Beloved

Production Company
Emily Carr University
Producer(s)
Matisse Filotto, Lia Crisostomo, Emma Harrison
Director(s)
Dante Troyo
Casting Director(s): 
Dante Troyo & Matisse Filotto
Union Status
Non-Union
Project Type
Film
Student Production
Yes
Compensation Details

Volunteer project. Credits and meals provided

Audition Date(s)
October 29-30
Audition Location
Emily Carr University
Shoot / Performance Date(s)
November 19-26
Shoot / Performance Location(s)
North Vancouver, Vancouver and White Rock
Submission Deadline
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Submission Instructions

Email to dantetroyo1809@gmail.com your resume, head shots and demo reel (if available) alongside mentioning the character(s) you want to audition for

Project Synopsis
Following the death of her mother, nineteen-year-old Yatzil has fiercely guarded her role as the sole maternal figure to her ten-year-old brother, Sebastián. Living with their adoptive aunt and uncle, Claire and Ernesto, Yatzil suffocates under the weight of her self-imposed responsibilities. Desperate for a glimpse of a normal teenage life, Yatzil begins a romance with her coworker, Robbie, but her attempt to balance domestic duties with the freedom of a new relationship collides with reality when a sudden medical emergency exposes her limitations as an older sister. Shattered by her failure and alienated from the adults trying to support her, Yatzil is pushed to the edge of a psychological breakdown. In the isolating darkness of her guilt, her unravelling mind awakens a terrifying presence from her family's past: Ixtab, the Mayan goddess of suicide. Manifesting not as a traditional monster, but as a seductive psychological temptation, the entity offers Yatzil the ultimate, deadly escape from her unbearable burden. Trapped between the crushing expectations of the living and the alluring release of the dead, Yatzil is forced to confront her deepest wounds before the darkness consumes her completely.
Additional Information & Safety Protocols: 

Beloved addresses the psychological aftermath of maternal suicide, complex grief, emotional trauma. Although the physical act of suicide is not graphically depicted on screen; the narrative engages with the topic strictly through dialogue, memory, and psychological horror themes.

The production team is committed to maintaining a transparent, communicative, and emotionally safe environment for all cast members:
- Advance Context: Full scripts, scene breakdowns, and dialogue will be shared prior to auditions and callbacks so performers can review material comfortably.
- Set Boundaries: Personal and emotional boundaries will be discussed and established during rehearsals, with scheduled check-ins throughout emotionally demanding shoot days.
-Minor Protection: For minor cast members, a parent or legal guardian must be present on set at all times. Sensitive thematic elements are handled through age-appropriate direction, with all scene actions reviewed and approved by the guardian prior to filming.

Character 1
Yatzil
Age
19
Gender
Female
Description
Forced to act as a surrogate mother to her little brother after a family tragedy, Yatzil is fiercely protective but deeply overwhelmed. She is abrasive and defensive on the outside, yet desperate for a normal teenage life. Requirements: -Latina -Fluent in English and Spanish (Mexican Spanish preferably) -Comfortable with kissing on camera and sharing a bed with their scene partner (intimacy coordinator on set), riding a scooter and fake blood This role requires the actor to engage deeply and aggressively with themes of maternal suicide, intense grief, psychological breakdown and self-harm
Character 2
Robbie
Age
20
Gender
Male
Description
Yatzil’s coworker and romantic interest. He represents the grounded, normal teenage life that Yatzil is desperately trying to access. However, has himself baggage from the recent loss of his little brother. Requirements: -Open ethnicity -Comfortable with kissing on camera and sharing a bed with their scene partner (intimacy coordinator on set), and being able to ride an electric scooter
Character 3
Sebastian
Age
10
Gender
Male
Description
Yatzil's little brother. He loves his sister but is increasingly drawn to the mothering provided by Claire, unaware of the tension this causes. He is the emotional tether of the film. Requirements: -Latino -Fluent in English and Spanish (Preferably Mexican Spanish) -Guardian Note: While Sebastián is shielded from the psychological horror elements, the production centers on heavy themes of grief and family trauma.
Character 4
Claire
Age
46
Gender
Female
Description
Claire is Ernesto’s wife and the children's adoptive aunt. She is emotionally mature and offers the stable, traditional nurturing that Sebastián craves, which inadvertently makes her the primary target of Yatzil's bitter jealousy. Requirements: -Caucasian -Fluent in English and flexibility to learn some Spanish words
Character 5
Ernesto
Age
50
Gender
Male
Description
Yatzil and Sebastián's adoptive uncle. Ernesto is kind and endlessly patient, as he chooses empathy over anger when confronted with Yatzil’s hostility. Requirements: -Latino -Fluent in English and Spanish (Preferably Mexican Spanish)
Additional Characters

Taylor (Supporting, female 21)
Taylor is the highly dramatic comedic relief. She is Yatzil’s best friend and the manager of the convenience store where Yatzil and Robbie work. Though she boasts about being a powerful, independent business woman, she actively avoids real work, preferring to lounge in her incense-filled back office.
Requirements:
-19-25 years old
-Open ethnicity
-Must feel comfortable with Vaping

IXTAB (Antagonist, non-speaking, female)
A seductive, terrifying psychological predator.
A supernatural entity that represents the ultimate, deadly relief of giving up. She does not act like a traditional monster; she moves with an alluring, intoxicating calmness. The role requires strong physical control and the ability to execute eerie, deliberate blocking to convey a suffocating threat.
Requirements:
-19-50 years old
-5’10 or taller
-Comfortable with wearing platforms if needed, prosthetic make up, blood and topics of self harm