SHOOT DATES:
Early – Mid March 2026

COMPENSATION:
Non-union. Unpaid student production. Copy, credit, and meals provided.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

One Special Family is a dramatic short film exploring family dynamics, digital identity, and the pressures of growing up online. The story centers on a family-run YouTube channel and the tension that arises when one daughter begins to resist being part of the brand.

This project examines themes of privacy, control, and performance within the context of social media culture.

See link for script → https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kpJEdc71qsl2lHDlKM6061Y2ykJMN85ne7-ZoATAzuc/edit?usp=sharing

ROLE: ROB MADISON (Father)

Male, 40–50, any ethnicity (preferably Caucasian).

The patriarch of a successful family YouTube channel. Charismatic, composed, and confident. Rob believes he is building security and opportunity for his family, but struggles when his authority is challenged.

He does not see himself as abusive, he sees himself as practical and necessary. His control presents as logic. His charm is practiced. When pushed, his composure cracks, revealing insecurity and volatility.

Looking for an actor who can balance warmth and menace without strained exaggeration.

Content note: Verbal aggression and emotionally intense scenes.

ROLE: STACY MADISON (Mother)

Female, 35–45, any ethnicity (preferably Caucasian).

Stacy is polished, image-conscious, and emotionally strategic. She manages the family brand and maintains the illusion of warmth and perfection. Unlike Rob, she rarely explodes, her control is subtle, passive-aggressive, and performative.

She believes deeply in the “family brand” and views discomfort as something to smooth over for the camera. Her greatest strength is her ability to switch from nurturing mother to brand manager in seconds.

Performance requires precision and restraint, her menace lies in composure.

Content note: Emotional manipulation, controlling behavior.

ROLE: DAISY MADISON (Lead)

Female, to play 16, any ethnicity (preferably Caucasian).

Daisy is the protagonist. Intelligent, emotionally perceptive, and quietly rebellious. She has grown up as the face of a successful family YouTube channel without fully understanding the extent of her exposure. When she realizes how much of her private life has been broadcast, she begins to push back.

Daisy is not dramatic or explosive by default, her resistance builds slowly. She oscillates between sarcasm, vulnerability, and contained rage. The actor must be able to convey internal conflict with subtlety and depth.

Performance Notes:

Strong emotional range required

Ability to play quiet intensity

Comfortable with screen-media acting (FaceTime/phone scenes)

Must handle emotionally charged dialogue

Content note: Emotional manipulation, verbal conflict.

ROLE: JESSICA MADISON (Sister)

Female, to play 15, any ethnicity (preferably Caucasian).

Jessica is Daisy’s older sister. Homeschooled, sheltered, and fully accustomed to life on camera. She does not fully recognize the dysfunction of her environment because she has never known anything else.

She loves her sister but defaults to neutrality. She represents compliance, the system “working.” Her conflict is subtle and internal.

Looking for an actor who can convey naivety and quiet moral hesitation without overplaying it.

ROLE: MICHAEL (Supporting – Screen Media Only)

Male, to play 16, any ethnicity.

Michael appears exclusively through FaceTime/video call scenes. He is Daisy’s longtime friend from her previous hometown. Grounded, emotionally intelligent, and sincere.

He provides Daisy with emotional support, but he is not perfect — he benefits indirectly from her family’s financial privilege and struggles to fully grasp her frustration.

Must be comfortable performing entirely through screen-media framing.

ROLE: MIA (Supporting)

Female, to play 17, any ethnicity.

Confident, socially dominant high school student. Quick-witted, performative, and cruel in a casual way. Mia thrives on social hierarchy and public embarrassment.

She weaponizes Daisy’s online presence against her. Requires sharp comedic timing with an edge.

ROLE: TIA (Supporting)

Female, to play 17, any ethnicity.

A student at Mia’s school. Observant, sarcastic, and slightly more calculating. Less loud than Mia but equally complicit.

She reinforces group dynamics and fuels confrontation.