Paton Productions and Miranda Davidson Casting will be holding an open casting session for the forthcoming short film The Dinner, tomorrow evening at Manarat Al Saadiyat, in collaboration with the CineMAS Film Festival. The festival also opens tomorrow night.
The comedy tells the story of Mariam, an Emirati arts graduate, who returns home after four years abroad with her male Korean friend Martin, and walks straight into the middle of a traditional Emirati gathering hosted by her famous butcher father.
The script is from Afana Abdulraoof Issa Alqasimi, the winner of last year’s Paton Productions Female Short Film Programme, and shooting is scheduled for May.
Nancy Paton, the award-winning, Abu Dhabi-based director and producer, who is developing a Saudi-shot drama starring Lindsey Lohan, will produce, while up-and-coming Saudi director Noura bint Hussam AlSaud, who Paton has been mentoring this year, will take charge of the shoot.
Then film’s producers are looking in particular for actors to fill three roles: Abdullah is in his fifties, and a traditional, proud Arab father with a larger-than-life personality and a dominant character. He's the best butcher in the region and knows it. Mariam’s grandmother is an Emirati woman in her late sixties, very traditional and only speaks Arabic. She's proud of her butcher son and his daughter Mariam. Martin is a Korean animal-lover in his twenties and a close friend of Mariam.
Paton says that the role of Martin is proving particularly tricky to fill: “We are having difficulties finding Koreans," she says. Having the Korean character makes the story funnier due to the K-pop references and the cultural difference it poses, and that is why we are keen to find someone.”
No acting experience is needed as training will be provided. What is essential, says Paton, is “a love for film and an interest in trying out acting.”
Interested candidates should head to Manarat Al Saadiyat from 5pm tomorrow night. The session is open, although you may reserve a place by emailing manaratalsaadiyat@dctabudhabi.ae.
