Epic
Feature Film
SAG
Producers: Eric Watson, Houston Hill, Tibaut Bowman
Writer/Director: Charles Burmeister
Associate Producers: Macy McBeth, Marianna Gose
Casting Director: Chadwick Struck
Start Date: Fall 2009
Locations: Texas and Mexico
Roles will be paid. Please send submissions (headshot and resume) to epicmotionpicture@gmail.com.
Role has been CAST - [MITCH] A teenaged boy, with unkempt hair and scuffed boots, "a raw dog," cool within his skin, alert to the life around him, smart, close to the vest, a survivor, Mitch leaves his dysfunctional home after the accidental death of his beloved little sister, and winds up in Mexico, living with a group of boys under the suspect authority of The Captain, who has them believing they're part of a renegade "war on drugs" unit. A natural leader who quickly earns the respect of The Captain and the boys for his toughness and his courage, Mitch assesses his opportunities for escape while maintaining his equilibrium within The Captain's ranks--which grows increasingly harder as their "jobs" become more dangerous and more of his young comrades lose their lives. Ultimately, Mitch wins a fight to the death with The Captain, and makes his way back to the States, to an unfamiliar place that has come to mean "home" to him...LEAD (2)
Role has been CAST - [THE CAPTAIN] 35-60, Caucasian, tall, confident, with broad shoulders and the sparkle of pure charisma in his eye, wearing khakis and a blue First Airborne Ranger's hat, The Captain has turned his back on the U.S. and now lives in comparable ease in a small compound in the scrub country near the Rio Grande. Compelling, articulate, with a grand turn of phrase, his fundamental craziness fairly well hidden, The Captain is "training" a group of young, lost boys like Mitch to be his own personal "War on Drugs" unit--at least, that's what he tells them; in fact, The Captain is using the boys for his own purposes, either to feed his own egoism or just provide him with good cocaine. Impressed with Mitch's fearlessness and integrity, The Captain is also somewhat wary of him, knowing that he may have met his match in this quiet, tough
boy...LEAD
Role has been CAST - [JESSE] 17, Caucasian, street smart, Jesse is one of The Captain's boys, a run-away who has the strange combination of being stupid, but assumes he's just as smart as everyone else. Having completely bought into The Captain's story, Jesse picks up on Mitch's situation and enthusiastically talks up The Captain to him, arranging a meeting that results in Mitch's being brought to the compound. Willing and eager to go off on the "jobs" the Captain has lined up for them, Jesse is the first of the group to lose his life when things don't go as planned...LEAD (11)
[BENITO] 15, a sweet, naive Mexican kid who is still in awe of the world, thinking it's all a grand adventure, Benito is another of The Captain's kids, who's bought into the story that they're all training to fight the good fight against the drugs dealer. Enthusiastic, a little goofy, on occasion startlingly cold-blooded (as when he steals the silk shirt off a man the boys have just killed on The Captain's orders), Benito quickly develops an affection and admiration for Mitch after Mitch goes to bat for him and winds up severely punished in a solitary hot box (where Benito risks punishment himself by bringing Mitch food and water). Like the other boys, Benito is disturbed by the loving letter found on the dead man, which triggers his own vulnerability and sadness, and he looks to Mitch for a certain measure of comfort and safety...LEAD (22)
[PAUL WHITESALL] 19, Caucasian, he's a racist skinhead with a scarred scalp, eager to fight anyone, whether it's a drug runner or one of the other boys. A strong presence in the group, Paul is responsible for the fatal shot that ultimately kills their first "drug dealer" (apparently an innocent man), and like the others, Paul is disturbed and affected by the loving letter
found in the dead man's pocket. Paul gradually begins to change after that, letting his hair grow, developing a sort of obsessive-compulsive behavior, and spending the "jobs" watching serenely as the mayhem unfolds around them...LEAD (22)
[CAMARILLO] 22, The Captain's lieutenant, a Mexican whose mustache is still thin from youth, Camarillo is the closest thing to a man in this young bunch, and he's got something to prove. He's going to do it by alternately kissing The Captain's ass on the one hand and coming down hard on the boys on the other. Unquestioningly loyal to The Captain, Camarillo is tough and uncompromising, and determined to keep his position...LEAD (22)
[JACK] 14, an angry, cocky kid who likes blowing stuff up--firecrackers, homemade bombs, or just sketching out explosions on his paper pad--Jack is one of The Captain's boys, who confides proudly to Mitch that The Captain is his daddy. Also proud of the 17-shot Glock that he chose out of The Captain's stash, Jack, despite his youth, goes with the guys on several of their missions--on one of which he loses his life...LEAD (23)
[ALYSSA] Caucasian, brunette, 18 or 20 tops, seductive, self-absorbed, a born troublemaker from San Antonio, Texas, Alyssa is The Captain's girlfriend, whom he brings back to his house, much to the fascination of his boys. Though she genuinely seems to like (or at least tolerate) The Captain, Alyssa is clearly attracted to Mitch, and deliberately goads him into a sexual liaison with her, despite the danger from The Captain. Later, Alyssa is named as a material witness in the
gang's last shootout, and is picked up by her worried parents at the police station...LEAD (59)
[NAYLOR] A dumb red-headed teenage boy who makes up for everything with enthusiasm, he's Mitch's friend back home in Texas. Unaware of the tragedy that's just transpired in Mitch's life, Naylor convinces Mitch to drive them both across the border to Nuevo Laredo to "get some hookers. Drive around." Once in a Nuevo Laredo bar, Naylor wastes no time getting
what he's after, but he winds up fleeing the scene and leaving Mitch with the bill...LEAD (4)
[BRAD] 24, Caucasian, Brad is a successful businessman in a Mexican city who, according to The Captain, is a no-good drug dealer who's responsible for the death of a young girl. Kidnapped by Camarillo, Mitch and the rest of the gang, Brad is incredulous at their ineptitude but is forced to give up his clothes, wallet and pin number before being fatally shot by
Paul...9 lines, 2 scenes (44)
[MITCH'S MOM] The mother of 17 year old Mitch and 7 year old Beth, she's a troubled woman who's having a dysfunctional relationship with her boyfriend (Ron). She's clearly a self-absorbed, neglectful mother...5 lines, 2 scenes (3)
[RON/MOM'S BOYFRIEND] Mitch's mom's boyfriend, he's in a dysfunctional relationship with her and seems to have no relationship at all with her kids. In the midst of a humiliating fight with Mitch's mom, he throws her furious little daughter, Beth, off his back, accidentally killing her...6 lines, 2 scenes (3)
[BETH] Mitch's 7 year old little sister, she's a tough little girl (who already smokes), but in the face of their mother's neglect she obviously relies on Mitch for comfort and safety. She is accidentally killed when she tries to intervene in a fight between her mother and her mother's boyfriend...3 lines, 3 scenes (4)
[BARTENDER] This bartender in a Nuevo Laredo bar/brothel arranges with Naylor to go with one of the three prostitutes...7 lines, 1 scene (10)
[PROSTITUTE] This Mexican prostitute working a bar in Nuevo Laredo sidles up to Mitch and asks if he wants to party...1 line, 1 scene (11)
[ALFREDO] This thin Mexican man with sinewey muscles and a slick mustache curled up on the ends is the pimp who works the prostitutes in the Nuevo Laredo bar. He's furious when Naylor leaves after partaking without paying, and he holds Mitch responsible for the remaining sum--which he jacks up to a few hundred dollars. He makes a sorry attemt at a shakedown and winds up with the contents of Mitch's wallet...3 speeches & 14 lines, 1 scene (12)
[PORN WOMAN] This chubby Mexican woman in a miniskirt is seen in a low-rent porn video...3 lines, 1 scene (49)
[BOTH GUYS] These two Mexican guys appear with the Porn Woman in a low rent porn video...1 line, 1 scene each (49)
[BODYGUARD] This Mexican bodyguard is allegedly a drug dealer caught in a confrontation with Mitch and The Captain's boys. He demands to see their badges, and appears both confused and belligerent about the situation...6 lines, 1 scene (71) SPEAKS SPANISH
[GANGSTER] This gangster--an alleged drug dealer--is also in the car with the bodyguard when they get stopped by Mitch and The Captain's boys on a mission. Incredulous at the situation, the gangster takes out his gun and shoots Jesse, then sprints back into the truck and takes off...1 line, 1 scene (73)
[NEWS REPORTER] This Spanish news reporter reports on a broad-scale offensive launched this month against the cartels, then later reports on the confiscation of a large amount of cocaine, weapons and cash by the police...2 speeches, 2 scenes (78)
[POLICE] This Spanish police officer with the Federal Police identifies himself in a shootout with Camarillo...1 line, 1 scene (97) SPEAKS SPANISH
[OLD LADY] This old lady in a red apron is a Walmart greeter who greets Mitch as he comes in...1 line, 1 scene (118)
[FEMALE EMPLOYEE] This female Walmart employee approaches the disreputable looking Mitch, with her manager behind her. She's confused but polite...2 lines, 1 scene (119)
[MANAGER] This Walmart manager oversees how his female employee handles the disreputable looking Mitch in the store...1 line, 1 scene (119)
[SECURITY GUARD] This security guard at Walmart politely asks the disreputable looking Mitch if he plans to buy the boots that he's trying on...1 line, 1 scene (119)
[MOTHER] The middle-aged mother of Brad (the businessman who was shot and killed by The Captain's boys), a woman who is used to being pleasantly surprised by her kids, she is a warm, loving person who welcomes Mitch into her house...3 lines, 1 scene (121)
[THE FATHER] The father of Brad (the young businessman who was shot by The Captain's boys), he is confused by Mitch's unexpected arrival at his house, but is ultimately welcoming...1 line, 1 scene (122)
[THE GIRL] This 7 year old girl is the little sister of Brad (the young businessman who was killed by The Captain's boys), who joins her parents in making Mitch feel at home...1 line, 1 scene (122)
SYNOPSIS: A disillusioned teen named Mitch runs away to Mexico, where he's recruited to be a soldier in the para-military force run by The Captain – a ruthless American who has set up his own kingdom on his large ranch. The Captain has assembled a motley platoon of teens, who are, in his words, “too young to fear death, just old enough to like the taste." And he uses the ranch as a base to launch attacks on Mexican drug lords in the name of the F.B.I., all the while keeping the spoils of the raids to himself. The Captain takes a shine to Mitch, grooming him to be the top soldier in his army. And Mitch falls in love with The Captain’s girlfriend, the beautiful and mysterious Alyssa. Unable to deny his attraction for her, Mitch risks his life to begin a covert affair. As the drug raids become more bloody and the Mexican police are closing in, Mitch realizes that his only way out is to escape back cross the Rio Grande to America. But can he find a way to take Alyssa and a stolen suitcase full of cash with him? First, he must outwit The Captain.
