Highland film-maker's latest hits Amazon Prime
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IT’S popcorn at the ready for Dingwall woodcutter Michael Adamczyk whose big sister’s short film is being screened to millions of viewers on Amazon Prime.
The dad-of-two from St Andrews Drive said he always knew Elizabeth had a determined streak.
But the news her dark comedy called An Unpleasant Surprise was snapped up by a digital studio company in Los Angeles for release on its Amazon channel – a decade after she left the Highlands to make it as an actor on Sunset Boulevard – caught him by surprise.
“She’s been out there for a few years and she’s really doing well herself but she’s never had anything like this happen,” he said. “This is quite a big deal.”
He added: “I’ve seen the film and it’s pretty cool. A lot of people might watch it because it’s quite funny and short.”
The pair grew up in Lossiemouth but Michael, a forestry contractor, moved to Dingwall about 10 years ago with wife Claire.
He watched in wonder as Elizabeth went across the pond in 2009 to live in LA to pursue an acting career. He recalls: “She was always like ‘I’m moving to America, I’m going to be famous’ – ever since we were kids. And I could never understand this because I’m the total opposite. I work in forestry so I work in the middle of nowhere all the time and that suits me perfectly.”
Since moving to the States, Elizabeth has been made her mark in the entertainment PR world by setting up her own company.
And she has produced three short films including An Unpleasant Surprise which features David Witts, otherwise known as Joey Branning in EastEnders.
Now based in Austin, Texas, with her US husband Doug, finding a funder for her two feature films including a horror anthology is her next mission. The 36-year-old said: “I’m so excited to be on Amazon Prime. It’s like jumping a massive hurdle and it feels like this is the first step towards becoming a producer. Anyone can write a film and some people can make one, but only a few ever get seen by the world.”
