Film & TV
I received a call from the filmmakers of "Time of the Comet" while I was in China filming "Blood: The Last Vampire." Although I was cautioned against reading too many scripts while on set, my curiosity swept me into a whole new story of purity and betrayal, of the ultimate sacrifice for love, and the cry for war and death. It was a journey I lived through in text, and hoped to recapture on set.
I play Agnes, a Catholic nun who falls in love with a Muslim rebel, and her story begins with young, heartsick Agnes struggling with her deep emotions and experiences. But I saw her as being more than just a young girl in love. To me she symbolized a country filled with people searching for their roots and happiness during a time of political and social conflict. The movie is about finding your voice in the world, which is something I believe a lot of people can identify with.
Because in the end we're all searching for our home, that one place where we belong.
Working with the Cast
Because of our unique backgrounds as an international ensemble, I thought we would go through an adjustment period. To my pleasant surprise, we were so in sync and immediately understood one another from the very start. As actors, we dug so deep into our senses, our country's borders and cultures blurred into one pot of emotion, and we performed above the complexities of language and formality. Our work ethics complemented one another and I was able to form friendships with my co-stars which in itself is a blessing, to say the least!
There was one time Blerim, my costar, burst into laughter at the most unexpected moment. We were repeatedly interrupted by a rooster coughing and gurgling nearby, unable to crow his song, and I suggested we offer the poor thing a cough-drop between takes. I never heard from that little rooster again.
I have so many precious memories during the summer we filmed Comet, but my favorite moment is the scene when my character was crucified. I was tied on a crucifix for three days, my arms caked in fake Hollywood blood, and during my time above the set I admired the vast mountainous view. While I was up there, peering down on the European countryside, I felt solitary and unaffected in my thoughts.
Filming
Our scenes took place in Macedonia and Albania. Being a part of the film gave me the opportunity to visit my homeland of Albania for the first time in 17 years. Landing on Albanian soil, and breathing the air of Tirana is by far my most memorable experience. My time there allowed me to experience the rich culture, clothes, and music of a people who showed me such integrity and ethics. I never thought I would have this privilege.
Macedonia's virgin countryside was beautiful, but the intense heat of the location was challenging. For days we shot in the middle of wide open fields during 120 degree heat. Through the motivation and leadership of our director Fatmir Koci, the cast and crew worked through one of the hottest summers in the Balkans. When I watched Fatmir, his drive and inspiration were very endearing to me.
Press Tour
Our press tour allowed me to embrace a familiar culture on an even deeper level. For the first time, I was formally introduced to a country of people I call my own and so I cherished their words and attention. We went to Skopje, Tirana, and Pristina. I had about two hours of sleep since the night before was spent standing on top of my coffee table while my designer Lena fitted a dress "sur Mesure" in which I was to wear for the press conference the next day. I watched her create this black lace dress for me, which the magazines later adored!
I finally made it to bed at 4am, got up at 6am, and after hair and makeup, Fatmir, Blerim, a couple of the producers, and I boarded a chartered jet to neighboring countries where the press was waiting to interview us. We had translators, but I spoke so rapidly, unable to curb my passion for the material, that I'm afraid the foreign press couldn't catch what I had said. Our director later told me that when an interviewer had asked me a question in Albanian, I kindly told her and the press that I would answer in my mother's tongue and the journalists started lowering their headphones to better hear me. Just then, I started speaking in rapid English and the interviewers quickly tried to place their headphones back on to understand what I had said. I vaguely remember, but Fatmir teased me for days after!
Tirana broadcasted the press conference without commercial interruption. We only stayed in each country for about three hours, but I wish we could have had more time to tour the beautiful cities.
During the press conference, I listened to every word of Ismail Kadare's answers, feeling just as eager to dissect his wisdom as the press was. I only wish I could have understood Albanian even better to truly drink his philosophies! But he was a very kind man, and I was able to ask him a few questions of my own before our press tour. As far as I could tell, he approved of my performance as Agnes, which meant the world to me.
"Time of the Comet"
"Time of the Comet" is based on a book by renowned Albanian writer Ismail Kadare. The film, shot on location in Macedonia and Albania, features an international cast of actors. Masiela Lusha plays Agnes, a nun who falls in love with Muslim rebel Shestan (Blerim Destani). As Shestan struggles with his love for Agnes and his loyalty for the revolution, "Time of the Comet" explores the cultural and political conflict experienced by two young people who dared to defy cultural boundaries. The film is written and directed by Fatmir Koci. "Time of the Comet" has a scheduled release of October 2008.
