Escape

Production Company
InFocus Film School
Producer(s)
Kelso Lenz
Director(s)
Jordon Woytas
Casting Director(s): 
Jordon Woytas
Union Status
Non-Union
Project Type
Film
Student Production
Yes
Compensation Details

This will be a volunteer project.

Audition Date(s)
TBD
Audition Location
554 Seymour Street Vancouver, BC V6B 3J5
Shoot / Performance Date(s)
April 8th-10th
Shoot / Performance Location(s)
TBD, In the Vancouver/ Lower Mainland area.
Submission Deadline
Monday, March 31, 2025
Submission Instructions

Please email j.woytas@infocusfilmschool.com your headshots, a demo reel, contact information and any questions you may have.

Project Synopsis
Casting "Escape," a psychological drama with elements of horror, exploring the devastating effects of grief, addiction, and trauma. Synopsis: Through a surreal, nightmarish lens, the film follows a protagonist trapped in a spiral of avoidance and self-destruction as she struggles to confront the painful truth of her past. As a graduate film, we are looking for passionate actors ready to explore emotionally complex roles. The film transitions from raw, intimate drama to surreal, psychologically charged sequences, similar to the intense emotional depth and haunting atmosphere found in films and shows like Requiem for a Dream, Midsommar, and Euphoria. It explores themes of grief, guilt, and the mental toll of avoiding one’s pain, and requires actors who can authentically portray vulnerability, internal conflict, and the disorienting effects of trauma. Strong chemistry between cast members is essential, as the film revolves around relationships shaped by unresolved trauma. If you’re excited to tackle dark, challenging material and bring emotional truth to a deeply atmospheric story, we want to hear from you.
Character 1
Alexis Baxter
Age
24
Gender
Female
Description
Alexis is a deeply vulnerable and emotionally complex 24-year-old. Crushed by guilt and sorrow after the loss of her sister, she struggles to confront her grief; rather than face the overwhelming weight of her emotions, she seeks escape in substances, spiraling into a world of self-destruction; Alexis is impulsive, withdrawn, and prefers to numb herself rather than accept the reality of her sister’s death; she’s often guarded, hiding her inner turmoil from others, but underneath her tough exterior, she’s torn between the fear of facing her pain and the desperate need to heal; this role requires an actress who can convey both her fragility and her internal conflict, capturing the tension between her emotional vulnerability and her instinct to run from it.
Character 2
Tommy Anderson
Age
27
Gender
Male
Description
Tommy is a smooth-talking drug dealer with a devilish charm, thriving on exploiting the vulnerability of others; he feeds off people’s desperation for escape, offering them temporary relief while deepening their dependence. Beneath his charming exterior is a master manipulator, using every transaction to tighten his grip; when he meets Alexis at her lowest, he offers her the escape she seeks, knowing that the relief is fleeting and his control is growing stronger; to Tommy, people like Alexis are just pawns in his game, and he takes pleasure in showing them there’s no way out; we’re looking for an actor with a magnetic presence and subtle, menacing charm, able to balance charisma with a darker, manipulative side.
Character 3
Janis Baxter
Age
45
Gender
Female
Description
Janis is the mother of Alexis, deeply consumed by the grief of losing her oldest daughter, Kara; unable to move forward, she struggles with the pain of her loss while trying to convince Alexis that healing comes from facing the painful truth—that her sister is gone; as the story unfolds, Janis’ own sorrow drags her into a dark depression. In the dream world, she retreats into herself, withering away on the couch, unable to cope with life without Kara; her emotional collapse serves as a warning to Alexis: if she continues to bury her grief, she too could fall into the same despair, consumed by sadness and lost in the chaos of avoidance; this role requires an actress who can embody both the strength of a mother trying to guide her daughter and the fragility of a woman drowning in her own grief.
Character 4
Kara Baxter
Age
26
Gender
Female
Description
Kara, 26, is the sister to the lead character, an ordinary young woman who lived life to the fullest—partying and enjoying her youth without considering the consequences; her tragic death from a drug overdose sends her family into a downward spiral, becoming the catalyst for Alexis’s own destructive path; as Alexis follows in her sister’s footsteps, Kara’s death haunts her, serving as a painful reminder of the path she could follow and a wake-up call to confront her own reality before it’s too late; in death, Kara becomes a looming shadow over Alexis, forcing her to question whether she’ll repeat the same mistakes—or if she can make a change before it's too late; we’re looking for an actress who can embody both the carefree spirit of Kara and the haunting presence she has even after her death, capturing her role as both a symbol of lost potential and the catalyst for Alexis’s emotional journey.