Casting Call: Syrian Family

Hello all,

we are casting for a unique project that means more than our usual fun and games - not that art isn't important! 

We are producing a video series with Mennonite Central Committee that will help refugee sponsors navigate the complex and rewarding challenge of supporting new Canadians in a difficult time. We are so proud of Canada's response to this crisis and we are honoured to be doing our part. Your participation is a huge part of making this powerful, inspiring, and informative series that will help so many sponsors and refugees alike!

1) We are looking for a family or individuals who can share their own experience as a Syrian refugee, what that process was like, what the resettlement process in Canada was like. Also - what they miss about their home in Syria, the people, culture, the food, the land etc. From these first-hand accounts, we will script a voice-over that is representative of real experiences.

Edit: We have found our actors!
2) We are looking for a family cast to represent a Syrian family. *We are NOT looking for newly arrived refugee families* We'd prefer if you are established and comfortable in Canada, you speak both Arabic and English, and have your own transportation. 

- Father (35 - 55 yrs)

- Mother (35 - 55 yrs)

- Kids (6 - 15 yrs)

We will be filming mini 'scenes' to add visual texture to the resource videos. Here are some examples of images that we'd like recreate with video:

Time commitment will depend but we're looking at two days of shooting spread out over a number of days in January.

Email ken@roscofilms.com for more details or if you have any questions. Thank you!

The Elmira Case - SOLD OUT!

1. Huge "thank you" to all of you who came out to see THE ELMIRA CASE Canadian premiere at the Grand River Film Festival on Wednesday, Nov. 4th! There was a great showing and made extra special with the reunion of Russell Kelly and Mark Yantzi, two of the stars of the film.

Ken and Jon introduce the film at GRFF at the splendid Apollo Cinema.

2. Our second screening at the epic Apollo Cinema hosted by our production partners Community Justice Initiatives on Thursday November 19th, 7pm is SOLD OUT!! That's over 300 tickets sold and a waiting list of at least 50 people. Thank you for your support! 

Fortunately, if you haven't got your tickets yet, there are two more FREE screenings set up with special guests and "co-stars" of the film, Mark Yantzi and Russ Kelly:

- Friday, November 20th

4pm - 6pm.

St. Jerome's University, University of Waterloo

Siegfried Hall, Room 302

- Thursday, November 26th

10am - 11am

Conestoga College Doon Campus, Blue Room

(Go in through Door 4 at "B" Wing and follow through to cafeteria)

The Elmira Case - Canadian Premiere at Grand River Film Festival!

We're thrilled to announce that our short documentary THE ELMIRA CASE is making it's Canadian premiere at Grand River Film Festival!  We love that this local story which still making waves internationally years later, is premiering within the community that started it all.

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THE ELMIRA CASE will be screening on Wednesday, November 4th at 7:00pm together with the winner of the Best Canadian Feature Documentary at HotDocs, Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World (dir. Charles Wilkinson)

World Premiere: PIT at Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival!

Every once in a while, we get lucky with a story. PIT was written, shot, and screened within two months and it's one of our strongest creative efforts yet.

In September, PIT premiered at Cinéfest - the second consecutive year in which one of our films premiered at this festival! Cinéfest being one of the top festivals in Canada and the envy of every city trying to establish a film scene, we are honoured that they took a chance on us again.

Lindsay Stewart as the intrepid romantic, Harvey.

Jennifer Gough co-stars as the bewildered and beautiful Wanda.

Fantastic cast doing weird things.

Casting Call: Commercial!

Four engaging people of various ages for a short commercial spot for a non-profit. You will each have one, possibly two short lines. Must be comfortable with live animals (not a lot, but a chicken is featured)! You are helping to make the world a better place and you’re excited about it!

One-day shoot in late May, early June. Location TBA in Kitchener-Waterloo area. Local talent with own transportation is an asset. Small flat fee will be paid to each actor.

Female, aged 50 - 75 yrs, any ethnicity.

Female, aged 15 - 25 yrs, any ethnicity.

Male, aged 50 - 75 yrs, any ethnicity.

Male, aged 15 - 75 yrs, any ethnicity.

Please send in your photos and/or reel to: casting[at]roscofilms.com by Saturday May 30th.

THE ELMIRA CASE Premiere at Peace On Earth Film Festival!

The Elmira Case - Official Trailer from Jonathan Steckley on Vimeo.

Film Festivals are awesome. Especially when they're screening our film! Last weekend, Jonathan and I drove down to Chicago for a short weekend to screen our short doc, The Elmira Case. We shot it last year and finished it late 2014 (more or less, with a few tweaks to do). We produced it in partnership with Community Justice Initiatives, a local restorative justice organization that was created in the aftermath of the Elmira Case in 1974.

It's been a very rewarding experience producing this short and seeing how this small case in a small town started a revolution that is changing the world, one case at a time.

Stay tuned on our facebook page for the Canadian premiere this summer/fall!

Casting call - MONTRÉAL: Supporting Cast

A few more important parts for our short film MONTRÉAL, shooting end of February/early March in Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario. Email us at casting@roscofilms.com with a picture of yourself!

Lady In Line, any ethnicity (40-60 yrs) - A few speaking lines.  Gently but persistently reminds the two bickering gentlemen in front of her in line that they can move up a bit. (Small, but important comedic role!)

Granddaughters (3), any race, age 17-25yrs. Granddaughters of STANLEY, showing happy times with Grandpa. We'll need you for a photoshoot with STANLEY (See inspiration below).

Brian (1), any race, age 17-25yrs. Grandson of STANLEY. We'll also need you for a photo shoot with Grandpa. Own hockey gear/uniform a plus (for photo shoot).

BACKGROUND:
2 men, 2 women, any ethnicity, (30 + years). Waiting in line at the Post Office. (If you ever wanted to be in a film but not wanting the harsh spotlight on you, this is the role for you!)

The Volunteer DVDs & Blu-Rays have arrived!

Post by Rosco Films.

Seems incredible that 28 days of shooting principal photography, followed by three months editing a rough cut, followed by four months editing to picture lock, followed by six months of false starts with sound editing, followed by six months of score composition, followed by a month of sound editing, all comes down to a little round disk that is 12cm in diameter and 1.2mm thick!

Initially we were planning on releasing only HD digital downloads but you, our fans, wanted hard copies so we are delivering hard copies!

DVDs are $20CAD + tax ($22 cash)
Blu-Rays are $25CAD + tax ($28 cash).

*Twenty percent of your purchase will go to our friends at Ray of Hope who help those struggling with crime, addiction, or homelessness! They know well both the joys and frustrations of the 'volunteer' spirit.

There are a number of special features included in the DVD/Blu-Rays:
- feature-length commentary
- behind-the-scenes reel
- previously unreleased short film VANCOUVER which plays as a bit of a prequel to THE VOLUNTEER both in terms of story and production.

Email us or reach out on facebook to buy yours today! If do not live in Waterloo Region, please buy your copy at our online store so we can ship it to you!

Thanks again for all of your support!

Casting Call: MONTRÉAL - UPDATED!

We're in pre-production of our next short film, MONTRÉAL! If you or anybody you know fits any of these descriptions, please send in a couple photos of yourself and if possible, a reel/clips of your work to casting [at] roscofilms [dot] com. 

We're looking to shoot in late February or early March in Kitchener,ON, Canada, with some rehearsal beforehand; especially with our lead, Stanley. Thanks for your help!

Synopsis

When Stanley receives a call from someone claiming to be his grandson, he doesn’t hesitate to send him $2000 to free him from a Montreal prison.

STANLEY (65 – 80 yrs), any ethnicity– An endearing mix of eccentricity and naiveté. Nothing is more important to him than his family and his grandchildren in particular. Ideally, not taller than 5'6" or so (location has height limitations!).

ROGER (65-80 yrs), any ethnicity - Wealthy, successful, and arrogant. He brags about how generous he is to his family. Shows little respect to people in general.

ELIZABETH ("LIZZY") (35 – 45 yrs), any ethnicity (same ethnicity as STANLEY), VOICE ONLY– Loves her father STANLEY, proud of her 16-20yr-old son, BRIAN.

"BRIAN" (17 - 25 yrs), any ethnicity, VOICE ONLY - Calls STANLEY to ask for money to bail him out of jail. A fraudster, but not a very good one.

The Volunteer and the Official Soundtrack is available to buy!

To our many supporters out there who couldn't make it to our screenings in Sudbury, Waterloo, and Guelph, THE VOLUNTEER is now available to download (legally!).

Check out our online store at buy.thevolunteerfilm.com to download an HD copy to watch on your computer or through a streaming device of your choice to your TV. OR, if you're old-school, pre-order a DVD or Blu-Ray! If you are local to Waterloo Region, don't bother ordering through Pay-pal, just contact us through email or facebook to pre-order and we'll get it to you without shipping charges.

"Ambient, contemplative, at times dark, this soundtrack is the perfect accompaniment to a rainy day."

The "exquisite" official soundtrack to The Volunteer by our good friend and genius Brian MacMillan is available to download HERE.

If you were one of our many supporters through our successful IndieGoGo campaign, you will have received an email by now with a promo code to claim your free download(s). Enjoy!

*Update! There is one more screening scheduled in partnership with Grand River Film Festival and the Wilfred Laurier University Film Studies program, in February 2015 - stay tuned!