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Scraps Update

We finished filming Scraps on Sunday, October 16, 2011. It was an emotional and frantic whirlwind of a two weeks (for me, at least...everyone else seemed really focused and cool as cucumbers). So much to cram into two little weekends. But somehow, according to a brief shot audit by one of the DP's crew members, we apparently got all of our scenes! There are a few insert photos to be taken, the intro footage to be filmed by moi and then compilation of audio, video, stills and artwork will begin.

Editing this beast of a shortie will be done by a team hand-picked by our DP, Aaron Leong. Aaron will be synching things up and will work on color correction. The rough and fine cuts of the footage will be done by Shawna Smith and sound editing will be done by Ian Webb, all of which will be overseen by Imani and me.

Promotional materials which will be sent out as incentives for donations are in the process of being designed!



I am looking forward to bringing news soon! And, thanks again for all of your support!

Scraps Casting Call

Casting Call for Independent Short Film “Scraps”

Date: Saturday, August 20, 2011 (Callbacks will be held the following day from 9am-12pm)

Time: Auditions run from 10am – 2pm (REPLY TO EMAIL BELOW TO MAKE APPT)

Production Title: Scraps

Director: Imani C. Davis

Director of Photography: Aaron Leong

Writer/Producer: Melody Claussen-Furry

Studio/Independent/Student: Independent
Union/Non-Union: Non-Union
Project Type: Short Film
Project Format: HD
Production Location: Sacramento, CA, various locations
Shooting Schedule: Projected shooting dates are October 8, 9, 15 & 16. Rescheduling might be necessary in case of rain. Actors must have open availability these weekends.

Character Breakdowns:

Maggie (at age 14), female, ages 13-15 years, slender, Caucasian or tan, brunette with hazel or brown eyes. She’s intuitive, smart, sensitive yet scrappy. She makes connections that others her age wouldn’t. (This character is also the NARRATOR. *Must be available for vocal recording sessions on weekends after shoot*).

Maggie (at age 10), female, ages 9-11 years, Caucasian or tan, brunette with hazel or brown eyes, slender.

Nadine (at age 10), ages 9-11 years, Caucasian/ tan brunette with brown or hazel eyes, slender or medium build.

Rhonda Parrot, female, mid-to-late 30’s, brown hair, Caucasian or tan, slender build, any eye color. She’s terse, erratic, mentally disconnected, and only concerned with meeting basic primal needs. She trades sex for money, food or drugs. She’s an occasional huffer.

Nadine, female, 13-15 years, Caucasian/ tan, slender or medium build, brunette with brown or hazel eyes. She’s a slightly naïve, kind, and loyal friend to Maggie.

Amy, female, 13-15 years, any ethnicity, slender or medium build. She’s a conceited girl who regularly verbally abuses Maggie and Nadine.

Mr. Klein, male, late 30’s-early 40’s, Caucasian, any build, brown hair, any eye color.

Sister Ann Marie, female, short, any ethnicity, 40-60 years, Caucasian or tan, any hair and eye color, medium build. She’s the stern but compassionate principal at Maggie’s school.

Sister Mary Elizabeth, female, 40-50 years, any ethnicity, brown or gray hair, any eye color and build. She’s a sarcastic nun who teaches Maggie and Nadine’s sixth grade class.

Sister Mary Catherine, Caucasian, female, in 40-60 years, any hair, eye color and build. She is a very traditional and stoic nun who teaches Maggie and Nadine’s ninth grade class.

Old Nick, male, Caucasian or tan, late 40’s-mid-50’s, gray or graying hair, medium to large build, any eye color. He’s a generous and loveable homeless man who gives Maggie advice and whatever he has on him.

Woman in Laundromat, female, 40-55 years, any description. (Must be able to shriek in horror)

First Girl, female, 9-11 years old, any build, ethnicity, hair and eye color.

Maggie (at age 6), female, must look six/seven-years-old slender, Caucasian or tan, brunette with hazel or brown eyes. (non-speaking)

Mrs. Klein, female, Caucasian, mid-to-late thirties, light brown/blond hair, light eye colors, slender or medium build. (non-speaking)

Crazy German Monocle Man, male, 30-50 years old, brown hair or blonde hair, Caucasian, any build. (non-speaking)

Telephone Game Scene extras, various 10-12-year-old girls, any build, ethnicity, hair and eye color. We need six or so girls for this scene. (non-speaking)

Street scene extras: Any description to walk by in the background of feature actor. (non-speaking)

Classroom/School yard extras: we will be looking for boys and girls ages 8 -17 years of all types and ethnicities to walk and socialize in the background of the feature actors. (non-speaking)

Laundromat girl/Maggie’s mother, female, 16 – 21 years old, Caucasian or slightly tan. (non-speaking; legs for Laundromat scene and model for photo)

Models

Part of this film will be presented in a slideshow motif. In order to accomplish this, we need to construct fake family portraits of the main character’s various foster families. Here are the model types we need for these portraits:

The Brady Family:

Father Brady, male, thirties or forties, Caucasian, any hair and eye color and build.
Mother Brady, female, thirties or forties, Caucasian, any hair and eye color and build.
Oldest Brother Brady, male, 15-17 years, any hair/eye color, ethnicity and build.
Middle Brother Brady, male 12- 14 years, Black or Hispanic, any hair/eye/build.
Youngest Brother Brady, male, 8-10 years, Asian, Black or Hispanic, any hair/eye/build.
Oldest Sister Brady, female, 14-16 years, any ethnicity, build, eye/hair color
Middle Sister Brady, female, 10-12 years, Black or Hispanic, any hair/eye/build.

The Hyde Family:
Mr. Hyde: male, early thirties, Caucasian, slender, any hair/eye color.
Mrs. Hyde: female, early thirties, Caucasian, slender, any hair/eye color.

The Starkweather Family:

Mr. Starkweather: male, Caucasian, late thirties, blonde/brown, any build/eye color.
Mrs. Starkweather: female, Caucasian, late thirties, blonde/dirty blonde, any eye color.
Older Starkweather boy: male, Caucasian, 11-13 years, slender, blonde hair, blue eyes.
Younger Starkweather boy: male, Caucasian, 9-10 years, blonde hair, blue eyes, any build.

Below are the terms of this production:

Paid/Non-Paid: ALL POSITIONS are Non-Paid (volunteer)
Other/Additional Compensation: Film Credit, DVD Copy
Meals/Lodging/Transportation Provided: Snacks/Meals provided during work hours.

ACTORS: Please come prepared with a 1-2 minute dramatic monologue. Please bring a headshot and resume at the time of audition if you have them prepared.

Email Your Casting Submissions To: scrapsthemovie[at]gmail.com. Please indicate your name, which part/s you are interested in, and a contact phone number. We will be scheduling times for auditions.

Scraps Filmmakers' Intro Outtakes Clip

The Meat of Scraps...The Plot

Scraps is a short film about Maggie, a tween-aged girl burdened with not knowing where she came from. Her story begins at infancy during her last encounter with her mother, which involves a spontaneous and deranged baptism. Being born again to a string of foster parents, Maggie reminds herself that even though her life seems bleak, it can always be worse. She survives on scraps of kindness from others, but longs for something more. She paints pictures of her real parents in her imagination and prays for the day when mere survival isn’t her primary concern.

Maggie’s life-long desire to know her origin ends when she convinces herself that her mother is Rhonda, the local ranting homeless woman. As she tries to save Rhonda from a life of "tricking-for-treats", she is disillusioned by the status of her mental health and realizes that even if she is her mother, she is no longer capable of mothering.