Burden

Production Company
Vancouver Film School
Producer(s)
Anabel Shane
Director(s)
Kv (Kaitlyn) Van Hooren
Casting Director(s): 
Anabel Shane and Kv Van Hooren
Union Status
Non-Union
Project Type
Film
Student Production
Yes
Compensation Details

This is a volunteer project. Crafty and catering will be provided. We will be submitting to festivals.

Audition Location
Online, Callbacks at Vancouver Film School
Shoot / Performance Date(s)
July 9th- 11th
Shoot / Performance Location(s)
Vancouver
Submission Deadline
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Submission Instructions

Please provide headshots and the character you are interested in to kayvcasting@gmail.com to be sent the sides.

Project Synopsis
Emma, a 19-year-old working two jobs to support herself through university, is shocked when her estranged mother calls and tells her to come home. During the call, Emma relives what it was like growing up with her mother, the good and the very bad, through fragmented, dreamlike memories. As she weighs what returning home would mean for her future, her mother reveals that she has the same illness that killed Emma’s father. Despite everything, Emma has to decide weather to go back home and care for her mom or stay and continue to live free from her past.
Additional Information & Safety Protocols: 

Emma must be older that 18 for scheduling purposes. Young Emma must be older than 6 for scheduling purposes.

Character 1
Emma Palmer
Age
15-19
Gender
Female
Description
Emma is ages 15, 16, 17 and 19 throughout the film. Emma is outgoing, loyal and bright. She has finally built a space for herself that feels like home; she found friends that she now calls family, she only has to clean her own mess and the biggest change, finally escaping her mother. Emma has always been more of a caretaker for her mother and sister than her mother ever was. She grew up resenting her mother but could never really hate her and as soon as she had the opportunity she "got the hell out of dodge". Now she must face the even harder challenge of dealing with going back to her mother and leaving her home. Emma wants to be the person to say no but she can't help but hope that this could change things and maybe at the end she can have the mom she always wanted.
Character 2
Sandra Palmer
Age
32-45
Gender
Female
Description
Sandra is ages 32, 34, 42, 45 during the film. Sandra is reserved, snappy and grieving. She never want kids. But she loved someone enough that she new she would love building a family. That was until he fell ill. Now she has a 5 year old and a baby on the way. Her grief of her husband quickly turned to resentment as she couldn't look at her daughters without seeing everything she had lost and everything she continually had to give up for her children. She slowly began to lose herself in cycles of anger, depression and mania. Now alone and battling Cancer, she has to face the music and ask Emma to come home.
Character 3
Young Emma Palmer
Age
5-7
Gender
Female
Description
Young Emma plays ages 5 and 7. Emma doesn't fully understand how sick her dad is, especially since he always puts on a smile around her. When he passes Sandra becomes angry and short tempered. Emma internalizes her moms outburst's and blames herself, even when its not her fault. Outside of that she is a giggly outgoing kid who loves swimming and playing with her sister.
Character 4
Dennis Palmer
Age
35
Gender
Male
Description
Dennis is kind, outgoing and playful. He has always wanted a family. He has so much love and is the perfect dad. When he gets sick he tries to give them everything he can before he goes. Even while bedridden he spends as much time with Emma and Sandra as he can. As Sandra starts to reveal her true emotions.