Audition Due Date:
February 15, 2023
Production title: THE ORTIZ TWINS ARE COMING HOME
Production Type: Independent Audio Drama – Pilot Episode
Project length: Primary cast will be expected to be available for a single table reading in early March 2023, and to submit recordings for the pilot episode by the end of March 2023. Supporting cast members may submit recordings for the pilot without attending table readings by March 2023. All cast will be given individual written direction. Pilot episode to be edited and promoted late Spring/early Summer 2023. Primary cast will be asked about availability for full season production in 2023/24.
Roles: Stormfire Productions is casting 4 primary roles and 2-3 supporting roles. Actors of Mexican and Zapotec heritage in particular are encouraged to audition. Character ages range from young children (8-12), young teen (13-15), and middle aged adult (40-60).
Company website: www.stormfireproductions.com
Email: ortiztwins@stormfireproductions.com
Location: Remote or D.C. metropolitan area
Compensation: $100 flat rate for primary cast; $50 flat rate per supporting role.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Ortiz Twins Are Coming Home is a fantasy adventure about twins on the U.S./Mexican border reconnecting with their Indigenous roots and their family’s forgotten history. Originally pitched as “James and the Giant Peach, but everyone is Mexican”, The Ortiz Twins will bring Andrea and Mateo Ortiz face-to-face with ancient gods, restless spirits, and their long lost parents, all because an ancient pitáo has forgotten his name.
Actors with remote voice acting experience are preferred, but any general acting experience is encouraged to audition. The director, Lisette Alvarez, will be working with any remote actors closely through virtual table reads. Any cast in the D.C. metro area will be invited to record in-person with local indie recording studio, Double Sharp Audio in Alexandria, Virginia. All remote cast will be required to have access to recording equipment (see requirements below).
The pilot episode will be produced with anticipation of a late Spring/early Summer 2023 premiere for crowd and investment funding for a full 12-episode run. While cast compensation for additional episodes will be based on funding success, the goal is to raise the pilot flat rates to SAG standards.
KEY DATES
- Audition due date: February 15, 2023
- Cast selections: February 28, 2023
- Main cast onboarding + table reading: Early March 2023
- Recordings due: Late March 2023
AUDITION INFORMATION
THIS IS A CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC STORY. The majority of characters are of Mexican, Mexican-American, and/or Zapotec descent. Therefore, only actors with Mexican and/or Indigenous (specifically originating from the Southwest U.S./Mexico/Central America) heritage will be considered for the primary roles in order to align with the cultural nuances, language, and tone referenced in the pilot script and ongoing episodes.
Vocal Diversity: The script is majority written in English, with some Spanish and Zapotec phrases and names. The Stormfire Productions team commits to confronting gendered/xenophobic/ableist bias on the basis of voice pitch, accent, or other vocal tone. Your voice deserves to be heard and listened to.
Mic Requirements (if outside of the DC metro area): 16-bit/44.1kHz that can be exported to WAV and MP3 (Yeti mic, Zoom-series recorders, etc)
Accessibility: If you require additional support, including Deaf/HoH or Blind/Visual impairment accessibility to the sides or directing assistance when cast, please feel free to reach out. We also encourage soft recording due-dates to help with anyone who needs that level of flexibility based on income, working hours, and other mitigating circumstances. We have and are able to manage last-minute rescheduling or delays to accommodate emergencies and self-care required on behalf of the actor.
Instructions:
- Please send a single recording with 2-3 takes of selected sides for selected character(s).
- You may audition for any number of characters.
- You may also send up to a 5-minute recording and/or resume of other voice acting experiences.
- All audio should be in MP3 format.
- Please send all auditions and a short description (or resume) of yourself and your experience to ortiztwins@stormfireproductions.com.
CHARACTER BIOS + SIDES
Note: We suggest any auditions for the primary cast also submit auditions for the supporting roles. Anyone who is cast will also be asked to contribute lines for walla.
Primary Roles
Abuelo Ortiz
- Pronouns: He/him
- Age range: 50-65
- Ethnicity: Mexican or Mexican-American
- Character Notes: A doting grandfather who tells great stories, but has a complicated past.
Sides:
It’s a good one! Full of magic and mystery. Deep in Mexico, in the beautiful valleys of Oaxaca, there’s an ancient pool whose waters glow in the summer night. The chirping of night birds and frogs takes over as a gust of wind travels, along with us, through an ancient jungle.
–
If these were real, do you think I’d be handing them out to you two trouble makers? (he laughs) They’re dollar coins, two for each of you. Keep them safe! If you hurry, you might miss the afternoon heat! Vamanos! And remember, Mateo! The marranitos are for Lorenzo!
–
Andrea Ortiz
- Pronouns: She/her
- Age range: Early teens
- Ethnicity: Mexican or Mexican-American
- Character Notes: Technically the “oldest” of the twins, who struggles with the assumed role as “older sister” and developing her own identity and desires. She tries to make her grandfather happy, in exchange for stories about her long-lost parents.
Sides:
ANDREA: Abuelo? Our parents, did they also make pan dulce with you?
ABUELO Your parents? Um, no. No. Not back then. We just make them now for the extra money, but I’m sure they would’ve been great at it!
ANDREA: Oh. Okay. (beat) Did they have a favorite flavor? Of empanada?
–
ANDREA: (to PITAÓ) I don’t care what you are. (to MATEO) We need to go. I don’t make it a habit talking to strangers.
–
Mateo Ortiz
- Pronouns: He/him
- Age range: Early teens
- Ethnicity: Mexican or Mexican-American
- Character Notes: The “younger” twin, both impulsive and excitable and easily bored in turn. He is the more mischievous of the two.
Sides:
MATEO: Abuelo, this story is so boring! Why don’t you tell us one of your wrestling stories?
ABUELO: One of my wrestling stories? Haven’t you heard them all?
MATEO: Sure, but at least I don’t fall asleep during them.
–
We used to watch Power Rangers a lot. We used to fight monsters in our backyard. Cardboard box buildings, Abuelo pretending to be the villain.
–
The Pitaó
- Pronouns: He/him
- Age range: Ageless (or 40s-50s)
- Ethnicity: Zapotec
- Character Notes: A trickster who hides deep grievances and grief behind a facade of charm and charisma.
Side:
I’ve known you both since you were just figments of your parent’s wildest dreams. And look at you two, all grown up. A little worse for wear, but what can you do?
–
I give you the same strength I gave your abuelo. The same strength I gave your ancestors long ago in a time when I was still worshiped. In a time before the world you know. I give you this all to begin your quest, chamaco!
–
Supporting Roles
Please submit any of the following sides for consideration of supporting roles. These are all young Mexican/Mexican-American kids (all genders), ages 8-12.
–
KID 1: ¿Dónde está el monstruo?
–
KID 2: I hit it real good with a rock!
–
KID 3: Ay, the way it yelled! It was terrifying!
–
YOUNG ABUELO: I just want to help, if I can. The others, I know how…rough, they can be. I’m not like them, I’m not-
–
YOUNG PITAÓ: [terrified] Get away from me! I said get away!
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