Unhinged

Production Company
Vancouver Film School
Producer(s)
Haley Richards
Director(s)
Emily Swannell
Casting Director(s): 
Emily Swannell, Haley Richards
Union Status
Non-Union
Project Type
Film
Student Production
Yes
Compensation Details

Unpaid. Catering, craft service, IMDB credit, and demo reel footage provided.

Audition Location
Self-tapes
Shoot / Performance Date(s)
February 15th - 16th
Shoot / Performance Location(s)
Greater Vancouver Area
Submission Deadline
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Submission Instructions

Please submit resume, headshot, and demo reel (if applicable) to shortfilmunhinged@gmail.com and indicate which role you’d like to be considered for. We will provide the script for the self-tapes, due January 22nd. Callbacks take place on January 25th.

Project Synopsis
After a bad date, Marvin gets back onto his dating apps where he immediately matches with a seductive woman named Desiree who invites him over. When Marvin arrives, he is greeted by her alluring personality but doesn’t notice any of the warning signs around him that Desiree isn’t who she seems. What started out as a promising second chance at love takes a dark turn when Marvin discovers Desiree's secret—a bloodied victim hiding in her apartment. Instead of running, he accepts her for who she is and joins in on the murdering fun, demonstrating his uncanny fit with Desiree.
Additional Information & Safety Protocols: 

A scene with Chad involves the wearing of a ball gag that would secured with Velcro for safe removal and sitting in a closet that could be a smaller space for brief moments.

Character 1
Marvin Desper
Age
20-25
Gender
Male
Description
Marvin obsesses over the idea of love, and his desperate loneliness omen blinds him to the world around him. Marvin is unable to empathize with others beyond his own desires, and his self-image is deeply tied to the idea of being a misunderstood romantic. He is a product of a generation steeped in online culture, particularly Reddit, which allows him to embrace his darker, more obsessive side while hiding behind the anonymity of the internet. When Marvin becomes Desiree’s accomplice, his meeting with her represents a turning point, where his yearning for connection and hidden fascination with violence converge.
Character 2
Desiree Rhodes
Age
20-25
Gender
Female
Description
Desiree’s psyche is dominated by a mixture of deep-rooted resentment and a pathological need for control. A self-described “femme fatale,” she embodies the archetype of the woman who manipulates, seduces, and ultimately destroys. Her actions are driven by an all-consuming belief that men are inherently inferior and deserve to be punished for their objectification of women based on her own traumatic upbringing. Her killings are meticulously planned, each one a form of retribution for the way men have treated her.
Character 3
Chad Hoffman
Age
20-25
Gender
Male
Description
Another bad date gone wrong, Chad was another one of Desiree’s conquests. Despite his dread, he tries to appeal to Marvin's humanity, demonstrating fast thinking and sheer tenacity. He is a fighter at heart but finds himself hopelessly outmatched in this horrible circumstance.
Character 4
Dina Alves
Age
20-25
Gender
Female
Description
Dina a bright, confident, and self-aware young woman who does not waste her time on things (or people) that she believes are not worthwhile. Dina's sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude shines through in her brief appearance on screen, laying the groundwork for Marvin's rejection and subsequent actions.