Marcia is very bubbly, very precocious. She is the best friend of the lead girl, played by LeToya Luckett [a former member] of Destiny's Child. And my character is her moral compass. She keeps her in touch with what's going on back at home, after [Luckett's character] leaves the family. The film is a modern day version of the prodigal son, with a female twist.
Q: Is that what attracted you to this film?
A: Definitely. This film is very important in that it focuses on the importance of remembering where you came from. ... And to not get caught up into vices that can cause you to stumble away from your walk with God.
Q: Catch us up on what you've been doing since you decided to make Los Angeles your home.
A: I just produced a [television series] pilot with my mother and manager, Phyllis Larrymore-Kelly, along with Fernandel Almonor. It's directed toward a young crowd. Very inventive. Very eclectic. And the theme of it teaches a great lesson. Prior to that I did "Hannah Montana" on the Disney Channel. And I graduated from UCLA this past June, where I majored in African-American studies and pre-law.
Q: Is that what you talked about when you visited schools here while you were filming?
A: I did. I went to Lovinggood Middle School in Cobb County and Shamrock Middle School in DeKalb. And I have to say I do have cousins who go to those schools. ... But I went to schools and answered their questions about what it's like being in movies. Growing up a child star. Maintaining a good GPA. Studying on-set, and just study habits in general.
I also went to Spelman College twice and spoke to the drama department and dance department, where I talked about being in Hollywood, being selective about the work I do and still being successful.
Q: Surely you did some fun stuff, too.
A: Oh, public speaking, motivational speaking is fun to me. But, of course, we enjoyed the people, the great food. I got to visit friends back at Channel 11, who used to have me on all of the time when I was on "I'll Fly Away." And I was a spokesperson for their Can-a-Thon for over five years. So that was like home for me. It was a joy spending time in Atlanta.
Jewish film festival returns
Tickets go on sale Tuesday for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, running Jan. 14-25. Viggo Mortensen ("Good"), Jacqueline Bisset ("Death in Love") and Toni Collette ("Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger") are among the actors featured in the narrative finalists. The festival will be screened at Lefont Sandy Springs, Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station Stadium 16 and Regal Medlock Crossing Stadium 18 in Duluth. For more information, go to www.ajff.org or call 404-806-9913.
'Signal' in the Spirit
Atlanta filmmakers David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry and Alexander Motlagh's "The Signal" is up for the John Cassavetes Award at the Film Independent's Spirit Awards. The ceremony is scheduled to air live Feb. 21 on IFC and AMC. For more information, go to www.spiritawards.com.
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