ARBOR DAY: THE ROOT OF EVIL
CASTING CALL
We are holding casting calls for a gritty micro-budget horror anthology — a bold indie slasher featuring a brand-new horror icon. Each role is a one-day shoot.
Open to SAG-AFTRA and Non-Union performers.
Paid rate: $200/day (travel & per diem provided)
Shooting window: October 20 – 29, 2025
Filming location: Mays Landing, NJ / Greater South Jersey
We welcome actors of all backgrounds and encourage submissions from performers who thrive in indie horror. Roles are 18+ and may require signing an NDA or embargo agreement for social media content until approved by production.
How to Submit
Review the roles listed below.
Email bigdamnfilms@gmail.com with the following:
Subject line: the short film title + your full name
Body: your contact information, IMDb link, and a link to your most recent reel
Festooning (1 role) | A Quartet of Screams (4 roles) | Head Plant (4 roles) | Familiar Roots (1 role)
OPEN ROLES
Please click the title below to learn more about the role(s) open for this short.
SHORT: FESTOONING
Filming Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Name: Ethel
Role Prominence: Supporting
Age & Gender: 60’s-70’s (she/her)
Physical Traits (Optional but Helpful): Open
Personality & Traits: quirky, kitschy, loud, determined… fed up
Background/Context: Enraged after her husband dismantles her cherished holiday decor, Ethel follows his trail to a remote campground, where something far more unsettling than a missing tree awaits.
Special Skills/Requirements: Must be comfortable in the woods and with light stunt work. A great scream is a must!
SHORT: A QUARTET OF SCREAMS
Filming Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
ROLE: Frances
ROLE PROMINENCE: Lead
AGE & GENDER: He/Him 20s to 30s
PERSONALITY & TRAITS: Natural leader but perhaps too strong willed.
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: Taking small group on camping trip, and pays no attention to signs that read Closed or no entry.
SPECIAL SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS: Minor Stage Combat
ROLE: Carter
ROLE PROMINENCE: Lead
AGE & GENDER: He/Him 20s to 30s
PERSONALITY & TRAITS: Analytical and book smart.
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: Navigating a small group on camping trip, and pays no attention to signs that read Closed or no entry.
SPECIAL SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS: Minor Stage Combat
ROLE: Melissa
ROLE PROMINENCE: Lead
AGE & GENDER: She/Her 20s to 30s
PERSONALITY & TRAITS: Internet Personality, friendly and outgoing.
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: Documenting a small group on camping trip, and pays no attention to signs that read Closed or no entry.
SPECIAL SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS: Minor Stage Combat, and intimate scene with a female character.
ROLE: Amber
ROLE PROMINENCE: Lead
AGE & GENDER: She/Her 20s to 30s
PERSONALITY & TRAITS: Inverted and quiet. Slightly Emo / Goth.
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: Traveling with a small group on camping trip, and pays no attention to signs that read Closed or no entry. But is worried about their decisions to not pay attention to the warnings.
SPECIAL SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS: Minor Stage Combat, and intimate scene with a female character.
SHORT: HEAD PLANT
Filming Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
ROLE: Sally
ROLE PROMINENCE: Lead
AGE & GENDER: Late 30’s to 40’s Early 50’s / Female / Any Ethnic
PHYSICAL TRAITS: Long Hair any color, wholesome
PERSONALITY & TRAITS: Awkwardly pushy, talks fast, loves trees and plants
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: She is attempting to get her petition signed to reopen the park on
Arbor's Day as well as hand out seeds and plants to people that are walking by when 3 men harass her.
SPECIAL SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS: Must be comfortable running through wooded terrain; small amount of stunt work.
ROLE: Greg
ROLE PROMINENCE: Lead
AGE & GENDER: 40’s Early 50’s / Male / Any Ethnic
PHYSICAL TRAITS: Med. build, Hair optional on head and face
PERSONALITY & TRAITS: Douches, know it all, jerk,
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: Greg is tippy from drinking beer. He is one of 3 men harassing Sally.
Greg drops Sally's book to the ground, as he grabs Sally's arm.
SPECIAL SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS: Must be comfortable running through wooded terrain; small amount of stunt work and fake blood on skin.
ROLE: Joe
ROLE PROMINENCE: Supporting
AGE & GENDER: 40’s Early 50’s / Male / Any Ethnic
PHYSICAL TRAITS: Med build. Hair optional on head and face
PERSONALITY & TRAITS: Pretty Boy, god’s gift to woman, bad jokes teller
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: Joe is tippy from drinking beer. He is one of 3 men harassing Sally.
Joe grabs the package of seeds from Sally's hand and swallows the seeds and washes them down with some beer and throws the beer can and package on the ground.
SPECIAL SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS: Must be comfortable running through wooded terrain; small amount of stunt work.
ROLE: Kurt
ROLE PROMINENCE: Supporting
AGE & GENDER: 40’s Early 50’s / Male / Any Ethnic
PHYSICAL TRAITS: Med build. Hair optional on head and face
PERSONALITY & TRAITS: Not too bright, goof of the group
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: Kurt is tippy from drinking beer. He is one of 3 men harassing Sally.
Kurt walks over to Alice's table and starts to pick up and move around the items on the table.
SPECIAL SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS: Must be comfortable running through wooded terrain; small amount of stunt work and fake blood and fx on skin.
SHORT: FAMILIAR ROOTS
Filming Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
ROLE: Rueben
ROLE PROMINENCE: Lead
AGE & GENDER: Late 30’s – 40’s
PHYSICAL TRAITS: Clean shaven. Business professional.
PERSONALITY: Living adult life “by the book” but feels burdened by a younger brother who is struggling with substance abuse.
CONTEXT: Currently burying the cremated remains of his recently deceased father and handling his will.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Okay with running short distances.