Casting actors for the 2024 Cleveland Indie Film Incubator Project!

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Whether you’re an experienced actor who’d like to have some fun working on your craft this summer OR you are new to the industry and are looking to build up your actor’s film resume & reel, this experience is for you!

Audition Location: Creative House Studios 1419 E 40th St, Cleveland, OH 44103

Audition Date/Time: Saturday, May 18th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

All the roles are unpaid unless otherwise noted.

Please read the information below carefully before signing up. Sides are available for each character HERE.

**We are no longer accepting scheduled auditions. Walk-ins are welcome! You will have to wait until there is a slot open for you to audition.

What is the Cleveland Indie Film Incubator Project?

In an effort to show our support for Cleveland filmmaking and nurturing creativity and collaboration among local filmmakers, this year we chose 6 filmmakers to assist their production of their short films. They have been working hard at our weekly workshops developing their ideas and finalizing their scripts. . All 6 short films will be screened in Cleveland either in this fall or early 2025.

Casting Call Breakdown

Important Notes:

1. You are allowed and encouraged to audition for more than 1 role and film.
2. Make sure to carefully read through character descriptions.
3. You do not have to memorize the sides, although it’s recommended. Sides are available HERE.
4. In the google form, you will tell us your availability and we will give you a designated audition time 3 days in advance.
5. Please make sure you are available for the shooting weekend of the films you are auditioning for.

Shooting Weekends:

1. "SQUIRREL" by Sav Rae Jackson- June 22nd & 23rd
2. "You're Fired" by SaBrianna Lever - July 13th & 14th
3. "I Got a Job" by Brandon Peck - July 27th & 28th
4. "SMEE" by Simon Brubaker - August 10th & 11th
5. "Campaign Ride" by Jimmel Young - August 24th and 25th
6. "Country-Fried" by Tyler Cotton - September 28th and 29th

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Character Breakdowns

“SQUIRREL”

Directed by/Screenplay by: Sav Rae Jackson

Filming June 22nd-23rd

Unpaid / IMDB Credit

Questions? Contact Sav via email: savannahrLjackson@gmail.com

LOGLINE: When her father makes an abrupt visit, a young woman struggles with the possibility of disappointing her father and hurting the woman she loves.

Characters:

‍LUE - Early/Mid 20’s, Black/African American, Female
Lue is a passionate activist navigating anxiety. She is days away from an “open mic night” fundraiser and will perform an original song that is an ode to her girlfriend Cynthia. The song that Lue is due to perform is symbolic of the intimacy that Lue and Cynthia share. It becomes a layered situation as Lue contemplates disappointing her father and hurting someone she loves. Lue is an ambitious and selfless leader in her community but also struggles with anxiety and compartmentalizing things most personal to her. 
NOTE: This role requires some singing and experience with the guitar is preferred but not required. Please be prepared to sing a brief sample of your choice during the audition.

CYTHINIA - Early/Mid 20’s, Black/African American, Female
Cynthia is beyond her years with wisdom and self-assurance. She is empathetic to her girlfriend Lue’s reservation of “coming out” to her father but also relentless in wanting to be loved fully. Lue and Cynthia share a pure friendship turned romantic relationship. There is an impregnable bond between these young Black women which is why even in their most heated moments there is still a rhythm of affection.

GREG - Middle-aged, Black/ African American, Male
To Greg, all the small moments are grand in his eyes, which is why supporting his daughter Lue at the open mic night she organized is paramount. He is determined to try everything he can to support and make his daughter happy, even when it’s overwhelming. Lue and Greg have a close father-daughter bond, but Lue keeps him at arm’s length because his unconditional love is sometimes hard to digest.

MEL - Early/Mid 20’s, Black/African American, Any Gender
Mel is a talented poet with a cadence to captivate audiences. They are a supportive friend to Lue and they both share a passion for merging their creativity with activism.

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“You’re Fired”

Directed by/Screenplay by: SaBrianna Lever

Filming July 13th-14th

Small Stipend / IMDB Credit

Questions? Contact SaBrianna via email: slever@narrativemoments.com

LOGLINE: When a young woman is suddenly fired from her big corporate job, she embarks on a journey in hopes of discovering herself... and a new career.

Characters:

JADE - 20’s, Black/African American, Female
A hopeful, ambitious, yet indecisive Black woman in her 20s.

JADAH - 20’s, Black/African American, Female
Jade's older sister. A career-minded successful Black woman in her 20s.

KATHERINE – Middle-aged, Black/African American, Female
Jade and Jadah’s mother. Has high standards for her children and herself.

JOSEPH - Middle-aged, Black/African American, Male
Jade and Jadah’s father. Wants to see his children succeed, but also follow in his footsteps.

BOSS – Middle-aged, Any Race/Ethnicity, Male
Jade’s boss, who could use a makeover.

‍MIKE – 20s, Any Race/Ethnicity, Male
A young man with no boundaries. Just wants his food.

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"I Got a Job"

Directed by/Screenplay by: Brandon Peck

Filming July 27th-28th

Unpaid / IMDB Credit

Questions? Ask Brandon via email: swimlightstudios@gmail.com

LOGLINE: A struggling actor finds work in an unlikely place after losing his job.

Characters:

SCOTT - Mid 20's, Black/African American, Male
A down on his luck single father trying to make it as an actor and prove to his mom that he’s not a failure.

GRETA - Mid 50's, Black/African American, Female
A tough love mother struggling to guide her son into manhood. Straightforward and to the point: Blunt people are direct and honest, and don't beat around the bush.

ROBERT - Mid 40's, Any Race/Ethnicity, Male
A self-titled film producer who makes movies on the side when he banks enough overtime at his day job. Nonchalant, yet charismatic, he knows what he wants & how to get it. With Scott’s hand, they might just be able to help each other.

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"SMEE"

Directed by/Screenplay by: Simon Brubaker

Filming August 10th-11th

Unpaid / IMDB Credit

Questions? Contact Simon via email: simonbrubaker@gmail.com

LOGLINE: A group of friends gather in a historic farmhouse for a party and end up playing a variation of hide and seek. A ghost makes it’s presence known and tension builds from one game to the next.

Characters:

LUKE - Mid 30's, Any Race/Ethnicity, Male
Level headed and kind hearted. Out of his element in his surroundings. Doesn’t know anyone at the party except Will. Doesn’t believe fully or dismiss fully the possibility of paranormal events.

WILL - Early to Mid 30's, Any Race/Ethnicity, Male
Best friend character. Mainly trying to make everyone happy. wants to go to the party to please his new girlfriend but also wants to make sure his friend has a good time.

AMELIA - Early to Mid 30's, Any Race/Ethnicity, Female
She is the only person who belongs in the house. She is aware of a presence there but respects it. She is in touch with the house and her family’s history there makes her feel comfortable in the house. She is generally introverted and a homebody. Doesn’t want to have a party but agrees to make her boyfriend happy. She grows more and more annoyed at him as the night progresses.

PETE - Early to Mid 30's, Any Race/Ethnicity, Male
He is bull headed and brash. Clearly frustrated by moving to the county and compromising his social life. He pushes people to keep playing the game after the mood of the party has clearly soured. He is the main person who does not respect the house.

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“Campaign Ride”

Directed by/Screenplay by: Jimmel Young

Filming August 24th-25th

Unpaid / IMDB Credit

Questions? Contact Jimmel via email: 21jyoung.photography+CCR@gmail.com

LOGLINE: A racially diverse crew of thrill-seeking robbers abandons one of their own during a heist, forcing them to confront the consequences of their criminal campaign in one chaotic night.

Characters:

BILL - 16+, Any Race/Ethnicity, Male
The level-headed driver and leader of the crew. He tries to keep the others focused on the job at hand, but ultimately makes the call to leave Donald behind.

DONALD - Late Teens to Mid 30's, Black/African American, Male
The philosophical one of the group who questions some of their more extreme actions. He ends up being the one left behind and arrested after a robbery goes wrong.

JOE - 16+, Any Race/Ethnicity, Male
The hot-headed and reckless one who loves creating chaos. He's a wild card who puts the crew at risk with his erratic behavior during the heists.

GEORGE - 16+, Any Race/Ethnicity, Male
The music man who provides the soundtrack and hype for the crew's robberies. He's along for the ride, but doesn't seem as criminally hardened as Joe.

‍STORE CLERK – 16+, Any Race/Ethnicity, Any Gender
Clearly at work because they have to be, lackadaisical

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“Country-Fried”

Directed by/Screenplay by: Tyler Cotton

Filming September 28th-29th

Small Stipend or Negotiated Rates

Questions? Contact Tyler via email: tcotton@blastabrade.com

LOGLINE: Husband and wife real estate scam artists try to hustle deep country marijuana farmers who don’t trust the tricksters and instead strike a mortal deal.

Characters:

BUNNY - Late 30’s to Early 40’s, Caucasian, Female
She is beautiful, old hell-on-wheels with a bob haircut that gets transformed with a fake ‘beehive bouffant’ when she becomes an imposter. She is a combination of Tonya Harding and Tammy Faye Baker who smacks her husband around when he does something she doesn’t like. She has a habit of picking her nose and scratching her crotch.

DOMINIC - 40’s, Caucasian, Male
He is married to Bunny. He resembles Danny Devito with a lazy pot belly and premature bald head. He operates, DOMINIC & DOMINIC, a fake real estate scam business. He is a blow-hard huckster with a fake grin and hardy handshake.

BIG ED - Late 30’s, Tall, Caucasian, Male
He is a burly 6’6” farmer with a Duck Dynasty beard that drops to his chest and moves when he talks. He is a simple farmer with a John Deere hat, bib overalls and leather boots with laces undone at the top. Big Ed became the caretaker of the off-the-grid marijuana farm after the owner's disappearance. Big Ed sleeps on a hard plank floor with blankets and must work sundown to sunset to keep psychotic Skeeter from destroying the operation.

SKEETER - Late 20’s to Early 30’s, Caucasian, Male
He has fair skin, dirty hair, bean pole skinny with tattered muscle shirt and 4” scar running down his cheek. He has missing front teeth and spits tobacco. He spent seven years in an insane asylum when he killed a man by grinding a box cutter down his throat while screaming: Eat This Bitches. Skeeter is sneaky, suspicious, pathological and deeply protective of the farm and always says: “Ain’t nothin but a thing.”

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