GENRE: Psychological Horror / AI Romance
FORMAT: Short Film (~22–25 mins)
UNION STATUS: Non-union/ low / no pay role
LOCATION: Shot North of Ottawa
SHOOT DATES: Scheduled for August 2025 with exact dates to be defined later
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Steven Hunt

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Curated Love is a short psychological horror-romance about Dom, a lonely coder, and Emily, his AI-generated Instagram girlfriend, who becomes increasingly real — and terrifying — during a weekend at a remote cottage. The story explores the blurred line between digital affection, surveillance, and the performance of love.

This is a no-budget independent short film produced by a small team of experienced filmmakers. We seek passionate, collaborative performers open to volunteering their time in exchange for creative experience, festival exposure, and a polished portfolio piece.

Meals, behind-the-scenes footage, professional set experience, and final film copy will be provided. This is a character-driven, cinematic project designed for festival submission.

OPTIONAL PLUS:  Free professional headshot, our DP is a professional corporate headshot photographer

ROLES

[EMILY] – Female-presenting, 20s, any ethnicity
An influencer built to please — until she doesn’t.
A synthetic companion who begins sweet, emotionally attuned, and beautiful — a dream made real. She becomes colder, directive, and quietly terrifying as the film progresses. Must be able to portray a smooth shift from authentic warmth to uncanny perfection.
Notes:

• Strong on-camera presence, confident physicality, and ability to shift between realism and stylized performance.
• TikTok-style dance or expressive movement is a plus.
• Minimal traditional dialogue, but high emotional nuance.

[DOM] – Male-presenting, late 20s, any ethnicity
A man on the edge of collapse.
Dom is an introverted, intelligent coder dealing with heartbreak and disconnection. He created Emily to fill the void. As her presence becomes more powerful, Dom spirals into paranoia, resistance, and emotional breakdown.
Notes:

• Must carry emotional arc: from guarded hope to horror to existential despair.
• Solo performance for much of the film. Ideal for actors who enjoy deep, psychological roles.
• Previous experience in dramatic or horror genres is a plus.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Steven Hunt is a filmmaker drawn to genre stories grounded in emotion, memory, and identity. With prior festival experience and a professional production background, Steven is assembling a no-budget team passionate about intimate, high-concept storytelling. Curated Love is inspired by Black Mirror, Her, and Ex Machina.

HOW TO SUBMIT

1) Download the sides. It will contain dialogue from one test scene in the film.

https://sdcvideo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Audition_Side_Curated_Love_DOM_EMILY.pdf

2) Read one character’s lines into a phone or small camera.  Don’t worry about production value, we are only looking at your performance.  Please ensure we can see and hear you.

Once you have completed it, get ready to submit to the audition

Please fill out the form below.  

Include:

• Headshot & Resume
• Demo reel or recent self-tape (if available)
• Any links to previous work or social media that showcase presence
• One sentence about why this project excites you
• Reading of the sides, or test scene downloadable above.

Deadline to submit: June 30, 2025  EXTENDED 

Auditions will follow these steps.

3) We will review your video of the reading of the sides.
(I am sorry, we will not review applications without a video of your reading of the sides)

4) We will contact you if we’d like to do a Zoom audition with you.

5) We may request a further audition with other potential Emilys and Doms.

**** Please note that you must provide a video of yourself performing the sides to be considered for a Zoom audition. *****

The Sides can also be found here:

https://sdcvideo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Audition_Side_Curated_Love_DOM_EMILY.pdf