Today, I am pleased to present to my readers the actress and athlete, Dania Vizzi, who was recently cast in Nick Belial‘s upcoming crime/thriller film To Avenge. Dania will be playing the housekeeper to the wealthy Danvers family in this her film début, and I am thrilled to have the honor of sharing this inspiring, talented woman with my readers.
RH: I’m so glad to get to speak to you today, Dania, and welcome to the cast of Nick Belial’s To Avenge.
DV: Thank you for reaching out. I’m very excited to talk with you today, Ruth.
I understand that acting is somewhat of a new venture for you.
Yes, that’s right.
And am I correct in stating that you were a dancer for a good share of your life?
Yes, I was a competitive dancer from around the age of four till I was eighteen. And now I’m a professional shotgun shooter. I’m on the U.S. team. I began to make the transition into that when I was seventeen. Then I got serious about professional shooting when I quit dance at eighteen.
Was it somewhat unusual for you to make the jump from dancing to becoming a professional shotgun shooter?
You know, there are definitely different aspects about it, but I do feel like dance has helped me with shooting because I already have that competitive aspect. A lot of people start into shooting, and they just don’t know how to compete. They will train really well, but when it’s time to compete, they often forget everything. So I think already having the competition experience has really helped me. Then also, dance helped with my balance, which is another vital thing in the shooting sports. Plus, since I was so driven when I was a competitive dancer, I find I am still driven to work really hard in this sport so I can be on top of my game. I think that learning a work ethic at a young age really helped.
I kind of thought about the balance thing, but also if you have been competing since you were four, then you know what you’re doing. I used to compete as a musician, and so when it comes to competing, I too know what is expected.
Oh, wow, music was my sister’s thing! She loved it. She played the flute for a long time.
That’s cool. So how long have you been pursuing the sport of guns?
As I mentioned, I started when I was seventeen, so this is about my seventh year of shooting.
So you are looking towards becoming involved with the Olympics?
Yes, ma’am. I am on our U.S. team, so I represent the U.S. in all of our world cups and world championships. I am currently the world champion, and hopefully, I will be in the 2020 Olympics. I got really close for the 2016 Olympics. That was my first game competing to go to the Olympics, and I got really close, like one or two targets away. So I actually went to the Olympics that year as a marketing intern. It was great to be able to go for my first time and not compete. I was able to see how everything works, and now I’m ready to go as an athlete.
How exciting! I hope it works out for you.
Oh, thank you so much!
I was never good at sports, and I honestly don’t watch a lot of sports except for the Olympics.
I am the same way! You know, I watch sports every two years. I will watch the Winter Olympics, and the Summer Olympics is obviously my favorite.
How did you get involved with Nick Belial’s To Avenge?
Well, people have told me before that I should try modeling or acting. So while I haven’t been auditioning necessarily, I have sent in my headshot even though I didn’t really have much of a resume to go with it. It just so happens that Nick reached out to me. He had me do a video of my lines, and a few days later, he said that he’d give me a shot in this film. I was super grateful. So this will be my first role in any type of movie. You know, everybody needs their first chance at something, so I’m grateful that Nick is giving me this chance.
Could you please explain your role in To Avenge to us?
I will be playing the housekeeper of the Danvers household. It is a fairly small role where I will be waiting on Mr. Danvers and bringing him his drink and anything he might ask for. There is an insinuation that Mr. Danvers has a certain power over me, which would make sense since I’m a woman and a housekeeper. Interestingly enough, I had actually submitted myself for a different role, one that was an even smaller role, but Nick told me that he really could see me in this other role as the housekeeper. And because Nick is the professional, I deferred to his judgment. And of course, after reading the role, I thought it was really great. So this is the one I did my audition for, and it’s the one I got.
The message of To Avenge seems to be very current, and many people involved with the film are passionate about this subject. So why do you, Dania, want to be a part of this film?
Well, I love thrillers. Those are by far my favorite TV shows and movies. I have also had friends that have been assaulted, and so the message of the film hits close to home for me.
Going back to your shooting, what is your training schedule like?
It does all depend on the season. I have a competition at the beginning of October, but that’s kind of the end of our season. And of course, I take holidays off like Christmas and Thanksgiving as well as some vacation time. But right before a competition, typically, I try to train for a few hours every day. Just like any other sport. But I’m lucky to have my own range, so I can go train anytime I want. In fact, I only recently built this range in the last month.
That is really amazing! Well, when it comes to shooting, I am terrible! I’ve tried, but I am the one who cannot hit the target.
Ruth, the first time I shot, I cried. I never thought that seven years later that I would be the national and world champion.
So do you have aspirations to continue acting?
Definitely. I love it! I consider myself an outgoing person, and I love meeting new people and traveling. So I hope to do lots more acting in the future. It’s just so much fun.
Now, you’re also going to school, right?
Yes, that is correct. I am not a person who likes to be bored. In fact, I was so busy as a child and always into so much that it wore my mom out, and she put me in dance so she could get an hour to herself! {laughs}
What are you studying?
I am a marketing major.
That sounds like a viable thing to study in your position.
I agree. Social media is where it’s at in today’s world.
Thank you so much for your time today, Dania. We are looking forward to seeing you in To Avenge.
My pleasure. And thank you, Ruth, for your time. I’ve very excited.
After chatting with Dania, it’s a wonder that she is able to keep up with her frenetic schedule. While she is involved in a wide variety of activities, there is no doubt where her passions lie. She adores the sport of professional shooting, and she is proud of her accomplishments (as she should be). However, as she confidently steps into this world of acting, she is ready to attack it with the same kind of gusto that she has approached every venture in her life, and I have no doubt that she will ultimately succeed. She never projects a cocky attitude, no matter her obvious skill in any area, and I can only wish her every success in all of her endeavors. I would invite everyone to check out all the links below for Dania, To Avenge, and our exceptional director/writer Nick Belial, and consider following all on social media while we await the filming of what is purported to be a stimulating film with a definitive message that will resonate with multitudinous people in today’s society.
FOLLOW DANIA
FOLLOW TO AVENGE
