Schurz Shorts Filmmaking Club: Casting Call

with Ashley Matthäus & Raphael Büchel, Freiburg

On May 16th from 11-13h the Schurz Shorts Filmmaking Club at the Carl-Schurz-Haus is holding an open casting call for its currently untitled short film project.

Let’s call it a ‘satirical scifi boring room challenge’. We will shoot nearly everything in a plain white room and are looking for convincing characters to bring it to life.
The script is done and we are ready to audition actors and come up with a filming schedule with everyone. As this is a club activity, we are all just doing this for fun, so these are not paid acting roles. We intend to screen this short at the Carl-Schurz-Haus Library Day in October. Our project from last year title ‘The Journal’ can be seen on the CSH YouTube channel here.

We are looking for 4-5 actors. Actors should be at least 18 years old and be comfortable with the English language. All accents and identities welcome!
If you would like to audition for a part, please join us Saturday, May 16th at the Carl-Schurz-Haus. Auditions will run 11-13h, please write to Ashley Matthäus to sign up and she will give you a time slot. Drop-ins are also welcome but signups are preferred.

Synopsis
A Box is introduced into the workplace of three coworkers and manipulates their work environment beyond recognition. The coworkers must work together to save themselves from domination and/or return to the norm.

Cast (we welcome character name suggestions)
The Box – inanimate object; age and origin unkown (voice-only role)
The Box begins as a VOG/Narrator but soon turns into a puppetmaster. The Box is clever and curious, however also methodic and predictable.

Character 1 – young-spirited social media manager (think Matilda meets John Ralphio)
They are childlike, curious and playful. They talk to and befriend the box, naively unaware that the box is only using them.

Character 2 – grounded team lead (think Dwight and Angela from the office combined)
Typical ‘working stiff’ – they take their work super seriously and live by the deadline. They just want everything to return to status quo so they can get on with their job and go home to their pet. Buttoned-up with no imagination, but very determined and stubborn.

Character 3 – paranoid accountant (think Chicken Little, but in an office)
A conspiracy theorist and office gossip with a physical tick (biting nails, flicking a pen cap, or maybe uses a fidget spinner) who is obsessed with the Box’s presence. They have heard stories and know the box must be destroyed, but will the others listen?

Ashley is happy to answer any questions and looks forward to seeing your on-screen talents! If you have some behind-camera skills to offer (like makeup or sound), please get in touch as well!: matthaeus@csh-fr.de