Ella Wahlestedt is about to have her big break in Hollywood with her new movie "Earth to Echo." The new film by Relativity Media tells the story of a group of kids who embark on an adventure with an alien who needs their help. Wahlestedt plays the role of Emma, one of the main protagonists in the film. This is her debut film, though she has been working in the industry for a number of years. The Swedish actress worked in a number of short films, including "Stellar Strokes" and "BFF Zombies." Her first TV appearance was on an episode of "Matchmakers," and she was quickly cast for the first and only season of "Army Wives." Prior to the release of her new film, Wahlestedt had a chance to speak to Latin Post and told us about her experiences working on her first feature and the process of CGI work.

LP: How did you first get involved with the project?

W: I originally auditioned for a movie called "The Wolf Project," which I figured had something to do with wolves, which was far from the case. Only after I was cast did I realize it was an alien movie, and I was really excited about it because I finally got to read the script and I loved it.

LP: How did you prepare for you role of Emma?

W: Emma is an ordinary typical girl, so I really didn't do that much research and I think I am very similar to her. So I reacted as I would in that situation.

LP: The movie has been getting a lot of comparisons to the "Goonies," "Super 8" and "ET." Did You Watch any of these movies before you did the film?

W: I think "Earth to Echo" is similar in that theme of friendship. But I think it's a fresh new take on it. It's made for this generation, and it has a lot of technology in it, and I think a lot of people can relate to it.

LP: What were the biggest challenges of your role?

W: I think the biggest challenge all was the CGI. I had to pretend there were aliens doing stuff. When I was on set, I could not see any of it because I had to use my imagination. All the CGI work was done in post-production. That was definitely the biggest challenge.

LP: Was it your first time working with CGI?

W: Yes, it was, and I loved the way the film turned out.

LP: What makes this movie so special? And how do you compare it to other work you've done before?

W: I love everything outer space. I think it's a very heartfelt movie, while it still has lots of adventure and suspense. I mean for instance during the filming process: Dave (Green), the director, wanted us to do a lot of improvisation because he wanted it to be very natural, which was very different from anything I've done before. Improvisation is a very cool skill, and it was really fun because it was the first time doing that.

LP: What was the experience of working with Dave Green?

W: He was also new to the scene as was the cast. He was great and open to the suggestions. If I had a question, he would answer it, and he had a cool perspective on the way it should be shot and the way it should be portrayed. I think he did a great job with the film.

LP: How was the bonding experience with the rest of the cast?

W: The whole cast was great. We're all new to the scene, and for all of us, it was our first feature film. It felt like we were all in this together. We all wanted this movie to happen and wanted it to be a success. And we knew what each other was going through.

LP: Did you have any contact with screenwriter Henry Gayden?

W: It was interesting because, while we were filming the movie, they were constantly making adjustments. We had no say in the script, but in some way, we were revising it because there was so much improvisation.

LP: What do you want audiences to take away from this movie?

W: It's very family-friendly movie. I think all ages can relate to it as well as adults because it has that nostalgic feel to it. Like you said, it's similar to "ET" and the "Goonies," but it is fresh. It incorporates the themes of friendship and elements of hope, which is very important.

LP: How did you first get involved in acting?

W: It's a very funny story because I was a gymnast for a very long time, and I was really into it. One day my coach did not show up, so I went next door to an acting class -- I just took it to pass time. I found that I really enjoyed it. I continued with acting classes, and then I eventually got into a middle school for performing arts and I was a theater major. From there, I fell into TV and film.

LP: What are your upcoming projects?

W: I was on "Army Wives" for a whole season, but unfortunately it was canceled. However, it was a great run. And I just got off the set for a James Franco film.

LP: Can you tell us a little about that new film?

W: It's really unique in the way that it incorporates a number of short stories, and they each relate to each other. So each has a similar element to it.