'He's Not Here' Dir. Chloe DE Brito
Short Film
MEAA
Sydney
Scraping through by the skin of his palms, JOSEPH CHAMOUN wins a bet: get through a bench press, and his brother CHARBEL will teach him to lead a traditional dabke dance to lift the spirits of their sick grandmother. Joseph’s best friend-cousin YVETTE joins in on the bet but doesn’t take the dance lesson as seriously as Joseph, who does his utmost to mimic his brother’s steps. He cannot master them. Charbel senses Joseph’s self-doubt on the way home and speeds to thrill him, but loses control of his car and nearly crashes. Retreating into himself and away from a mortified Charbel, Joseph rushes into their family home to perform for grandmother SALWA. But Salwa has died. And Joseph is the first to find her. In denial, he hides from Yvette and the chaos of the house to seek Charbel’s support outside. Charbel is gone. Joseph searches for his brother from street to street, instead finding his empty car. Joseph gets behind the wheel—and drives—into an emotional release.
Roles For This Project
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Submissions Due:
01/12/2026
SAMIR is written as a man around 40-60yrs old from a Lebanese background however we are open to people from a similar or neighbouring culture (like Greece, Italy, Syria). 1-2 x 8hr Shoot Days. Dad to Joseph, Charbel & Rania. Husband to Ines.
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Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
JOSEPH is written as a boy around 12yrs old from a Lebanese background. 5 x 8hr Shoot Days. Sensitive, observant, curious. Slim, minor signs of puberty (perhaps the makings of an upper lip mo). The youngest of three. Traversing the complex worlds of outside the home and inside the family, Joseph mi... [See More]
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Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
SALWA is written as an older woman from a Lebanese background. 2-3 x 8hr Shoot Days. Joseph’s paternal grandmother. She has survived her husband Boutros. Throughout his young life, Salwa and Joseph have been two peas in a pod. They have a unique and cherished relationship. They feel safe with one a... [See More]
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Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
RANIA is written as a young woman around 17yrs old from a Lebanese background. 2-3 x 8hr Shoot Days. Joseph’s older sister. Too cool to hang with the fam but she has her moments. When someone needs a sister or daughter, she’s there. Her sense of humour is elite and heart expansive. Experiencing a b... [See More]
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Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
INES is written as a woman in her early 50s from a Portuguese background, however we are open to neighbouring cultures (like Italy, Spain, Greece) as well as considering actors from a Lebanese background. 2-3 x 8hr Shoot Days. Mum to Joseph, Charbel & Rania. Heartfelt and charismatic yet stern.... [See More]
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Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
CHARBEL is written as a young man in his early 20s from a Lebanese background. 4 x 8hr Shoot Days. Muscular build, mullet, tns, mirin’ brah? Joseph’s older brother. The glue of his family. Going through his own shit with his friends and girlfriend. His family doesn’t know about it. The gym and his ... [See More]
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Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
YVETTE is written as a girl around 13yrs old from a Lebanese background. 3 x 8hr Shoot Days. Outgoing, charismatic, unapologetic. Moves through the world with confidence and ease. Staunch around all the boys and can give them a run for their money. Loves music - iPod always in one ear. Joseph’s fir... [See More]
More Roles For This Project
-
Submissions Due:
01/12/2026
SAMIR is written as a man around 40-60yrs old from a Lebanese background however we are open to people from a similar or neighbouring culture (like Greece, Italy, Syria). 1-2 x 8hr Shoot Days. Dad to Joseph, Charbel & Rania. Husband to Ines.
-
Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
JOSEPH is written as a boy around 12yrs old from a Lebanese background. 5 x 8hr Shoot Days. Sensitive, observant, curious. Slim, minor signs of puberty (perhaps the makings of an upper lip mo). The youngest of three. Traversing the complex worlds of outside the home and inside the family, Joseph mi... [See More]
-
Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
SALWA is written as an older woman from a Lebanese background. 2-3 x 8hr Shoot Days. Joseph’s paternal grandmother. She has survived her husband Boutros. Throughout his young life, Salwa and Joseph have been two peas in a pod. They have a unique and cherished relationship. They feel safe with one a... [See More]
-
Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
RANIA is written as a young woman around 17yrs old from a Lebanese background. 2-3 x 8hr Shoot Days. Joseph’s older sister. Too cool to hang with the fam but she has her moments. When someone needs a sister or daughter, she’s there. Her sense of humour is elite and heart expansive. Experiencing a b... [See More]
-
Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
INES is written as a woman in her early 50s from a Portuguese background, however we are open to neighbouring cultures (like Italy, Spain, Greece) as well as considering actors from a Lebanese background. 2-3 x 8hr Shoot Days. Mum to Joseph, Charbel & Rania. Heartfelt and charismatic yet stern.... [See More]
-
Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
CHARBEL is written as a young man in his early 20s from a Lebanese background. 4 x 8hr Shoot Days. Muscular build, mullet, tns, mirin’ brah? Joseph’s older brother. The glue of his family. Going through his own shit with his friends and girlfriend. His family doesn’t know about it. The gym and his ... [See More]
-
Submissions Due:
10/24/2025
YVETTE is written as a girl around 13yrs old from a Lebanese background. 3 x 8hr Shoot Days. Outgoing, charismatic, unapologetic. Moves through the world with confidence and ease. Staunch around all the boys and can give them a run for their money. Loves music - iPod always in one ear. Joseph’s fir... [See More]
