Film School

We Are Happy Fish

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Details

Union:

Union or Non union

Area of media:

Film School

Network:

Paid?:

Rates:

Non-paid student film.

Deadline:

Dec 4, 2024

Auditions:

Self tapes by request

Callbacks:

In person at TMU (School of Image Arts)

Shooting starts:

Feb 15, 2025

Shooting finishes:

Mar 2, 2025

Shooting locations:

1. 122 Bond Street, School of Image Arts, Toronto ON. 2. Vquatics, 585 Middlefield Rd #12a, Scarborough, ON M1V 4Y5 3. Pomona Mills Park, 244 Henderson Ave, Markham, ON 4. TBC

Cities for response:

Toronto

Comments

We can accept union and non-union actors through our student agreement with ACTRA. This a non-paying student film and no permit is required. Actors will receive a copy of the finished film for their demo reel.

About half the scenes are exterior, for these scenes heating considerations have been made and base camp will be near. Meals and beverages will be provided on the shoot dates. If transportation is required, we can arrange a ride for the actor during filming.

Storyline

In a loveless world; Nine, a a ten year old robot boy, and Kiko, an eleven year old girl from abusive family form a connection at her parents fish store and escape together to revive Nine's dead fish.

Roles

Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	Kiko	Female 9 - 14 Years old
Description An 11 year-old East Asian girl with short hair and a cold face. She knows a lot, and sometimes feels like an adult already but deep in her heart is the desire to be loved. She doesn’t talk much, and is more of an observer, which lends to her passion and gift for painting. She has an abusive father and is ambitious to escape. Yet she doesn’t know how to go about it and is lost about her future. NOTE: While "We Are Happy Fish" depicts verbal domestic abuse, the production will take all necessary steps to produce a safe set environment in accordance with Ontario minor legislation. We invite the actors' caregivers to have an open dialogue with us, and will meet any concerns or stipulations put forth on a case by case basis.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	Nine	Male 9 - 14 Years old
Description A 10 year-old part-robot boy (any ethnicity). He is purely childish, open and curious about everything, not caring or even acknowledging the rules of the adult world. He blindly loves his father who doesn’t care about him. He wants to revive his fish that has recently died to earn his father’s approval. NOTE: This character has a wig and costume that will take extra time for application each morning. NOTE: While We Are Happy Fish depicts verbal domestic abuse, the production will take all necessary steps to produce a safe set environment in accordance with Ontario minor legislation. We invite the actors' caregivers to have an open dialogue with us, and will meet any concerns or stipulations put forth on a case by case basis.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Principal	Trush	Male 38 - 58 Years old
Description Nine’s father. A 40-50 year old scientist (any ethnicity), who invented his son Nine in a lab. He has generational trauma from his own father and acts and speaks strangely. An eccentric and, at times, comedic character. This character has a long dramatic monologue.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Actor	Kiko’s Mother	Female 28 - 48 Years old
Description A 30-40 year old Asian woman who loves her kids but she doesn't have the ability to escape from her abusive husband. She is pregnant but she acts like a child, not having had the opportunity to grow up herself. She’s an adult who lacks the ability to properly take care of her kids but is still giving birth to them.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Actor	Kiko's Father	Male 28 - 48 Years old
Description A 30-40 years old East Asian man who hates his life and his job in a little fish store. He has pent up rage and is physically abusive to his pregnant wife, and verbally abusive to his daughter, Kiko.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Actor	Grandson	Male 8 - 11 Years old
Description A 9 year-old boy (any ethnicity), who wants everything, without the intent to take care of it.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Actor	Grandma	Female 52 - 80 Years old
Description A 60 year-old woman (any ethnicity). She's a kind, cute lady who tries to help her grandson from making bad decisions, and respects all life.

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