IRELAND/UK: actors (m/f) 25-50, English spkrs, for feature film in Ireland [E]
project title: The Great Irish Famine
production type: feature film
pay: expenses
looking for: actors
based in/around: England/Ireland/Wales/Scotland
about the project
Casting The Great Irish Famine, a low budget feature film written and directed by Omer Sarikaya. The film is about love, jealousy, betrayal, hope and honour. It tells the true facts of the Ottomans helping Ireland during their time of need, a true story that many people are unaware of. The dramatisation around the facts takes you inside the lives and minds of some good people and some bad people and as this story will show – the good guy doesn’t always win.
SYNOPSIS: A story of true love. All Mary wants in life is to be loved and understood and unfortunately she meets James who only understands what he wants and will step on anyone who gets in his way. Mary sees no way out of this doomed, relationship. When the Irish famine begins everything changes. When the Ottoman Empire hears about the devastation the Sultan deliberates over the matter until his Jewish friend reminds him of the support the Ottoman gave to the Jews during the Edict of Expulsion. He then decides that his country will help Ireland in their crisis. It is when he sends some of his men over to Ireland that Mary meets Fatih and her life completely changes. Because she now knows what true love is. It is agreed that Ottoman will send 5 ships of food in secret to Ireland and Faith makes this his opportunity to take Mary back with him and live with her in wedded bliss in Ottoman. If only James had not overheard their plans then Mary would have had a life of happiness but now that he has he will do anything to stop them and when his first plan of getting the ships blocked to dock fails he does the ultimate sin and announces that the ship Fatih is in is an enemy ship and orders it to be blown up. Mary has to stand and watch all this happen in front of her very own eyes and knows life will never be the same.
Filming in Ireland/Drogheda in May or September 2024.
Unpaid roles but some expenses covered (please check with Production).
playing age: 25 - 50
role languages: English
f, 23 - 25, speaking English as native speaker, based in Ireland or UK
Mary Kennedy is a kind, gentle and loving young girl. She is sweet natured, extremely hard working and helpful at home. She is a big dreamer, lover of nature and a talented poet. Mary works at the docks in Drogheda cooking and cleaning. When Mary is not at work, then she looks after her younger brother John, and she is fall in love with an Ottoman sailor called Fatih.
ROLE: FATIH (Male Lead)
m, 25-30, speaking English as native speaker, based in Ireland or UK
Fatih is an Ottoman sailor who during the Great Famine falls in love with Mary. He is full of compassion and mercy and a man who doesn't give up on life. He fights with all his heart to help the people of Ireland and finally he loses his life against bad people.
ROLE: KATHLEEN (Supporting)
f, 25-30, speaking English as native speaker, based in Ireland or UK
Kathleen Kennedy, she is Mary’s older sister. She is sentimental and struggles to hold it together in hard times. She is an idealist who does not give up.
ROLE: ELIZABETH (Supporting)
f, 25-30, speaking English as native speaker, based in Ireland or UK
She is the Commissioner’s daughter. Her father makes her work at the docks with Mary. She is very flirtatious, attractive and beautiful. She likes to get her own way and usually she succedes. She is deceiving and sly. She always mean to Mary, and jealous of her
ROLE: PATRICK (Supporting)
m, 25-30, speaking English as native speaker, based in Ireland or UK
He is a cousin of the Kennedy family and a farmer whose father depends on. He looks out for the Kennedy family and is supportive of the community. He is a fiery character, bold, energetic and active. Always trying to better the rights of the Irish farmers by standing up to the English.
ROLE: JAMES (Male Lead)
m, 30-35, speaking English as native speaker, based in Ireland or UK
James is an English Captain, a soldier with a reputation for pushing his way to the top and taking no nonsense from anyone. He is cruel and manipulative. He is determined to have Mary as his wife He is the kind of person who acts out of jealousy and torments all peoples of Ireland.
ROLE: CAPTAIN (Supporting)
m, 40-45, speaking English as native speaker, based in Ireland or UK
He is an Ottoman Captain chosen by Sultan Abdulmecit to lead a mission to Ireland. He is honourable, strong sensitive and a merciful leader.
ROLE: COMMISSIONER (Supporting)
m, 45-50, speaking English as native speaker, based in Ireland or UK
He is The English Commissioner and tries his best to help the locals in Drogheda. He is saddened by the lack of aide from England despite his reports on the severity of the situation. He likes to keep things in order and under control but he can also be easily deceived
