Cinemalaya 2024 holds grand open casting call. Here are the roles up for grabs
Do you think you have what it takes to be a film star?
Cinemalaya 2024 is holding a one day grand audition for characters needed for select independent feature films. The single day face to face auditions will take place on Friday, November 3, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd. in Pasay City.
At least 15 major roles and varied community roles are up for grabs in the indie films slated to be released next year.
Ready to display your acting chops to the world? Check out the specific character requirements below provided by Cinemalaya if you plan to join the open casting call. Registration starts as early as 7:00 a.m. on Friday.
GULAY LANG, MANONG
Gulay Lang, Manong directed by BC Amparado tells the story of Pilo, a struggling, old vegetable farmer in Benguet. His stoner brother, Ricky, is part of the prominent Benguet Marijuana Cartel and is being trained by his best friend, Razer, a cunning midget and a well-known personality in the underground Ganja community. Amidst the all-out drug war, Ricky falls into the hands of a promising patrolman, Ariel, who is in pursuit of the organization. In a desperate attempt to uncover the cartel, Ariel tasks Pilo to fetch Razer in exchange for Ricky's head.
Characters needed:
PILO SABADO – Male, vegetable farmer, naturally funny/corny (Pinoy Tito), 60s to early 70s, medium built, fair to dark complexion, 5’9’’ above
RICKY SABADO – Male, Pilo’s brother, a stoner, goofy looking, looks mid-20s, skinny to medium build, medium to long hair, a contagious laughter and smile is a plus
RAZER CABRERA – Male Dwarf-Midget, Ganja grower/dealer, strong personality but can be fun and easy going, can comfortably run a few meters, 21 yrs old and above
AGENT BERNABE – Male, authoritarian look and personality, corrupt cop vibes, 40 yrs old and above, 5’9 and above
KONO BASHO (THIS PLACE)
Kono Basho (This Place) directed by Jaime Pacena II offers an "introspective journey of a Filipino son attending the funeral of his estranged OFW father in a city in Japan that is rebuilding from the aftermath of the March 2011 tsunami."
Characters needed:
ELL – Female, 30 yrs old Filipina, went to Rikuzentakata March of 2024 to attend the funeral of her estranged father
- Works as an Anthropologist and a Teacher in Manila
- Loves going on a hike and her favorite fruit is apple
- Before going to Japan, Ella found out that she is 3-months pregnant from a hookup in a party she attended last December
REIN – Female, 20 yrs old Half Filipina & Half Japanese
- Currently living and studying in Morioka
- Went back to Rikuzentakata to attend the funeral of her beloved father
- Her course is Asian Studies, she loves Japanese pop culture and just recently started to drink
- Does not speak any Tagalog and speaks very little English
AUNTIE EMMA – Female, 60 yrs old Filipina, eldest sister of Emman, father of Ella and Reina
- She went to Yokohama in 1985 and worked as a singer and entertainer
- In 1998 she met her husband and started living in Rikuzentakata as a singing coach while her husband works in the City Hall
- They had a son who now lives in Saitama with his family
- Her husband died at the age of 64 yo in 2016
- Running a small apple farm business with her brother Emman
UNCLE BOY – Male, 50 yrs old Filipino, youngest sibling of Emman
- Once worked in Yokohama as a Teacher
- Now works in Rikuzentakata City Hall as a staff for international and cultural affairs for Rikuzentakata City
ATSUKO – Female, 47 yrs old, Japanese (widowed) wife of Emman
- An artist and worked in Rikuzentakata Artist International Exchange program since 2013 as a coordinator
- Met Emman in Tokyo when she was young and married him when she was 26 yrs old
TOMO ABE – Male, 49 yrs old Japanese who works in the same company as his friend Emman
- Works as a Geological Engineer
- Married to Maita
- Started a deer hunter group with his uncle and friends since 2017
MAITA – Female, 45 yrs old Filipina
- Works in Camocy, a shop that sells small business products from different local residents of the city
- Once lived in Ofunato as an entertainer before she met her husband
- Has been living in Rikuzentakata for 19 years
BRYAN – Male, 43 yrs old Filipino
- Works in the fishing industry in Rikuzentakata City
- Cousin of Maita who lives with them in Rikuzentakata
- Studied Marine Life of Iwate in Ofunato in 2016
- Used to work in a Marine Life Agency in the Philippines before he got laid off due to some incident that costed his relationship with a longtime girlfriend.
THE WEDDING DANCE
The Wedding Dance directed by Julius Lumiqued is set in 1942 and focuses on a Kalinga woman who is personally invited by her husband, a warrior of their tribe, to the Wedding Dance, to his new wedding dance.
Characters needed:
LUMNA – Female, mid-20s, Kalinga woman, young wife, beautiful, graceful dancer and singer.
- Slender
- Morena
- Willing to go topless
- Preferably with high bridged or aquiline nose
- No major visible modern tattoo (Kalinga Batok, ok)
- Strong fighter demeanor
- Must be able to deliver lines in Ilocano.
AWIYAO – Male, mid-30s to 40s, Kalinga Warrior, strong presence, handsome, graceful dancer
- Willing to wear G-string or loin cloth
- High bridged or aquiline nose
- No major visible modern tattoo (Kalinga Batok, ok)
- Strong fighter demeanor
- Must be able to deliver lines in Ilocano
MADILUMMAY – Female, mid-20s, Kalinga woman, beautiful, a friend of Lumnay
- Slender
- Morena
- Willing to go topless
- Preferably with high bridged or aquiline nose
- No major visible modern tattoo (Kalinga Batok, ok)
- Strong fighter demeanor
- Must be able to deliver lines in Ilocano
VARIOUS KALINGA VILLAGE COMMUNITY ROLES -- varied ages
- Women must be willing to go topless
- Men must be willing to wear G-Strings or loincloths
- Preferably with high bridged or aquiline noses
- No major visible modern tattoo (Kalinga Batok, ok)
- Must be able to deliver lines in Ilocano
According to Cinemalaya, those planning to join the grand auditions should read the character descriptions thoroughly to ensure they are the right fit for the role. Those who want to audition should come early to the venue to avoid long lines and finish early. Good luck to all the applicants!