“The Story of Six Tusks” – Casting Call – Austin, TX

The Story of Six Tusks
Independent/Student/Studio: Independent
Union/Non-Union: SAG-AFTRA, Non-Union
Production Type: Feature Film

Production Location: Austin

Production Start Date: 01/01/2015
Production Wrap Date: 09/01/2015
Production Schedule: Flexible Hours

Producer(s): Dannie Snyder
Writer(s): Dannie Snyder
Director(s): Dannie Snyder, Kyle Zamcheck

Synopsis: The Story of Six Tusks is a drama, a comedy… is music, dance… is a piece of poetry, an adult fairy tale… and much more. Set in present day Austin, Texas, the story follows six racially diverse characters that are suffering from their attachments and desires, from materialism to addictions. A young couple breaks up, an old man’s dog dies, a teenager leaves rehab, a man loses his retirement plan, a little boy prepares for death, and a wealthy woman searches for a painting of an elephant with six tusks… Unable to accept their sudden losses, these characters’ realities crack open by their wildly growing imaginations of their passions magically restoring through the materials surrounding them. A red sweater frays into a violent, chaotic web as a lover submits herself, her veins and heart, made of wet yarn, feeding into his entanglement… A gold urn of a sleeping dog with angelic wings comes to life… Dark, abstract tattoos sprout from a teenager’s skin as her wooden gauge earrings expand and weave through her hair like a crown… Office documents transform into extraordinary, exotic birds… A man with the head of an elephant visits a woman in her sleep…

The piece is inspired by the Austin’s vibrancy, including local music, dance, tattoos, graffiti, food…

Character Breakdowns:
SARA
Sara is in her 40s or 50s and works at a successful marketing firm. She has a loving husband, talented daughter, a beautiful golden retriever, and a stylish, modern home. What more could she ask for in life? Every workday, she walks by a colorful painting of an Elephant in the lotus flower position. It hangs at the front desk of her office, but she barely notices it as she checks her messages on her smart phone. However, when the painting is thrown out, her world is turned upside down. She starts having dreams of a man in a business suit, wearing a colorful head of an elephant. One night, she decides to follow him and when dreams merge with reality, she finds herself without a phone, shoes, money, wristwatch, and miles away from home. Just as Buddha ventured from his palace to discover suffering, the sick, aged, and dying, as well as an ascetic, Sara follows a similar path, journeying through the city of Austin, the #1 growing City in America.

ALVIS
Alvis is an elderly man having outlived many of his friends and family, but the loss of his dog, Amos, has devastated him. His daily routine was structured around his dog and, without him, he feels like he now has no purpose in life. Once upon a time, he was a perky and amusing man who enjoyed designing matching costumes for him and Amos, then throwing elaborate parties as an excuse to wear them. However now, he is quiet and sarcastic, wishing he could escape the present and go back to the past. He imagines Amos’s gold urn, in the shape of a sleeping dog with angelic wings, come back to life.

DAISY
Daisy is a young mother of an 11-year-old boy who is being treated for Osteosarcoma (bone cancer). She is encouraging him to come up with a wish for the Make A Wish Foundation, but he is unable to think of anything. Ultimately, he gives his wish to her, wishing that “they both” could meet her favorite TV star, a famous chef named Robert Boll.

ROBERT BOLL
Robert Boll is perhaps not as handsome as he is a brilliant chef, but he has the charm and smile to make both women and chocolate melt. He has been invited to meet an 11-year-old boy with terminal cancer and his mother, Daisy. He plans to cook a meal for them in their home, but quickly grows attached to the family. He is deeply inspired by both of their strength and compassion.

FELIX
Felix is 65 years old and about to retire when he suddenly discovers that he has lost almost half of his retirement funds. He and his wife were planning on using the funds to build a bird sanctuary for endangered and “in concern” Central and South American birds. Fearful of how his wife will react to the news, he sinks into a lie about how he would like to continue working for a few more years. However, his days back in the office are now distracted by his imaginations of office supplies turning into birds, of office papers turning into giant wings that he can use to fly off the building…

Audition Date: 12/18/2014
Audition Start Time: 3:00 pm
Audition End Time: 6:00 pm
Audition Location: Dougherty Arts Center
Audition Address: 1110 Barton Springs Road Austin, Texas 78704

Paid / Non-Paid: Paid, Non-Paid
Other / Additional Compensation: Film Credit
Meals / Lodging / Transportation: Meals, Snacks and Beverages

Production Company: LIV creations LLC
Film / Production Company Website: http://livcreations.com/productions/the-story-of-six-tusks/

Email Address for Cast / Crew Submissions: info@DannieSnyder.com

Special Notes for Potential Cast/Crew:
LIV creations LLC is hosting auditions for their next indie feature film THE STORY OF SIX TUSKS at the DOUGHERTY ARTS CENTER from 3-6pm on THURSDAY DECEMBER 18th. The film is to be shot in Summer 2015, BUT we, Co-Directors Dannie Snyder and Kyle Zamcheck, are having a staged adaptation onFEBRUARY 26th at the North Door (flexible rehearsals during January and February).

We want a DIVERSE CAST, so do not let your skin color or body type stop you from submitting your resume. We are currently looking at BOTH SAG AND NON-SAG members.

Upon submitting your resume and receiving an audition time slot, you will be provided with sides.

To learn more about LIV creations LLC, including our last feature film THE LONG-TERM SIDE EFFECT, recently nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay at IndieCapitol Awards, please visit www.LIVcreations.com. For more information, please email Producer Dannie Snyder atinfo@DannieSnyder.com.