Tag: Circle Of Lies

Teen flick ticks the bitchy boxes

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By Kevin Sadlier

MADE in Cronulla, Circle of Lies is a new teen drama now on selected release in NSW cinemas, although not yet in St George or Sutherland Shire.

The setting is the fictional Short Beach High School where the most popular girl student, Denise played by Hilary Caitens, finds her life turned upside-down after a night-time beach party, hosted by a character called “V” played by Nikki Webster, now 26, and who is remembered for her performance at the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games when just 13.

In Circle of Lies, V is described as a “spoiled brat”, a member of an ultra-cool group who call themselves “the exclusives” and believe they are above all the rest.

The film opens on the first day of a new school year when audiences will meet students good and bad, in particular Denise (Hilary Caitens) who is bullied and victimised by classmate Kirsty (Anna Lawrence), the leader of the ultra-cools.

Anna’s previous film and television roles include feature roles in TV series such as Underbelly: Razor, Packed to the Rafters and Tricky Business.

Source: St George & Sutherland Shire Leader

Nikki Webster chats to Sunrise

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Sunrise025

…but she’s come a long way since then, from dance music to Dancing with the Stars. There’s been a fashion line and a foray into her own business, and she hasn’t even turned 30 yet.

SAMANTHA ARMYTAGE: My goodness. Nikki Webster joins us now. Good morning.

NIKKI WEBSTER: Good morning guys!

SAMANTHA: Welcome!

NIKKI:Thank-you!

SAMANTHA: Nikki this is my dad Mack. Dad, Nikki.

MACK: Hi Nikki.

NIKKI: Lovely to meet you. Happy Fathers’ Day for Sunday.

MACK: Well, thank you.

SAMANTHA: Aww, that’s nice. Now look tell us about your role in this new movie Circle of Lies.

NIKKI: It’s just really exciting to be a part of an Australian film with such incredible actors. The director Matt Cerwen is just amazing, and to be on set with up-and-coming talent of Australia was so much fun. It’s my first acting, serious acting gig and you know, yeah it’s a bit of fun, but it deals with some really heavy issues, being bullying, what goes on in the schoolyard, social status at school and also the fact that friendship – building friendships and how to stay in a friendship, and stay in a little niche and a clique at school. And also the struggle of this girl who was miss popular becoming the discretion of all of the bullies at school, and her fight to I guess prove everybody wrong and come out on top.

So it’s really serious but on the other side it’s a great film about what happens at school in today’s world, and having text messages and Facebook and all those kind of social media things which, when I grew up, we didn’t have all of that. So it was really important –

SAMANTHA: Mmm, me neither.

NIKKI: Yeah! It was important to be a part of and just learn about the process of what our young teens are going through today, and the fact that it’s hard, you know, school is really tough these days!

SAMANTHA: It sure is.

MACK: The pressures are very different I’m sure.

NIKKI: It is, it is.

MACK: Nikki what made you choose this particular role?

NIKKI: I think, you know, having my dance studios, I teach a lot of 15 to 17-year-old girls and it’s really important for me to understand, when they come in and I see them being a little restrained, and they’re struggling at school, and obviously we try and create a happy environment for them to express themselves through dance and music, but a lot of them struggle at school because of bullying. So I wanted to understand it. I kinda, I didn’t really get involved in lunchtime antics at school. I was too busy worrying about, you know, my next single or what clothing range I was gonna release. So I didn’t really think about it that much. So I think that’s why I wanted to be a part of it. I also wanted to learn what being on set was about, and I always teach my children never say no to an opportunity that looks exciting, and when I was approached I thought, ‘Yeah, why not?’ Give it a go, try something different! [laughs]

SAMANTHA: You have to live by that. So what do you like best, do you pick one that you like?

NIKKI: I’m definitely a singer, I’m definitely a performer, but um, musical theatre is where I began, so – which is a bit of singing and more over-the-top acting I guess, but that’s my passion. But still pop music. I’ve just finished recording some music overseas, so hopefully we can get some stuff released in the future and you know, that’s just my – my plan is just to give everything a go and have the opportunity to do what I love doing, which is everything in this industry.

SAMANTHA: Good on you. You love musical theatre, don’t you Dad?

MACK: Oh well, I think I do, yeah. Depends what it is of course, but anyway. No, that’s great.

SAMANTHA: You got any other questions?

MACK: No, I think that’ll do me. Yeah.

NIKKI: So the premiere’s tonight, so if you’re staying in Sydney you can come along to The Ritz at Randwick.

MACK: Is it? Well I’m sorry Nikki, I’m out of town about lunchtime, but I’ll..

NIKKI: You don’t wanna see a schoolyard film?

MACK: I’ll get a copy of it from somewhere.

NIKKI: Absolutely, absolutely.

SAMANTHA: Thank-you Nikki.

NIKKI: No problems at all. Thank-you for your support. Thanks guys.

MACK: Thanks Nikki.

SAMANTHA: Great to see you. Good luck with the movie. Okay. Well done, Dad. Your first interview on national television.

MACK: Could be my last.

SAMANTHA: I’m sure it will be!

Source: Sunrise
Video: YouTube
Screencaps: Gallery

StarNow Twitter Q&A

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Live Twitter Q&A with Nikki Webster (@nikkiwebster) and Anna Lawrence (@itsannalouise).

@zinkymomo: What has been your best acting experience?
@nikkiwebster: Hero girl in the sydney 2000 olympic opening ceremony
@itsannalouise: honestly it would be making #circleoflies. I met so many people and my learning curve was immense! #starnowLive

@ashsparkle: What has been your worst acting experience?
@nikkiwebster: Circle of lies is my first movie so far so good! :)
@itsannalouise: I’ve had a pretty good run but shooting the “hot summer” party scene in when it was FREEZING was a challenge ;)

@_StephCharles: What kind of acting roles did you both do before getting your roles?
@nikkiwebster: commericals when i was a kid and musical theatre is my passion and background
@itsannalouise: I shot a very small budget film straight out of acting school called Reef and Beef. Great role! Massive bogan!

@wataboutnoo: what was your best part in the making of the film?
@nikkiwebster: working with the incredible cast and director matt cerwen and learning from all their experience

@jadewritesbooks: How similar are you to the characters you play in @CircleOfLies?
@nikkiwebster: i love the colour pink but other than that not too alike never been in a girl posse
@itsannalouise: hey! I hope that I’m nothing like my character! She’s pretty nasty ;)

@zinkymomo: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
@nikkiwebster: Hopefully ill have new music out and building my studio #dancenikkiwebster providing a place for up and coming talent of australia

@j_sweden: Did you get nervous in your audition??
@nikkiwebster: auditions are always nerve racking but I was excited to be asked to be in the film so it was very exciting

@kristybrookstv: What is your favourite part about playing your character?
@nikkiwebster: getting to be apart of a popular group and hear gossip

@littlegemhere: whats your favourite tip for dealing with performance nerves?
@nikkiwebster: learning to use the nerves to give you adrenaline on stage and always making sure your prepared

@j_sweden: What did you do to get ‘beach ready’ for the shoot???
@nikkiwebster: spray tan!! :)
@itsannalouise: I didn’t! Was cast 2 days before filming so didn’t really know what I was getting myself into! Spray tan helped a lot!

@jadewritesbooks: Would you have been friends with the characters you play if you’d met them at school? :-)
@nikkiwebster: definitely wouldn’t have been friends with the exclusives at all lucky we were just playing characters

@The_Solid_State: Hi Guys. How important was the bullying message in the script to you?
@nikkiwebster: very important its what drew me to the project such an important issue [to] bring awareness to
@itsannalouise: I think the film sends a really important message – Bullying is serious and shouldn’t be tolerated

@ACCmarta: How do you learn your lines?
@nikkiwebster: going over them and rope learning is how i learn lines, and always practise with different people for different reactions

@parxe: will we hear any more music from you soon
@nikkiwebster: Absolutely i have just finished recording an album so fingers crossed

@JessicaManins: Do your characters symbolise your roles at school, or were you very different to how you’ve been cast in this film?
@nikkiwebster: i was very different i was very focused on my music and performing and really didn’t get involved in school yard antics
@itsannalouise: yes!! I hope so?! Ask my schoolmates ;) no. I wasn’t a bully and stood up for those who were bullied.

@jasminetaggart:  What made you want to get into acting?
@nikkiwebster: to try something different in the entertainment industry

@ACCmarta: What’s your favourite scene in the film?
@nikkiwebster: V’s beach party even though we had to shoot throughout the night my character had the coolest beach party

@jasminetaggart: What’s it like seeing yourself up on the big screen?
@nikkiwebster: its really scary and nerve racking i didn’t like seeing myself at all
@itsannalouise: so awkward! Esp in a bikini ;) have to learn to love the way you look I guess. Flaws and all :)

@littlegemhere: do you have a favourite inspiring quote?
@nikkiwebster: live life with no regrets

@CircleOfLies: Do you have anything to say to Brissie fans thinking of going to the premier tonight?
@nikkiwebster: would love to meet you and hope you enjoy the film as much as we did filming it
@itsannalouise: don’t think, do! ;)

@j_sweden: Any audition tips??
@nikkiwebster: always be prepared , be on time and commit in the audition

@The_Solid_State: Will you both be at the Sydney premier?
@nikkiwebster: absolutely can’t wait should be a fantastic night !

 

 

 

Nikki Webster Empire Interview

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Ed Gibbs meets singer turned actress Nikki Webster to discuss her big-screen debut in the Australian teen drama Circle of Lies (Empire Magazine).

NIKKI WEBSTER: V is such a kind of, a full-on character. She’s in the background in terms of she’s a part of this “exclusive” group. She’s very vocal and she’s very strong in who she is. She also loves to throw good parties – she comes from a bit of money from her family’s side. She’s the “money” part of the group, and she doesn’t really fit in, she doesn’t really have a voice but she wants to, and she uses the money, and her mum’s kind of money, to try and buy friends.

NIKKI: It was confronting, and it kind of made me understand what teens go through today a lot more, and I teach a lot of young aspiring artists and to kind of put myself in their shoes, about what goes on at school and how individuality is sometimes crushed upon, and bullying happens, and social media – I mean that wasn’t around when I was at school.

ED GIBBS: You had to grow up in public, in a sense. What was like experience like, copping that flak, that negative reaction, and sort of how do you view that now, looking back?

NIKKI: I guess I tried to do at eighteen, run away from it all, and shut up shop and that was it, and I wanna live somewhere else and I don’t understand how you represent your country one minute – and you’re everybody’s Hero Girl and national treasure – to being slagged off for doing nothing. You know, all I’m doing is making kids’ music. That’s really all I was doing. It was pop, fresh, kiddie music – it was nothing insulting, it was nothing… So it was very hard for me to kinda go, ‘What did I do?’ You know. If we were a little bit more prepared for it then it wouldn’t have hurt so much, but it kind of happened overnight, you know? Everything was good and then it just went bang, and it was like a big shock.

But yeah, it just, I guess it makes me stronger, it makes me more driven to protect Australian talent and to keep everything on home soil. And it makes me driven to, you know make music and – people have opinions, that doesn’t bother me at all. Opinions I don’t care about. People are gonna love it, hate it – it is what it is. But I just wanna keep doing what I’m doing and have that opportunity.

Source: Empire Online

Big break for Nikki Webster

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NIKKI Webster has gone back to school. The 23-year-old has landed her first lead film role, shooting independent feature Short Beach around Sydney in recent weeks.

Webster’s been cast as V, a schoolgirl, in the “teen beach movie” also starring Johnny Boxer and Matt Zeremes.

“This role is fun because I wasn’t at school a lot in years 11 and 12, so I never got to be that girly girl,” she said.

“I missed that – I was too busy designing a clothing range and releasing music.”

Webster has started her own performance school at Stanmore in Sydney’s inner west, specialising in singing, dancing and drama classes for children aged five to 16.

“It’s hard running your own business but it allows me to share my experiences with the kids and teach them,” she said.

“I love it. The benefits of having your own business and watching it grow is so rewarding.”

Webster, who gained fame after starring in the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony, recently got engaged to 31-year-old Matthew McMah who works in the aviation industry.

The pair have yet to set a date

Source: The Herald Sun

Nikki’s set for school role

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Alex Ward

PUTTING on a school uniform for her first feature film role felt strange for Nikki Webster. Now 23, many remember her as the cute, curly blonde-haired girl who flew through the air at the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony in 2000.

“I think a part of me will always be that little girl at the Olympics,” she said. “It’s why I’m here today and it was such a wonderful experience and more people remember that about me.”

Ms Webster was excited about her role as one of the “exclusives” at the school in Short Beach. “It felt freaky putting a school uniform on again,” she said of her film role. “Feature films are something very new and exciting for me and it came out of the blue.”

Ms Webster has many projects including her dance school and talent and modelling agency on Parramatta Rd, Stanmore.

“We opened the talent agency over a year ago and we’ve got 32 clients aged 0-17,” Miss Webster said.

She said her film experience will feed back into the agency, which she started with her brother, Scott, and agent Cimone Grayson. “Getting hands on experience allows me to give feed back to my clients and tell them what I’ve learnt on set,” she said.

“I’m also writing lots of music with different writers and producers.”

The dance school has seven teachers and the business is continually growing.

“I’ve been so busy since I was 13 so I’m very used to being busy,” Ms Webster said.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2000 Performed in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony.
2001 Her first pop single, Strawberry Kisses, opened at No. 2 and was nominated for an ARIA in the highest-selling album and single categories.
2001 Starred as Dorothy in Australian production of Wizard of Oz.
2002 Released second album Bliss.
2005 Participated in TV dance show Dancing with the Stars.
2007 Starred in musicals Hair and Rent.
2008 Opened dance studio with brother Scott.
2009 Opened talent and modelling agency.

Visit: dancenikkiwebster.com.au or talentnikkiwebster.com.au

Source: The Inner-West Courier (digital edition)