Swiss Girl Meets Steven Spielberg, Spends Time on Indiana Jones 4 Set

Determination. Fearlessness. Tenacity. All of these qualities apply to the character of Indiana Jones. They also, oddly enough, apply to 20-year-old Elodie Cinquanta from Switzerland. Refusing to blush in the face of adventure, just as the hero she loves to watch in the movies, Elodie is filled with a relentless drive to overcome all obstacles. In doing so, she has managed to take "social networking" to a whole new level.

Last summer, Elodie traveled to Boston, Massachusetts to the set of Indiana Jones 4, in hopes of meeting her real-life hero, director Steven Spielberg. She was not disappointed.

Spielberg as Hero

Of course, to meet Steven Spielberg is no easy chore for a random person with no credentials. But Elodie is not exactly a random person. She possesses deadly weapons: 1.) Naivete, 2.) Enthusiasm, 3.) Beauty, & 4.) Admiration.

The set of the new Indy movie was perhaps more heavily guarded than the Ark of the Covenant itself, but by making use of her 4 weapons, Elodie was able to accomplish her mission. Not only did Spielberg take time out of his busy schedule to meet with her and her friends, but he also posed for photos and signed her memorabilia. Elodie cherished the experience. She was even able to let Spielberg know that "E.T." is one of the scariest movies she ever saw. Of his films, it is one of her favorites, alongside of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," because "it was the movie that made me become a fan of Steven Spielberg's."

Of course, Elodie was able to witness movie production firsthand on the new Indy set, and she reflects, "I loved watching him work; he is so great, and so professional." Often, she comments, the elements of a movie's production are even more satisfying for her to watch than the movie itself. "I love to watch behind-the-scenes bonus features on D.V.D.s." She also admires the films of such luminaries as James Cameron, Gore Verbinsky, Tim Burton, and Roberto Begnini.

Making the Trip

Cross-continental travel is certainly exciting, but unless you're a V.I.P. like the globe-trotting Indiana Jones, it doesn't come free. Sadly, big dreams bear big price tags. Elodie explains that the money she used for her trip was earned from 4 years of work in an apprenticeship as a "Draftswoman Architect." Since she was young and still living with her parents while she worked, she was able to save up her income and plan her fabulous trek.

Eager to make her trip a reality, she taught herself English by reading learning books, using dictionaries, watching movies, and using the internet. She kept up-to-date as news developed about the new Indy movie, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," and admits, "I decided to search for the shooting location, and find a way to get there so I could meet my idol."

Plans for Elodie

Based on her interests, you may think that Elodie's plans for the future include climbing Mt. Everest, or being the first woman to walk on Mars, but Elodie's plans are more humble than her adventuresome personality might suggest.

Elodie has landed small acting assignments, as an extra in a Swiss commercial & as playing a girlfriend in an indie film that has just been released online, but she hungers for work that will make even further use of her potential. Of course, relocating to Hollywood is not anything that will be accomplished quickly, since Visas are not as easy to grab ahold of as plane tickets are. However, Elodie still dreams that one day she will be able to play a valuable part in the U.S. film industry.

Until that, she is still pleased to share her enthusiasm about films with others. She can be contacted through her MySpace profile, where she is willing to sell her own drawings of film legends and to share her stories through her blog posts and photographs.