Iris: Short Film Casting Call

Melvin is the father of Dylan and Layla. He suffered a serious workplace injury resulting in permanent paralysis. Though he can no longer speak or move, he’s still very much present in the lives of his family members.

Jane is a woman shaped by loss and hardened by responsibility. After her husband’s accident, she was forced to raise their children alone. Hardworking and fiercely practical, she’s spent years surviving — not healing. Now in her 50s, Jane longs for a fresh start, seeking comfort and stability with a new partner. What she truly wants is her family to support and understand her.

Jane’s new husband, Dean is a kind-hearted man who brings a sense of calm and stability to her life. He’s not fully immersed in the family’s complicated history, offering a refreshing sense of distance from the drama that has defined Jane’s past.

Dylan is a quiet, observant, and gifted photographer who uses his camera to distance himself from the world. Emotionally immature and burdened by unresolved hurt, he often acts selfishly. His relationship with his family—especially his mother—is strained. The absence of his father left a void, but discovering their shared passion for photography becomes a path to reconnection and long-overdue closure with the man he never truly knew.

The youngest in a fractured family, Layla has become its quiet emotional center. While others retreat or fall apart, Layla shows up — steady, thoughtful, and instinctively attuned to the needs of those around her. She notices the small things, often anticipating what others need before they ask. Her resilience comes from growing up too fast, learning early how to hold space for others even when no one holds it for her.