A casting call for an Albuquerque short film is now open for The Trees Are Talking — a thriller narrative film written by Denise Garcia, Alana Berky-Green, Leonel Cisneros, Miriam Goodman, and Genevieve Westmeyer, filming April 18th and 19th, 2026. Story Quest Studios is proud to share this opportunity with actors across Albuquerque and Rio Rancho.
About the Film
A killer is on the loose in Albuquerque. Fred, a paranoid man living alone, begins to feel watched — shadows at the window, cars following him home, his apartment ransacked. As the news reports grow more urgent, Fred’s fear spirals into a desperate run through the night toward the Bosque — where the truth about who is really being hunted comes to light. This is a tense, atmospheric thriller with strong character work at its center — the kind of instinct-driven performance our Albuquerque acting classes are designed to build.
Read the Script
Roles Available
Fred (Lead) — Male, around 19, scruffy and paranoid. The central character whose fear drives the entire story. Audition tape required — see submission instructions below.
Investigator (Supporting) — Any gender, any age. Put-together, mysterious, and quietly menacing. Headshot only required.
Victim (Extra) — Any age, any gender. Needed Sunday only at Rio Rancho Bosque. Headshot only required.
Background Actors — Any age range. Needed Saturday only. No audition tape or headshot required — email to express interest.
Production Details
Filming dates: Saturday April 18th and Sunday April 19th, 2026
Call time: 4:30 PM both days — filming runs into the night
Locations: On and off campus. Sunday’s final location is Rio Rancho Bosque — approximately 30 minutes out. Reliable transportation required.
Compensation: Non-union, unpaid — Video Production 2 student film.
Explore more opportunities through the UNM Film and Digital Media Arts program.
How to Submit
All submissions go to dgarcia@unm.edu. Please follow the instructions for each role:
For Fred: Send an audition tape reading lines from the script. Include your name, age, height, the role you are auditioning for, and whether you have reliable transportation.
For Investigator or Victim: Send a headshot along with your name, age, height, the role you are interested in, and whether you have reliable transportation.
For Background Actors: No tape or headshot needed — just email dgarcia@unm.edu to express interest and get more information.