An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he says to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”
He continues, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thinks about it for a minute and then asks his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replies, “The one you feed.”
This project is a short audio drama based on the analogy of depression as a parasitic monster, sucking the joy and life from its sufferers (I know, cheery, right???).
The thing is, depression is really common. A lot of people feel it or, if they don't, they know someone who does. And a lot of people who know someone with depression struggle with trying to figure out the best way to help their friends who are suffering.
And sometimes they hurt who they're trying to help.
This story is meant to create some solidarity among those who suffer from depression and also to educate their loved ones about the best ways to provide support, all in an entertaining, artistic, instructional-but-not-preachy, storytelling sort of way.
I would love to cast actors for whom this issue has some personal meaning or connection but of course that's not necessary. :)
Please have decent recording quality WITH LITTLE TO NO BACKGROUND NOISE. Even a phone can record relatively decent quality if you know how to set it up correctly. Let me know if you have any questions.
This is a one-off project, so it won't take a huge amount of time, but I'd love to have a cast that's very dedicated to the project while it's in progress. I will be holding just few a rehearsals with the final cast (probably on discord) so I can direct the cast prior to requesting final audio files. I'm an experienced theater actor and director so I'm really looking for some talented actors to work hard for a short time to make this project a success!
Along with the stated pay amounts, I'll credit cast members in the finished project along with including links to their VA profile or website.
THOROUGHLY READING THIS PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND THE AUDITION NOTES BELOW WILL GREATLY IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF BEING CAST!
You can re-audition for a role if you come up with a new idea or take on the character.
Please don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have. Good luck and have fun!
The story takes place in two settings: the real world, and in a mystical forest that exists in some sort of other dimension or plane. I'd like the Storyteller to use two distinct styles - a more ordinary style for the real world and more of a fantasy-based, mystical style for the forest. Not two completely different voices or accents, but two different feelings/vibes/auras, to emphasize that these are two different dimensions. Please feel free to experiment with multiple takes or ask any questions you need to.
The storytelling in this tale should reflect the emotion being experienced by the character whose actions are being described. No dead-pan narration for this story, please! I want to hear the Storyteller's compassion for Hayden and sense of wonder at the other-world feeling of the forest.
(Real World) They shared an embrace, and Hayden ran off to school, with her new friend by her side.
(Real World) She raced upstairs, buried herself in her blankets and, utterly exhausted, fell fast asleep.
(Mystical Forest) As she stepped into the forest, time seemed to stop. The falling leaves were still mostly red and orange, but there was the oddest hint of blue in them. The dead, fall leaves on the forest floor looked special; delicate and vibrant, almost as though they were still growing on a tree. Magnificent vines wound up the nearby tree trunks.
Hayden suffers from undiagnosed depression. Her illness has attracted a parasitic monster from the the mystical forest, who has identified her as a source of the negativity off of which they feed. They manipulate her into bringing them with her into the real world and carrying them with her wherever she goes.
Eventually, with help from her friends, Hayden starts to learn how to stop feeding the monster.
I'm sorry guys, it’s not that I don’t want to, I just don’t feel like it. I know, I’m the worst.
*Frustrated* Why can’t you just get it? Why!?
*Sighs, defeated* I feel so hopeless, and nothing anyone says ever helps. They just say things that make me feel worse. Isn’t there anyone out there who can understand?
Please! Just go away! I can’t even think with you inside my head! You promised to help me, but instead you’re making my life a living hell. *beat*
I have nothing more I can give you. Nothing.
"Lianas compete with forest trees for sunlight, water and nutrients from the soil. Forests without lianas grow 150% more fruit; trees with lianas have twice the probability of dying. " https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liana
Liana (they/them) is the parasitic monster from the the mystical forest, who has identified Hayden as a source of the negativity off of which they feed. They are very charming at first, and manipulate Hayden into bringing them with her into the real world and carrying them with her wherever she goes.
Although this creature is ageless and neither male nor female, in the forest, Liana appears to Hayden in a form Hayden can readily identify with and trust (whether it be a fellow teenager, a sibling, a parental figure, etc.). In the real world, Liana exists only in Hayden's head.
Liana should have two different voices. Their voice in the forest is charming and persuasive (with a bit of the same mystical feeling of the forest itself) and their voice in the real world is truly monstrous: slimy, fetid, oozing, hungry, creepy, foul, deceitful ... altogether disturbing.
(In the forest) Oh dear, that wasn’t nice, was it? Don’t you just hate it when people who are such trash get treated like they’re royalty? It’s not right. You deserve more. Take me along, and I can help you.
(Real world) You know, she’s correct. You have so much potential. You really should use it sometimes.
(Real world - this voice should demonstrate the true essence of this parasitic being. The words are spoken among other vocalizations, whether they be hisses or screeches, sounds of eating, sucking, or slurping, wails, moans, and all sorts of nastiness! Let loose and be creative!)
Worthless….. Useless…. Incompetent…. Pathetic…. Broken... (feel free to improvise)
TL;DR - a know-it-all.
Hayden's biology teacher. S/he and Hayden have talked about Hayden's depressed mood and how it affects her performance at school but Miss/Mr Thompson is one of those people who feels that a strong person should be able to simply push through depression. For him/her, its a question of character - are you tough enough?
Miss/Mr Thompson is one of those people who thinks s/he has all the answers, no matter the subject. Even if s/he did recognize depression as a medical condition (which s/he doesn't), s/he'd probably think s/he knows how to treat it better than any psychologist or psychiatrist does.
I've known many Miss/Mr Thompsons in my life...
Class, I am assigning you pages 12-80 to read, and I expect your essay to be done by the end of the week.
Hayden, you’ve worked so hard this past year. If you take a gap year, all that will go down the drain. Trust me; if you do this, everything you’ve worked for will be thrown away in an instant.
That’s the whole point; to challenge yourself, make sure you are ready for the real world. In real life, you get what you earn. You take what’s thrown at you and you deal with it. No hall passes to get out of work. You’re a brilliant girl, but I’ve always felt you needed to toughen up, and this proves it.
Hayden's friend. Lexie/Alex gets it. Perhaps s/he has someone else in his/her life who is suffering from depression - I haven't decided - but s/he knows how to take care of Hayden. Interestingly, they've never been super close friends before. But Lexie/Alex recognizes what Hayden is going through and s/he steps up to help.
Hey, Hayden! I heard you didn’t go to the movies yesterday, how come?
*knock knock knock* Uh, hi, Miss Thompson? Hayden actually promised us she’d come out after class, and, if that's ok with you, can we hang out with her now?
Sorry, I know things are rough. Hey! I heard there’s a new show on Netflix! I’ll come over with popcorn and your favorite - Sour Patch Kids, right? - and we’ll watch it! I’m coming at 5:30. Be ready!
Hayden's "friend." But she doesn't get it at all. Pretty self-explanatory...
Hayden, c’mon! So what, you had a bad day! Just get over it and come with us!
What, are you, like, scared to leave your house? That’s so lame!
Why are you so stubborn?! I’m done trying, it’s helpless. Goodbye, loser! Logging off the call!
Hayden's parents are divorced and she lives with one of them - mom or dad, depending on who is cast. Her parent is trying really hard to help her but is too focused on what other people say (i.e. what society says) Hayden should do. Therefore, sometimes Mom/Dad loses sight of what Hayden really needs, emotionally.
Mom/Dad is stressed out (like many single parents). S/he is so concerned about always doing the best thing for Hayden that s/he sometimes goes overboard. Like, with the college application - s/he wants Hayden to be happy but s/he's deathly afraid that Hayden will ruin her future if she doesn't make the right choice. Hayden knows that Mom/Dad has only the best intentions, but she feels really pressured by him/her.
Listen, I know this stinks, but your teachers are telling me it’s really important. Just, at least fill out the application, ok? We want to make sure all your options are open, right? If you don’t want to in the end, then you don’t have to. But if you don’t fill this out, then you could lose the opportunity.
Hayden, I’m trying my best. I’ve only ever wanted what’s best for you. I know I’m not perfect but, we’re a team, right?
Hayden! Time for school! C’mon!
Hayden's friend. She doesn't fully understand how horrible Hayden is feeling, but she is sincerely trying to help. A generally kind person.
Gabby’s right, you should come with us. It might make you feel better!
Gabby! That wasn’t nice! Apologize!
I’m… so sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean. If you just come with us to the movies, your mood should get better, right? At least try?
Since I can only cast one Liana, would any of the Liana auditioners be willing to contribute Liana vocalizations, even if they aren't Liana's speaking voice? There are a couple times when Liana gets especially nightmarish, and it would be incredible to have a whole cacophony of evil disgusting voices! You will ALL be credited.
Please improvise with your nastiest, most vile, disgusting, hungry, greedy, outright evil noises and lines that you would say to suck the soul out of a teenage girl with a low self-esteem!
