Since we've started the casting process for the film, I thought I would take some time to introduce them and show you just how awesome they are. I'm going to start with one of my lead actresses in the film: Lizet Benrey. She plays the mother in the magician family, and I think she's going to blow everyone away with the transformation into this character.

But a little background:
Lizet is actually from Mexico City, and is the daughter of painter Shirley Chernitsky. As a result, Lizet started her artistic career early in life, and was surrounded by artists that became a strong influence in her artistic life, and helped her develop her skills. She studied at the Universidad Iberamericana and Boston University, and got her BA in Visual Arts from the University of California, San Diego.

In her acting life, Lizet worked as a hostess and actress in television programs produced by Televisa Mexico, and acted in theater with Julio Castillo. She even appeared in several commercials, including one for Coca-Cola. More recently, she acted in a film titled Tea in a Thunder Cup, directed by Alison Williams. She has also performed in several art videos, including Secret Place, a collaboration with Michael Douglas Hawk, which has been shown in several countries as part of the Human Emotion Project.

Her artwork has bee exhibited in museums, cultural institutions, and art galleries across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia, and Europe, and has been awarded numerous art prizes in the process.

Always the creator, Lizet even makes films of her own, most recently a short film featuring surrealist painter Leonora Carrington (1917-2011) and Gabriel Weisz Carrington, as well as the documentary Shirley Chernitsky: El estallido de la imaginacion, which has been shown at various festivals and museums. She has also collaborated, directed, or performed in several art videos that are being shown in several countries as part of the Human Emotion Project.

Seriously, this woman is amazing. She even shot and edited our teaser for our Kickstarter campaign. Go check it out. Didn't she do a great job? I'd also highly recommend that you check out her website (www.lizetbenrey.com). She's got images of some of her paintings up there, and believe me, you want to see these.

I can't wait to capture her talents on film. Like all great artists, Lizet doesn't just do things halfway. She jumps in with both feet, heart and soul, and gives it everything she's got and doesn't rest until it's perfect. And I have to say, with that kind of passion, I don't have to be worried that she'll pull off a performance that none of you will ever forget. In our rehearsals so far, she's managed to give me goose bumps bringing this character to life. I just can't wait to share it with all of you.

When people talk about movies, the conversation inevitably rolls around to the quality of the acting. People talk about the actors more than they talk about the music, or the cinematography, or the costumes, and even the director. Alas, my role isn’t what people remember. It’s all those bright faces that make them believe.

So it should come as no surprise that casting the exact right people is vitally important to me. And given the distinct nature of my film, these actors have to be good. I mean, really fantastic. I don’t think of my actors as cattle (like Hitchcock), but as artists who will transform what I wrote on the page into living, breathing characters that you will think about, hate, love, admire, or fear long after the screen has gone dark.

This weekend I did just that. I watched talented people from all over San Diego stand in front of me and morph into people that had previously only existed in my imagination. Honestly, it gave me goosebumps. And these people were all very good at what they do. So good, that my decisions (which haven’t been finalized yet) are going to be difficult to make. But I’m glad that it’s difficult. It’s going to make the film really, truly amazing when they breathe life into the pages in front of them. I can’t wait!

On July 8 (6pm - 9pm)and July 9 (3pm - 6pm), I'll be holding casting sessions, with callbacks on July 16 (3pm - 6pm). They're going to be held at Media Arts Center San Diego (2921 El Cajon Blvd, 92104).

These are the roles that are being cast:

Female, appears 16-18, preferably Latina. Must have brown eyes. Lead role.
Supporting roles:
Female, appears 30-40s. Any ethnicity. 
Female, appears in 50s. Any ethnicity.
Male, appears 30-40s. Any ethnicity.
Male, appears 40-60s. Any ethnicity.
Male, appears 16-18. Any ethnicity.

Anyone who is interested in auditioning should email me at [email protected] to schedule a time/date. Be prepared to read a short monologue of your choosing and do a short cold read. Shooting dates will most likely be 4 days in August, but dates have not been nailed down. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message and ask.

Thanks!