Five Minute Preview - Production Breakdown
FULL DISCLOSURE:
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We have submitted a grant application to LIFT Indiana to fund the production of a five-minute preview of this motion picture. If the grant is awarded, the timeline for production will be accelerated and we will need to move quickly into pre-production.
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As with any competitive grant process, funding is not guaranteed. However, in anticipation of a favorable decision, we are proactively pre-selecting cast members so we are fully prepared to move forward without delay should the opportunity arise.
Roles Available
By Invitation Only
Benjamin (“Ben”) – Principal Role
Mid–Late 30s | Educated | Escaped Enslaved Man | Dramatic Lead
Benjamin — known simply as Ben — is a man shaped by injustice, but not defined by it.
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A fugitive slave driven by courage and quiet resolve, Ben risks everything to witness Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train pass through Indiana—the final tribute to the man he believes gave him hope for freedom. Hunted by a relentless bounty hunter and torn between escaping to Canada or standing his ground, Ben carries both the weight of his people’s uncertain future and his own fragile hope. A role of deep emotional range, resilience, and restrained strength.
Elizabeth Schofield - Principal Role
Late 30s | Educated | Poised | Abolitionist | Dramatic Lead
A solitary woman shaped by quiet sacrifice, Elizabeth has lived much of her life on the margins of a changing world. Once deeply in love with Samuel, she has never fully let go of the passion they shared years before. When he reappears amid the turmoil following Lincoln’s assassination, old wounds and unspoken hopes resurface.
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Practical, perceptive, and stronger than she appears, Elizabeth must navigate the tension between guarded independence and a heart that still longs to be chosen. A role rich with emotional restraint, buried longing, and quiet strength.
Lt. Colonel Samuel Trumper – Principal Role
Mid–Late 30s | Union Officer | Dramatic Lead
A former Union soldier bearing the visible and invisible scars of war, Samuel returns home changed by all he has endured. Once idealistic, he now wrestles with grief, disillusionment, and the weight of unfinished promises.
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Bound by a lifelong friendship with Ben, he joins him on a perilous journey to witness Lincoln’s funeral train, confronting danger and moral uncertainty along the way. Still haunted by a love he shared years ago with Elizabeth, Samuel is a man caught between loyalty, longing, and the courage required to do what is right. A role demanding emotional depth, restrained vulnerability, and quiet moral strength.
When convenient, please reply to the original inquiry email with your casting materials. We look forward to reviewing your submission.