Details
Union:
Union
Area of media:
Feature Film
Network:
Paid?:
Yes
Rates:
ACTRA + 135% Advance
Deadline:
Oct 20, 2025
Shooting starts:
Nov 17, 2025 hiatus: December 20, 2025 to January 4, 2026
Shooting finishes:
Jan 23, 2026
Shooting locations:
Winnipeg & environs
Cities for response:
Winnipeg
Comments
Paul Walter Hauser: JOHN SHUSTER. Self-tapes will be requested from selected submissions. Please approach all dialogue with Standard American English. Submissions to the October 14 Winnipeg breakdown should submit to this breakdown as well.
Storyline
Based on the true story of the US Men's Curling Team and their astonishing quest for Olympic gold...American curling phenom John Shuster becomes a joke after his team washes out in three consecutive Olympic medal bids in twelve years. Determined to redeem himself and his reputation, he creates his own ‘Team of
Rejects’ - all talented, highly skilled players rejected by the official governing body, USA Curling.
Rejects’ - all talented, highly skilled players rejected by the official governing body, USA Curling.
Roles
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Lead | Matt Hamilton | Male 25 - 32 Years old |
Description White. Hamilton is a hard-core curler who rejects Cal Bennett’s effort’s to re-shape the US curling team after their 2014 Sochi loss. Bennett wants to rid the team of guys like Hamilton who don’t fit his cookie-cutter image of what an athlete should be. Hamilton loves beer, does not work out and he’s a great curler. His statement “Everybody knows this is bull-shit, right?” pretty much sums-up Hamilton’s attitude toward Bennett and the changes he is pushing. ...When John Shuster creates his own Team of Rejects to compete against the officially sanctioned team, Matt Hamilton fully commits, gleefully quitting his day day-job. Hamilton's a likeable guy and a valuable player who pulls his weight on the team. He’s very supportive of John’s initiative to compete, promoting the team however he can, Hamilton serves as the team’s unofficial ‘hype man.’ CURLING EXPERIENCE IS NOT REQUIRED. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Lead | Dave Kneeland | Male 29 - 41 Years old |
Description White. Although Dave Kneeland may not be the best curler, he’s a crucial part of Team Shuster. Even though John had to cut him, Dave is still happy to be a financial sponsor and serve as the equipment manager. While he may act impulsively sometimes, he’s a solid, decent guy whose heart is always in the right place. Dave lost his wife a couple years back, so now he’s a single Dad. ... Unlike John Shuster and Matt Hamilton, Dave Kneeland is a composite character not based on an actual person. CURLING EXPERIENCE IS NOT REQUIRED. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | Cal Bennett | Male 46 - 59 Years old |
Description Bennett is a retired curler who served as the skip for Team USA before John Shuster, and now serves on the National Curling Committee. After the 2014 US loss at Sochi, he spearheads the governing body’s efforts to change the face of American curling away from the likes of Team Shuster. He cuts Shuster, Lancer and Hamilton from the team and replaces them with leaner, fitter guys he views as true athletes. An unlikeable control freak, Bennett does not hide his contempt for the old team, and does everything in his power to defeat them. ...Problem is, Bennett’s new team of ‘elite’ athletes are not very good curlers - they don’t make it to the 2018 Olympics. NOTE: Unlike John Shuster and Matt Hamilton, Bennett is a composite character not based on an actual person. CURLING EXPERIENCE IS NOT REQUIRED. | ||