Melbourne Casting Call – Sakooz (3min Promotional Teaser/Trailer)

Overview Sakooz is a 120 minute feature film concept, which is currently being script-edited by several industry professionals. To obtain the necessary funding to get the feature film off paper and onto the screen, we have decided to produce a three minute teaser/trailer to use as a promotional tool to help convince investors of the huge commercial possibilities of the concept. After the trailer is completed, we will begin a massive online marketing campaign, ensuring everyone knows the word, “Sakooz”. Despite only being a three minute teaser/trailer – this is still going to be a very ambitious and challenging project! Utilising extensive animatronics, costume characters and visual effects, this isn’t going to be a walk in the park. The trailer will be privately funded by the staff of latenite films, and will also be shot in conjunction with Swinburne University of Technology. Unfortunately we do not have the funding available to pay our cast or crew for the trailer – however, there is the possibility of also working on the full length feature film, should it get off the ground. Transportation, fantastic food, and a DVD copy of the trailer will be supplied to successful applicants. Filming will take place in various places around Melbourne, Australia in July (exact shooting dates have yet to be finalised). Who Are We? Sakooz is being written and produced by latenite films – an innovative screen development company with the sole mission of making top quality media - whether it be short films, commercial feature films or even online digital media projects. Regardless of the screen - theatre, mobile phone, computer screen or something completely new and exciting - we’re interested in putting entertaining and challenging content on it!For further information on latenite films, please visit our website: http://www.latenitefilms.com Plot Outline Whilst three young filmmakers are driving along an unmade dusty highway in the middle of the night towards Uluru, their world is suddenly turned completely upside-down when a spaceship containing four cute aliens comes crashing into earth right in front of them. Too afraid to give the creatures up to a team of soulless scientists - lead by the malicious Dr Bronson, and fearing that they’ll spend the rest of their lives as lab rats in a laboratory, they make the hasty decision to bring the aliens home with them. Several years later, the filmmakers create a television show called Sakooz staring their extraterrestrial family. The show is a huge success, and life is looking good. However, things take a massive turn for the worst not long after they reluctantly employee their next door neighbour – a young, socially inept, pyromaniac called Leodore. Dr Bronson ends up tracking down and stealing the aliens – and it’s up to Leodore to get them back. Cast Required We are currently looking for people to fill the following roles: Leodore (24) At 24, Leodore lives a predominantly solitary life filled with silent dinners with his father and his stepmother. The only highlight in his life are his comics, and his passion for making films where he can blow up, in spectacular fashion, as many things as he can. Towards the outside world, his manner is dark and brooding, and Leodore’s anti-social tendencies have cast him in the eyes of others as arrogant and cold – an outcast. But underneath his shell, lies a complex individual waiting to be unveiled. James (32) One of the initial filmmakers to discover the aliens, James is good-looking, business driven and just simply a nice person. Together with his long term partner Anna, he shares a passionate love for the Sakooz and has dedicated his entire life to these creatures. They are like his own children - his family. However, his busy and stress-filled lifestyle, ridden with schedules and deadlines, threaten his once wonderful relationship with Anna. However, James is blind to this until his family is put under immediate threat by the evil Dr Bronson, only then does James start to take action to rectify his mistakes. Anna (29) Anna fell in love with the Sakooz as soon as she laid eyes on them when they first found them in the middle of the desert. Together with her partner James, she has devoted her life to nurturing the Sakooz, taking her role as a mother very seriously. In addition, her generous, caring and loving nature makes her extremely likable to everyone around her. With the success of their kids TV show, Anna continues to utilise her business-oriented nature and her lovable personality to keep everyone happy. She is what holds everything together. She has little time to think of herself, or her flailing relationship with James, all she can think of is what she does best: her work and her responsibilities as a mother. As a result she is an insomniac, and is never truly ‘available’ for anyone. Simon (32) James’ best friend, and also one of the three filmmakers to find the aliens, Simon has become the crazy, fun and entertaining ‘uncle’ to the Sakooz. He has a larger than life attitude that can be overwhelming and difficult for people to put up with. Simon helps James and Anna run the TV show, but it never seems like he does any work. He’s always having too much fun. He takes much pride and joy in his red sports car, which is loves to speed in whilst smoking and listening loudly to his favourite songs. He has an open heart, is welcoming and laughs loudly. Despite his super confident demeanour, Simon hides serious insecurities. He wants to prove himself to others, but runs away from serious commitments and responsibilities, fearing failure. Instead, he uses his extroverted personality to do the only thing he knows best - to make everyone laugh. Jeff (50) After the death of his wife, and then having remarried, Jeff is at a loss with his son, Leodore. He knows that the rift between them is growing wider and wider, but he can’t think of how to reach Leodore. So Jeff simply makes sure that Leodore always gets what he wants. He lacks the perception to understand his complicated and troubled son. Instead, he hands over Leodore the cash to make his films and to buy his comic books, letting Leodore live the way he wants to, never reprimanding him for anything. Jeff has no confidence in himself as a father, and feeling guilty for his ineptitude, would rather pretend that there’s nothing wrong, never taking any parental action when most needed. Cindy (45) Leodore’s stepmother is overwhelmingly kind and loving. All she wants is for Leodore to love her and for Leodore to be happy. She tries her best to take on the mother role, and never having any children of her own, invests much in the family she is trying to keep together. On the outside, she maintains the facade of the happy home-maker. Although inside, Leodore’s rejection of her love and his father’s continuous failed attempts to reconnect with him, deeply wound her. Cindy just wants her family to be happy. In the meantime, she busies herself with her secretarial job, taking care of the home, and her only real joy, nurturing her much loved bonsais. Dr Bronson (44) The villainous Dr Bronson is motivated purely by his own desires. His selfish and cruel nature is hidden under a charming façade, which he uses to attain his own goals. He is extremely ruthless, having no regard for others unless they can be of use to him. Although he is immaculately dressed, there is something unsettling about his character. His charm doesn’t entirely hide something dishevelled and a little insane about him. His cunning and calculated ways ensure that he gets what he wants. Kylie (21) The new public relations representative - young, stunningly attractive, power-driven Kylie is the newest addition to the TV show. She is intelligent and manipulative, knowing exactly what to say to circumvent any problems or disasters. Her attributes make her successful at what she does. In addition, she has no qualms about using her looks to get whatever she wants. She is immediately attracted to Dr Bronson, and her desire for wealth and power drives her to join forces with him. Audition Process If you think you fit one of the above roles, then the next step is to get in contact with us via e-mail. After receiving your CV, we will then send you a list of possible audition times, which will be taking place both on week days and weekends in Prahran, Melbourne. Should you be successful in the first round of auditions, you will then move on to the second round, and so forth. Applying... If you are interested in applying for one of these unpaid roles, then please submit your CV (in PDF format), along with a brief message explaining which part you feel you’re best suited to, to this address: sakooz_casting@latenitefilms.com Or alternatively, you can complete our online form at: http://www.latenitefilms.com/job_opportunities/sakooz_casting/ Feel free to also e-mail us on the above address should you have any questions regarding the production. Thank you for your time! We look very forward to your response!