About
Memento Mori is an original project that utilizes art created entirely by artificial intelligence. It's essentially a "kinetic novel" but in video form; accompanied by sound effects and—hopefully—voice acting. This project is an adaption from a short story I'd written in university, which can be read in full at my website. I encourage you to give it a read if you'd like more context: https://www.thedavidacosta.com/content/memento-mori
Images created by the Midjourney AI can also be viewed here: https://twitter.com/CardioPen/status/1556600779208855552?s=20&t=d2zz-KDjUTGu3xE0jJPGng
It's a very short story with no more than 100 lines of dialogue in total, meaning the video will be just a few minutes long. The bulk of it is narration, which I plan to record myself. But if you are interested and wish to try for the role of narrator, please feel free!
If you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to leave a message.
Synopsis
Set in Victorian London, Ernest Walker is an aging railway tycoon suffering from tuberculosis. Upon hearing rumors that an alchemist from overseas had created the Philosopher's Stone, he offers the man half of his life earnings so that he may avoid ever confronting death.
Requirements
If cast, communication through Discord is preferred.
If Auditioning Via Email
Commitment
Deadlines will be completely negotiable given that this is both a free project and a fairly short one. Preferably lines should be turned in two weeks after being cast. Casting will begin 1-2 weeks after the casting call ends.
An aging railway tycoon suffering from tuberculosis. Intrigued by rumors of the Philosopher's Stone, he employs Johann Almon, the alchemist who supposedly first created it.
Voice: Medium / Medium-low, elderly
English accent preferred but not required.
[Solemnly, almost defeated] "I will offer you everything I own, Mr. Almon. So long as I receive the gift of life, these possessions matter little to me.”
[Enraged] “Do not compare my situation to that wretch! What I did for that woman was for her own good.”
[Frightened, shocked] “H-How could that be? I was supposed to be cured!”
Oliver once worked alongside Ernest as a railway engineer before they had a falling out. Despite his strained relationship with his father, Oliver seeks him out to collect what recompense he was owed to save his child.
Voice: Medium / Medium-low
English accent preferred but not required.
[Determined] “This is important. You know I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
[Angry] “Ironic, isn’t it, father? Perhaps you were the one who belonged in the madhouse for believing in fairy-tales.”
[Cold, seething] “I pray to Almighty God that death comes to you quickly, you bloody bastard.”
Oliver's wife. A woman with roots in Ireland. Her marriage had been frowned upon by her family, and so she struggles to care for her young son suffering from a seemingly incurable illness.
Voice: Medium / Medium-high
Irish accent preferred but not required.
[Her voice cracks with emotion] “I-It isn’t your fault, mo stoirín (pronounced mu store-een). There’s no need to apologize.”
[Softly finishing her husband's sentence before anger sets in] “Get better? I thought so too, Oliver, but it seems Dr. Charles is nothing but a damned quack.”
[Suggesting, almost frantic] “Your father. He lives here in London, yes? You should speak with him.”
Oliver and Rose's only son. Naturally, Gabriel is a very active and sociable child, but after being struck with sickness, he's now bedridden and gradually growing worse by the day.
Voice: High
English accent preferred but not required.
[Sickly, softly pleading] “When can I play outside?”
[Embarrassed, ashamed] “I’m sorry. I couldn’t hold it in.”
A renown alchemist whose name was known throughout most of London. It was rumored he had created prototypes of the mythical Philosopher's Stone, an alchemical substance capable of granting immortality.
Voice: Medium / Medium-low
German accent preferred but not required.
[Impressed] “It’s quite impressive. The train, I mean. I’ve never traveled by railway before. ”
[Cheekily, sarcastic] “You can’t consume a stone, Mr. Walker. Or perhaps you actually want to die?”
[Sympathetic, slightly guilty] “You are cured—from death. Old age—sickness—I’m afraid, will continue to plague you... I’m sorry.”
Ernest's butler. He once cared for his employer's son, Oliver, after his mother was committed to an asylum.
Voice: Medium / Medium-low
English accent preferred but not required.
[Apologetically] “I understand that, but your father instructed me to not let anyone disturb him.”
I'm not searching for any specific type of voice for the narrator so long as the readings are grounded.
"Gripped with emotion, she sank her head into his chest. She wanted to see Gabriel play amongst his friends again. She wanted to see him grow, to mature and to hear him talk endlessly about the things that caught his interest. She wanted to see him get married someday and have children of his own. No matter what path he’d take in life, or whom he loved, she wanted to be there to see it."
"The sun painted the sky a dark red as Oliver arrived at his father’s estate. Carnations, roses, and daisies decorated the fence surrounding the property, acting as guardians against the pollution of the inner city. As he walked along the stoned path leading to the entrance, Oliver reminisced about the times he played in the garden with his mother. Her face was lost to him, but he remembered she’d been beautiful. Just as the flowers were."
"In his younger days, he’d seen how disease ate away at the men working in the city. Their bellies were swollen, their teeth were blackened and decayed. Ernest had feared the death that surrounded him, but now that he lay motionless, plagued with never-ending suffering, death was something he now welcomed."
