Short Film "Chicken Feet" Needs Actors

Confident, performative, and eager to be seen as culturally open-minded, Michelle thrives on social validation. She is deeply invested in appearing progressive, but her understanding of other cultures remains surface-level. She believes she is making meaningful connections, but her well-intentioned actions often come across as tone-deaf.

Easygoing, kind-hearted, and conflict-averse, Ben has spent his life sidestepping discomfort rather than confronting hard truths. Raised in privilege, he assumes good intentions are enough, often missing how his gestures can come across as out of touch. He admires Michelle’s confidence and determination, letting her take the lead out of love and a desire to be a good husband.

With a heart full of kindness and a listening ear, Lynn has the rare gift of making others feel truly seen and heard. The challenges of her ongoing immigration process to Canada have shaped her into someone incredibly resilient and sharp, with a deep awareness of the world’s complex systems and inequalities. What Chris values most about her is her how she’s always ready to offer support.

BIPOC/Mixed-Race. Pragmatic and level-headed, Chris has a low tolerance for bullshit. Distracted by his mother’s emergency, he is only half-present at brunch, making Michelle and Ben’s news feel even more disconnected from his reality. His responses are measured, but what he says, he means. A steadfast, committed partner to Lynn, he believes in healthy communication and mutual respect.

A minor but significant character, the server represents the often-overlooked presence of real cultural authority in these situations. His neutral but subtly resistant responses to Michelle’s requests, along with his polite but detached demeanour, underscore the broader themes of performativity vs. authenticity. Must be able to say a couple of lines in Cantonese.