PROJECT DETAILS

Caged

Feature Film

Non Union

Los Angeles

Synopsis:

Plot: A week after his baby was born with extreme deformity, Jalen Turner disappears. His family believes that the shock of his son is the reason. A month after the disappearance, Jalen returns battered, bruised and exhausted. He tells the family that he was caged by a group of Caucasian 'White Power Vigilantes'. The twist here is that the woman he is married to is Caucasian. Neither she or her family believes him. Jalen's own family has doubts as well but they simmer in support for him. This is a story about twists, lies and truth. The background is a broken marriage, the acceptance of a child with an incredible birth defect and a trip to the scene of the crime. Is this a Smollette-like hoax? Is this a case of true hate in the year of 2026? What is truly going on? Inspiration: I wanted to create a complex LEAD character for an African American actor. Something unique. Something atypical with an explosive plot. Even though this particular work is influenced by complicated dramatic releases such as Dressed to Kill and Gone Girl, this story lives in its own distinct universe. Background: During the weeks leading up to the Oscars, I sat in so many industry rooms and screenings. My Crew and I viewed Sinners four times on the big screen during this period (my 13th time in the theaters overall). Each time the joy was better than the last. Seeing these incredible African American images on screen in an incredible pop story was truly a peak moment in my entertainment journey. What amplified that feeling was knowing why Sinners existed by way of the connection of lead actor and visionary director Michael B Jordan and Ryan Coogler. While In these rooms, I asked questions to fellow industry heads. 'Why does the universe create these duos once every few decades considering how successful a connection like this can be'? The answer was usually always the same. In this generation particularly, people come to LA/Hollywood looking for instant fame. They soon realize that the road to success is not easy. They are usually struggling scared, working two jobs and living from paycheck to paycheck. Someone not looking like a studio pitching them a vision comes with a grain of salt. They hear you but they don't hear you. If your vision isn't giving them instant success vibes in their head, they don't focus, they don't mentally commit. That is the beauty of Michael b Jordan who before meeting his mentor, navigated through the business for years which means he understood the difficulties of reaching legendary status. This is why when a young man came to him and basically said 'you are my star', he listened. Thirteen years later, the two own individual oscars, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Billion Dollar Box Office Trail and a history making smash original film. QandA: Q. How do you manage to do so many projects? A. I do a multi media show which I do about 2 to 3 per times years. This marks my 30th year doing this type of show. The show has different mini stories. So the base production has maybe 6-9 short stories. Each of these short stories have different casts and different plots. Each story will either graduate to their own short film or they will expand into a full length one night show. The ultimate is to bond with the actors and keep the momentum of the project high and pitch it to networks or studios. This means I am always casting. Always filming. Always creating. Yet I wake up most morning's feeling empty and wanting to create more. I love it and I hate it. Its a gift and a curse. Q. You don't look like you have been doing a show for 30 years. You look young.. A. I started when I was a kid. I was a snot nose kid trying to figure out how to release my writing. Instead of waiting for Hollywood, I went out and rented the biggest non union theater I could find in Los Angeles to unleash my writing.

Roles For This Project

Feature Film

Jalen

$975 per filming day...

Role Rate:
$975 per filming day $150 per series teaser
Man Los Angeles 22 - 35 Non Union Feature Film

Submissions Due: 04/25/2026

I need stunning portrayal of a young man in complete turmoil. Layers: 1. He deals with the fact that his son is born with a serious deformity 2. He disappears. When he returns he has a story of being kidnapped by a White Supremacist group. No one believes him especially his Caucasian wife and her f... [See More]

VIEW
Feature Film

Gladys

$975 per filming day...

Role Rate:
$975 per filming day $150 per series teaser
Woman Los Angeles 56 - 65 Non Union Feature Film

Submissions Due: 04/25/2026

No nonsense mom who is suspicious about her son's story but will stick to and by him like glue

VIEW
Feature Film

Amaura

$975 per filming day...

Role Rate:
$975 per filming day $150 per series teaser
Woman Los Angeles 23 - 36 Non Union Feature Film

Submissions Due: 04/25/2026

Dealing with a baby with a deformity and disability is one thing, but having your husband abandon you then return with a lie is another. Deep performance of grief, sadness confusion and anger provoked by the characters family.

VIEW
Feature Film

Myesha

$975 per filming day...

Role Rate:
$975 per filming day $150 per series teaser
Woman Los Angeles 23 - 38 Non Union Feature Film

Submissions Due: 04/25/2026

Even though she makes it clear that something is strange with her brother's story, she states that will stand by him. She is a firecracker too. Doesn't take mess from no one and she will intervene on her brother's behalf several times

VIEW
Feature Film

Matt

$975 per filming day...

Role Rate:
$975 per filming day $150 per series teaser
Man Los Angeles 23 - 36 Non Union Feature Film

Submissions Due: 04/25/2026

Amaura's brother who doesn't believe her husband about the reasons for his disappearance. He is at the forefront of urging the DA to file charges

VIEW

GO BACK TO CASTING CALLS

Project Details

Project Notes

I didn't know what I was doing, but thirty years later and thousands and thousands of audiences entertained, I am still rolling. I have held court for every major studio: Sony, Warner Brothers, Universal, BET...I have exposed a lot of current working actors to the industry. I look on TV and movies today & almost every time I see someone who passed thru me. Its amazing but yet I am unfulfilled. Q: You talk about the difficulties in finding an actor that you can pair with. Why is this so important? A: The fact that I have three shows in the month of May, one that is huge and complex, yet I still wake up every morning feeling empty with the need to create something new should tell you about my creative energy. I was born to tell stories. If I go to a movie..any film.. when I come out of the theater I have three or four story lines that derived from a sentence someone said in the film. That type of creative energy would be served on an actor/director team for so many reasons.I mean the possibilities are endless. Q:Why do you think that it is hard to lock in on a singular actor? A: Connection. One thing I observed during the whole Sinners media rollout was the connection between Ryan and Michael. I already knew it existed in a big way, but to see their interactions, the things they said to and about one another. The joy in Ryan's face when his muse won the Oscar...Its connection. Ive hung out with actors and either they don't get me, I don't get them or they don't believe in the possibility. A lot of times they want to see your name splashed all on the internet. I create in silence and this generation doesn't do that. This is an era of selfies and snapshots... standing next to celebrities or a smile on the red carpet for their own personal hype. I come from a generation where when you put stuff out, it better be your best. I don't need to beat my chest and say look at me. I am in this for the creative art. The power and reach of story telling. This generation doesn't abide by that. An example would be Tyler Perry...at this point he could create an Oscar worthy film and it would be passed over. Why? because he is already ingrained in the publics mind on what his work would be about. Its unfair but its a fact. The first thing a muse and I put out in a BIG way will need to be the epitome of the term 'fire'. Nothing less. Our collaboration has to stand for intrigue and brilliance from day one. That doesn't mean we won't do small lead up projects..but the end game is undeniable. When you meet someone like me, they think I am fake or not real. Its amazing how people can't fathom that there are humans out there that have set up a life where they can create and have the ability mentally and physically to do so. People assume but those same people who are so quick to talk about you, wont take the time to come to a show and see what I do. Even better yet, lets go grab a bite and have a conversation. Dinner and Dealmaking is an essential part of Hollywood but this generation doesn't get that. I don't put my stuff online cause I drop it in my shows. I post snippets or clips in the name of promotion. If my work was online who would buy tickets and see my unique, multi media storytelling live? I'm not bragging but my shows cost upwards of 20k each if you factor in the crew, the promotion, the insurance, the rehearsal halls, renting the venue, having it filmed for prosperity, craft services and so forth. I record a number of commercial spots for radio each show. Money. Then there is the cost of filming short films for the occasion...not to mention I have cleared my schedule from work for most of the year in order to make it happen so not only am I losing large money, but I am also losing time. Time is crucial cause that is what will increase your retirement when it is time. I have never asked a single human being in my 30 years for a DIME. Never have, never will. I am sacrificing a lot but people only look at the surface.

Usage/Run

Non Union

Already a Member?

More Roles For This Project

Feature Film

Jalen

$975 per filming day...

Role Rate:
$975 per filming day $150 per series teaser
Los Angeles Non Union

Submissions Due: 04/25/2026

I need stunning portrayal of a young man in complete turmoil. Layers: 1. He deals with the fact that his son is born with a serious deformity 2. He disappears. When he returns he has a story of being kidnapped by a White Supremacist group. No one believes him especially his Caucasian wife and her f... [See More]

VIEW
Feature Film

Gladys

$975 per filming day...

Role Rate:
$975 per filming day $150 per series teaser
Los Angeles Non Union

Submissions Due: 04/25/2026

No nonsense mom who is suspicious about her son's story but will stick to and by him like glue

VIEW
Feature Film

Amaura

$975 per filming day...

Role Rate:
$975 per filming day $150 per series teaser
Los Angeles Non Union

Submissions Due: 04/25/2026

Dealing with a baby with a deformity and disability is one thing, but having your husband abandon you then return with a lie is another. Deep performance of grief, sadness confusion and anger provoked by the characters family.

VIEW
Feature Film

Myesha

$975 per filming day...

Role Rate:
$975 per filming day $150 per series teaser
Los Angeles Non Union

Submissions Due: 04/25/2026

Even though she makes it clear that something is strange with her brother's story, she states that will stand by him. She is a firecracker too. Doesn't take mess from no one and she will intervene on her brother's behalf several times

VIEW
Feature Film

Matt

$975 per filming day...

Role Rate:
$975 per filming day $150 per series teaser
Los Angeles Non Union

Submissions Due: 04/25/2026

Amaura's brother who doesn't believe her husband about the reasons for his disappearance. He is at the forefront of urging the DA to file charges

VIEW