SPRINGFIELD: Young actress makes film debut

By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
   SPRINGFIELD — An ad seen on the bus a year ago has led one local girl to begin pursuing a career in film.
   Jett Bohonko, 13, of Racehorse Lane, recently played a part as an extra in the upcoming movie, “Law Abiding Citizen.”
   ”It was very exciting,” said the seventh-grade student at Northern Burlington Regional Middle School. “I could do it all over again.”
   The film is a thriller centering on a city prosecutor and those who are unhappy with how he deals with local criminals. Shot in Philadelphia, it stars Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx.
   Last month, Jett spent a day on the set with her father, appearing in a crowd seen watching a cello performance. She said the scene lasted almost a minute, and she got to clap and work with her expressions.
   She also got a rare treat — the chance to meet actress Regina Hall, who plays the wife of Mr. Foxx’s character.
   ”She told me I had great facial expressions, and that I have one to two seconds of face time on the camera,” Jett said, “so if the scene makes the movie, I have a chance of maybe getting onto the screen.”
   The film is in production and has a release date of March 2010.
   Unfortunately for Jett, her mother, Terri Bohonko, said she expects the movie to receive an “R” rating, which would mean Jett may not get to see it for some time.
   ”If it’s rated R or something, my parents will go see it first,” Jett said, adding it doesn’t bother her. “I can’t really do anything about it. I guess my parents might get the DVD and let me see the scene I’m in.”
   Ms. Bohonko said Jett got into acting about a year ago after riding a bus and hearing a commercial for the Philadelphia branch of The Academy of Cinema and Television, a Phoenix, Ariz.-based program, and asked her parents to call the number.
   Jett said she really got her start after appearing in a show at Kelsey Theater at Mercer County Community College.
   ”I caught the acting bug, I guess you could say,” she said.
   She went on to pick up a manager, Kathy Donahue, and now is set to take classes through Kathy Donahue Models and Actors in Cherry Hill.
   ”We’re thrilled she’s in the movie,” Ms. Bohonko said. “As long as she’s interested, her dad and I will support it.”
   As for the future, Ms. Bohonko said Ms. Donahue has asked to hear Jett sing and plans to send her up to New York City, perhaps to appear in a soap opera or stage show.
   Jett said she’s open to whatever happens.
   ”Whatever comes my way, I guess I’ll just take a shot at it,” she said. “I’d love to do another movie and everything; even a commercial would be fun.”
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