Feature Film

Rhythm Nation

Details

Union:

Union or Non union

Area of media:

Feature Film

Network:

Paid?:

Yes

Rates:

This will be a paid production. Compensation will be on a day rate basis.

Deadline:

Feb 28, 2025

Auditions:

Auditions will be via digital submissions.

Callbacks:

Mar 3, 2025 Callbacks will be in-person.

Shooting starts:

Filming will be in the summer of 2025

Shooting locations:

Richmond, BC

Cities for response:

Vancouver

Storyline

Rhythm Nation is a psychological thriller that explores the blurred boundaries between artist and audience, power and
control, and the commodification of identity. Inspired by Marina Abramovic’s Rhythm 0, the film follows Robyn Hartley,
a reclusive pop star staging her most audacious act: a 12-hour performance in which she surrenders complete control
to her fans. As the audience’s interaction with her becomes increasingly intense, Robyn confronts society’s obsession
with celebrity and seeks to reclaim her narrative, all while her label pushes to market her latest album.

The film contrasts the seductive allure of fame with its emotional devastation, weaving dark humor, raw vulnerability,
and building tension into a suspenseful narrative. With haunting visuals and an unflinching look at the exploitative
nature of celebrity culture, Rhythm Nation explores the emotional complexities of fame and devotion, offering a bold
cinematic experience that challenges the norms of the entertainment industry.

Roles

Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	Robyn	Female 29 - 39 Years old
Description Robyn Hartley is a reclusive pop star pushing the boundaries of art, fame, and control. After years away from the spotlight, she returns with a daring 12-hour performance that places her entirely at the mercy of her fans. As the event unfolds, Robyn’s enigmatic composure is tested, revealing the emotional toll of surrendering herself to the public. While she presents herself as an untouchable figure of artistic sacrifice, the performance forces her to confront her past, including a bitter reunion with her ex-husband Jonathan and the unintended consequences of her devotion to her craft. Her calculated silence and vulnerability blur the line between power and exploitation, captivating and unsettling her audience. Amid the chaos, her partner Emma struggles to reconcile the woman she loves with the artist seemingly willing to destroy herself for the sake of her work. By the end, Robyn’s true intentions come into focus, leaving behind an unsettling commentary on fame, audience complicity, and the commodification of personal pain.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Supporting	Emma	Female 30 - 39 Years old
Description Emma is Robyn’s steadfast partner, offering love and stability during the pop star’s years of reclusion. Though initially drawn to Robyn’s raw vulnerability and brilliance, Emma has grown to see the person behind the persona—a woman scarred by fame and searching for meaning in her art. As the story unfolds, Emma is thrust into the audience of Robyn’s provocative performance, where she witnesses the escalating chaos and brutality firsthand. Struggling to understand Robyn’s motivations, she becomes a voice of reason and compassion amid a crowd driven by obsession and exploitation. Her pleas for Robyn to end the event are ignored, deepening her fear that Robyn’s pursuit of artistic expression may come at a devastating cost. Emma’s journey is one of heartbreak and reckoning. She grapples with her inability to protect Robyn, questioning whether their love is strong enough to withstand the pressures of Robyn’s relentless ambition. Ultimately, Emma is a lens through which the audience experiences the emotional toll of the spectacle, serving as both a counterpoint to its madness and a reminder of the human connection Robyn risks losing.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Supporting	Jonathan	Male 30 - 39 Years old
Description Jonathan is Robyn’s ex-husband, a once-promising musician whose career and personal life were derailed by his association with Robyn. Their high-profile romance, adored by fans, ultimately led to a very public breakup, and Jonathan’s resentment festered in the years that followed. Jonathan’s appearance at Robyn’s 12-hour performance is a dramatic and unexpected turn. His reentry into her life is not out of any lingering affection, but rather a need to confront the emotional and personal damage he feels she caused him. Throughout the 15 duration of the performance, he becomes a disruptive force, challenging Robyn’s choices and bringing unresolved tension from their past to the forefront. Their exchanges—at times nostalgic and filled with regret, at others bitter and accusatory—illustrate the complexities of their relationship and the personal cost of fame on both of their lives. Jonathan’s arc represents the painful fallout of celebrity culture. He is caught between bitterness and a yearning for reconciliation, embodying the emotional destruction fame can leave in its wake. His arrival at the event signals a shift, deepening the narrative’s exploration of exploitation and emotional sacrifice.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Supporting	Alex	Male 30 - 39 Years old
Description Alex is Robyn’s loyal but morally ambiguous manager. He has been with her for years, overseeing the ups and downs of her career, and is the one person who has consistently been by her side during her absence from the public eye. Despite his professional detachment, Alex’s deep understanding of Robyn’s needs and vulnerabilities makes him an essential part of her return to the spotlight. As the orchestrator of Robyn’s controversial 12-hour performance, Alex remains calm and focused, fully convinced that the event is a necessary step in Robyn’s artistic journey. He believes in her vision, but as the performance spirals out of control, cracks begin to appear in his unwavering support. Alex is a man of calculated pragmatism, deeply immersed in the commodification of Robyn’s pain, but even he finds himself questioning the ethical limits of what he is enabling. His detached professionalism begins to fray as the event escalates, and the moral cost of their partnership becomes undeniable. Alex’s arc is one of conflicted loyalty—torn between his deep commitment to Robyn and the growing realization that he may be complicit in her exploitation. His character represents the ruthless, often exploitative nature of the entertainment industry and the fine line between caring for an artist and using them for personal gain.

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