Aparupa Banerjee
Audition
Trying out for lead role of Shormi in a podcast project referred to currently as Tiger Fire (open to name change).
My name is Sam Phelps from Australia and I make great things. I’m the director, producer and co-writer. I’m working with a girl from across the river from you who lives in the city of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. She’s a nobody, no one in particular. But she thinks in English despite never meeting a native English speaker! She see’s a completely different world but in ‘our’ words. I had to tell her story and find the intersection of what no Westerner would think to ask, and no Bengali would think to tell. I call them micro spectacles. With audio, I’ve been practicing for 10 years coming up with a concept of a ‘mental illness simulator’ but broadened it out to just using my sound making abilities to get people to feel like what others are feeling. This podcast will tell her story not just as events happen, but also the thoughts and feelings, we’ll get inside her head.
Hear what my skills are like so you know you’re working with someone who is serious and seriously good.
samuelphelps@hotmail.com to communicate with me outside of freelancer if you like.
What is this podcast about?
Shormi’s world has always been defined by rules; be the perfect student, obey your parents, conform to society’s expectations, do as you're told. But as troubling dreams and traumatic events begin to crack open her confined existence, she finds the courage to find her voice.
After the sudden death of her grandmother, Shormi is haunted by the realities of mortality and the oppression of being a woman in this ‘normal’ family. When a violent tragedy leaves her gravely injured, she must draw upon previously unknown inner strength to survive. When her family schemes to marry her off without her consent, Shormi is forced to confront the powers that have silenced her independence. Galvanized by rage, she stands up to their attempts to treat her as property, and stakes out a future on her own terms.
As her long-suppressed anger towards her parents comes to a head, Shormi takes drastic action to break free from their control and expectations, burning down the home that has become her prison. But where does reality end and her vivid imagination begin?
The listener is left to discern which occurrences stem from Shormi's haunted imagination and which ones actually took place.
Adrift and searching for meaning, Shormi retreats into a world of dreams and fantasy, where she does battle with the demons of her past and future.
A shy outcast navigating a world of rigid expectations.
Told in vivid, lyrical prose, this truth meets fiction coming-of-age story follows one woman’s journey to take control of her destiny.
At times unrelenting in its darkness, this podcast is based on a true story and is still being written.
Will Shormi reshape her world?
Can she find inner peace amidst chaos?
Or will she be trapped by destiny's design?
Audition info
We are seeing if you can be the voice actor (I wanted a real actor) for the lead role which is 90% of the words. For continuity reasons and perspective we’ll get you to record the other lines also but you don’t have to ‘act’ them like an audiobook voice over might. This script is a draft and the character is 12ish. It’s interesting because we need to time jump as the story goes on so you may need to see what it’s like to do different ‘ages’ we’re not too concerned, it doesn’t have to be ‘real’ it just has to be ‘believable’ (suspension of disbelief).
We’ve started searching all over and you’re the first we’re paying to audition because of your background and situation. We’re pretty excited to hear what you can do with the character.
Regarding audio recording, you can consult with me any time or test what you have available to you/understand how to do it and I’ll assess if it’s good enough for testing. We’ll provide better proper studio stuff if you get the role.
A question I love to ask talented people before starting any project is...
What conditions do you need to thrive?
I will take your answer very seriously.
You can ask as many questions as you like, you can have fun with it, make the role your own, you can suggest re-writes, adlibs etc so it's a very free role for you to try and make your own. If you're unsure, do multiple options or try things, see how you feel.
New version of audition script available (Uploaded 13-09-23)
Extra info
The less fun but Important stuff to mention
A part of this audition is not just your acting ability it's also your attitude, compatibility, communication and general energy. If we're going to be working together for a long time it can't just be us chasing you. You can pick your own date to complete - pick any date you like but you must stick to it.
On average every 1 min of audio should be about 15-30 mins of practice. Even in Australia 10 hours minimum for this draft script at that rate is still a really really good rate (more than what I make for 10 hour jobs and I'm top of my field).
What about after the audition?
We can work around your schedule and put some productions on pause if you have another job/big moment - this is huge for freelancers (I know from person experience)... The flexibility, the low pressure, freedom, autonomy, all gear paid for and a relaxed working environment/timeline but obviously we need to talk 'money'. We recognise opportunity cost (by saying yes to us you might sometimes need to say no to other things) and that you need to not only live, but thrive. The money from this audition buys you the time to have the best chance at understanding the character and finding your fit and we’ll talk more money after it’s completed. If you are the star I think you can be I have a figure in front of me to offer at the end of the audition but you're welcome to negotiate.
If you succeed we'll figure out a weekly or fortnightly pay structure for a year (with pauses when you have another job). It's a very flexible job and depending on how good you are, and being the same role won't take you long relative to other jobs and the energy level output won't be as harsh, especially after month 3 (being audio only is a big plus because you can do it anywhere anytime). And you'll also get significant quality gear and support that comes with it which you can keep forever (people pay me to solve their audio problems so you’ve got the best to support you).
I don't know much about you yet but I just let people know at the start, I'm no stranger to working with people overseas. I locally search for places to rent and understand the value of the dollar and cost of living locally so if you try and 'shake me down' I'll cut ties and move onto someone else. This project will not profit a cent in money so you'll be the most profitable by far regardless. Also if I suspect 'funny business' or just not professional, lies and deceit, we will cut ties. Thank you for understanding, I got a lot of outsiders trying to manipulate me, which I do understand I get why, but I don’t have to tolerate it.
Good luck and do whatever you need to do to nail that character!