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Screen Magazine - Index

Screen Magazine - Screen Magazine: Vol. 29, Issue 17 - Index

Angelina Jolie, Uma Thurman and Bruce Willis have
new competition with up-and-coming actress Toya
Turner. Turner is a resident Chicago and has been
seen in various projects including the independent
films “Adia,” “The Chemistry of Dating” and “I Used
to Love Her.” Turner has also shown versatility with
spots for Coke-Cola, Wal-Mart and McDonald’s
and by starring as Blanche from “Risqué Agency,”
a comedy series at digitalfunhouse.com where she
plays an over compulsive, conservative accountant
at an advertising firm.
Turner is a self-taught actress who mentions that her teacher
has been the city of Chicago. “One thing that you’re going
to get with working with the independent community,”
recalls Turner, “is that you’re going to learn what to do and
what not to do. It’s very important that you can make your
mistakes now and not make them later. That’s probably
the best thing I’ve gotten from Chicago is that it’s been my
school, with all the independent films and short films it has
taught me.”
Turner, however, has many reservations and disappointments
with working in Chicago and the Illinois film business in
general. “[Illinois] wants to bring Hollywood to Chicago,”
explains Turner. “Hollywood comes to Chicago, it’s just that
they don’t stay here. Sometimes I can’t even mention that
I’m from Chicago – they get turned off by it because of the
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Toya Turner Expresses Her Thoughts on the Chicago Production
Community By: Mark Carr
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vibe [here], because the previous experiences has been
bad. So sometimes I can’t even say I’m from Chicago.”
Turner has expressed her concern with the Illinois film industry.
“There is huge room for improvement,” she explains. “I think
that Illinois is becoming the slowest in the film industry.
Atlanta’s passed us, Texas may [have] passed us and I think
[of the] things going on in Detroit, Washington, Florida and
Canada and we’re getting slower and slower and slower!
I think it’s very disappointing and a little sad. I don’t think
people from Chicago are realizing that people are just
looking us over which is why we’re not getting cast here in
Chicago films. They’re casting people from New York and
L.A. to be in Chicago films and we get the smaller roles and
extra roles which is sad.
Turner is currently working on several
projects including a new comedy
called “Ball Busters.” Toya plays one
of the leading ladies, Diana, who,with
a group of her friends, grow tired of
their boyfriends and fiancés’ antics so
they try to come up with solutions to
step them away and get their better
halves to grow up. Turner has enjoyed
the project, describing it as “hilarious.”
More info on the project can be found
at www.defiantpictures.com.
Turner has also been working on another
project, however she can’t disclose any
information on that as of yet. However,
she has expressed excitement about
the project.
Turner has also expressed expanding
to different locations such as New York,
L.A., Germany, China, Japan and more
locations and would love to pursue films
in the Action genre. She is currently
studying Martial arts and weapons
training and is ready and willing to take
on Angelina Jolie. For more information
on Toya Turner, check out her page on
imdb.com.