An upcoming movie entitled I Think I Do, which is about three sisters who run an event-planning business for weddings, stars Mia Kirschner from the TV series The L Word, Sara Canning from The Vampire Diaries’ and St. Paul’s own Sydni Fedoruk, who just turned seven this month.
Premiering next summer on the W Network, Movie Central and Lifetime, I Think I Do was shot entirely in Edmonton at several notable locations like NorQuest College, the Red Star Pub and TransAlta Arts Barns, among others.
“It was a very cool experience. It’s great to be in a Canadian movie in the first place, but we’re very proud of the movie and that it’s in Edmonton,” Sydni’s mother Peggy Fedoruk said.
“We had a page that was from the script, it was around six lines, and then we went into the studios in the city,” Peggy explained before Sydni was cast as Sara, the daughter of one of the main characters. “We barely made her audition because I got lost so we literally walked in the door as they called her name.”
As the only child actor on set, Sydni was happy with the other actors, producers and director who were very supportive, being that it was her first experience filming a movie. They even went to lengths to celebrate her seventh birthday on set.
“They treated me like gold,” Sydni said. “They gave me a carrot cake. A lot of people came and said happy birthday.”
“They were all very good and they joked non-stop,” Peggy added. “Everybody’s so upbeat and so supportive. Sydni had never acted before and it was like she’d done it all her life. She memorized everything … when they do a shoot they do it like 12 times so you have to keep saying your lines and she just did it.”
Sydni described working with Mia Kirshner, who was also featured in the 2006 neo noir crime film The Black Dahlia alongside Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson and Aaron Eckhart, as “a really fun” experience.
“She brought her dog Rainbow into the makeup and hair room,” she said. “And if you have food, Rainbow will be your best friend.”
Directed by Dylan Pearce and carrying and audacious million-dollar-plus budget, I Think I Do has been described as a romantic comedy and for Fedoruk, could be the first step in a career her parents never imagined for her.
“We never really thought about acting because that’s always been Reid’s thing,” Peggy explained regarding their other son who is currently in musical theatre and very passionate about acting.
“She is the last born and everyone who knows Sydni knows she’s a very unique person and has very creative thoughts and ideas. It’s not surprising to us, but what is surprising is how much she loves it.”
Thoughts about auditioning in such film hotspots like Toronto or Vancouver have come to mind. Now that the shooting of this film is over, Sydni is focused on restarting her normal hobbies.
“We’re just kind of getting back into hockey, gymnastics and swimming,” Peggy said. “Back into our old routine so we’ll see. She certainly loves it so if something comes along again I’m sure we’ll take her to audition.”
“I was pretty happy about filming. It was so much fun,” Sydni added. “I want to be in another movie. A scary one and a funny one.”
