The Los Angeles Times held a screening of the film “What Maisie Knew” as part of their Indie Focus program. I was fortunate to attend the screening and the Q and A held after the screening. Alexander Skarsgard, Onata Aprile, and directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel attended the screening. The Q and A was moderated by LA Times writere Mark Olsen.
Alexander Skarsgard and Onata Aprile attended the Q and A and they were absolutely adorable together in the film and during the Q and A. Alex carried Onata into the theater and helped her get into the chair. Alex was telling how Onata loved it when he would lift her up by her arms in the film in the image above. Due to their height differences Alex would have to pick Onata up in order for them to be in the same frame. It was also fun to hear how Onata loved the scene where they played Monopoly in the movie and beat all the adults.
The directors mentioned how it took auditioning over 150 young girls before they found the perfect Maisie- Onata.
Alex plays Lincoln, Maisie’s step dad in the film. The movie was just a delight to watch. It has a very sad theme involving the break up of a relationship and the subsequent effect it has on the young child involved. Onata plays Maisie a 6 year old who has to adapt to a new life spent between squabbling parents who have now remarried (in an effort to help with the custody hearings)
Onata was amazing in her role. Watching Alex and Onata on screen was also a joy to watch. Yet the movie is very very sad at times. As a mom I just wanted to yell at the parents who were just really not putting the child’s best interests at heart. The theater was filled to capacity.
The film is out now in Los Angeles. I will post the theaters as soon as I can. Here is a link for the theaters in the Los Angeles area that are showing the film: Fandango.com The images in the gallery below were taken by me during the Q and A. I still have a lot more to edit.
Alex was also very nice and so happy that fans came out to the screening and thanked us after the screening. He gladly took photos with fans. A security guard was trying to shoo away fans and say ok that’s enough but Alex just said “no let the fans get their photos”. I was one of the last lucky ones to get my photo with Alex. Since I’m short he scrunched down to help out (i was on my tippy toes but still way shorter to Alex’s 6′ 4″).
Huge thanks to my friends who helped make the photo opportunity possible! (no one can work my dang camera!!) It was a very very long day but it was all worth it in the end. (I had driven out to The Grove for Alex’s interview but it was sadly cancelled)
Nicole RivelliMr. Skarsgard with Onata Aprile in “What Maisie Knew.”
