Pan de Muerto

Production Company
LaSalle College Vancouver
Producer(s)
Renata Calderon
Director(s)
Renata Calderon
Casting Director(s): 
Kalyshia Marie Link
Union Status
UBCP/ACTRA or Equivalent
Project Type
Film
Student Production
Yes
Compensation Details

150 Canadian Dollars per day (lead roles). 100 Canadian Dollars per day (supporting roles). Meals will be provided.

Shoot / Performance Date(s)
November 2024
Shoot / Performance Location(s)
Vancouver and Metro Vancouver
Submission Deadline
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Submission Instructions

Please send a self take with your favourite dramatic monologue + 2-3 photos and/or your demo reel.

Link to audition: https://forms.gle/nt5q2cL1mN5aNKhr7

Project Synopsis
In the small town of Texcoco, Mexico, 12-year-old natalia prepares an altar for Día de los Muertos at her grandmother Patricia's house. While setting up the decorations, natalia finds an old photograph of a grandmother and a young girl with pan de muerto, natalia recognizes the girl as her grandmother. Curious, Mariana brings the photo to her stern and distant Grandma Patricia, who unexpectedly leads her to the kitchen. There, they begin the delicate tradition of baking Pan de Muerto, a special bread for the Day of the Dead celebration. As they bake, flashbacks of Patricia’s own childhood emerge, revealing how her own grandmother, Luisa, taught her the same tradition. Through the process of making the bread, the emotional distance between natalia and Patricia begins to dissolve, creating a rare and tender bond between the two. The baking not only reconnects them with the past but also helps them cope with the shared loss of natalia’s mother, Patricia’s daughter. The film ends years later, with an adult natalia carrying on the tradition alone, paying homage to the generations of women before her. She places a photograph of herself and Patricia making Pan de Muerto on the altar, symbolizing the enduring connection between family, tradition, and memory.
Additional Information & Safety Protocols: 

This is a student film for graduation.

Character 1
Natalia
Age
8-13
Gender
Female
Description
Role Type: Lead Description: Natalia is a little girl from a town called Texcoco in Mexico. She used to live with her mom and her grandma in her grandma’s house, but she lost her mother to cancer in the past year, and it is her first Day of the dead (Dia de los Muertos) with only grandma. Ever since her Mom’s death, Natalia has been quiet and Grandma has been cold and distant. Her biggest desire is to gain the love of her abuela (grandma), as she is the only family she has left. Physical Traits: Latin (brown hair, brown eyes) Skin color open Dresses casually. With jeans and tshirts. Personality Traits: Quiet Observant Kind Smart brave Curious Character Arc: Over the course of the film, Natalia learns how to make the family tradition pan de muerto. Through this, she makes a connection with her grandma and that makes her feel less alone. Additional Notes: The ideal actress for this role will look latin and be able to speak english and spanish. The actress must be able to express emotions with face gestures. The actress should also be able to convey a sense of depth and complexity, as Natalia is not a one-dimensional character.
Character 2
Grandma Patricia
Age
60-85
Gender
Female
Description
Role Type: Lead Description: Grandma Patricia is an elderly woman who lives in a humble house in a town called Texcoco in Mexico. She has lived in this house for a long time, as it belonged to her grandmother and was inherited to her after her death. Grandma Patricia grew up in her Mexican town and never left. She has lost multiple people throughout her life, but the biggest loss she has had is the one of her daughter to cancer. Physical Traits: Latin Skin color open Dresses in a huipil or a simple dress Preferably white/gray hair Wrinkles in the skin Personality Traits: Cold Hard character Soft on the inside but hides it Likes to crochet, listens to Juan Gabriel Traditionalist Character Arc: Over the course of the film, Grandpa Patricia struggles with letting herself feel emotions and also showing them, but at the end she is able to show love towards her granddaughter, her only family member left alive. Additional Notes: The ideal actress for this role will look latin and be able to speak english and Spanish. The actress should also be able to convey a sense of depth and complexity.
Character 3
Natalia (Adult)
Age
25-35
Gender
Female
Description
Role Type: Supporting Description: Natalia is a woman from a town called Texcoco in Mexico. She used to live with her mom and her grandma in her grandma’s house, but she lost her mother to cancer when she was a child. After her mom’s death, she was left alone with her grandma, who would terrify her as she was a cold person, but one day Grandma show her to make Pan de Muerto, and they bonded over that tradition. After Grandma’s passing, Natalia still makes Pan de Muerto every year and dedicates it to her grandma. Physical Traits: Latin (brown hair, brown eyes) Skin color open Dresses casually. With jeans and tshirts. Personality Traits: Kind Loving Family oriented Character Arc: Mariana remember her dead grandma while eating Pan de muerto that she learned how to make from grandma. Additional Notes: The ideal actress for this role will look latin and be able to speak english and spanish. The actress must be able to express emotions with face gestures. The actress should also be able to convey a sense of depth and complexity, as Natalia is not a one-dimensional character.
Character 4
Granny Luisa
Age
60-85
Gender
Female
Description
Role Type: Supporting Description: Granny Luisa is an elderly womanl from a town called Texcoco in Mexico. She lives in a humble house on her own, and spends her days cooking, reading, gardening, walking in the town, etc. Her favorite days of the week are the weekends, because that is when her granddaughter, Patricia, visits her. Patricia makes her feel accompanied and needed. Granny Luisa wants the best for Patricia. Physical Traits: Latin (brown hair, brown eyes) Skin color open Dresses casually. With a Huipil or a dress Personality Traits: Happy Loving Motherly Curious Creative Warm Additional Notes: The ideal actress for this role will look latin. The actress must be able to express emotions with face gestures. The actress should also be able to convey a sense of depth and complexity.
Character 5
Patricia (young)
Age
8-13
Gender
Female
Description
Role Type: Supporting Description: Patricia is a little girl from a town called Texcoco in Mexico. She spends her weekends at her Granny Luisa’s house, who is her favourite person as she teaches her how to cook, sing, history, gardening and dance. Granny is her best friend. Physical Traits: Latin (brown hair, brown eyes) Skin color open Dresses casually. With a dress or a skirt. Personality Traits: Happy Energetic Curious Creative Additional Notes: The ideal actress for this role will look latin. The actress must be able to express emotions with face gestures. The actress should also be able to convey a sense of depth and complexity.