You Still Here? is an indie short film shooting in May 2025 in Vancouver, BC! It’s a fun genre two-hander, and we’d love to see you submit for it!

Director: Shenee Howard

Logline: When aliens arrive, a burnt-out eldest daughter ignores evacuation orders and has a self-care day before the world ends—only to form an unexpected bond with her eerily calm neighbor.

Genre: Dark Comedy/Sci-fi 

ROLES:

NIA (Lead)

• Age: 25–35

• Ethnicity: Must be a person of color (POC)

• Description: Calm for everyone else, but crumbling inside. Detached from herself.Not manic or tightly wound—laid back, used to being the anchor for others.

• Performance Notes: Must be comfortable with scenes involving solo frantic pacing, emotional vulnerability, and implied self-pleasure (masturbation) without nudity. These scenes will be handled sensitively and privately and we will follow intimacy protocols.

• Emotional Arc: A burnt-out woman takes a break for the first time—and wrestles with whether she can actually let go.

CALVIN (Supporting Lead)

• Age: 25–35

• Ethnicity: Open to all ethnicities

• Description: Slightly offbeat, charming in a removed way—like he’s tuned into a different station than everyone else. Calm to the point of unsettling. Feels like a guy who’s maybe given up… until we realize he knows something we don’t.

• Performance Notes: Focused on small, subtle physical and emotional reactions. No intense stunts or major physical scenes.

• Emotional Arc: Through his strange connection with Nia, Calvin confronts his own alienation from humanity.

PROJECT DETAILS:

• Shooting Location: Vancouver, BC

• Shoot Dates: May 2025 (2-day shoot; exact dates TBD)

• Compensation: $150/day + meals + footage for reels

• Format: Intimate indie-style shoot, filmed on iPhone 16+ (high quality), small professional crew

📹 SELF-TAPE INSTRUCTIONS:

• Please submit a short self-tape reading the following sides. No fancy setup required — phone recordings are welcome.

• Feel free to have a friend lightly read the other character off-camera, OR just read it yourself with a pause.

• We're looking for naturalism, timing, and emotional connection — not perfect production!

Submission Deadline: May 1, 2025

Sides are below, or you can download the PDF here!

INT. APARTMENT BUILDING HALLWAY – DAY

NIA stands at her door, fumbling with her keys, her groceries carefully balanced in her arms. She drops one of the bags.

NIA

(pissed at the world)

Yeah, okay.

Her neighbor Calvin appears and helps pick up her bags with her.

NIA

Thanks.

CALVIN

No problem...

Awkward pause.

CALVIN

I haven't seen you around -- thought you'd moved or something.

NIA

Been staying with my mom for the last few days.

CALVIN

Oh, is someone sick?

NIA

Divorce. Everyone is adjusting. Mom doesn't know how to pay her bills so...

CALVIN

A fresh start, I guess?

NIA

Yeah, she just needs a lot of help.

CALVIN

Did you hear about the NASA thing? They apparently found something.

NIA

(mostly joking)

Oh, shit really? Like sperm looking organisms on Mars?

Calvin shakes his head a little, not following.

NIA

Cause like they are always saying there are aliens but it's just like sperm looking microscopic things under the surface. Not like an alien alien. Sperm.

Awkward but Calvin tries:

CALVIN

(unsure how to act)

I don't know. Maybe. I don't know the details. It could be sperm. On Mars.

Another awkward pause. Nia's phone rings, interrupting the silence.

NIA

Sorry...I should...

CALVIN

No, it's okay.

NIA

Okay, I’ll see you later.

NOTES:

• No nudity or explicit sex scenes.

• Implied intimacy portrayed via sound and performance only—no physical exposure required. No intimacy between the actors.

• We are committed to creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative set.