Nicole LaPlaca – Making it to the Top

Photo Credit:  Diyah Pera

Q.  What are some of the recent projects that you’ve been working on?

A.  I just finished an independent film called Mount Pleasant.  Right now I’m just kind of taking it easy and auditioning for parts.  I can’t wait to see what my next project is going to be.

Q.  You’ll soon be seen in the movie John Tucker Must Die.  What can you tell us about the premise for the movie and about your character Molly?

A.  It’s about three girls and they are all from very different cliques who find out they are all dating the most popular guy in school, John Tucker.  Instead of hating each other, they team up with the new girl Kate (played by Brittany Snow) and they try and take John down.  Their plan is that they want him to fall for her and kind of rip his heart out when he does.  It’s really very funny.  My character Molly is a cheerleader on the school squad, she’s kind of the joke of the team.  Her whole life she’s been waiting to get to the top of the pyramid, that’s when you’ve made it!  Heather (played by Ashanti) keeps putting her at the base where she has to take all the kicks and the falls, kind of a rough place to be.  She gets pretty jealous when Kate, the new girl, comes along on her first day and goes right up to the top.

Q.  What made you want to be a part of this film?

A.  The script was hilarious and the first time I read it, I just pictured it all in my head, what it is going to be like.  I couldn’t help but laugh.  It’s really witty and fun.  Working with hot Jesse Metcalfe was a plus too!

Q.  How was getting to work with the director Betty Thomas?

A.  Betty was probably the funniest director I’ve ever worked with.  She would call us her puppies, crazy stuff like that on set.  She definitely knew what she wanted for each scene; which was really great.  I would love to work with her any day.

Q.  Do you have a most memorable moment from filming?

A.  The whole experience was great but I guess probably the most memorable for me was actually getting the part.  I thought I was just going to another callback for the character.  When I got there, they just sent me right down to set for rehearsals.  So, that was a really nice surprise, I had fun doing it.

Q.  There are a lot of well known actors attached to the film.  Do they have a lot of chemistry on screen together?

A.  Of course, they are all amazing, I couldn’t believe I was working with all of them.  They definitely do have great chemistry in the film and it really helps that they were close off screen too.  There was always joking and laughing on set, so that sure helped.

Q.  You mentioned working on the film Mount Pleasant.  Why should viewers take the time to check out this film?

A.  It’s a really hard hitting, wonderful film.  It’s an ensemble piece but it’s really character driven.  Mainly it’s just really real, the script actually came from the writer/director, Ross Weber, and his real experiences living in Mount Pleasant.  How it starts to go down hill and how it’s starting to get corrupted with drugs.  It’s pretty intense but Ross really put his heart into it and I think that will translate on screen.  The cast were incredible, I was very lucky to work among probably the top actors in Canada and even in the states.

Q.  What is it about the acting profession that first attracted you?

A.  First, I started out doing Barbie and toy commercials and that was just because it looked like fun.  But, when I was a kid I was really insecure and shy and with acting I got to be someone else for a change and try on a different character.  I definitely got hooked right away.

Q.  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A.  I love to dance, I’m a dancer.  I have been dancing even longer than I’ve been acting.  I just got into golf and tennis, I’m not very good and I get frustrated.  I think I’m going to stick with it.  It’s fun and it’s great exercise so why not.

Q.  Do you have a latest obsession?  Are you into any particular book, sport, music group or activity?

A.  I am really into the show “So You Think You Can Dance.”  It’s really addicting and some of the dancers are so amazing and they’re working so hard.  They’re given different styles that they’ve never done before, which is really cool.  They work so hard and I have a lot of respect for what those guys are doing out there.