Film School

CFC THE STORY - KARUPY

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Details

Union:

Union or Non union

Area of media:

Film School

Network:

Paid?:

Rates:

Open to ACTRA & Non-Union performers. Unpaid as per ACTRA/CFC agreement.

Deadline:

Sept 9, 2024

Shooting starts:

Oct 5, 2024

Shooting finishes:

Oct 6, 2024

Shooting locations:

GTA

Cities for response:

Toronto

Comments

2 shoot days + up to 4hrs of unpaid rehearsal time + up to 1 hour paid hair & make-up consult

STORY films are 10-15 minute shorts from directors, producers and editors in the Norman Jewison Film Program at the Canadian Film Centre. The films are professionally produced in the fall, edited before the New Year, and submitted to the international festival circuit. Recent STORY films have premiered at TIFF, VIFF, CIFF, Fantasia and many more! This is a chance for actors to connect with Canada’s most exciting emerging talent, both on and off screen, and to collaborate with writer/directors on a piece that supports a feature film in development.

Kalainithan Kalaichelvan (He/Him) is a Tamil-Canadian writer and director, whose films have screened at festivals such as the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest, and Melbourne International Film Festival. His short film credits include Junglefowl (2023), A Feller and the Tree (2021) and Petit Four (2019). He is also known for directing music videos and was nominated for a Juno Award for Music Video of the Year in 2022. Kalaichelvan was a participant in the 2022 Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices and the Rogers-BSO Script Development Fund Program.

Storyline

KARUPY tells the story of a bitter, regal 70-year-old Tamilian matriarch who, during her birthday celebration, shocks her family by announcing she will end her life at sundown. As she prepares for this final act, the film explores intergenerational complexities blending dark humor with family tension, unresolved grief, and supernatural elements.

Roles

Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	KARUPY	Female 60 - 70 Years old
Description Female, 70, Tamil. A striking dark-skinned woman with a coarse demeanor, garbed in regal silks, grapples with deep-seated resentment and mental health struggles. She's complex, and sharp-tongued, and uses her status as a matriarch to manipulate those around her. She embodies strength and fragility at the same time. She has a strained relationship with her daughter and a haunting connection to her deceased father. LEAD. MUST BE ABLE TO SPEAK TAMIL FLUENTLY!
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	JEYA	Female 40 - 43 Years old
Description Female, Early 40s, Tamil. Karupy's daughter. Poised but conflicted about her relationship with her mother. She’s a woman trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy while dealing with the chaos her mother creates. She's frustrated with Karupy's behavior and struggles to balance care with a resentment that’s due to years of manipulation and neglect. She’s tired of dealing with her mother’s emotional games, but beneath her anger, there’s still a desire for connection, which manifests through their volatile confrontations. LEAD. (Fluency in the language not as important- but should be able to speak/understand)
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	ARJUN	Male 44 - 47 Years old
Description Male, Mid 40s, Tamil. Empathetic husband to Jeya, he strives to mediate the fraught relationship between mother and daughter. He also harbors secrets, including his own struggles with depression and emotional isolation, which fuels his understanding of Karupy's struggle. Trapped between his loyalty to Jeya and his empathy for Karupy, he often finds himself caught in the crossfire of family drama. Arjun's gentle nature and desire to help are tested as he navigates the chaos surrounding Karupy’s intentions. LEAD. MUST BE ABLE TO SPEAK TAMIL FLUENTLY!
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	VAISH	Female 18 - 21 Years old
Description Female, 18+ to play younger, Tamil. Jeya and Arjun's daughter. She has a unique relationship with her grandmother, sharing a cigarette and discussing Karupy's suicide plans. Vaish is is an unfiltered, rebellious young teenager. Her perspective adds a layer of complexity to the family dynamics, as she seeks to understand the weight of her grandmother's choices. She shares a moment of bonding with Karupy over the topic of her impending suicide, offering a more cynical and detached view of life and death. LEAD. (Ability to speak Tamil a plus, does not need to be fluent)
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	THINESH	Male 31 - 39 Years old
Description Male, 30s, Tamil. Thinesh is the mischievous nephew whose antics often mask deeper insecurities. His playful demeanor and penchant for trouble are overshadowed by a bizarre fascination with a painting of his grandfather, which he believes speaks to him. Thinesh's humorous yet chaotic presence provides a stark contrast to the heavy themes of the family gathering, highlighting the absurdity of their situation. LEAD. (Fluency in the language not as important- but should be able to speak/understand)

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