No Pay Actors Wanted For Student Short Film

PRODUCTION TITLE:    Veins

MEDIA:   Short Film

STATUS:  Open to Union and Non union

STUDIO:  Raake Reels

PRODUCTION COMPANY:  York University

DIRECTOR:  Ryan Raake

WRITER:  Ryan Raake

CASTING DIRECTOR:  Adrian Ricciuti

CASTING ASSOCIATE:  Ryan Raake

AUDITIONS:  Self tapes by request

CALL-BACKS:  In-person at YorkU TBD

SHOOT DATE:  Fri. Nov. 21st to Mon. Nov. 24th, 2025

SHOOT LOCATION:  TBD – Around the GTA and North York

PAY RATE:  THIS IS A NON-PAYING STUDENT FILM

STORYLINE
Veins follows Nathaniel, a young gay man whose life fractures after contracting HIV from a casual hookup. Consumed by shame, secrecy, and depression, he hides the truth from his mother while his sister Claire and close friend Madi offer support. Struggling with self-image, seeing his body as something that is tainted, Nathaniel battles obsessive compulsions, substance abuse, and connection in a desperate search for confidence in his own skin.

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CASTING COMMENTS:
We can accept union and non-union actors through our student agreement with ACTRA. This is a non-paying student film and no permit is required. Actors will receive a copy of the finished film for their demo reel. Meals and beverages will be provided on the shoot days. If transportation is required we can arrange for a ride for the actor during filming.
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CASTING:

NATHANIEL – LEAD ROLE – MALE – 20-30 YRS OLD
20 LINES – 28 SCENES
*Will be shooting a smoking (prop cigarette) and intimate scenes; kissing, implied sex, and shirtless scenes*
Nathaniel (mid-20s), a once charismatic and confident young man pursuing connections with men in the gay community, but after an HIV diagnosis, his confidence unravels into obsessive habits and a fractured relationship with his body, himself, and other men. Nathaniel views his body as something that has been contaminated, feeling unclean within his own skin. He must navigate intimacy, desire, and the search for self-acceptance in the aftermath of life-changing news.

CLAIRE – PRINCIPAL ROLE – FEMALE – 20-30 YRS OLD
20 LINES – 5 SCENES 
*Scene with character smoking on screen (prop cigarette)*
Claire (mid-20s), Nathaniel’s supportive and empathetic sister, tries to help Nathaniel the best she can during this time. Protective but not overbearing, she tries to guide him through his diagnosis while navigating her own emotions, offering warmth, grounding, and a mirror to his struggles.

STEPHANIE – PRINCIPAL ROLE – FEMALE – 35-55 YRS OLD
11 LINES – 4 SCENES 
Stephanie (late 30s–early 50s), Nathaniel and Claire’s mother, is a loving but emotionally reactive woman. She struggles to process her son’s diagnosis, alternating between worry, frustration, and tenderness, providing a complex, high-stakes emotional presence that challenges Nathaniel while revealing her own vulnerabilities.

MADI – PRINCIPAL ROLE – FEMALE – 20-30 YRS OLD
10 LINES – 4 SCENES 
Madi (mid-20s), Nathaniel’s spirited and playful friend, who brings lightness and energy into his life. Bold, confident, and social, she encourages him to reengage with the world and his interest in the dating scene, teasing him toward connection.

GABRIEL – ACTOR ROLE – MALE – 20-30 YRS OLD
3 LINES – 2 SCENES 
*Will be shooting intimate scenes; kissing, implied sex, and shirtless scenes*
Gabriel (mid-20s) is an attractive and confident gay man Nathaniel meets at the bar who initiates a reckless hookup.

MATTHEW – ACTOR ROLE – MALE – 20-30 YRS OLD
5 LINES – 3 SCENES 
*Will be shooting intimate scenes; kissing*
Matthew (mid-20s) is an attractive gay man Nathaniel meets at the bar.