Casting Call for Four Verses, a short film

 

From: Chris [mailto:ninebuddhas@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 12:41 AM
Subject: Casting for Four Verses

 

Four Verses is a short film about an unidentified man who speaks only three lines (each line from a different biblical verse), but ends up dead.

 

The film begins with a woman who has gone to a clinic to have an abortion.  When she arrives, she finds that access to the clinic is blocked by religious protestors.  We know nothing about the woman having the abortion (was she in love or momentarily passionate).  We know nothing about the protestors (whether they sincerely believe they are saving the lives of the unborn or if they are self righteous hypocrites).  The film is driven by an unidentified man who has stopped to wrestle with the religious protestors by citing his own biblical verses.  He seems to be prepared to do this (and seems to have done it before), but we don't know why.

 

Four Verses' eleven scenes are sequential, but the chronology is interrupted.  Parts of the chronology are missing -- others are repeated. The mid-scenes are fast pasted, sharply cut, shot in motion and with aggressive camera angles.  Often the audience will only get a glimpse of a critical component of a scene.  Each scene visually begins with a black card.  The time the black card remains up corresponds with the pace of the scene.  (The black card remains up for a long time on slow scenes and only for an instant on the fast scenes.)

 

Likewise the soundtrack is incongruous and distorted.  Each of the eleven scenes begins in silence.  Certain scenes are predominantly silent.  Other scenes have single components of the sound track extended and dramatized while other components of other scenes are condensed and understated. 

 

We intend to shoot the exterior scenes at sunrise and sunset (to optimize light and color), but in post will filter to add a high level of grain.  The film will be shot in color, but will be transformed to high contrast black and white in post -- making the film gritty in substance, shooting style, and finish.

 

We are casting for:

 

Carolyn – the woman seeking an abortion – 20 to 45.  

 

Walter – the counter protestor and protagonist – 30 to 60.

 

The Reverend – the leader of the religious protestors – 30 to 75.

 

The Reverend’s Wife – the Reverend’s wife and a major player in the dispute – 25 to 60.

 

The Reverend’s Son -- the Reverend’s son and antagonist in the dispute – 25 to 35.

 

Dr. Simons – a doctor from the clinic who watches the fight between the protestors and counter protestors develop -- 35 to 75 (male or female).

 

Nurse Wing – a nurse who watches the fight between the protestors and counter protestors develop – 20 to 75 (male or female).

 

Nurse Perez – a nurse who watches the fight between the protestors and counter protestors develop – 20 to 75 (male or female).

 

Religious Protestors – multiple religious protestors who shout against abortion – all ages (male and female).   We are seeking between 10 and 20 religious protestors.   Some of these roles are speaking roles – others are not speaking roles.  Some of the protestors will have an opportunity to sing, but an ability to sing well is not required.

 

For actors who are under 18, a parent must be present at the audition and on set for the entire time the actor under 18 is on set.   

 

There is no monetary compensation, but everyone involved will receive title credit and a digital copy of the file via You Send It.

 

We intend to shoot on Friday November 30, Saturday December 1, and Sunday December 2.  There will be one rehearsal the week prior to the shoot on a date to be determined after casting.

 

Auditions will be on Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 10 AM until 7 PM and will be held at 21 West 30^th Street in South Tucson.  You must have an appointment to audition.  If you are interesting in scheduling an audition, please respond here indicating the role or roles you are interested in and any preference as to the time you are interested in auditioning.  Please include a headshot and resume if you have them. 

 

When you are given a time to audition, you will receive a copy of the script and we will let you know what scene or scenes you will read from at the audition.  We will leave it up to you as to whether you memorize the role or read from the script at the audition.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Chris Raboin

Nine Buddhas Pictures

 

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