Skyler Day has a definite career plan, which includes being an actress in feature films and recording musical albums.
Of course, Skyler is only 12 years old — but she's already completed phase one of that plan. She's starring in her first feature, "The Adventures of Ociee Nash," an independent family drama that opens in local theaters today.
"I know where I want to go, what I want to be doing for the rest of my life," Skyler said matter-of-factly. "And when I set my mind to something, I'm going to keep trying until I get it done.
"And that's only the start of things. You haven't seen the last of me."
She might sound a bit cocky, but Skyler says this with such confidence that it's hard to doubt her. "You just have to believe in yourself and not be afraid," she said during a telephone interview. "Sometimes you'll fail, but you can't let that stop you."
That also seems to be the motto of her film character, Ociee Nash, a young Mississippi tomboy who is sent to stay with her aunt in North Carolina. Her subsequent adventures bring Ociee into contact with such historical figures as the Wright brothers, President William McKinley and Nellie Bly.
The turn-of-the-century film is loosely based on Milam McGraw Propst's novel "A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street," which was based on the life of her grandmother, whose real name was Ociee Nash.
Skyler said she felt a certain responsibility in playing the character, out of respect to Propst, who was involved in the filmmaking. "I wanted to convince her that I was bringing her grandmother back to life."
Initially, she had to convince filmmakers Amy and Kristen McGary that she was right for the role. Up to that point, Skyler had done only local theater in Georgia and a handful of television commercials.
"I'm pretty sure that I nailed the audition," Skyler said. But the McGarys continued open-casting calls and kept her waiting for a couple months. "I think I probably drove my mom crazy, asking why they hadn't called or when they were going to call."
When she got the call, however, Skyler says she got a little too worked up. "I was jumping on a trampoline when my mom told me I had gotten the part. I got a little excited and jumped around a little too much, and I nearly fell off. That would have been bad," she said with a laugh.
As it happened, Skyler was in good enough shape to even attempt one of the film's stunts — in which her character swings on a rope over a creek. "That was so fun. But it wasn't as fun when I was supposed to fall in, a little later."
In fact, she said she would have been willing to perform some of the more hazardous stunts, including the one in which her character enters a burning building. "I would have done it if they had let me. I'm like my character, I'm not afraid of anything. And I enjoy a challenge."
Skyler also said she enjoyed working with such veterans as Mare Winningham and Keith Carradine, who play her aunt and father, respectively. "Both of them were so sweet to me and treated me like I was part of their family."
Back at home, Skyler's friends were most excited about her working with "Trading Spaces" carpenter Ty Pennington, who has a brief part in the film as Wilbur Wright. "I think they actually forgot to be excited for me getting my big break. He was all they kept asking about."
"The Adventures of Ociee Nash" was actually shot in 2002 and has been appearing in various film festivals around the country since then.
Since wrapping up her work on the film, Skyler has been busy auditioning for films and TV series and landed a part in "Perilous Dance," a comedy short directed by Bob Clark ("A Christmas Story").
"Believe me, you haven't seen the last of me," Skyler said again.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com