BENTONVILLE — Ann Ayres knew going to work full-time as an actress wouldn't necessarily fatten her bank account.
"It's only the big stars that make the big money," she said.
At A Glance
“Camp”
Ann Ayres’ most notable acting role to date was in the 2013 film “Camp,” the story of an investment adviser and his relationship with a troubled 10-year-old boy he meets while volunteering as a camp counselor. Ayres played the part of Margaret Summerfield, a wealthy oil heiress who donates money to the camp. The film was written and directed by Jacob Roebuck, who has known Ayres since 1984 when Roebuck was a student and Ayres was librarian at R.E. Baker Elementary School. “Camp” has been seen more than a million times on Netflix, Roebuck said.
Source: Staff Report
The former Bentonville School District staff member, however, said her second career has been a great experience so far. She moved last year to an apartment in Kissimmee, Fla., where she monitors audition notifications and decides what roles she wants to pursue.
She has accepted parts in a few films and also makes occasional appearances on live shows on the Home Shopping Network, which films about 100 miles down the road in St. Petersburg, Fla. She also has done several commercials, including ones for Disney, the Florida Lottery, Callaway Golf and the city of St. Augustine, Fla., she said.
Ayres, 62, resigned from the School District last summer after 34 years as a library media specialist at R.E. Baker Elementary School. She'd spent 38 years in education. Leaving that career behind hasn't been easy.
"I miss the children," she said. "I miss my teacher friends, and I miss my friends in Arkansas."
Ayres visited Northwest Arkansas last month to fulfill a promise to Angela Morse, a cinematography student at John Brown University whom she met during an earlier project. Ayres came to shoot her part in Morse's senior project film, "Like a Rose," a love story that deals with the way the elderly are treated. Ayres plays the part of Rose, one of the main characters.
Ayres wasn't paid for her work on "Like a Rose," but felt privileged to be a part of it.
"I had not even read the script, but I had such appreciation for (Morse) and her talent that I knew it would be great," she said.
Morse said Ayres is like a family member to her.
"She has this warm personality that transcends barriers," Morse said. "She has this natural talent that comes through the screen. I couldn't have picked a better person for the role."
Ayres traveled to Amarillo, Texas, in January to do a scene for "Revelation Road 3: The Black Rider," the next installment of a Christian faith-based movie franchise that revolves around an apocalyptic world. Ayres has a small role as Aunt Bea. James Denton and Kevin Sorbo are among the stars of the film.
She estimated her on-screen time at less than 10 minutes, "but until we actually see the movie we won't know," she said.
Ayres also earned a role as Margaret in the movie "MMXII" -- Roman numerals for 2012. The adventure romance is set to be released this fall, according to a preview available on YouTube.
She's also having fun with the Home Shopping Network shows. She's done nine shows so far and is contracted to do eight more this month for Benefit Cosmetics. The product they demonstrate on Ayres is on her eyebrows, she said.
"It's interesting being backstage and seeing the intricacies of how the show is put together. I'm amazed at the abilities of the directors, the producers and the people who do makeup. It's amazing to me what hours of hard work they put in to make the person who's on camera look good and sound good," Ayres said.
Carie O'Banion, a librarian at Old High Middle School, worked with Ayres for seven years while Ayres was librarian for the adjoining Baker Elementary School. Staff members and students miss her, O'Banion said.
"She's just a really fun librarian and storyteller who brought a lot of energy to her job," O'Banion said. "Ann is just one of those people who's full of life and has time for everybody."
Her name still comes up occasionally at school.
"One little boy said, 'Oh, she's a movie star now,'" O'Banion said.
Ayres had been a regular on stage at the Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale for many years while living here, but said her current routine -- she often travels for auditions and projects -- isn't compatible with doing theater.
She isn't sure about her long-term plan or whether she'll stay in Florida. For now she's concentrating on finding roles in good, family friendly productions.
"I'm very selective. I'm not in it for fame and fortune. I'm in it to do quality entertainment," she said.
NW News on 04/03/2014