by Ronda Payne/Special to the 91原创 Advance
Not many nine-year-olds can say with absolute certainty what they want to be when they grow up, but Kayla Iversen can.
Kayla, who lives part-time with her dad Keld Iversen in Walnut Grove, started acting when she was just seven.
She caught the bug early and plans to continue.
鈥淚 love to have new experiences and meet a whole bunch of people I鈥檝e always loved to meet,鈥� she said of why she enjoys acting.
One of those people was Anna Kendrick, whom she met on the Vancouver set of Noelle, where Kendrick plays Nicole Claus.
While Kayla has worked mostly as a background actor in movies so far, she has dreams of doing more.
鈥淪o far, I鈥檓 kind of in the background. I don鈥檛 want to be in the background forever. I want to be like Anna Kendrick or on commercials because it鈥檚 a job that kids could get.鈥�
She鈥檚 set to work three weeks this summer on a Disney film being shot in Portland, and having just signed an agent, she鈥檚 set to audition for numerous commercials in the coming weeks.
鈥淪ince I have it [acting skills and experience] I鈥檇 like to keep building it,鈥� Kayla told the 91原创 Advance.
Her dad, Keld, also works in the film industry, behind the scenes, and it was while visiting him at work that Kayla was bitten by the proverbial acting bug.
鈥淪he came with me one day to go pick up my paycheque,鈥� he explained. 鈥淎t that time it was just when I got into the industry. One of the casting directors鈥� noticed her and she came up to me and asked me about Kayla.鈥�
He was working on Once Upon a Time and the casting team was looking for people to serve as extras.
鈥淚 was going to act in Once Upon a Time,鈥� Kayla said. 鈥淏ut then it didn鈥檛 really turn out. It has a lot of disappointment because, you know, sometimes you don鈥檛 get the part or there鈥檚 lots of work hours, but I really like it. Like, I love it. And sometimes, you don鈥檛 even get to work on the movies, but you still get paid for every hour.鈥�
Kayla is saving up her earnings for the future, for education in acting or maybe a house 鈥搘hen she鈥檚 older.
鈥淵ou can only open doors for them鈥� and support them if they are interested,鈥� Iversen said of helping his daughter pursue her dream.
鈥淚 step back and let her take the reins. She鈥檚 really passionate about it and I was surprised because she can be a little shy with people,鈥� he elaborated.
Because Iversen works in the industry, he knows the days are long, especially for a background actor. But, he sees it as a necessary stepping stone to get exposure and experience in front of the camera.
鈥淐ommercials. You鈥檝e got to have a thick skin and it鈥檚 really tough,鈥� he noted. 鈥淏ut she鈥檚 got the talent and she鈥檚 got a unique look, so she鈥檚 got an edge.鈥�
Both Kayla and her dad attribute her unique appearance to Iversen鈥檚 Danish heritage.
Kayla has done background work in the post-apocalyptic TV show The 100 and a zombie movie, but her favourite was the one with Kendrick about Christmas.
鈥淚 really liked that one. It was so hot and they made us wear jackets. They let us skate around,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e were in a line to visit Santa, like in a mall, and the lady behind me butted in front of me.鈥�
It鈥檚 exciting for Kayla, but she is aware of the challenges ahead of her to succeed in 鈥渟uch a competitive career,鈥� said Dad.
Fortunately, with his support, she鈥檚 already on her way.
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Bound for Chile
The father-daughter team are getting a little more bonding time of late, taking excursions on his Harley every weekend.
Consider them practice runs, for an 鈥渁dventure of a lifetime,鈥� said Dad. 鈥淟et鈥檚 say we鈥檙e breaking in the new bike in anticipation of a longer ride.鈥�
Details are still being ironed out, but A&E and the History channel have apparently agreed to sponsor the duo鈥檚 trip along Highway 101, from Mile 0 in Lund, B.C. to the southern end of Chile.
The trip, which they hope to take in the next year or so, will take about three and a half months. It鈥檚 not about clocking huge miles on any given days, but rather taking in the picturesque scenery and enjoying some time together, Dad said.
The entire journey will be captured on Kayla鈥檚 GoPro and narrated by her, in what will be her directorial debut.
鈥淚t will be the trip through her eyes,鈥� Dad said, explaining how excited both are to be planning this journey.
