ANNOUNCING THE MOTION PICTURE INSTITUTE
STUDENT FILM AUDITIONS

SATURDAY – January 24th at the Motion Picture Institute in TROY.
11:00am – 4:00pm
Doors will lock at 3:00pm but auditions, once you are inside, will continue to 4:00pm.
2040 Crooks Rd B, Troy, MI 48084

On Audition Day, doors will open at 11am. Scripts will be available, and rehearsal space will be provided for you to practice. No one will be admitted after 3:00pm. All auditions must conclude by 4:00pm.

The students are gearing up to bring their visionary stories to life, and we’re on the lookout for passionate actors to breathe life into a diverse array of characters. From the depths of emotional drama to the peaks of comedic timing, our films offer a canvas for your talent. Dive into the detailed film overviews and intriguing character studies waiting just a click away. Your role in our next cinematic masterpiece is just a step away – are you ready to take the leap?

Last updated: January 12th

These are student films – there will be no compensation – but Actor Reel Footage will be provided! This is a great opportunity to grow your reel and get some film experience for your resume.

To read more about the individual films being cast scroll down to the section MOVIES.

You may bring these assets to your audition, but they are not required if you do not have them:

  • Basic information (name, age, contact info, etc.)
  • A list of all parts you are auditioning for

ACTOR SIGN UP

We ask all those interested in auditioning to sign up ahead of time to be placed into our database. This will save time when you arrive at the auditions.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*
Permission
Have you ever auditioned for an MPI student film?

MOVIE ROLES AND DESCRIPTIONS
COMING SOON

BURNT

Directed By: Myles Williams

Genre: Drama, Comedy

A womanizer is forced to reconcile with his past, present, and future after learning he has contracted an STD.

Number of Principal Characters: 2


Jonah (Lead)
MALE | All Ethnicities | 20-35
A proud hedonist who has spent far too many years viewing accountability as optional. Recent events cause him to reconsider that stance.

Ford (Supporting)
MALE | All Ethnicities | 20-35
A quick witted man who has long awaited his roommate’s behavior catching up with him, and is all too pleased to bear witness.

MY MOVIE

Directed By: Joe Smith

Genre: Comedy

Mary finds drugs in her sons room and unleashes satan.

Number of Principal Characters: 6


Mary Smith (Support)
FEMALE | All Ethnicities | 30’S
Tough, resilient an “every Mom”

Wes (Lead)
MALE | All Ethnicities | 20’s
Big, tall, lean, mean

“G”

Directed By: Caden Thurber

Genre: Drama

Konnar has found himself getting with the same “type” of girls over and over again but is unaware to it, as he gets with another with the same initial this leads to him being shown the wrongs of way.

Number of Principal Characters: 2


Konnar (Lead)
MALE | All Ethnicities | 20-30
He’s set in his ways and at times can be very stubborn, no specific height or hair color/length

Grace (Supporting Lead)
FEMALE | All Ethnicities | 20-30
Bright and excited, Grace gives off good vibes, has similarities to Konnar but her personality is the exact opposite, she’s very willing for change, no specific height or hair color/length.

Crew (Background)
MALE | All Ethnicities | 18-25
Is seen in the background of all the coffee shop scenes, is friends with Konnar

ONE SHOT

Directed By: Vincent Zielinski

Genre: Drama, Horror/Suspense

Two young adults Billy and John are out hunting on their property where Billy, the reckless one, shoots at movement he sees deep in the woods and ends up killing the neighbors child. Through immoral and reckless decisions the two men decide to benefit themselves by taking the body home to burn and bury the body to keep it a secret. While all this takes place the neighbor begins to look for his kid, he finds out what happened through clues. Now through more morally wrong decisions the father decides to shoot Billy and John from his property on a hill while they sit and watch the body burn ultimately showing the never ending cycle of gun violence.

Number of Principal Characters: 4


Bill (Billy) (Lead)
MALE | White | 20 to 29
Billy is a masculine man who has blonde to dirty blonde hair (brown will work too) and a strong almost commanding face. He isn’t too tall but isn’t too short, just about average. The character of Billy is very reckless and usually only thinks for himself, he doesn’t care what others think and that ultimately takes a toll on him. He likes to take control of situations and make decisions without others approval but he tends to take initiative in every situation he’s in being the highlight of his character.

John (Lead)
MALE | White | 20 to 29
John is around the same age as Billy, he’s a much skinnier and taller guy with brownish black messy hair. John as a character isn’t as firm as Billy, he typically goes with the flow and doesn’t state his opinion or makes the big decisions, unlike Billy. He does realize the poor immoral decisions by Billy but hesitates to say anything leading to his biggest flaw.

Greg (Supporting)
MALE | White | 40 to 50
Greg is the father of the child who was shot by Billy and also Billy’s neighbor. He is your average country father who cares deeply for his son, about average height and maybe a little weight to him, a bushy beard and a some hair loss. The character of Greg is motivated to find his son, after looking he eventually finds out that Billy and John were the culprits behind the murder, so out of rage and revenge he kills them, continuing the cycle.

Colin (Supporting)
MALE | White | 8 to 12
Colin is a little boy wearing winter clothing but all he does is play dead in the film, he is very small and easy to carry.

CASTING CALL

Directed By: Noah Johnson

Genre: Comedy

This is a Comedy about a Film Director and a Casting Director holding open auditions for a movie that the director is working on.

Number of Principal Characters: 6


Cameron Moore (Lead)
MALE | White | 25-35 in appearance
Cameron is an earnest, soft-spoken and director of only a few smaller feature films, He genuinely cares about his work and the people involved in it, but struggles to assert authority in high-pressure situations. He is intelligent and perceptive, yet deeply insecure, often overthinking his words and second-guessing his instincts. Cameron wants to be respected and taken seriously, and his need for approval frequently undermines his confidence. Beneath the awkwardness is real creative talent — the tragedy of the role is watching him slowly give that power away.

Sean Larson (Lead)
MALE | White | 25-35 in appearance
Sean is a sharp-tongued, and has no experience with being a casting director, he is simply helping out his friend Cameron. Sean thrives on blunt honesty and confidence, relying on instinct, sarcasm, and blunt commentary rather than any real industry knowledge. He presents himself as cynical, abrasive, and emotionally detached, often using humor and insults as a way to control the room. While his methods are harsh and frequently inappropriate, Sean is highly competent and deeply comfortable with authority. Beneath the rough exterior, there are brief moments that suggest he genuinely cares about Cameron’s success — though his version of “help” often does more harm than good. Sean believes he’s preparing Cameron for the real world, even if it means tearing him down.

Tyler (Supporting)
MALE | All Ethnicities | Late 20’s to late 30’s
Tyler is an eager actor whom is excited yet nervous to be auditioned. He walks in on Sean and Cameron discussing a crude humor topic. Tyler’s audition quickly becomes uncomfortable as he hears the conversation without realizing how off-putting it is.

Angela Kellar (Supporting)
FEMALE | White | Early 30’s in appearance
Angela is a focused, confident actor who immediately stands out in the audition room. She is emotionally grounded, prepared, and takes the material seriously, delivering a performance that feels genuine rather than showy. Angela’s presence exposes the contrast between real talent and the chaotic environment around her. Her appearance also catches the eye of Cameron and he is starstruck upon seeing her. While her audition is brief, it carries weight — she represents what the casting process could look like Cameron and Sean handled the Casting Call correctly.

Colin DeTrent (Supporting)
MALE | All Ethnicities | 30-45
Colin is an aggressively confident, self-important actor who enters the audition convinced he is already the best person for the role. He treats the process as a waste of his time, quickly growing hostile when he doesn’t receive the validation he expects. Colin is confrontational, dismissive, and deeply insecure beneath the bravado. His scene escalates into open conflict, making him the most volatile presence in the room and a major turning point for Cameron.

Hunter Gunman (Supporting)
MALE | White | Early 20’s
Hunter is an odd, unpredictable, actor who takes bold creative swings without fully understanding the material. He is committed, slightly unhinged, and oblivious to how uncomfortable he makes everyone in the room. His audition veers from earnest to absurd, creating a moment of pure chaos that pushes the casting session off the rails. Hunter is funny because he believes completely in what he’s doing, where in actuality, he is making everyone around him feel uncomfortable.

SANTA’S WORKSHOP

Directed By: Xander Davies

Genre: Comedy, Horror/Suspense

Ashley is last minute Christmas shopping when her and her friend Jock are stalked and kidnapped by a mall Santa and forced to make toys for the real Santa.

Number of Principal Characters: 1 main character and 2 side characters


Ashley (Lead)
FEMALE | All Ethnicities | 20s
Ashley is in her 20s she is a kind and caring person but not a confrontational person.

Cashier (Supporting)
ANY GENDER | All Ethnicities | 20-30
They in their 20s-30s, quiet, just doing their job. Annoyed that they work late.

Santa (Supporting)
MALE | White | 50-70
He’s a Minor character, no lines but is essential to the story. He’s menacing, domineering and authoritative.

MARA

Directed By: Janay Bearden

Genre: Horror/Suspense

In Elias’s mind, Mara is everything. Obsessive, twisted, unrelenting. He shapes his reality around her, a world only he inhabits.

Number of Principal Characters: 3


Elias (Lead)
MALE | All Ethnicities | Late 20’s
Elias obsessive, controlling, and deeply inflexible. His dominance is subtle, rooted in certainty rather than force. He doesn’t see fixation as a flaw, he see’s it as commitment.

Mara (Lead)
FEMALE | All Ethnicities | Late 20’s
Mara is soft-spoken, but far from shy. An extrovert with a charming smile and a social, magnetic energy.

Alexis (Supporting)
FEMALE | All Ethnicities | Late 20’s
Warm, chatty, playful. Mara’s friend… though she’s not who she appears to be.

PUNCH

Directed By: Joey Sarver


Genre: Drama, Romance/Family


An awkward confrontation between a recently broken-up couple during a 2000s house party.



Number of Principal Characters: 3


Luke (Lead)
MALE | White | 16-25

A relatable, awkward teenager who has not gotten over his recent breakup with Jessica.



Jessica (Lead)
FEMALE | White | 16-25

A sweet, confident teenager who has recently moved on from a relationship with Luke, and is currently dating Justin.

Justin (Supporting)
MALE | White | 16-25

A tall, athletic, nonchalant teenager, currently dating Jessica.

VIDEO DECAY

Directed By: Jacob Britt


Genre: Action/Crime


A murder mystery, Primarily taking place in an interrogation room. The detective must interrogate the strange subjects only one problem he can’t speak.



Number of Principal Characters: 8


Detective (Lead)
MALE | All Ethnicities | 20s to 60s

A mute featureless detective who is constantly monologuing in his head with an insightful inner voice. Invited to a party by his friend, King, as they chat a murder takes place the detective must find the murderer with his limited communication.



King (of Hearts) (Supporting)
MALE | All Ethnicities | Passing as late 20s to Late 60s

King (20s-60s Ish) a somewhat jolly, deep voiced man friends with the detective. With fears of death especially of how the victim was murdered. He is a suspect for the murder.

Queen (if Diamonds) (Supporting)
FEMALE | All Ethnicities | Passing as late 20s to 60s

Queen a woman who appears 25 to 60. A regale and viscus who was convicted of a crime do to the main character actions. She has a softer side when it comes to the victim of the murder and a distain for the main character. She is a suspect for the murder.

RAD IO (Supporting)
ANY GENDER | All Ethnicities | ANY AGE

A whimsical and rhyming person who is murdered at the start of the film



Handson (Supporting)
MALE, OR A WOMAN DOING A FUNNY SOMEWHAT DEEP VOICE | All Ethnicities | ANY AGE

Your hand in a suit when you talk you move your hand as if its your mouth. Handson a Man who was with his friend the victim when the victim died. He is confused for most of the film but when the main character accused him of murdering his good friend he gets irate and slams the main characters head to the table



Critic (Supporting) ANY GENDER | All Ethnicities | 30s to 50s

A film critic who is deflecting blame, is somewhat mean and is a suspect

Follow MPI On Social Media