Casting Actors for Paid Passion Project

A blue-collar worker who dropped out of college early, embodying a quiet resilience shaped by his struggles. He has always lived in the shadow of his younger brother, Aiden, and rarely visits home, carrying the weight of unspoken family dynamics. Beneath his harder outer shell lies a kind, anxious, and deeply contemplative soul. Calvin often wrestles with feelings of inadequacy but maintains a quiet determination to find his place in the world.

Outwardly composed and wildly successful, carrying the image of the "golden son" with ease. Unlike Calvin, he visits home often and enjoys his role as the family’s pride, though this blinds him to the true dynamics of their household. In his denial, Aiden remains oblivious to Calvin’s mistreatment and the deeper pain lurking beneath the surface. He continues to act as the peacekeeper, maintaining a polished exterior, but his unwillingness to confront the past hints at an underlying fragility.

The father of the family, hard & imposing man, rules the household with an authoritarian presence. He demands perfection from his children, particularly Calvin, & enforces his expectations through verbal & emotional abuse. However, he doesn’t see his actions as wrong; to him, this is simply the way things are, a continuation of the discipline he endured in his own upbringing. The actor for the father would play both him at 35 in the flashbacks & him in his 50s in two short present day scenes.

A loving but timid mother, she often finds herself caught between her children and her husband. While she attempts to protect her sons, her efforts are frequently undermined. The actor should convey warmth but also a sense of helplessness in the face of conflict. The role of the mother is a small supporting role with minimal dialogue. The actor would play the character in two scenes at 35 and one scene in her 50s.