WHAT: Lowndes County (feature film)
WHEN: June 6-30
WHERE: Columbus
ROLES:
- Arlene (“Leeny”) is a vibrant African-American 18-year-old. Leeny is a city girl, born and raised in “the city” of Sandfield. She is the girlfriend of one of the two main characters. She is sharp in mind and sharp in appearances; vivacious, knowing, in addition, she is confident and wise.
- Rhee is an African-American school chum of the lead character “Borne”. Both Rhee and her friend Vanessa look up to Borne because she is the top student in their class. They are smart but not on Borne’s level. She is playful and in that space between playing more childhood games and teenager activities. She is often practicing reciting French.
- Vanessa is an African-American school chum of the lead character “Borne”. Both Vanessa and her friend Rhee look up to Borne because she is the top student in their class. They are smart but not on Borne’s level. She is playful and in that space between playing more childhood games and teenager activities. She is often practicing reciting French
- Curtis is super cute, an African-American senior in high school. The handsome Curtis catches Borne’s eye.Â
- Sunbay (“Atri) is a tall, lanky African-American, 18-year-older, 5’10” and over). He attends Hunt High School. He probably is a junior in high school. Most of the county teenage boys graduated at 19 or 20 because they had to work. He is another experienced school bus driver. He drives students to Hunt High. Sunbay’s bus is a bit newer than the other buses driven by Black students.
- Pleas is an African-American “teenage” school bus driver.
- Archie is an African-American “teenage” school bus driver.
- MARSHALL WEATHERSPOON is a 40 something African-American landscaper from the neighboring county and owns a landscaping business. Curtis works with him.
- POKEY is a lanky African-American farm hand in his early 30s. He is the type of guy who would lose his whole paycheck gambling.
- BLUSTERING HUSTLER is a lanky African American man in his late 20’s-early 30s, the type of guy who dampens a dice game because he is always talking trash.
- COUNTY BUS MECHANIC is a white man in his 40’s-early 50’s who oversees buses that need repairs that come to the bus depot in Sandfield. He is impatient with the African-American students.
- MS. PEARL is an African-American woman in her 70’s/early 80’s, she talks to “Borne” as she sits on the porch sewing.
Information needed from actors:
- Name
- Current City/State of Residence
- Height
- Phone Number
- SAG-AFTRA/Union or Non Union
- One head & shoulders picture
- One full length picture
Deadline date for actors to submit: May 16
The filmmakers can’t wait to discover local talent in the area and work with you on this feature film by a critically acclaimed visual artist and filmmaker and co-written by an award winning playwright. It is based on the experiences of the filmmaker’s own family in Columbus in the late 1950s.
As Lowndes County is a period piece set in Columbus, Mississippi in the late 1950’s and the characters will not be wearing hats or other head coverings, the filmmakers would need to cast performers without locks (or who are willing to cut their hair).
For the roles of students and the bus drivers, they ask for ’18-tly’ (looking younger, but over 18).
For the roles of Pleas, Archie, and Sunbay (“Atris), if cast, you must have a drivers license and a clean driving record.
The role of Arlene (“Leeny”) would be booked for two days, the rest of the characters are one-day hires.
The production prefers local hires from Columbus and nearby towns in the region (e.g. Starkville, West Point, Tupelo)
The rate of pay is SAG-AFTRA ultra low budget rate ($241/day).
Please submit to lowndes2025film@gmail.com
