Pretty Little Star

Pittsburgh may not be Hollywood, but it could still make you a star.

Julia Warner, a 2009 Radnor High School graduate, watched herself on the big screen this past weekend in her first feature-length film at SouthSide Works Cinema in the Steel City.

Warner is majoring in Acting at Point Park University’s Conservatory for the Performing Arts.

Last summer she landed the role of Deanna and filmed Pretty Little Things, which is a student-made feature film — the first for Point Park University, Warner said.

The film is centered around Tommy, a comedian newly released from jail after two years on narcotics charges and his adventures after he encounters a dog that inspires him to change his life and his fate.

“She kind of brings him out of the gutter, and cheers him up and lets him know he can have fun again,” Warner said of her character.

Though Warner missed the original round of auditions, she was called in to read for the part in June (They had gone through a bunch of Deannas, she said) and she started the following day.

She worked on the film for about a month.

Watch the trailer of Pretty Little Things in the video section of this article.

Warner started her theater career in high school, where she performed in plays at each grade level, including starring as Dolly in Hello, Dolly! her senior year. (She credits Mary Anne Morgan and Dr. Bruce Glenny at Radnor for helping her pursue her dream.)

She was also involved with Upper Darby Summer Stage all through school.

Although Pretty Little Things is her first feature-length film, Warner has performed in a number of short student films. She said she may be interested in pursuing film acting.

“Maybe after school I’ll go to LA and see what happens,” the actress said.

Warner is the daughter of Nancy and Todd Warner of Radnor.

Warner spoke with Radnor Patch a few days before the premiere of Little Pretty Things. She had not seen the final product.

One scene she was nervously anticipating watching is the one in which she is rollerblading.

“I thought I was great from the Villanova skating center, but that wasn’t true… It took a few takes, she said.

“I’m a little nervous to see my face that big, but I’m going to have to get used it to.”