Strawberry Milk movie
Project Overview
Collin Mackinley is a young boy who moves from his seaside hometown with his family deep into the mountains where he nurses his deep love for nature scenery. Shy about his artwork and grieving the loss of his grandfather, he battles with his insecurity and mourning and aspires to make his watercolors express the true beauty of what he sees more while learning to navigate his first genuine friendship.
This is a feature-length film written and animated by Mr. Circus Papa.
The full script is not yet complete so additional roles may come at a later date. If the script isn't finished by the deadline, then the deadline will be pushed back. This is a long-haul project since the creator has a lot of other projects going on at the same time, so this won't be finished remotely quickly so committed inquiries only, please.
You will be expected to communicate with your fellow VAs instead of just being handed lines and individually sending recordings.
Group readings (typically lighthearted and jokey anyway) will be performed in voice chats when people are available so VAs can familiarize themselves with the other characters and roles and work off of one another in order to get better takes later on. Typically, this is done in Discord, but if you do not have Discord or are in a time zone inconvenient with the rest of the group and are cast, we'll figure something out to work with you.
If you're shy about group readings, that's okay. You can be introduced slowly. The goal is to maintain a harassment-free environment where people can enjoy being part of the project.
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Collin is a 12-year-old boy and the lead of the film, though doesn't have as many lines as some others due to his more quiet nature. Suffering the grief of losing his beloved grandparents, he's not very social and keeps more to himself as he buries himself in his own thoughts and artwork. His voice is soft and uncertain, a boy struggling to connect with others and allow himself to verbalize his emotions.
- english
- male child
They're my grandma's brushes. She taught me how to paint when I was little. I want to be as good as she is someday.
I think... you're really good. You shouldn't listen to what your mom says. The music you make is better.
(Angry and already crying a little) I don't WANT to cry, okay?! If I cry, that means he's gone for good! I'm not going to forget about him like that! He's still alive if I pretend he is.
Sue is a kind and intelligent 12-year-old girl and Collin's classmate and friend. A talented young pianist, she's empathetic and understanding, almost motherly in some ways, though has a habit of not voicing her own insecurities and hardships or trusting others with her deeper feelings. Her voice is calm and gentle at some times and childish and cheerful other times. As mature as she can be, she's still just a kid. It's important for her to sound more her age and not hammy or overdone or overly motherly, so don't consider breaths or little vocal mistakes to be unprofessional.
- english
- female child
I saw you drawing in class. You're really good. Can I see?
I wish I could draw animals like that. Do you like drawing animals?
(heartbroken but keeping herself composed) It's okay that you didn't come to my show. You were busy. I understand that. I just... wish you could have heard what I played.
Collin's loving and enthusiastic mother. Pregnant with her 2nd child, she's a rather silly and perky woman who tries to be lighthearted and emotionally supportive for her son, remaining a positive presence in his life. She has a joking relationship with her husband, the two often interacting more like best friends than a married couple. Her voice is warm and emotive, wearing her heart on her sleeve and an infectious smile on her face. Plenty of lines.
- english
- female adult
Ohh, look at that! Did you see the little house in the yard? Oh, that was so adorable; it's like a little house for fairies!
I couldn't sworn the key was under the mat. Aunt Leyla DEFINITELY said the key was under the mat. Maybe the movers put it in some... OH! They said they left it... (straining to reach) Yes! (sing-songy) I found iiiit!
Your grandpa would've loved this town, you know. Anything near a body of water was his habitat. It was inevitable he'd found his way to the ocean.
Evan is Collin's father. A working man who tends to be tired a lot but can always spare his family his affection and some attention. He and his wife Debbie joke around like friends and while he wants to be there for his son, he isn't always sure how to safely navigate the boy's feelings, concerned that he'll say something wrong that'll ruin his childhood and thus often not saying anything particularly meaningful. His voice is a bit gentle and lighthearted, the kind of guy who hangs out with the other dads at a cookout.
- english
- male adult
(joking and laughing a little) I'm just lucky they let you out of your monkey cage long enough to marry me.
(just being a smartass) I guess that's true. I'm sure that excuse'll fly when we're begging for change on a street corner because I stopped going to work to be a cuddle bunny.
(mildly defensively) Okay, well, if there's any food left on the seat when I get home, I'll take care of it, Deb. I promise.
Collin's artistic grandmother who taught him to draw and paint starting from when he was very young. She can't paint as well as she used to in her old age but is satisfied the legacy has been passed on to her grandson since her own son took little interest in the craft. She's a caring woman whose secret second life has always been in her own imagination and the worlds she's put onto many canvases. Her voice is very gentle, though a bit weak in her final years. Please don't go out of your way to sound like a cartoonish "old lady". A very minor role.
- english
- female senior
It's not about painting what's there. It's about painting what you see.
He was always a troublemaker, your father. He once put a hole in my foyer wall trying to sled down the stairs one summer. That boy was full of imagination and creativity and I'm glad he at least passed that on to you.
I lived the life I wanted to live. I may not have seen everything I wanted to see, but I'm satisfied with what I have.
An old man whose heart belonged to the sea. Collin's late grandfather, a gruff man with a good heart and a kind smile amidst the sun-leathered wrinkles of his face. He valued hard labor and teaching his family the joys of nature, even the hardships nature could bring. Strong-willed and unafraid to speak his mind, he was the most precious person in Collin's young life. His voice is rough but smooth, confident without yelling, never raising his voice to anything more than the storms. A very minor role.
- english
- male senior
There was a big fish out there, they say, bigger than any ever seen. A fish that could eat a whale like a snack and topple islands. It was the dream of every fisherman, but no one's ever caught it. Every boat that tried was capsized, but the sailors always survived. My grandmother told me it was a beautiful goddess in disguise that could make all your dreams come true and that only the lucky ones meet her. Well. I was lucky enough to marry her.
Come here, boy. Sit with me. There was always something about the way the sun set on the sea. I used to pretend the sun was diving into the water to put out the fire.
It's a big one, boy, steady grip! It's putting up a fight! Don't let it take it out of your hands! Reel it in slow; I've got the net! Careful!
The teacher could be male or female. It doesn't matter. But they need to sound like they know what they're doing, joking with the class at times in an almost deadpan way. A minor role. Character image will depend on casting.
- english
- female adult
- androgynous
- male adult
Alright, alright, settle down, everybody! Settle down. Everybody did their homework last night, I'm guessing?
Since the summer's already coming on strong, we're going to take a step into winter to cool off a little if everybody can take out their English notebooks for me and jot down the phrase "whose woods these are, I think I know".
You just arrived today, right? What's your name? Collin Mackinley. Welcome, Collin Mackinley. Can you get your notebook out, please?
Extremely minor role of a woman just trying to sell her handmade art supplies.
- english
- female adult
You like that one? I make all these myself by hand.
That's real horsehair I get from my buddy at the farm. Humane, of course. The horses are fine.
Just more students in Collin's class. Need at least 3 girls and 3 boys.
- english
- child
- female child
- male child
You didn't tell us there was homework!
Psst, what did you get on the test? Hah, I got an 89.
Where did you put my stuff? Come on, that's not cool.
Sue's somewhat overbearing and practically single mother who wants her daughter to be the musician her grandfather was, taking care of her daughter by herself due to her husband working overseas. She's serious and critical, though allows her daughter more or less freedom beyond her music.
- english
- female adult
This is how people become accomplished. This is how they get amazing careers. Colleges look for things like this on applications, Susan. Just. Play. The notes.
She can't come to play right now. She needs to finish her lesson. You can sit in if you do so QUIETLY.
I think she's had enough distractions for one day. Please get out of my house.
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