Young actress Summer-Joules Saunders is leading a growing group of North West talent onto the set of ambitious post-apocalyptic feature film The N.E.S.T. Project, with young performers from Liverpool, Chester, the Wirral and Manchester involved in the production.
Twelve-year-old Summer-Joules, who has strong Liverpool family connections and is based in Chester, plays the lead role of Elara in the feature film. She has been joined on set by young performers connected with Majestic Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) and Majestic Talent, including children from across Liverpool and the wider North West.
Summer-Joules has spent the past three months filming on location and developing the character of Elara, taking on one of her most exciting and challenging screen roles to date. Already an experienced young performer, Summer-Joules has worked professionally across screen, stage and voiceover, including voice work for major international names such as Disney and Netflix. She has also been cast as the new voice of Littlefoot in the forthcoming remake of The Land Before Time.
Set in a future where the world as we know it has changed forever, The N.E.S.T. Project follows a society attempting to survive in the aftermath of a devastating collapse. Safety and sanctuary are offered by a powerful organisation known as N.E.S.T., which promises protection and the possibility of a better future, but beneath that promise, not everything is quite as it seems.
At the centre of the story is Elara, a courageous, inquisitive and determined young girl who begins questioning the world around her and everything she has always been led to believe.
Her journey explores hope, courage, friendship, freedom and resilience as she searches for answers and discovers that, even in the darkest circumstances, hope can survive.
Over the past three months, Summer-Joules has been immersed in bringing Elara to life, working on location alongside the film’s cast, director, producers and production team.
The role combines dramatic and emotional performance with physically demanding location filming, giving Summer-Joules the opportunity to explore another side of her performance work while continuing to develop her experience in front of the camera.
Summer-Joules said, “I love playing Elara. She’s brave, but she doesn’t always know how brave she is. I love discovering more about her every time we film and being part of creating this whole new world.
“I’ve learned so much from everyone I’ve worked with on set, and I’m really excited to see the finished results of everyone’s hard work.”
The filmmakers have also spoken about why Summer-Joules stood out for the role. “When we first saw Summer-Joules on set, and especially when I saw the intensity in her eyes, I knew straight away that we would want her to be part of the project for the long term. Later, I spoke with Szilárd and Charlie, and we all agreed. As we happened to be recasting the role of Elara at the time, we felt that Summer-Joules would be an excellent choice for the character,” says Attila Nemeth, Executive Producer of The N.E.S.T. Project.
“Casting a protagonist in any film is always going to be a difficult decision, especially when your lead character is a child. However, once we saw Summer-Joules’ audition tape, the decision became much easier as she possesses an understanding of the subtleties of acting, utilising small choices to convey a great deal of emotion. With The N.E.S.T. Project being a character-driven film, this skill is essential to the role of Elara. We are very excited to continue our journey with Summer-Joules and see her explore the role in even greater depth,” says Charles J. Wilkinson, Director of Photography on The N.E.S.T. Project.
Director Szilárd Pusztai also points to the young actress’s ability to balance strength and vulnerability in the role. “Summer-Joules joined us to portray Elara, a central character whose journey begins in The N.E.S.T. Project. From the moment I first saw her on set, I was struck by the strength and expressiveness in her eyes, and I knew she could bring something truly special to the role.
“Elara requires courage, vulnerability and emotional depth, and Summer-Joules has embraced every challenge with remarkable commitment and maturity. It has been a privilege to watch her grow into the character, and I am incredibly excited for audiences to experience the journey she is helping us bring to life,” he says.
The independent production brings together actors, filmmakers, producers, supporting artists and creatives to build the distinctive post-apocalyptic world of The N.E.S.T. Project.
For Summer-Joules, being entrusted with the protagonist role of Elara represents another significant milestone in a young career already spanning several areas of the entertainment industry.
Filming on The N.E.S.T. Project is continuing, with further information about the feature film to be announced as production progresses.
