our nation – short film – casting complete

**CASTING COMPLETE**

Arvold Casting is searching for actors for speaking roles in the Old Dominion University short film Our Nation. Set in 1915 Norfolk, Virginia, Our Nation is the story of Douglas, a young African American boy whose desire to see Birth of a Nation opens his eyes to a world of racial prejudice.

Our Nation will make its premiere screening as part of the centerpiece event for Birth of an Answer on September 18th, 2015 at the historic Attucks Theatre in Norfolk. Birth of an Answer is an event celebrating 100 years of African American creative resistance to prejudicial representations in cinema. For more information about this event, visit www.boaaevent.org

Please see below for submission instructions for this project.

OUR NATION
Short Film
SAG-AFTRA & Non-Union Actors Welcome
Writer: David Mallin
Director: Derrick Borte (Derrick Borte IMDb)
Casting Director: Erica Arvold
Casting Associate: Michael Duni
Casting Assistant: Claire Cundiff

Shoot Dates: March 8th – 15th, 2015
Shoot Location: Norfolk, VA

Rate: Varies (see descriptions below). Pay ranges from $125/day to Volunteer (no pay).
Travel: Gas reimbursement and lodging provided if applicable.

Audition Dates: February 16th, 18th & 19th in Charlottesville, VA or via self-tape
Callbacks: Tuesday, February 24th in Norfolk, VA

Seeking:

DOUGLAS: 8 – 12 years old, African American Male. Douglas is a bold boy eager to view the film “Birth of a Nation” recently released at a local theatre. With his ignorant optimism of the films growing success, he insists on convincing his mother to give him the funds needed to watch the movie at the town’s “white’s only” theatre, the Lee. 10 Scenes, 26 Lines. LEAD. Pay is $125 per day.

JEREMY: 30’s – 40’s, African American Male. Jeremy is a tall, kind man working at the Lee Theatre as their projectionist. After seeing a sad Douglas, disappointed in not being allowed into the theatre, Jeremy allows Douglas to see the film, and opens his eyes to the truth about the “Birth of a Nation”. 2 Scenes, 20 Lines, LEAD. Pay is $125 per day.

MARGARET: 30’s – 40’s, African-American Female. Mother to Douglas, Margaret is an attractive, kind yet stern mother and very acclimated to the ways of racial prejudice of the 1915’s. With wise integrity she lets Douglas discover that lesson on his own when he ventures off to the Lee Theatre in an attempt to view “Birth of a Nation”. 1 Scene, 21 Lines. LEAD. Pay is $125 per day.

YIN LEE: 20’s – 30’s, Chinese Female who speaks Cantonese or Mandarin. One half of a proud Chinese couple, dressed fairly well to view “Birth of a Nation”, stands in line to view the film at the “white’s only” theatre. They are caught between the people protesting the film, and those wanting to view it. 2 Scenes, 6 Lines. SUPPORTING, MUST SPEAK CANTONESE OR MANDARIN. Pay is $125 per day.

HAO LEE: 20’s – 30’s, Chinese Male who speaks Cantonese or Mandarin. One half of a proud Chinese couple, dressed fairly well to view “Birth of a Nation”, stands in line to view the film at the “white’s only” theatre. They are caught between the people protesting the film, and those wanting to view it. 2 Scenes, 5 Lines. SUPPORTING, MUST SPEAK CANTONESE OR MANDARIN. Pay is $125 per day.

THEATRE STAFF: 25+ years old, Caucasian Male. The Theatre Staff handles the operation of supervising the pacing of the line stretched out along the Lee Theatre, removing any unwanted patrons with stern action. 2 Scenes, 15 Lines. SUPPORTING. Pay is $100 per day.

PROTESTER 1,2,3: 18+ years old, Any Ethnicity, Any Sex. Separated from the white people waiting in line at the Lee Theatre to watch “Birth of a Nation”, the protestors vehemently express their disapproval of the film and its blatant racism. 1 Scene, 2-3 Lines. SUPPORTING. Pay is $100 per day.

TOMMIE & SAMMIE: 8 – 12 years old, African American Male. Two excited friends of Douglas waiting in line at the Lincoln Theatre to watch a film. 1 Scene, 1 Line. VOLUNTEER (NO PAY) – Local hire to Hampton Roads

PATRON: 18+ years old, Caucasian, Any Sex. Expresses his/her disapproval of Douglas being in the “white’s only” line at the Lee Theatre. 1 Scene, 1 Line. VOLUNTEER (NO PAY) – Local hire to Hampton Roads

TICKETMASTER: 18+ years old, Any Ethnicity, Any Sex. Ticketmaster of the Lincoln Theatre.â€¨ 1 Scene, 1 Line. VOLUNTEER (NO PAY) – Local hire to Hampton Roads

ONLINE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

If you are appropriate for this project, please select ONE of two ways to submit:

Option 1: If you have an agent, your agent may submit you for this project through Breakdown Express and include your home base in the notes section.

Option 2: If you do not have an agent, follow the instructions below to fill out our online form.

1) Please fill in the form at the following link: OUR NATION Submission Form

2) Please send your headshot and resume in PDF format to casting@arvold.com ASAP (also copy the resume into the body of the email if possible, please do not worry about formatting).

3) Use the following SUBJECT HEADING for your submission (personalized to YOU):
YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME, ROLE, Our Nation. For example:
JOHN SMITH, DOUGLAS, Our Nation

If you are able to email your headshot & resume AND fill out this form successfully, your submission is considered complete.

We are accepting both direct submissions and agency submissions for this project as well as via Breakdown Express. Please submit only ONCE. Thanks so much for following our instructions! We will be having auditions by appointment ONLY. Submitting does not automatically get you an audition, but it does get you considered for one. We are only able to respond to those submissions we select for auditions, but we sincerely appreciate your interest!