UNDER JAKOB'S LADDER

>>> send an email submission
underjakobsladder@cubecity.org

movie premise

When Jakob is unjustly locked up in a Soviet prison, he discovers that the freedom he craves can actually be found within the walls of his prison cell.

setting

Village and Prison in the Soviet Ukraine
  c.1930-1940

list of roles

In the Prison...



• JAKOB / male / caucasian / 50-65 / a frustrated teacher/preacher still looking for life fulfillment



• BRUNO / male / caucasian / 30-40 / bitter communist prisoner; boastful; likes to push his weight around



• KARL / male / caucasian / 18-21 / one of Jakob's former students; struggles with his being in jail when he had committed no crime
  
  
• YASHA / male / caucasian / 20-24 / simple-minded; Karl's friend; undaunted by life; has severe claustrophobia
  
  
• JOSEF / male / caucasian / 45-50 / known for his imposing size; honest, somewhat insecure; spiritually curious



• NIKOLAI / male / caucasian / 40-45 / head of the prison, a Communist; a tough, hardened exterior hides a surprising compassion



• DAVID / male / caucasian / 30 / a Mennonite preacher; gentle and courageous; dies for his faith



• VOVIK / male / caucasian / 30-60 / sarcastic wise-guy; rash; is using a spoon to try and dig out of prison.



• HANS / male / caucasian / 30 / cousin to David, though seems not to be quite as spiritually dedicated



• PEPCHIK / male / caucasian / 40-60 / eccentric; doesn't seem to be all there; refuses to speak and spends his time writing on the prison walls; at times, he's rather insightful



• PRISONERS and GUARDS / male / caucasian / various ages

In the Village...



• LOUISA / female / caucasian / 50-70 / Jakob's wife; known for her wisdom; respected; her dreams have an uncanny way of coming true



• RACHEL / female / caucasian / 30-40 / Jakob's Daughter; a hard-worker, pragmatic



• MARTA / female / caucasian / 8-10 / Jakob's granddaughter; adores her grandfather (also is played by a 2-year-old in the famine scenes)



• EMIL / male / caucasian / 12-16 / Jakob's grandson, Marta's older brother (also is portrayed by a 6-year-old in the famine scenes)



• EMMA / female / caucasian / 30-40 / timid, fearful; she asks Jakob to pray at her brother's funeral; afraid of her violent drunkard husband



• OIGEN / male / caucasian / 40-50 / superintendent of the school; coward; mean-spirited drunk

synopsis

Jakob Sail struggles with his growing sense of worthlessness, he agrees to the request of a neighbor to speak the Lord’s Prayer at her brother's grave. It is that prayer that leads to an ominous knock at the door later that night. Jakob's home is ransacked by the police, and he is taken from his wife and grandchildren. Thrown into a Soviet prison cell, his first night includes the seemingly senseless and capricious execution of one of his fellow political prisoners. But even under the threat of death and torture, Jakob begins to find meaning for his life by forming a music chorale with the prisoners.  When Oigen—the man responsible for Jakob's arrest—ends up a prisoner, Jakob must find out what he's really made of and if he's ready for forgiveness.

are you interested in auditioning for this project?

send us an email...

• include your name and contact info, plus an attachment of your headshot and resume



• all auditions are by appointment only... we will contact actors for an appointment



• please note: we are looking for actors in the New York City area

>>> send an email submission
underjakobsladder@cubecity.org

Before You Send that Email