Casting Dad
After his father passes away, a struggling actor comes up with a scheme to cast for a new dad – one who will proud of him.
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Wes ClarkDirectorDear Dad
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Wes ClarkWriter
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Spencer HawkinsProducer
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Randolph BensonProducer
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Phillip Andre BotelloKey Cast"Daunte"The Art of Self-Defense
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Jim EspositoKey Cast"Antonio"Tag
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:12 minutes 7 seconds
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Completion Date:May 1, 2023
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Production Budget:1,800 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:SONY FS5ii
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:Yes - Davidson College
Wes Clark is a writer and director from Philadelphia. He was an MPI Fellow in 2021 and Smock Media Fellow in 2022. His debut short film Dear Dad won two festivals in 2023 for best short, earning him an Abernathy Grant to fund his next short Casting Dad.
Casting Dad is a playful short based on the classic Japanese Horror film Audition (1999). It is deeply intermixed with real conversations, emotions, and events that occurred in Wes's own life dealing with his alcoholic father who passed away in 2022. This short is a part of the larger creative body of the director's work, which deals with family strife, alcoholism, and male vulnerability. Each script and film seeks to provide understanding to those who feel misunderstood.