Casting Call: Next Door Madness

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Next Door Madness

Details

Union:

Non union

Area of media:

Vertical

Network:

Minishort

Paid?:

Yes

Rates:

200-500/day + OT depending on the role. For all out of the province actors: Round trip flights - economy; Ground transportation from/to the airport, accommodation from/to set; hotel accommodations; Per diem CAD $65.00 per day. However, if the production covers meal expenses, the per diem may be reduced as follows: Breakfast: $14.50; Lunch: $20.50; Dinner: $30.00.

Deadline:

Aug 21, 2025

Shooting starts:

Sept 1, 2025

Shooting finishes:

Sept 7, 2025

Shooting locations:

Metro Vancouver, BC Canada

Cities for response:

Vancouver, Toronto

Comments

This is a Psychological Horror / Thriller / Dark Comedy.

Storyline

After being released from a psychiatric hospital, Jo Merrin, a young woman with a violent past and fragile stability, moves into a quiet suburban home in search of a fresh start. Her only anchor to sanity is Dottie, her loyal emotional support dog. But peace is short-lived.

Enter the Griggs family next door—an insidious unit of sociopaths hell-bent on tormenting Jo. With every escalating provocation—garbage dumping, stolen packages, WiFi theft, and sickening slander—they slowly push Jo toward the brink.

When they cross the line by harming the one thing she holds dear, Jo’s sanity snaps, and what begins as psychological warfare spirals into an all-out blood-soaked rampage of vengeance and madness.

In this nightmarish satire of suburban cruelty, the question becomes not if Jo will break—but who she’ll take down with her.

Roles

Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	Jo Merrin	Female 25 - 30 Years old
Description This role involves working with a dog. Must be ok with working with animals. Identity: 28, Female Lead, former psychiatric patient, neighbor of the Griggs family Background: Jo was recently discharged from a psychiatric hospital after violent episodes caused by deep trauma. She now lives alone with her emotional support dog, Dottie. Her new home is supposed to represent a second chance at life. Personality: Introverted, fragile, but striving for peace. Beneath her calm lies a storm. She’s deeply empathetic—especially to Dottie—but becomes unhinged when provoked. She's self-aware but increasingly haunted by her past. Desire & Arc: Jo wants a normal, peaceful life. But as the Griggs family pushes her over the edge, her arc transforms into one of revenge and liberation. She regresses into madness, and by the end, she fully embraces her darker nature as both avenger and survivor.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Supporting	Mr.Griggs	Male 30 - 35 Years old
Description Background: A domineering, narcissistic suburban man who thrives on control. A chronic manipulator who exploits his family and community to assert dominance. Personality: Charismatic in public, violent and petty in private. Misogynistic, entitled, and cruel. Has no empathy and constantly belittles Jo. Desire & Arc: He wants control over the neighborhood and to drive Jo out. His arc is one of downfall—his ego blinds him, and he underestimates Jo’s breaking point. By the end, he becomes the victim of the chaos he unleashed.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Supporting	Mrs. Griggs	Female 30 - 35 Years old
Description Background: A former "mean girl" turned toxic suburban wife. She’s fueled by insecurity and jealousy, especially toward younger, more attractive women like Jo. Her pregnancy becomes a weapon in manipulating others. Personality: Petty, vindictive, performative. She plays the victim but is actively malicious. Obsessed with appearances and gossip. Desire & Arc: She wants to ruin Jo’s reputation and climb the social ladder by tearing others down. Her arc ends in public humiliation and arrest, exposing the rot behind her curated image.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Supporting	Grandma Griggs	Female 65 - 75 Years old
Description Identity: 72, Elderly Antagonist, mother-in-law to Mrs. Griggs Background: Matriarch of the Griggs family. She moved in after her husband’s death and has since latched onto the household as her domain. Enables and encourages toxicity. Personality: Sharp-tongued, manipulative, and sadistic. Enjoys watching others suffer. Fakes frailty to avoid accountability. Desire & Arc: She wants to dominate her family and community while abusing her “elderly” status for protection. Her arc reveals her as the worst of them all—cowardly when cornered, but remorseless till the end.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Small Principal	Timmy Griggs	Male 9 - 12 Years old
Description Identity: 10, Child Antagonist, son of Mr. and Mrs. Griggs Background: A spoiled child raised in a toxic, enabling household. Learns manipulation and cruelty from his elders. Has no real consequences for his behavior. Personality: Smug, disrespectful, cunning for his age. Shows signs of becoming as bad—or worse—than his parents. Lacks empathy. Desire & Arc: He wants entertainment and attention. Treats Jo like a toy to torment. By the end, he experiences fear for the first time, hinting at possible consequences—but no guaranteed redemption.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Small Principal	The Police Officer	Male 30 - 50 Years old
Description Identity: 30s-50s, Minor Character, local cop Background: Assigned to respond to the escalating complaints between Jo and the Griggs. Sees through the Griggs’ lies but is limited by red tape and community pressure. Personality: Tired, somewhat jaded but fair-minded. Tries to de-escalate where possible. Offers Jo small moments of validation. Desire & Arc: Wants peace in the neighbourhood. His minor arc is realizing Jo isn’t the danger—it's the people everyone trusts.

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