Chess Video Instructor Audition

Hello! We’re looking for actors to play a few different archetypes for a series of comedic chess instructional videos. Each of these videos will be about two minutes long, and will teach a certain chess concept (like forks, how the pieces move, etc.). These videos are meant, more than anything, to be entertaining to kids, so you don’t need to have a comprehensive understanding of chess – you just need to be awesome in front of the camera (and very comfortable with improv, which will be an integral part of the performance!)

Archetypes:

The Knight:

Overly noble, dramatic (can never tell a lie)
Chess etiquette, honor (saying good game, not knocking pieces off the board etc.)
Can only move around like a knight on a checkerboard floor.

Substitute teacher:
Barely understands what’s happening
Mispronounces chess terms confidently
Accidentally stumbles into brilliant moves
Tries to maintain control while the board collapses

Conspiracy theorist
Thinks every pawn move is part of a secret government plot
Has strings and arrows connecting random squares
Correctly predicts tactics for completely insane reasons

Believes bishops are “working together”

Guitar Riff Guy

Punctuates explanations with wicked guitar riffs and occasional power chords
If actor has long hair or uses wig, could be played with hair always obscuring face
Could be played as “stoner” if no direct references to drugs
Could play culturally appropriate music to the ethnicity of the particular opening or tactic

Kind, but Extremely Aggressive Grandma (or Grandpa)

Gentle voice, homemade cookies, knits between moves
Absolutely explodes the board with bombastic tactics.
“Hold still, dearie. This fork won’t hurt a bit.”
“Everybody deserves a second chance,” “Really?” “No, not in this position”

SHOOTING INFO
Shooting Days: We are going to be shooting videos every Sunday from 9 AM to 1 PM, starting most likely in mid July and ending in the distant future. You do not need to commit to all Sundays, since each video will feature at most two archetypes, and the ones listed are not comprehensive.

Location: We’ll be shooting in a makeshift studio space most likely at my house, which is in Aurora, right next to Denver.

Compensation: We offer $80.00 per gig (Sunday shoots, 4 hours from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm), as well as snacks and water on set. You will also get a final edited video for your reel.

AUDITION INFO

We will be hosting auditions at the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center (7675 E Union Ave
Denver, CO 80237) on Sunday, June 28th, from 9 AM to 3 PM. If you are available at that time, kindly sign up here

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4AA2DA2F9C25-64447393-chess

Let us know what 10 minute window works best, as well as what archetypes you’d like to audition for (can be more than one).

If you cannot make it during that time, that is totally OK! We also have a remote audition option. If you would like to audition remotely, or if you have any questions, kindly email jakewunger@gmail.com and let me know!

Thank you very much!
Jake Unger
https://jakeunger.carrd.co/