thePULSEOxford Native Nicole Fitzpatrick and Astropiano Films
By Joshua Lyford
Oxford is a small community located just outside of Worcester. Mostly famous for being a quaint and quiet, beneath that surface there are definitely some diamonds in the rough.
Nicole Fitzpatrick, one of those gems, became interested in acting when she saw her older sister’s high school musical production of “Pippin.” “At nine years old, I didn’t understand the mature themes and racy innuendos,” recalls Fitzpatrick. “But I was captivated by the singing, dancing and magic of it all.” From there, Fitzpatrick auditioned for a small role at the local high school, got it, and never looked back. She went on the take classes, enroll and perform at Bridgewater State as an acting major, and even earn nominations in acting scholarships in several productions.
Though Oxford is a small town, Fitzpatrick says that “There is a sense of community that may not be found in other towns.” As far as pursuing acting, she believes being a resident of Massachusetts helped her, as her lifelong passion eventually led her to another MA native who would prove very important to her fledgling career.
Shannon Carter is an actress and writer from north of Boston. She is the writer of Mark of the Dog Rose, an upcoming film from Astropiano Films. Carter and the director of Mark of the Dog Rose had worked together previously on the film Sunblocked and they had decided that Carter would spearhead the writing on this project.
“I wanted to write a film that would have people on the edge of their seats trying to figure out who did it,” Carter says. “What I really love about [the film] is that it is a totally creepy film without all of the Hollywood gore.”
Carter has been writing since she was six years old and has wanted to be an actress since she was three. She has been cast in some major Hollywood film, including The Social Network, Bride Wars and Surrogates. To say that Nicole Carter knows something about casting would be an understatement.
“Nicole is a total sweetheart and was a pleasure to have on set,” Carter remembers. “She is a great actress! After she came in for the audition we all looked at each other and said, ‘This is our Bridget!” This speaks volumes about Nicole and her acting chops and the feeling goes both ways. Fitzpatrick says, “Working with Jess [Cook, the director] and Shannon has been amazing. They are so devoted to their work, it is truly inspiring.”
Mark of the Dog Rose is a gripping thriller that about a serial killer who targets college campuses, abducting girls and leaving behind a dog rose flower. While you wait for the release, check out the official trailer on YouTube and keep up to date with what is going on at Facebook.com/MarkoftheDogRose.
Photo: Nicole Fitzpatrick
