Have you ever wanted to be a secret assassin for the CIA? What about a magician from the 19th century? How about an ice cream vendor, witch or vampire?
There’s no limit to what you can be — in Hollywood. For aspiring and working actors, Backstage, a website that links production companies with actors, offers a busload of casting calls listed on its website.
Some of these roles are small parts in horror films; others are speaking roles in family dramas. So, if you’d like to be the next Ben Affleck or Mindy Kaling — two Hollywood stars who have Bay State roots — then check out these acting auditions located throughout New England.
“This Little Piggy” is a short comedy about selling feet photos, Backstage reported.
This project is looking for a man between 18 and 32 years old to play Derek Masters, Backstage said. He is a hot and a “kind of dumb” person who believes they are an ally, but in reality, is part of the issue.
“They probably have abs, but hotness can be anything. Needs to be able to pick a lady up,” Backstage added. This role requires nudity and comedy, weightlifting and improvisation are all needed skills.
This project shoots in Greater Boston during the weekends of Sept. 28 or Oct. 19, Backstage said.
The compensation for this role is $300 for two days of work, according to Backstage.
A documentary series is looking for non-union Massachusetts actors to play non-speaking roles in recreational scenes, Backstage said. The actors should look like the real people involved in each episode, and they will be booked based on their photos.
This project shoots from Sept. 9-11 in Stow and Sept. 12 in Gloucester, Backstage said.
The compensation for this role is $120 for eight hours of work, according to Backstage. For every extra hour worked, an additional $15 will be paid per hour.
“The Granite Witch Chronicles” is a “new witch/vampire-type series with a twist”, Backstage said.
This project is looking for three actors. The first role is for Leonarda. The actor for this part should be a white woman between 20 and 27 years old. They should be “witch/vampire-looking” and stoic but with their humanity still intact, Backstage said.
The second role is for Grace. The actor for this role should be a white man between 30 and 35 years old. He is looking for Leonarda but doesn’t know she is good for him. According to Backstage, he is an investigator looking for the truth.
The third role is for Godwin. The actor for this role should be a man between 60 and 65 years old, according to Backstage. Godwin is an older witch/vampire who is a long-time friend of Leonarda.
This project will start shooting in November in Concord, N.H., Backstage reported.
The compensation for this role is $100 to $500 for four days of work, according to Backstage.
“Dark Tide” is a short film about how a Black woman’s pain and anger over a friend’s betrayal accidentally conjure up ocean spirits with haunting power, Backstage said.
This project needs two actors. The first role is for Marnie and it should be played by a Black woman between 40 and 70 years old, Backstage reported. Marnie is the tough, wise and loving island auntie who helped Brooke and Ethan put on their Island Community Benefit Concert since they were children.
The second role is for Lauren and it should be also played by a Black woman between 18 and 28 years old, Backstage reported. She is an it-girl and when she comes to the island with her friend, she catches Ethan’s eye.
“Certified baddie, almost apathetic about Ethan,” Backstage said.
This project rehearses in late August to September and shoots from Sept. 15 to 21 on Martha’s Vineyard, Backstage said.
The compensation for this role is $200 to $800 for four days of work, according to Backstage.
“Spy Balloon” is a feature-length action suspense film, according to Backstage.
Several roles need to be filled for this project, Backstage reported. These roles include Zhao, an athletically built man who can deliver “villainous jokes,” Inferno, an honorable gangster, and Special Agent Lira, a seasoned officer who plays by her own rules.
The project shoots in Boston, New York, Atlanta and Dallas, Backstage said.
The compensation for this role is $1,225 to $14,000 for seven days of work, according to Backstage.
Nick Cammilleri, the director of this short film, is filming a scene where a magician does magic tricks, according to Backstage.
The actor for this role should be a person of color between the ages of 25 and 45 who can play a 19th-century magician, Backstage reported. There will be a preference for people with magic or circus skills, as they will need to perform some tricks. This project shoots in Portsmouth, N.H.
The compensation for this role is up to $400 for two days of work, according to Backstage.
“Chicken Dinner” is a short film about a Chinese immigrant mother and her teen daughter discussing their views on parenthood and gender roles, Backstage said.
The project is looking for three acting roles. One role asks for an Asian male actor between 10 and 14 years old to play Kevin, an easygoing boy who is starting to get upset when compared to his older sister, Backstage reported. The actor for this role should know some Mandarin Chinese.
Another role the project asks for is Xinyi, a high-achieving woman who is warm toward her children but has a low tolerance for disobedience, Backstage said. This role requires a female actor between 35 and 40 who knows Mandarin Chinese very well.
The final role for this project is Cynthia, a strong student who holds herself to traditionally masculine ideals, but secretly wants attention, Backstage reported. The role requires a girl between 16 and 18 years old. This actress should know some Mandarin Chinese.
Backstage said this project will be shot in early October in Boston.
The compensation for this role is up to $400 for 16 hours of work, according to Backstage. This job expires Sept. 16.
‘Drift’ | Bolton, Conn. and Manchester, Conn.
“Drift” is a horror film about a cult that kidnaps a child every year to keep a portal open, Backstage said. A grieving grandfather named Caleb tries to get back his grandson who was kidnapped, going on a hunt through the dark recesses of society.
This project is looking for two roles to fill: Ruth and Elder, Backstage reported. The film will be shot in the first and second weekends of October and in around Bolton, Conn. and Manchester, Conn.
The compensation for this role is up to $1,000 for 5 days of work, according to Backstage.
“Bluff” | New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
“Bluff” is a sci-fi action pilot about gambler Carl Jones who gets a second chance at life after dying from a heart attack, Backstage reported. When his heart “reboots” he wakes up in CIA custody. He is given the option of going to jail or never seeing his wife Lisa again. He agrees to work with the CIA, but the agency is using him for more than his poker skills.
This project is hiring for four acting roles, Backstage reported.
One role is for Banks, who wants out of his life-long contract with the CIA and is trying to convince Jones to get him out, Backstage reported. He is called Banks because he makes “bankable” gadgets for the CIA such as weapons and software. His true desire is to live off the grid with the woman of his dreams, where they both can live happily ever after. This role requires a male actor between 30 and 40, Backstage reported.
Another role is for the funeral home director, who the CIA has paid off to pretend that Caleb Jones’ wife signed on to have her husband cremated instead of buried, Backstage reported. This role requires a male actor between 55 and 60.
Another role is for Wang, a CIA agent who wants out of his assassin job and hates his boss, Backstage reported. He spends most of his money on high-stakes poker games, girls and guns. He also joined a group of agents wishing to overthrow the CIA. This role requires a male actor between 30 and 35.
The final acting role is for Vivica Falcone/The Bravo, a tough trained assassin for the CIA who secretly wants a normal life, a side of her that only Lisa gets to see at times, Backstage said. This role requires a female actor between 30 and 35.
This project shoots in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The compensation for this Banks’ role is $600 to $750 for three days of work, according to Backstage. The person who plays a funeral home director will get paid $200 to $250 for one day of work. People playing all other roles will be paid $1,200 to $1,500 for six days of work.
This is a project about people trying to survive an impact winter, Backstage reported.
There are a series of supporting roles this project is looking to fill. The pay for Lord Bish and Lady Grim, who are both cult leaders, is $100 for four hours of work, Backstage said. The role of Techno, who is the son of the occult, is $100, but all other roles pay $50.
This project films from winter 2024 to winter 2025 and in and around southern Vermont, Backstage said.
