Details
Union:
Union
Area of media:
Short Film
Network:
Paid?:
Yes
Rates:
ACTRA INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION AGREEMENT (AIP) - Please note that this short film has an AIP budget and is approved under the AIP agreement with all conditions and terms, with the rates assigned. All supporting roles in this short film are budgeted as local hires in Montreal. Please submit accordingly.
Deadline:
June 19, 2026
Shooting starts:
Aug 23, 2026
Shooting finishes:
Aug 25, 2026 2 Day Shoot - One weather contingency day on 25th.
Shooting locations:
Montreal and surrounding area.
Cities for response:
Montréal
Comments
Thank you for having your Performer self tape for the short film ‘The Water Between’. Written by Executive Producer Bill Robinson, this short film - adapted from his published short story, is designed with a festival-first trajectory, targeting premiere platforms such as Sundance, Cannes, and TIFF. It is an intimate, character-driven piece that unfolds over a single summer afternoon, told closely through the perspective of a young girl.
At its core, the film explores a quiet but profound moment of transition: a mother, facing her own mortality, attempts, through action rather than words, to prepare her daughters for a life that will continue without her. What begins as a simple outing gradually reveals itself as something deeper: an unspoken lesson in resilience, independence, and the necessity of confronting fear.
The film engages with universal themes of loss, separation, and emotional inheritance. It examines how strength is not taught directly, but absorbed, often in fleeting, unexpected moments. The goal is to create a piece that is both restrained and emotionally resonant, trusting the audience to find meaning in behavior, silence, and image rather than exposition.
We are seeking to position the film within top-tier festivals that champion nuanced, visually driven storytelling, with the aim of connecting with audiences through its subtlety, authenticity, and lasting emotional impact.
At its core, the film explores a quiet but profound moment of transition: a mother, facing her own mortality, attempts, through action rather than words, to prepare her daughters for a life that will continue without her. What begins as a simple outing gradually reveals itself as something deeper: an unspoken lesson in resilience, independence, and the necessity of confronting fear.
The film engages with universal themes of loss, separation, and emotional inheritance. It examines how strength is not taught directly, but absorbed, often in fleeting, unexpected moments. The goal is to create a piece that is both restrained and emotionally resonant, trusting the audience to find meaning in behavior, silence, and image rather than exposition.
We are seeking to position the film within top-tier festivals that champion nuanced, visually driven storytelling, with the aim of connecting with audiences through its subtlety, authenticity, and lasting emotional impact.
Storyline
Following a quiet medical reckoning, a mother’s impulsive trip to the lake pushes her youngest daughter toward a first act of courage, as fear, love, and freedom collide in a single summer afternoon.
Roles
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Lead | MOM | Female 35 - 45 Years old |
Description Composed, warm, and quietly withholding, she carries herself with a natural ease that masks exhaustion and something unspoken beneath. Not impulsive by nature, she lives within the boundaries expected of her, until, on this single summer day, she chooses to break from them. Faced with her own mortality, she reaches for a fleeting moment of freedom, both for herself and as a final, unspoken lesson to her daughters: to impart that with adversity comes strength.PRODUCTION NOTES: This role requires a performer with a valid driver's license, and who is a confident swimmer - able to do the backstroke; significant scenes are filmed outdoors at a lake in August with some being in the water. A certified lifeguard will be present at all times during water scenes. This role includes scenes requiring implied nudity, handled with care and absolute discretion, and full consent protocols in place. Details will be discussed with the actor prior to any filming. Nudity Rider required as per ACTRA. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Lead | MIA | Female 10 - 12 Years old |
Description Guarded and inward, Mia protects herself by resisting what she cannot control. Her fear, rooted in a past moment she refuses to revisit, manifests as defiance, withdrawal, and quiet observation. She watches more than she speaks, always measuring, always holding back. But beneath that resistance is a deep vulnerability, and over the course of a single afternoon, she is pushed, reluctantly, toward a first step in confronting both the water and the larger unknowns waiting ahead.PRODUCTION NOTES: This role requires a confident swimmer; one of the shoot dates will be filmed outdoors at a lake in August with some scenes being in the water. Mia enters the water in an undershirt and cartwheel shorts; water scenes are filmed in standing-level water and include floating. Wardrobe has been selected with age-appropriateness and comfort in mind, and all water scenes will be conducted with full discretion and care. A certified lifeguard will be present at all times during water scenes. A parent or guardian must also be present on set throughout. Nudity Rider required as per ACTRA. WARDROBE NOTES: Mia wears modest, age-appropriate 1990s summer clothing. She remains fully covered throughout, including in water scenes, wearing a T-shirt and cartwheel shorts/swim-safe underlayers. Outer Clothing: Oversized summer tee Cartwheel / Biker Shorts Sandals Water Scene: oversized T-shirt Swim-safe bloomers/bathing-suit bottoms. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Lead | NANCY | Female 12 - 15 Years old |
Description On the cusp of adolescence, Nancy moves between irritation and instinctive compassion. Sharp-tongued and dismissive on the surface, she masks her own awareness of the family’s fracture with humor and bite. Unlike Mia, she doesn’t resist what’s coming, she accepts it, even if she can’t articulate it. When it matters, her toughness gives way to patience, becoming the quiet bridge between mother and sister, guiding Mia forward where she cannot yet go alone.PRODUCTION NOTES: This role requires a confident swimmer; one of the shoot dates will be filmed outdoors at a lake in August with some scenes being in the water. Nancy enters the water in a sports bra and biker shorts; water scenes are filmed in standing-level water and include floating. Wardrobe has been selected with age-appropriateness and comfort in mind, and all water scenes will be conducted with full discretion and care. A certified lifeguard will be present at all times during water scenes. A parent or guardian must also be present on set throughout. Nudity Rider required as per ACTRA. WARDROBE NOTES: Nancy wears age-appropriate mid-1990s summer clothing. For water scenes, she remains in modest, time period-appropriate underlayers (sports bra/crop top and biker shorts), maintaining full comfort and conservative coverage throughout. Outer Clothing: Oversized 90s summer tee, tank, or cropped floral blouse/dress Denim shorts, biker shorts, or cotton shorts Sneakers or sandals Water Scene: Sports bra/crop top + biker shorts | ||