Jump! An Animated Short Documentary
Jump! is a 12-minute animated historically-based documentary using rotoscope, with minimal on-screen dialogue. We're telling the story of Joan Means Khabele, who, as one of the first Black students at Austin High School in 1960, paved the way with the help of her classmates toward the desegregation of Barton Springs Pool in Austin, Texas. We are seeking an actor to play the lead of Joan, whose physical appearance generally reflects the real individual, including relative skin tone supporting the film’s visual storytelling and historical accuracy. The film is set in 1960 and so the actor’s appearance must be believable for this time period. This is a paid position. All candidates are considered but non-union is preferred.
5 roles
The ideal candidate is a light-skinned Black female who presents as a 17-18 yr old high school student, and is believable as someone from the 1960s. She is slender and petite, under 5'5". She is composed & self-contained but embodies a controlled passion. The candidate must be able to portray emotion through subtle facial and bodily expression. Joan's voice is calm, grounded, thoughtful with understated authority. The actor must be comfortable jumping in water and swimming confidently.
DAVID MARTINEZ is a darker complected Latino male, 16-18 years old of small stature. He is a high school student who must be believable in appearance as someone from the 1960s. The candidate must have the ability to convincingly portray emotion through subtle facial and bodily expression. David's voice is earnest, steady, thoughtful, slightly cautious, but not hesitant. David supports the main character of the film in nonviolent acts of civil disobedience.
DERIC BOWNDS is a white male who presents as a 17-18 yr old high school student, and is believable as someone from the 1960s. He is of medium build, slim and tidy in appearance, and around 5'10" tall. The candidate must be able to portray emotion through subtle facial and bodily expression. Deric's voice is a bit higher pitched, with subtle nerdy overtones. Deric supports the main character in nonviolent acts of civil disobedience.
JANET MEANS is a Black female high school student, 15-16 years old, with light to medium skin tone and of medium/petite build, under 5'5". Her demeanor is fun and youthful. The candidate must have the ability to convincingly portray emotion through subtle facial and bodily expression. Janet's voice is direct, a bit feisty but still respectful. Janet is the younger sister of the film's main character and supports the main character in nonviolent acts of civil disobedience.
HUNTER ELLINGER is a white male high school student, 16-17 years old, tall, gangly and a bit nerdy. The candidate must have the ability to convincingly portray emotion through subtle facial and bodily expression. Hunter's voice is gravel-ly and with nerdy overtones. Most lines will be delivered as voiceover with a bit of onscreen interview style dialogue. Hunter supports the main character in nonviolent acts of civil disobedience.
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