Egg On My Beard

Production Company
University of British Columbia
Producer(s)
Ruth Tesfahun
Director(s)
Gabriel Porath
Casting Director(s): 
Ruth Tesfahun
Union Status
Non-Union
Project Type
Film
Student Production
Yes
Compensation Details

Volunteer

Shoot / Performance Date(s)
January 16-18
Shoot / Performance Location(s)
Vancouver
Submission Deadline
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Submission Instructions

Please send your headshot, resume, and demo reel (optional) to eggonmybeard.film@gmail.com

Project Synopsis
Logline: A housewife’s attempt at a simple weight-loss breathing exercise takes a bizarre turn when she begins seeing visions of a mysterious guru in her bathtub. Synopsis: Joyce Green, a 1970s housewife, begins a simple breathing exercise she finds in a fitness magazine, hoping to lose weight. What starts as an innocent routine turns strange: long trances, visions of a guru in her bathroom, and a growing pull toward silence. Her husband Saul becomes unsettled, but Joyce continues, unsure of what is happening to her. Months later, Richard, a traveling lecturer weary of his circuit, is urged by his friend Hilda to meet Joyce. Reluctant, he visits and is startled by what he encounters. Joyce, uneducated in spiritual matters, speaks with uncanny knowledge of events from Richard’s past in India. For him, the meeting feels like the arrival of a long-sought teacher in the least expected place. As Richard returns, he bring along more devotees and they begin to gather in Joyce’s suburban home. The rhythms of her do- mestic life are gradually replaced by meditation, ritual, and service. For Richard, devotion deepens; for Saul, confusion hard- ens. The story follows this collision of faith, family, and the absurdism of the 1970s counter culture movement.
Additional Information & Safety Protocols: 

Shooting on 16mm film! Great exposure for film festival run.

Character 1
Richard (Lead)
Age
40-60s
Gender
Male
Description
Embodies intellect and longing for transcendence. A spiritual teacher and lecturer whose calm authority masks deep vulnerability. Richard seeks truth through philosophy and devotion, yet remains tethered to ego and doubt. He is both guide and seeker — articulate, composed, but quietly unravelling as his encounters with Joyce challenge the purity of his faith.
Character 2
Saul Green (Supporting)
Age
40-50s
Gender
Male
Description
Embodies quiet frustration and disconnection. A working-class husband whose life runs on habit and routine. Saul represents the rational, grounded world that begins to crumble as his wife turns toward mysticism. Beneath his stoic exterior lies confusion, love, and the ache of being left behind.
Character 3
Hilda (Supporting)
Age
50s-70s
Gender
Female
Description
A woman driven by faith and gentle conviction. A devoted believer who bridges the divide between the ordinary and the spiritual. Hilda’s warmth and sincerity make her a comforting presence, yet her unwavering belief gives her quiet authority. She reflects the purity and blindness of devotion.
Character 4
MAHARAJI-JI (Supporting)
Age
50-80s
Gender
Male
Description
Still and transcendent. A serene, wordless figure whose presence distorts the boundary between the sacred and the absurd. Maharaj-ji carries divine playfulness — a spiritual mirror for those who encounter him. Expressive through silence, breath, and subtle movement.
Character 5
Joyce Green
Age
30-40s
Gender
Female
Description
Embodies transformation and awakening. A suburban housewife whose search for control and clarity leads her into mysticism. Once defined by order and routine, Joyce becomes increasingly drawn to stillness, ritual, and the unseen. Her journey blurs the line between enlightenment and unraveling, capturing the quiet strangeness of spiritual change within domestic life.