Press Conference of A Time for Dancing

The press conference of the American competition film A Time for Dancing was held at Shanghai Film Art Center yesterday afternoon. Kelly Gonda, the producer; Shiri Appleby and Larisa Oleynik, the two leading actresses, attended the press conference.

The film A Time for Dancing tells a story about the dancers' life, so the first question of the journalists was whether the two leading actresses were professional dancers. One of the two leading actresses, Shiri Appleby answered with a smile on her face, "we are professional actresses but not dancers. While shooting, each of us has got a stand-in who performs all the highly difficult dancing movements." When asked how the movie was received in America, Kelly answered,

" Actually the movie has yet to be officially released in America, though in many other countries it has already been on show. True, the movie differs a lot from most of Hollywood films. I think this is a film in which each individual matters. In all, we have invested US$10 million and worked on the early stage of the making for a whole year and two months. Shiri even got her wrist injured and toes broken while re-shooting two important scenes. But still she sticks to the final course."

At this moment, Shiri giggled saying that it was no big deal. Naturally the reporters attention shifted to her.

Some one asked, "there are many common actors as well as the famous stars in Hollywood, what do you believe is the most important thing a famous star should have?"

Shiri answered humorously, "you had better ask Julia Roberts, she knows the answer." The atmosphere became relaxed. Then Shiri said, "both Larisa and I became actresses when we were very young." When mentioned the Shanghai International Film Festival, the producer, Kelly, said, "we are actually fascinated in the Chinese culture, A Time for Dancing has attended another film festival in Florida America before the SIFF, but the late is more well-organized and excellent".

In the end, some reporter wanted Shiri and Larisa to act some scenes of A Time for Dancing. These two American girls said with a smile, " it has been two years so far, moreover, we haven't brought dancing shoes". They also posed for the photographers to take many pictures. The press conference ended in a joyful atmosphere.

2002
by Wu Yifan