Hauptdarsteller (m/d) für Kurzfilm "Please Don't Stand On Me, I Will Break" gesucht!
Casting "Please Don't Stand On Me, I Will Break," a near-silent dystopian short film set within a surreal authoritarian processing center. A disheveled man is funneled through a series of absurd biometric tests, culminating in a deeply intimate act of compliance. Blending dark comedy, physical storytelling, and quiet resistance, the film explores themes of power, performance, and quiet defiance in the face of dehumanizing systems. Shooting in Berlin, Autumn 2025.
Production states: "Directed Elliott Louis McKee, a New Zealand-born filmmaker based in Berlin, whose award-winning short films have screened at over 50 international festivals. With a background in philosophy, music, and performance, his work explores power, masculinity, and the rituals of control through surreal, emotionally charged storytelling.
Casting - Lead Role (Protagonist)
For the short film Please Don't Stand On Me, I Will Break (shooting in Berlin), I am looking for an actor to play the lead role - male-presenting, aged 25-55. The film is near-silent, set in a surreal, dystopian bureaucratic system. The protagonist is scruffy, emotionally worn, intelligent, and carries quiet resilience. He rarely speaks but communicates everything through subtle expression, physical presence, and internal tension. This role requires a performer with strong screen presence, emotional restraint, and the ability to hold tension with stillness. Experience in physical theatre, mime, clowning, or movement work is a plus, but not required.
Location: Preferably based in Berlin, but I am open to actors based anywhere in Europe. After you apply, I will send you the full casting brief and detailed self-tape instructions. When contacting me, please include: - Your name, age, and location - Recent photos - Any showreel, previous work, or links where I can see your work (if you have) I look forward to hearing from you.
Fee: The production is taking place in Berlin, and ideally we're looking for Berlin-based actors. However, we are open to considering actors from elsewhere in Europe. In those cases, we would cover and organise travel and accommodation if needed, but the overall fee may be adjusted slightly to help balance the total costs.