Here are the details for this short that we are casting NU. NOTE – Self tapes are required for consideration.
SHORT FILM LOGLINE
When Joe is summoned to his ornery father’s senior living facility to deal with yet another
embarrassing situation, a chance encounter at the in-house bar turns one exhausting afternoon
into something unexpectedly cathartic — a dark comedy about aging parents, dutiful sons, and
the absurdity in between.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Type: Short film
Genre / Tone: Dark comedy with heart. Character-driven. Tonally in the neighborhood of About
Schmidt and The Holdovers.
Union Status: Non-Union (Non-SAG)
Compensation: $300/day per talent. Travel and lodging negotiable..
Shoot Dates: TBD
Shoot Location: Richmond VA
Director: Brian Callaghan and Lucas Krost
Writer: Brian Callaghan
TALENT NEEDED:
- JOE KEEGAN
Male • 40s • Open ethnicity • LEAD
A white-collar everyman with a wife, two daughters, and a mortgage. Joe shows up for his aging
father out of duty rather than affection — the closeness was never really there, and he stopped
expecting it. Exhausted by the constant chaos but functional, he carries the film through dry
humor, restraint, and quiet emotional honesty. The role lives in reaction. We need an actor who
can be very still, very tired, and very funny all at once.
- BRAD
Male • 40s–50s • Open ethnicity • MAJOR SUPPORTING
Joe’s unlikely bar companion and fellow traveler. Brad manages his own father’s chaos with dark
humor and a bartender’s instinct to pour first, process later. Lively, expressive, charming,
magnetic. The high school classmate who convinces you to skip class and go to the mall, and
breaks into his parents’ liquor cabinet to get the party started. Probably works in sales for a fertilizer company and is loved by his customers. Big personality, big comedic chops. The engine of the script’s biggest scene.
- POPS KEEGAN
Male • Late 60s–late 70s • Open ethnicity • MAJOR SUPPORTING
Crusty, ornery, and allergic to vulnerability. Vietnam vet and widower who lost his anchor when his
wife died and never found another way to say so. A provider, not a hugger. Physically unable to
walk; needs assistance for everything, an indignity that only deepens his frustrations. He denies
every accusation, dismisses every suggestion, and considers no one’s feelings but his own.
Strong character actor who can do enormous work with grunts, scowls, and minimal dialogue, and
make pure stubborn refusal feel both funny and human.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Self-tapes preferred. Sides can be found in the following link – please use the appropriate sides by role:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AgHk2TzHGU1fgSG0Vjqd-P3O9putVeEo?usp=sharing
For your self tape submission: Slate at the beginning of your tape (name, height, location, representation if applicable). Read with an off-camera reader. Standard chest-up framing, well-lit, neutral background. Two takes welcome —different choices encouraged. File naming: LastName_FirstName_Role.mp4
Submit To: [email protected]
Subject Line: BLOW UP — [ROLE NAME] — [YOUR NAME]
Submission Deadline: 9 am on Monday, 5/4 (sooner is better)
Callbacks: TBD.
NOTE: Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis. Only those selected for callbacks will be contacted. Thank you for your
interest in BLOW UP.