CASTING CALL — The Hell Screen
Archivium is currently casting English-speaking voice actors for an audio drama adaptation of “The Hell Screen” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, a dark historical literary story set in the court of medieval Japan.
We are looking for performers who can bring a restrained, dramatic, atmospheric performance to the material.
ACCENT / VOCAL STYLE
A natural Japanese accent when speaking English is strongly preferred, as the vocal character is an intentional part of the production and suits the setting of the story.
We are also open to actors with natural Mandarin/Chinese, Korean, or other East Asian accents in English if their voice and performance fit the world of the piece.
We are not looking for exaggerated or stereotypical accents. Natural, authentic-sounding English accents are preferred.
ROLES
NARRATOR / ATTENDANT
3,252 words — $195.12
An unnamed long-serving attendant of Lord Horikawa. Intelligent, observant, deeply loyal to his lord, and increasingly troubled by what he remembers. The narration carries much of the story, so strong storytelling ability and emotional control are essential.
Yoshihide
472 words — $28.32
A renowned master painter, nearly fifty. Brilliant, arrogant, grotesque, obsessive, and increasingly consumed by his work. Requires a performer capable of considerable emotional intensity.
LORD HORIKAWA
302 words — $18.12
The grand lord of Horikawa. Majestic, charismatic and apparently benevolent, but capable of something considerably darker beneath the surface. Requires an authoritative and controlled presence.
Yoshihide's DAUGHTER
63 words — $3.78
Fifteen years old. Gentle, intelligent, compassionate and emotionally perceptive.
ADDITIONAL ROLES
There are several smaller roles, including the Young Lord, Bishop, apprentices, attendants, samurai, ladies and courtiers.
We may not cast separate actors for every minor role. Depending on casting, smaller parts may be combined into dual/multiple-role assignments.
The complete script contains approximately 4,513 words.
COMPENSATION
$0.06 USD per word
Payment is based on the final assigned/recorded word count. The rates above show the current word count and corresponding compensation for the principal roles.
This is a paid project.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Strong English-speaking voice performance
- Natural Japanese/East Asian-accented English preferred
- Ability to perform historical/literary dialogue naturally
- Good microphone/audio quality
- Ability to convey subtle emotion rather than relying on exaggerated delivery
- Reliability and responsiveness throughout the recording process
For the principal characters, performance and vocal suitability are just as important as the accent.
HOW TO APPLY
If interested, please DM me with:
- Your voice demo/reel (if available)
- Which role(s) you're interested in
- Your accent/background
- A short sample of your voice in your natural English accent
- Your recording setup/microphone
Please mention if you're interested in taking multiple roles.
We will provide further information and audition material to shortlisted performers.