Casting for an independent short film called “Bad Signals”, a fantasy drama. Filming starts in late July and finish by mid-August. Film is about a couple who can read each other’s minds. We need a few roles filled including the lead. It pays 30$ flat daily for cast and crew, most of our roles are 1-day, with about three or four days for the lead
Please email self-tapes to jamezmckisson@gmail.com as soon as possible. The schedule will be formed around the schedule of the actors and crew but ideally, we’d like to get started by July 21st. Filming will take place around the Sandy Springs/Perimeter area.
Premise: A man and a woman become telepathically and mentally linked, able to feel each other’s feelings and thoughts. Eventually they meet and fall in love, enjoying a short, intense relationship, before breaking up. Unfortunately, however, their mental bond remains, and they find themselves unable to escape each other’s minds.
AUDITION SIDES
Characters
Garth Penbrook (Mid-20s, Male) A man coming to terms with accepting his break-up whilst suffering from forced telepathic communication. Mostly a very frustrated character, with irritation over his constant powerlessness in his relationships and personal endeavors. Emotionally expressive. (4-5 days of filming)
GARTH (V.O.)
I was trying so desperately to relax from all these weird feelings, and then one day, I heard someone.
Garth walks through his apartment’s parking lot distressed, barraged by an onslaught of unwanted thoughts from Hazel.
GARTH (V.O.)
I had to find some way to beat this, but for some reason it just kept getting stronger and stronger. I felt like it was going insane.
Garth walks down the street, passing some people who look at him strangely for seemingly talking to himself.
GARTH
Well, unlike you, I’m actually doing something productive to resolve this.
HAZEL (V.O.)
Great, have fun with that, and keep it to your damn self!
GARTH
Self-absorbed, trigger-happy narcissist.
GARTH
I’m afraid, Hazel.
HAZEL
Of the dream ending?
GARTH
Of never having this kind of connection with someone again.
Hazel Acosta (Mid-20s, Female) A woman trying to move on from her break-up while dealing with forced telepathic communication. More emotionally reserved than her ex-boyfriend and desperate to stop having to be forced to feel a certain way. (Casted; No Inquiries Please)
Psychic (Mid-20s or older, Female) A psychic Garth consults about the telepathy problem after being mocked by doctors. Appears to be mystic and in-sync with emotional wavelengths but actually just gets her information by researching and/or cyberstalking her clients. Performative and theatrical, becomes clinical and nondescript at the end of their meeting. (1 day of filming)
PSYCHIC
I feel resistance on her part. You must stop fighting, or this suffering will never end for you!
HAZEL (V.O.)
He’s the one who’s fighting, I told him I didn’t-what am I doing?
PSYCHIC
Nothing can change the past, the love you shared will always remain no matter what your circumstances. The waves of life may crash upon your shores, but your voyage will prevail.
The psychic stands & begins waving her arms through the air.
PSYCHIC
For you to embrace the splendor of life, you must taste its pain and sorrow! Now, begone, and live your life anew in love, young spirits!
Garth looks up at her before an alarm’s ring begins to sound. The psychic pulls down her sleeve revealing a smart watch and sits down to the table, puts on a pair of glasses and pulls out a pen and a day planner, beginning to write in it.
PSYCHIC
Okay, so that’s 30 minutes, first-time session so 100-dollar co-pay after insurance, but this was also a walk-in, so that’s an extra 25%, it’s 175 for subsequent sessions, soonest I can book you is next Thursday, if we have three more sessions and you’re still suffering, I’ll throw in an exorcism for free, I know a guy. Any questions?
Neurosurgeon (Late 20s or older, Gender-Neutral) A doctor Garth consults about the telepathy problem. Extremely sarcastic and cynical, doesn’t believe Garth’s problem in the slightest and derides him for wasting his time. (1 day of filming)
NEUROSURGEON
Telepathy doesn’t exist.
NEUROSURGEON
Don’t take it personally, I deal with crazy people all day, most of them work here in this building.
NEUROSURGEON
This isn’t even what I do! I’m a neurosurgeon, not a shaman!
GARTH
You have no idea how excruciating this is for me.
NEUROSURGEON
Yes, you’re the first person to ever get dumped. You have my condolences.
Psychologist (Late 20s or older, Gender-Neutral) A doctor Hazel consults about the telepathy problem. Understanding and empathetic of Hazel’s issues, but doesn’t actually believe her. Tries to be reassuring and directing Hazel towards therapy. (1 day of filming)
HAZEL
So you just want me to pretend like this isn’t happening?
PSYCHOLOGIST
Absolutely not, I think there are several steps you should be taking for your recovery-
HAZEL
Can’t you just hypnotize me or something?!
PSYCHOLOGIST
It’s a short-term solution, and I’m not even entirely sure it’d have an effect on something this deeply rooted.
PSYCHOLOGIST
Hazel, continuing to ignore the problem is just going to make it worse.
HAZEL
You don’t say?! Thanks for nothing-
