Details
Union:
Union
Area of media:
TV Feature
Network:
Hallmark
Paid?:
Yes
Rates:
ACTRA scale + 105% Advance
Deadline:
May 8, 2022
Shooting starts:
June 5, 2022
Shooting finishes:
June 27, 2022
Shooting locations:
Winnipeg & environs
Cities for response:
Winnipeg
Comments
We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to physical ability, race, age, color, national origin, ethnic origin, unless otherwise specifically indicated. No in-person auditions will be scheduled; self-tapes are preferred. Documentation of COVID-19 vaccination may be required. Please approach all dialogue with Standard American English.
Storyline
ELLA RICHARDS, a highly in-demand seamstress and aspiring designer, agrees to help her best friend on an assignment at a fashion magazine where she meets DEREK COLBY, a cocky former athlete turned publishing mogul. Like oil and water, Ella and Derek clash instantly. Ella automatically assumes a guy like Derek has gotten by in life based on the advantages afforded to him. Derek, feeling out of his element in the fashion arena, seeks Ella’s help in grasping a better understanding of what inspires a designer from the conception of a project to its completion. Ella reluctantly agrees to help—only if Derek will publish a feature about her aspirational self-titled, clothing label, ELLA, in the upcoming digital relaunch of the magazine. While spending time together, the duo’s icy disposition slowly begins to thaw as they open up about personal challenges they’ve each faced in their respective pasts and the uncertainties ahead. Defying expectations of what makes a conventional pair, Ella and Derek’s attraction blossoms into true, deep feelings, proving love can be found where you least expect it.
Roles
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | Katie | Female 27 - 36 Years old |
Description Ella’s best friend and room-mate, Katie is an aspiring writer stuck in a low-level job at high-end fashion magazine, The Look. She is Liza’s assistant, which makes Katie an assistant to the assistant editor - far from where she hopes and deserves to be professionally. One thing Katie does enjoy about her job is spending time with co-worker Oscar - they have a budding romance! ... The Look has a major photo shoot for this season’s fall cover, so Katie recruits Ella to help out and work a couple days as a seamstress. Rather than merely adjusting hemlines, Ella’s presence and fashion savvy do not go un-noticed at The Look, impressing the new publisher Derek, eventually affording Katie the well-deserved opportunity to be a published writer. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | Liza | Female 28 - 37 Years old |
Description Over-worked and stressed out, Liza is the assistant editor at The Look, which means she bears the brunt of Claudia’s demands - think Emily Charlton in The Devil Wears Prada. Liza has sacrificed much for her high-pressure job, including healthy eating so she can maintain the skinny physique Claudia espouses as the sole definition of beauty. She functions as a gate-keeper of sorts to her boss and has kept Katie at arms-length from Claudia. Although loath to admit it, she knows Katie is a gifted writer. In fact Liza is threatened by Katie - and Ella’s influence on the handsome new publisher Derek Colby. She sees the spark between Ella and Derek and is just plain jealous...not a great look. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | Claudia Davenport | Female 57 - 67 Years old |
Description The long-time editor and creative director of The Look, Claudia is a veteran of fashion publishing - think Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada. When Roger Colby appoints his son Derek as the new publisher, there is an immediate clash between him and Claudia. Magazine sales have been down, and Roger hopes some new blood will shake things up at the top and increase sales. ...She’s devoted her career to establishing The Look as an iconic brand, but Claudia has not kept up with evolving notions of beauty. Rather than embracing a more diverse definition of who is beautiful, she is threatened by Ella’s influence over Derek and makes a move to crush her. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | Oscar | Male 27 - 37 Years old |
Description Oscar is Derek’s right-hand man at The Look, and a good friend. He knows innovation is what The Look needs to compete in the growing world of digital publishing - and is working on a complete revamp of the magazine’s on-line edition. Like Derek, Oscar understands that web content is the future of publishing as readers move away from hard print. ...He has a warm rapport with co-worker Katie which he hopes may develop into something more. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | Roger Colby | Male 58 - 68 Years old |
Description Among other media ventures, Roger Colby owns iconic fashion magazine The Look - which is losing money. He’s a savvy titan of business and knows something has to change at the top, so he brings in his son Derek as publisher. Derek is a dynamic innovator with a successful track-record of turning stagnating businesses around so Roger trusts his abilities, to a point. Roger has a deep history with senior editor Claudia Davenport and knows her well. He is not surprised by Claudia’s reaction to the changes Derek implements to make the magazine more profitable, and more responsive to a new generation of readers who want a more inclusive and diverse depiction of women in the magazines they read. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Large Principal | Annie Chiu | Female 38 - 55 Years old |
Description Annie is a well-respected clothing designer. Ella works as a seamstress in her boutique design house, and looks up to Annie as a role-model in her profession. Annie starts to recognize Ella’s keen sense of fashion and empathizes with her struggle to break into such a competitive field. As Annie gets to know Ella better, she is impressed by her skill and creativity, offering Ella a partnership to design a line of women’s clothing that is more size-inclusive. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Large Principal | Max Rintels | Male 59 - 70 Years old |
Description A warm-hearted and generous soul, Max Rintels is a veteran of the schmatta trade. Max manages Annie Chiu’s design house which makes him Ella’s immediate supervisor, where she works as a seamstress. He knows talent and is a huge supporter of Ella’s aspiration to design her own line of clothes. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Large Principal | Umberto DeLuca | Male 49 - 61 Years old |
Description Umberto DeLuca is a star fashion photographer that Claudia hired to shoot the cover of the fall issue. They have a long history as creative collaborators. Although he has a daunting reputation, Ella offers some very insightful suggestions to Umberto at the shoot - and he is impressed. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Principal | Jasmine | Female 26 - 33 Years old |
Description Jasmine is an in-demand professional model who often appears on The Look’s cover and among its print advertisements. She appears like a typical model - thin and kinda’ perfect-looking. ...Rich and handsome, she has her eye on Derek and she flirts a little. For Jasmine, seduction is just a game, one she plays with cool reserve. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Principal | Harry | Male 39 - 60 Years old |
Description Harry exudes warmth. He runs the community center that Derek supports, a vital resource to the families its serves. As the community center evolves and expends its services, Harry has developed a true friendship with Derek. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | Customer | Female 24 - 36 Years old |
Description Since Ella does not yet have the reputation, or resources, to open her own boutique, she sees customers in her and Katie’s loft apartment. This plus-sized client is there for a fitting, and moved by how beautiful she feels wearing Ella’s designs. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | Barista | Female 24 - 34 Years old |
Description The barista at Ella’s favorite coffee-shop expects to have finicky customers once in a while, but does not mind so much when they are as handsome as Derek Colby. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | Reporter | All 32 - 48 Years old |
Description Derek is throwing a huge party to drum-up publicity for the launch of The Look’s new digital subscription. It’s an exciting, glamourous night and this reporter throws him a question. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | Eddie | Male 8 - 11 Years old |
Description Derek volunteers at a local community center coaching kids basketball. Eddie is a little unsure of himself when faced with sinking a basket. ...A little pep talk and encouragement from Ella is just what he needs to succeed! PLEASE INCLUDE DATE OF BIRTH WITH SUBMISSION | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | Shirley | Female 28 - 35 Years old |
Description Shirley is the staff photographer for The Look. ...She loves Ella’s designs, but kinda’ puts her foot in the mouth when she asks Ella if she makes clothes in “regular sizes”? | ||