OVERVIEW:
Hi everyone! I'm Joseph Bozlinski, AKA ValiantShadow. I'm a writer and voice actor, and I love to collaborate and create! This casting call is for Apex Shadow, Episode 2: Fragile Little Gods.
Apex Shadow is a comic book neo-noir inspired audio drama, taking place in a world where, a few decades previously, a cosmic event caused the emergence of superpowers. Now, superheroes and supervillains regularly do battle with one another, and regular people are all-too often caught in the crossfire.
At this point in our story, the focus is primarily on two characters. A police detective, Kate Kavanaugh, rebelling against stagnating institutions in her ceaseless drive to protect regular people-- as well as Jack Dobson, a social worker employed by Caliburn Services, contracted by the city to provide counseling and other services in the wake of super power related trauma.
These two are both trying to make the world a better place in their own way-- even as a vengeful serial killer, referred to simply as The Man in Black, stalks the city, targeting heroes and villains alike.
Just a couple weeks back, we had the successful launch of our first episode! The pilot was a wonderful experience, and so we're looking to make more! There's lots left to this story-- but we need your help to make it happen.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:
Every episode of our show engages with some heavy themes. It's all about trauma, at the end of the day. Though it's examined through the lens of super-powered fights and intrigue, we still try to handle these themes with grace and dignity. This episode in particular deals with the topics of domestic violence and child abuse, as Kate and Jack both find themselves involved with the family of a once-great superhero called the Champion, now in a downward spiral in the wake of a monumental tragedy from years back. It's heavy stuff, we know! So please keep that in mind. If this sort of project isn't your cup of tea, that's totally okay! But even as I strive to push envelopes and go to dark places, I always strive, as a director, to keep these productions as safe as possible.
Also, it's worth noting -- there's a lot of harsh language in this show. Just so you're aware! Again-- if that's not your cup of tea, that's all right! But that's something you'll want to be sure you're okay with going in.
We're looking to fill several new roles this go-round, and at least one or two of them will be recurring! I also don't believe in wasting good talent, so once you're in the cast, if you want to keep working with us, we'll find things for you to do, believe me!
The first draft of the episode's script is already complete, and I have every intention of finishing things up writing-wise by the conclusion of the casting call. So, if you're selected, we're going to be hitting the ground running!
REQUIREMENTS:
- 18+ please! While nothing in our show crosses into the realm of the explicit, it's still a mature project, dealing with heavy themes, as discussed. So we're looking for adult actors only at this time.
- Good audio is a must! Do your absolute best, please! We're striving to raise the bar, quality-wise, as much as possible with each episode! So please try to treat your audition as though you were recording for the episode itself!
- Discord is required! That's going to be our primary source of communication for 99 percent of things on the show, so please keep that in mind!
AUDITIONS:
- Please, DO NOT slate your auditions!
- I already touched on audio, but it bears repeating: please audition the same way you intend to record if you're cast!
- I'm not married to any particular interpretations of these characters. I'll offer suggestions in the character notes, but maybe what you have in mind will blow me away. Let's see! Go nuts. Be creative. Be freeeeee! I believe in you.
- Multiple takes are allowed, but not required! If you think you nailed it in one, hell yeah, you probably did!
- Please name your auditions as CharacterName_YourName
- Please include your Discord handle, so I can get in touch with you!
- I believe in listening to every audition before making a final decision, so please, don't be discouraged if you can't audition until late in the game! If it's in by the deadline, you've got as much chance as anybody else, I promise!
- Any questions, you can DM me on here, or hit me up on Discord, at ValiantShadow#4073
Best of luck!
Colin Reeve, also known as Fadeout, is an utter slime-bucket. Corporate espionage on two legs, using his power of invisibility to wine and dine himself at the expense of others' privacy. Here in our second episode, he serves as the sacrificial lamb to establish tone in our opening scene. A lot of the episodes in the first season will be opening with some horrible soul gettin' got, and it's Colin's turn today, I'm afraid!
This is a real skeevy guy. Wheelin' and dealin'. Always looking out for number one. Fast-talking, disingenuous to a fault. Think if John Leguizamo had played Skinner in the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. (If I have to remember that movie, damnit, so do you.)
While Colin bites the dust in just one scene here, this show will be featuring a lot of flashbacks to earlier times as the story progresses. So a lot of heroes and villains both who meet horrible fates have a good chance of showing up again!
Fast-talking - Self-serving - Lacking empathy - Materialistic
[Colin just got back from a rather intense gig. He's home, decompressing, looking forward to some rest.]
Just gonna-- just gonna relax for a bit is all. Fucking chill out, cool off, put my feet up. Smooth sailin' for the weekend, baby!
[Toasting to himself in solitude! Celebratory! There are a lot more zeroes in his bank account now!]
Here's to my imminent retirement, boys!
[Confronted by the Man in Black. Certain he's about to be murdered in his own home. Anxiety. Mounting terror. Searching for a way to fast-talk his way out of this situation and failing miserably at it]
Yeah, sure! You-- you... fuck me, man, you only go after bad guys, right? Like... fucking capes and shit. I'm not-- I don't even-- what the fuck do you want with me, man???
This is rough stuff. But I really wanted to show some humanity here. The things Liam does to his family are horrible, unacceptable. But he's also a survivor of trauma himself, and I didn't want to shy away from that. Having failed once before, during an event known in the lore as the Downtown Tragedy, he's never really recovered, and because he doesn't know how to ask for help, it's come out of him in the worst possible way, hurting those closest to him, and eating his soul alive. We're not looking to condone his actions, but we're looking to understand the man.
Remember that when Turner's acting like a brazenly arrogant, confrontational, misogynist douche-nozzle... it's all cover. It's all nonsense. Try to hold onto that in your audition.
Gruff - Controlling - Arrogant - Insecure - Vulnerable
[Stern and domineering. A uniformed police officer who he could probably hurl into the sun is trying to tell him what to do, and that doesn't work for him at all.]
You've got something to say to me, you be a man and you say it. Enough of this pussy-foot bullshit. I've had a long fucking day.
[A final confrontation with the Man in Black. Turner is rapidly decompensating, after having hurt his son in a fit of rage. Moreso than ever before. Now he's in the family vacation home, staring this killer down, trying to justify his actions, even as he's wracked with guilt.]
I have saved countless lives. I am a goddamned hero. Just as much as Apex. Just as much as any of them! Now-- what? What, you're gonna come into my home, on the worst night of my life, and threaten me with your little fucking gadgets, and your stupid pointy ears, because you don't like how I talk to my wife? How I raise my son? Who the fuck do you think you are?
[Beaten, within an inch of his life. All but begging for death. This is the moment when the mask of bravado, of machismo, of arrogance, all falls away. What's left is a truly broken man who can't stop himself, and hates himself for it. This is an extinction event. This is years of trauma held inside, bursting out at a crucial moment]
I can't stop. Why can't I stop? Why won't any of it stop? I let them die, you know? I was... supposed to be a hero. I was supposed to protect them. And in the end, I just... I failed them all. I keep hearing them. Screaming. Crying. They won't stop, they never stop, and I... oh, god. Please. Please. You have to make it stop.
Jasmine is a wonderful soul in a terrible situation. She loves her son, and she still loves her husband, as well-- but she knows in her heart how far gone he's gotten, and what a dangerous situation she and Auggie are in. She's trying to come to terms with the reality of things, of what she has to face, and it's not easy for her. How could it be? But this is a woman ultimately characterized by her courage and her love.
Frightened - Determined - Courageous - Loving - Nurturing
[This is a trauma response. This is an abused woman gaslit into blaming herself for the actions of an abusive partner. Am I taking this opportunity to reiterate that abuse is not the fault of the victim? I guess so. Ahem. In any case-- she's scared, she's lonely, she's worn down. She's dealing with cops, with a social worker, and she's blaming herself for the chaos. She's trying to make all this end as swiftly as possible, while still wanting help, underneath it all.]
Liam is a good man, Mr. Dobson. A very good man. Those police just... this is all just an overreaction. I got a little too loud. It was my fault. That's all. This is all my fault. I'm very sorry for wasting your time.
[Talking to Jack, trying to muster the courage to give up her husband's location, after he's severely hurt their son. This is a turning point. This is overcoming fear, shame, guilt-- trying to do the right thing, and move forward.]
This can't go on. I know that. This is too much. It has to end. But if I try to leave... if I try to get Auggie away from him, I don't... I don't know what he'll do.
[Encouraging her son, after everything has clamed down at the end of the episode. Hopeful. Loving. Overcome with emotion. Being there for her son in a terrible moment.]
You are my whole world, you know that? You are my brave, beautiful, amazing son. And there's not a day that goes by where I'm not even more proud of you.
Auggie is a really tough kid, who's struggling hard to be way more mature than he should ever have to be. He's just ten, but he's being made to handle these adult situations, and it shows. He loves his dad, but he knows that things are not okay. I know it can be difficult to handle characters this young-- especially in such heavy situations. But give it your best shot!
Youthful - Insightful - Imaginative - Protective - Optimistic
[Talking to Jack about his father. Guarded, timid. Trying to open up, but it's hard to articulate. This is a ten year-old boy who's being made to grow up way too fast.]
I love him. He's my dad. He just... gets mad. Sometimes.
[Wishing for better times. Already seen too much. Lamenting the loss of his own innocence. Wishing his dad would feel all right again. That things could be how they were.]
When I was little, we used to play with my action figures a lot. Dad would always let me be the good guy. I miss when things were... you know. Like that. But I don't play with those anymore. That's for little kids. It's dumb.
[Trying to show that his father isn't all bad. That he wasn't always like this.]
Mr. Dobson? He's not always mad. Sometimes he gets really sad, too. You know? He just doesn't like to talk about it.
Mayor Dick is an absolute joy of a character, in the worst way. He's a manipulative, greedy, sadistic, unempathetic jackass with dirt on everybody. (I know, I know-- "You mean a politician?" Yes.) But he should be played with high energy, suffused with sarcasm. His insults are vicious, his willingness to utterly ruin people is immense, and if he had a heart, he long ago pawned it for sex, drugs, and political power.
Think, like-- Quentin Tarantino, except even more over-the-top.
THIS IS NOT A VOICE REFRENCE! I don't want you to imitate this. I'm not a huge fan of voice references. This is just the kind of energy I'm envisioning for the character. If you want to try something else, I want to hear it! Surprise me!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7k4GQSGvx8
Mayor Dick first debuts in this episode, but he'll be one of the larger players going forward. he's deeply involved with some background stuff. Honestly, he's one of the "big bads" of the series. So this is a big one. Go nuts!
Verbose - Crude - Cruel - Shrewd - Greedy - Arrogant
[Aggressive, arrogant, condescending]
Captain, let's talk about this city. Let's talk about how things work around here. Let's talk about who runs this town. Because you, my friend... you seem to have forgotten. When I say "jump", that's not just me saying it. That's the people of this city telling you to jump. When the people say "jump", your place is to not only ask "how high?" but to apologize for the damage your thick skull does when it slams into the goddamn ceiling. Is that understood?
[Slimy, dismissive, a hint of a threat]
Ms. Park. I appreciate the service you and your group provide. It's beyond question that we'd have a far harder time keeping things from falling into chaos. But even so-- you're here at my pleasure. Anytime, I could have you and your shrinks and your lawyers and your high-priced cuddlebox consultants fuck back off into the sunset. Go sing Kumbaya in another city willing to pay your ludicrous contract fees. I'm still in charge of you. Do you hear me?
[Being as crude and dismissive as possible]
[To his secretary]
Carrie! Tell my masseuse that we're still on schedule. The little people are leaving now.
[To Madison and Donahue]
That was your cue. That was a roundabout way of saying "get the fuck out". I have a city to run.
Megan is another new recurring character for the show. She's Madison Park's chief legal advisor, and a close, personal friend of Jack's. She's unflappable, unstoppable, with almost no regard for authority. She doesn't care much about the law, truth be told-- to her, the law is a tool used to achieve that which she thinks is morally right. Throughout the show, she crosses all sorts of legal / ethical boundaries, without hesitation, because it's always about what's right for her, not about what's legal. Word play, technicalities, and more are weapons she chooses to wield with her eyes wide open. She's a fascinating character, and I hope you have as much fun playing her as I did writing her! Remember-- you are a chatterbox force of nature. Your are the sharpest tongue and quickest mind in any room.
Bold - Witty - Argumentative - Unconventional - Single-Minded - Unstoppable
[Talking logistics with Madison and Jack about separating Auggie from his father]
We've got no case here, Maddie. There's nothing to justify a removal. You can send Jack back for a formal interview if you want, but as it stands right now, there's no apparent signs of physical abuse. No one in that house is saying a word. None of the neighbors, either. Not to mention that I guess Turner's got his hand working miracles on Mayor Dick Junior. Metaphorically speaking, of course. I mean. Either that, or His Honor doesn't want to be thrown into the sun. Which is a worthwhile concern. Bottom line-- our hands are tied here without a real complaint.
[Same scene. Lamenting the difficulties of superhero law. Madison just insisted that the family was in danger, that something needed to be done]
Maddie-- you're preaching to the choir. I know. I'm with you. Don't get it twisted. You know, there are battles happening right now in the supreme court about separating children from superpowered parents on principle? Because of the supposed inherent danger they pose to those kids. Just the thought of that turns my stomach into a fucking pit of worms dosed up with Pop Rocks. But this? This is all too familiar. This is different altogether. That kid's not safe, neither is his mom. So hey-- do what you need to do. I'll fight for you. I'm just saying don't tie my hands behind my back and ask me to high-kick my way to victory. I'll do it, but I've been really fucking lax about my yoga.
[Comforting Jack after the meeting. He just told her he's "fine" with this case. You know. The other f-word. A little less of a front. More human. More vulnerable]
Bullshit. I can't even imagine what you're feeling right now, after... well. Everything. I know what this means for you. And I've got your back, all right? Don't ever forget that. Fuck this guy. We're gonna figure this out.
Claire is Jack's late wife. While she's no longer with us in the present, she has a huge part to play in the story, told in flashbacks throughout the series. Heavily involved with public outreach and nonprofit work, Claire is a hero in her own right, sans the costume. This is her one line for this episode, but in future installments, there'll be much more. (There's a very high likelihood that she'll be the main character of at least one episode in the future.)
She struggles with ADHD. She's a compassionate soul to a fault, especially when it comes to the mental health struggles of others. She's easily distracted, frazzled, prone to high-intensity emotions-- but her intensity is one of her greatest strengths. Everyone around her is drawn to her.
Driven - Erratic - Moody - Big-hearted - Artistic - Dreamer - Risk-taker
[This is a voicemail message Jack listens to at the end of episode two. Claire's just saying hello, talking about her day. She got a huge win, and she can't contain her excitement]
Hi honey! I'm just calling to tell you two things. One, I love you very much. Two, I love you very much. Three-- crap. Okay. That's three things. I should start again. Maybe? No. Okay. Ahhhh! You have no idea how crazy it's been! But he agreed to the meeting! He wants to hear my proposal! Do you know what this-- ahhhhh, Jack! We're going to help so many people! It's gonna work! Ahhhhh! Okay! I need to stop screaming in the street! Ahhhhhh! Okay. Done now. Maybe. Did I tell you I love you? I love you!
Keenan was conceived as a male role, but he could realistically be played as any gender, so go nuts! He's the Man in Black's armorer, providing him with weapons and equipment, either creating some himself, or adapting gear recovered in the field to suit his purposes. Keenan's a rough but whip-smart individual, raised on the streets but self-taught in weapons engineering. He's an absolute prodigy, though his outward appearance and his coarse language regularly cause people to underestimate him. That's just fine, though-- that's how he likes it. The Man in Black rescued Keenan from a very bad situation, before the events of the story, so they share a fairly cordial relationship-- though the taciturn Man in Black is typically the straight man to Keenan's more bombastic antics.
Keenan only has one scene in episode three, but will be a recurring character throughout season one!
Genius - Vulgar - Energetic - Adventurous - Inquisitive - Tech-Savy
(Excitedly showing the Man in Black some of his newest creations)
Man, do I ever disappoint? You're gonna love this shit. Fucking magic. Look at this.
(Same as above. Unbridled enthusiasm. Think violence-minded Billy Mays.)
Quick-Shift adaptive nano-wire. The contact point will change in real-time to be whatever the hell you need. This ain't your daddy's grappling system. This baby will latch onto anything. A--ny--thing, my friend. It's environmental resistant, virtually unbreakable, with a maximum length of-- well, shit, truth be told, haven't found it yet. It's a lot, is my point. Got a tensile strength of up to ten tons. That's one-fucking-zero tons.
(Showcasing another piece of tech. Mind the small bit of warning towards the end.)
Okay. Okay. Tough room. I've got ya. For the gentleman of discerning taste-- equilibrium displacer. Does exactly what it sounds like. You throw one of these puppies down, anybody in its radius is gonna have a rough fucking time telling up from down, left from right, inside from outside. Balance? Pfft. Lunch? Outta here! Signal burns through juice real fuckin' fast, though, so don't you go gettin' complacent, boss-man.
Doctor Reed is the chief physician at Heartsong Medical, and a recurring character in Apex Shadow. He's warm, confident, and open-minded. His compassion for other people is the driving force behind his ongoing relationship with Madison Park and Caliburn Services. But it's worth nothing that there's far more to Doctor Reed than meets the eye, which will be explored in later episodes.
Paternal - Driven - Nurturing - Confident - Charismatic - Resolute
(Speaking confidentially with Jack, regarding Auggie's latest injury. Being delicate, but with a hint of alarm.)
I've been going over the boy's x-rays, and I can tell you this much. This wasn't from a simple fall.
(Carefully laying out the implications of abuse.)
His skin is unusually dense. Enhanced durability in his bones and musculature, as well. A burgeoning gift from his father, no doubt. In its early stages of development, but still. The force required to do this kind of damage? It'd have to be... [pausing for emphasis] comparable.
(A slight edge to his voice.)
I've notified the police. I believe you already know Detective Kavanaugh? I'll tell you what I told her, Jack-- do something for this kid. Even if he wakes up now... next time, we might not be so lucky.
