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Westlake girl earns film recognition
The Westlake Village girl wrote, directed, edited and acted in "The Adventures of Lass," which earned Best Parody at the International Student Film Festival in Hollywood earlier this month. "I had no idea they even had an award for that," said Olivia, a seventh-grader at Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills. (There's no relation to the great Dino DeLaurentis.) Olivia's film was among 78 entries accepted this year from students in the United States, Israel, Turkey, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Colombia and Canada. Established in 2003, the festival allows student filmmakers from around the world to share their talent and gain the recognition of film industry leaders. After Olivia's film was shown, participants from other countries told her how much they enjoyed it, said the girl's mother, Diane Franklin DeLaurentis. "It's pretty awesome if you can get people from other countries who understand the humor," DeLaurentis said. Filmed in Agoura Hills and Westlake Village in one week in August, Olivia's 15-minute film pokes fun at immigrant life in the late 1800s. Olivia plays Lass, a young girl trying to sell an old chicken, played by Zooknob. Olivia recruited her family and friends, including professional actor Steven Houska, to co-star and serve as the crew. Local students Melissa Covert, Scotty Morris, and Brennan, Ben and Hanna Wise also star in the film. The story was inspired by the many immigrant-themed books Olivia read for her middle school classes. While she doesn't love the essays and reports she has to write for homework, she often ends up writing movies from the school assignments. "Olivia will talk about an idea for a while. That's why she writes so fast, because she thinks about it a lot first," DeLaurentis said. Olivia has also written and filmed a Halloween mystery and an alien adventure. She wrote a 45-page television pilot and is working on a book about chickens. Olivia's ideas come constantly, DeLaurentis said, adding that her daughter has even found inspiration in a fortune cookie. Creativity, DeLaurentis said, is an important trait to cultivate early in life, as is humor. "People are so afraid to make fun of themselves," DeLaurentis said. "I like to laugh. It's the best thing you can bring to your family." Taking control of what you do is important in how others see you, DeLaurentis added. Waiting for permission from others to do what you want is limiting, she said. "I trust Olivia and say, 'Go for it,' and as a result she is fresh and innovative," DeLaurentis said. "Every child has a gift. You have to find what they love and help them." Olivia began acting at age 5. Her first role was on the television show "Judging Amy." She's appeared in several commercials and is the voice of the Disney character Lilo for toys, interactive games and television. Olivia has done voice work for the films "Ice Age II" and "Happy Feet" and is featured, along with actress Julie Andrews, in the live-action short "The Cat that Looked at the King" and the "Mary Poppins 40th Anniversary" DVD. Olivia's father, Ray DeLaurentis, is a writer on the Nickelodeon show "Fairly OddParents." Olivia's mother is an actress who has appeared in such films as "Better Off Dead" and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure." She also appears in Olivia's film as Mum and the grandmother. Olivia's younger brother, Nick, who plays the brother in "Lass," has appeared in a Dunkin' Donuts commercial and did voice work in the film "Happy Feet." Zooknob accompanied Olivia to the awards dinner. The black-and-white giant cochin was decked out in a pink dress for the occasion. Zooknob is one of five exotic chickens Olivia has as pets. Her menagerie includes guinea pigs, rabbits and a chinchilla. "I went to a petting zoo when I was 4, and I was the only one who could pick the chickens up," Olivia said. "I guess chickens kind of like me." |
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