Film School
Wild Horses
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Details
Union:
Union or Non union
Area of media:
Film School
Network:
Paid?:
No
Rates:
Non paid Student Film
Deadline:
Nov 20, 2024
Auditions:
Self Tapes by request
Callbacks:
Nov 26, 2024 In Person, 122 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 1E9
Shooting starts:
Jan 10, 2025 5 day shoot.
Shooting finishes:
Jan 18, 2025 
Shooting locations:
Aurora, Ontario. Tottenham, Ontario
Cities for response:
Toronto
Comments
We can accept union and non-union actors through our student agreement with ACTRA. This is a non-paying student film and no permit is required. Actors will receive a copy of the finished film for their demo reel. We are offering meals on set and transportation tbd
Storyline
'Wild Horses' follows 8 year old Christopher Macdonald, whose home life unravels as his father's religious beliefs approach a dangerous extreme, Christopher begins to notice strange happenings in the world around him. Bugs crawling up through the snow, strange dark vines encroaching on his home. Christopher’s only means of escape is in the solace and guidance he finds in his bond with his family horse, Whiskey. Over the course of the three days preceding the reckoning, Christopher unveils the unsettling truth when he overhears an argument between his mother Siobhan and his father John; His father is going to heaven and he intends to take Christopher with him.
On the night of his father’s sacrifice, Christopher makes the choice not to join him. Pleading with his father to stay, John chooses his fate, ‘Heaven’ over family ‘Follower’ over fatherhood.

Roles
Role typeRoleGender & Age range
LeadChristopherMale 8 - 12 Years old
Description
Any Ethnicity, timid, yet curious, Christopher feels most himself out on the grounds of his family’s land, away from the house exploring, and spending time with his family horse Whisky. Christopher wants nothing more than to make his parents proud. Haunted by the fading remains of a seemingly loving family, Christopher struggles to fully grasp the severity of his father’s descent into the extremes of his cult mentality and religious beliefs. It all clicks as the night of the sacrifice approaches and he realizes that his father wants to bring him along and leave his mother behind. Christopher must make a choice.

Talent must be comfortable around horses, some experience working or interacting with horses is an asset. Talent will be interacting extensively with a trained horse in the presence of animal wranglers.

This film contains mild intimacy (a comforting embrace with the actor playing Christopher’s mother). An Intimacy Coordinator will be present.

This film contains very dark subject matter. Christopher watches his father’s descent into madness at the hands of a cult. He also finds his father dead after the sacrifice. The child actor will not need to be aware of all of this. We intend to employ a child psychologist who will have a session with the child before principal photography and be on call throughout the shoot. We will discuss with parents to determine how much the child should be privy to and to create a plan for how best to support the talent’s mental well-being. Please keep the subject matter in mind, and remember that the mental well-being of our child performer is of the utmost importance to us.
Role typeRoleGender & Age range
LeadJohnMale 30 - 50 Years old
Description
Firm, imposing. John has very strong beliefs. He cares very deeply about his faith, and in his own way, his family. He wants to do the ‘right thing’. His ultimate goal is to protect his family from what he believes is happening to the world, and do right by the greater power. Ultimately, he must decide what is more important to him. Keeping his family, or serving the hire power and following what’s ‘right’. The ladder outweighs the former for John when he makes the crushing choice to accept his son’s decision to stay behind.

This film contains dark subject matter.
Talent will be involved in scenes depicting emotional manipulation and the aftermath of self-harm. John commits suicide in the film. The act is never seen, but we see him immediately after. Will not be overly graphic.

The film contains mild intimacy (a kiss on the forehead). An Intimacy Coordinator will be present.



Role typeRoleGender & Age range
ActorRadio HostMale 30 - 50 Years old
Description
Voice Only. Evangelical radio host. Deep and powerful voice, engaging and hypnotic.