NONBINARY, GENDERFLUID, AND BIPOC ACTORS, PLEASE APPLY! It does not matter to me if you look anything like the character or their references, what matters to me is that the role calls out to you and that you will put your all into it.
UNITY is a story about a teenager named Kota who lives in a world of superheroes. Superheroes are pretty well-known, and being one doesn't necessarily make you special or popular.
Kota has their own unique superpower: they can split themself into copies, but with a hitch. Their copies take an emotion with them when Kota makes them. Kota can control which emotion they're splitting off, and the options are: Fear, Anger, Happiness, Sadness, and Pride.
For example, Kota might make a copy of themself to complete a task, and the copy might be Anger. Maybe the task that the copy was given was to write a paper for Kota. The paper might be filled with curse words. These copies are called Emoticopies, and while they do take on the emotion in an exaggerated way, they don't completely devoid Kota of that emotion, just dim it.
Kota is very musically inclined, and they want to join a battle of bands competition to help pay for college. The only Kota copy that can hold down a job is happiness, and Kota's dad isn't super well off. Kota has been playing music since they were young, and they started their own 1-person-band called UNITY, where instead of 1 person, it's all of the Kota copies playing different instruments!
The Kota copies retain their own skills and memories as well, but when they return to Kota and merge with them, the original Kota gains their skills and memories.
The conflict is, though, that because superpowers are so common in this world, the person running the competition sees Kota's 1-person-show as cheating. According to their rules, Kota can't participate if their band is made up of members only because their powers allow it. Powers are not allowed on stage, and therefor, Kota must make a band out of more than just themself.
Kota is naturally a very reserved person, not often needing help from anyone because they can do it themself with an Emoticopy. Now, they need to learn to make some friends, ask for help, and build relationships with other teens that can join their band and create a UNITY that isn't Kota alone.
Please attach your email and Discord at the end of your audition.
Do not slate your auditions. Other than cutting breaths out (or other basics), do not edit your audio. Do not add effects, including pitch shifters. You may include adlibs.
IMPORTANT: Kota is a multiple-role character. Whoever is cast as Kota must also be comfortable playing their Emoticopies. If you audition for Kota, please also audition for at least two other Emoticopies, so I can see your range.
Dakotah (Kota) Wickstrum
Age: 17
Hair Color: Dark Brown to Black
Eye Color: Auburn/Amber
Gender Expression: Nonbinary
Personality: Reserved, laid back, gentle, but a bottler and a worrier. Hides many of their emotions because of their powers. Not interested in being a hero, villain, or anything in between.
Hobbies: Playing/practicing the drums, going to concerts, listening to All Together, painting, writing songs, they often mention “sleeping” as a hobby when asked, and watching movies.
Powers: Self-Duplication. Kota can make a physical copy of themselves by focusing on a singular emotion and allowing it to split from their body. The current possible emotions that Kota can make copies of are Anger, Sadness, Happiness, Fear, and Pride. When all of their emotions are brought together in Kota Prime, Kota Prime has enhanced strength, speed, stamina, and intelligence. The copies each provide an exact amount of those traits equal to their individual capacity, and their memories and knowledge are shared with Kota Prime.
UNITY: UNITY is a band that Kota made up when they were just a kid. Its members are the Emoticopies. Kota Prime plays the drums, Anger plays guitar, Fear plays bass, Sadness and Happiness share the lead vocals, and Pride is the band’s manager.
VOICE PROFILE: Feel free to try anything, but make sure to alter slightly for each emoticopy once you audition for them.
Do not slate your auditions. Other than cutting breaths out (or other basics), do not edit your audio. Do not add effects, including pitch shifters. You may include adlibs.
IMPORTANT: This role is not a single role. To be cast as Kota, you will actually be playing Kota, Anger, Fear, Pride, Happiness, and Sadness. To be cast for this role, you MUST audition for AT LEAST two of the other Emoticopies in the casting call, so we can hear your range.
[Kota narrating] Hey, I'm Kota. I'm 5 foot 8, 17 years old, and uh... [speeding up, sheepish] I can, uh, split myself into doppelgangers that each take on one of my major emotions, heh heh. Also, erm... we're in a band!
[Tired, sluggish, mumbling] I'm coming, I'm coming... [Pause for a few seconds, then next line is louder and more annoyed] WE'RE COMING!
[Looking through backpack for the Battle of the Bands invite] Yeah, I’ve got it right here. I kept it in my wallet because- [Realizes the wallet is missing, is frantic] ...it was right here. My wallet was right here!
Anger identifies as female.
VOICE PROFILE: Uh, angry.
Do not slate your auditions. Other than cutting breaths out (or other basics), do not edit your audio. Do not add effects, including pitch shifters. You may include adlibs.
IMPORTANT: This character is one of Kota's emoticopies, therefore it will be played by the actor who is cast for Kota. If you are thinking of auditioning for this role, you must submit an audition for the Kota role as well.
[Quietly angry, speaking to herself] Fuck this. If we wanna win this thing, we’ve gotta start acting like an actual band. Bandmates don’t treat each other like unwanted toys.
[Surprised and confused] HEY!!!! [Feeling betrayed, just got locked away in Kota's brain] Can you BELIEVE that!? When was the last time Kota did THAT to one of us? WHAT THE FUCK? Why didn’t you come out and HELP ME, Mr. Cries-A-Lot?!
[Pissed] FUCK this dude! WHY ARE WE KISSING HIS ASS?
Happiness identifies as female.
VOICE PROFILE: Bright, lighter, energetic. Try anything!
IMPORTANT: This character is one of Kota's emoticopies, therefore it will be played by the actor who is cast for Kota. If you are thinking of auditioning for this role, you must submit an audition for the Kota role as well.
[Giggling, ornery, teasing little sister] Uh-oh! Who’s being a sour-sack? [tickling little sister, teasing] NOT ON MY WATCH! [continuing tickling and teasing] I LOVE YOUUUUUUU!
[Sleepily, peaceful, yawning] Just five more minutes...
[Surprised] Wait! I think we've got a hero! [More surprised, excited, ecstatic even] COREY FAITH WANTS TO HEAR US PLAY??!!!
Sadness identifies as male.
VOICE PROFILE: Breathy, but not sleepy. Try anything!
Do not slate your auditions. Other than cutting breaths out (or other basics), do not edit your audio. Do not add effects, including pitch shifters. You may include adlibs.
IMPORTANT: This character is one of Kota's emoticopies, therefore it will be played by the actor who is cast for Kota. If you are thinking of auditioning for this role, you must submit an audition for the Kota role as well.
[clarifying for the group] I think... he just said we stink…
[Sadly] We're out of milk, though...
[Matter-of-fact, annoyed tone] I don’t just go out and mess with Kota’s life…I knew this would happen.
Fear identifies as male.
VOICE PROFILE: Anxious.
Do not slate your auditions. Other than cutting breaths out (or other basics), do not edit your audio. Do not add effects, including pitch shifters. You may include adlibs.
IMPORTANT: This character is one of Kota's emoticopies, therefore it will be played by the actor who is cast for Kota. If you are thinking of auditioning for this role, you must submit an audition for the Kota role as well.
.
[Exhausted, anxious] Am I seriously the one you're venting to right now? I know you're the newest copy around here, but empathy isn't really our thing.
[Was just summon unexpectedly by Kota, is nervous] You...rang? It's okay, they're just arguing in there anyway...heh heh...
[Bargaining, pleading] Maybe I should just stay out here? Anyone can play bass, it's not that hard, heh heh... [Kota then tells him to be brave] WHEN HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN ME TO BE BRAVE?
Pride identifies as nonbinary.
VOICE PROFILE: Confident, like your Kota voice but with gusto.
Do not slate your auditions. Other than cutting breaths out (or other basics), do not edit your audio. Do not add effects, including pitch shifters. You may include adlibs.
IMPORTANT: This character is one of Kota's emoticopies, therefore it will be played by the actor who is cast for Kota. If you are thinking of auditioning for this role, you must submit an audition for the Kota role as well.
[Speaking quickly, shakily] We have so much to get done! We’ve got to get there early to tune everything to the acoustics, and we haven’t even seen the venue yet… [Pleading] Can't you just empathize with me here?!
[Trying to convince someone who doesn't like them] Maybe if you met all of us, you'd like us! We all have our own talents and personalities! I’m PRIDE, UNITY’s band manager, nice to meet you!
[Starstruck by meeting Corey Faith] Mr. Faith, sir, we… [Snapping out of it. Proudly announcing] are Unity!
Kota's dad is a well-meaning, overworked, everyman. He is gentle and caring, but overwhelmed by having Kota (who basically counts as 6 kids themself) and Lillie to take care of. He is a man doing his best to raise his family and keep them all safe and happy. Weight of the world on his shoulders but would never show it.
Do not slate your auditions. Other than cutting breaths out (or other basics), do not edit your audio. Do not add effects, including pitch shifters. You may include adlibs.
References: Ned Flanders meets Bob Parr.
[Calling for Kota from the kitchen] Kota! [Pause, no response, then louder] KOTA!!!!
[Worried about Lillie, who is not eating her food] What's the matter, kiddo?
[Explaining why he woke Kota up, very dad-ly voice] I thought you'd want extra time to get some food and... [trying not to offend Kota] take some showers?
Mean, short tempered, thinks he's the shit. Big ego. Looks somewhat like Gru from Despicable Me, but acts like Kingpin from Into the Spiderverse.
Hugo is the sponsor of the Battle of the Bands that Kota wants to enter. He is bankrolling the entire operation. He has Corey Faith, Kota's favorite lead singer, under his thumb. Corey owes him a lot of money.
Do not slate your auditions. Other than cutting breaths out (or other basics), do not edit your audio. Do not add effects, including pitch shifters. You may include adlibs.
Reference: Almost exactly Kingpin from Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse
[Smug, not actually sorry] So sorry then, kids, but we ain’t allowin’ powers in this here competition. For tha fairness, y’know? It’s all about tha music. My place, my rules.
[Increasingly annoyed] No. I don’t like powers. They ain’t fair. If you ain’t got a band without ya powers, you ain’t got a band in this competition at all. [Kota tries to argue, Hugo interrupts] I ain’t arguin’ with you kid. Put a real band together or get outta my face.
[Fed up] THIS shit has gotten on my last nerve. I’m done wastin’ my time. Get out. [Kota tries to argue again, Hugo loses it] GET. OUT!
Corey is the lead singer of Kota's favorite band All Together. He is a mid-twenties rocker with long hair and stubble. All Together is a pop-punk band, so think Fall Out Boy or PatD.
He is kind, wants to inspire, intrigued by powers because he has none. Uses his music to make up for that fact. He owes a lot of money to Hugo, and continues to have problems owing people. While well-meaning, he is flawed in that way.
Do not slate your auditions. Other than cutting breaths out (or other basics), do not edit your audio. Do not add effects, including pitch shifters. You may include adlibs.
References: Personality is a mix of Sanji from One Piece and Kisuke Urahara from Bleach.
[Excited] The kid’s got our shirt on! Hell, I’ll invite ‘em!
[Intrigued] How many of you are there? You're all fans? [Kota introduces themself] Nice to meet you Kota, but the real question is: What's your band's name?
Well, Unity, don’t let me down! We’ll put you on the list for today. Hang out backstage with the rest of the tryouts until we call you, kay?
Bombshell is a celebrity superhero, the kind that covers magazines and headlines all the time. Her power is that she can blow kisses that explode on impact.
She is somewhat vain, but kind enough. Doesn't like watching kids get yelled at, which is why she steps in to stop Hugo, but not caring enough to help Kota once they can't find their invitation. The kind of "whelp, I tried" mindset.
Do not slate your auditions. Other than cutting breaths out (or other basics), do not edit your audio. Do not add effects, including pitch shifters. You may include adlibs.
References: Mount Lady My Hero Academia, Spider-Woman.
[Appealing to Hugo's ego] Hugo, hun, let’s let the kids play, come on! They're here to impress you! I’m sure they didn’t mean it!
It can't hurt, they've got invitations, right? You do have invitations to be here, don't you?
[After Kota can't find the invitation, which is required to be able to audition] Listen kiddo, I want to believe you, but...
Lillie is Kota's 8-year-old sister. She is adopted :]. In this scene, she's sad about having to go to piano practice, but Happiness comes and titkcles her, making her laugh in spite of herself.
Do not slate your auditions. Other than cutting breaths out (or other basics), do not edit your audio. Do not add effects, including pitch shifters. You may include adlibs.
[Dad just asked her why she's not eating her eggs, Lillie says somewhat sadly] I'm not hungry...
[Giggling, being tickled by Happiness] PP! Stop it!!!
[Pleading while laughing] Dad!! Make her stopppp!!!!
