Want to be in a movie?

The Thompson-Nicola Film Commission is looking for First Nations males to audition for a feature film based on Richard Wagamese’s novel Indian Horse.

Men between the ages of six and 25 are being sought for speaking roles in the movie, which is being filmed in neighbouring Kamloops, as well as in Sudbury, Ont. and Oka, Que.

Local audition tapings will take place Monday through Wednesday at the Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly on Coutlee Avenue, and in Kamloops at the Chief Louis Centre Assembly Hall, between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

B.C.-based Screen Siren Productions is the production company for the movie, which will be directed by Stephen Campanelli.

A film crew will tape auditions and send them to the casting director at no charge. People can also send in their own audition videos by April 17 by visiting www.screensiren.ca/indianhorsecasting.

Most of the roles are for hockey players and no prior acting experience is required. Filming begins this fall.

Vicci Weller, film commissioner with the Thompson-Nicola Film Commission, told the Herald she’s excited about the talent the Nicola Valley has to offer given the success of the recently-released movie Shana: The Wolf’s Music. That movie was shot using local actors and went on to win multiple awards.

“The talent’s definitely there, so that’s something we certainly want to promote,” Weller said.

Indian Horse is the story of Saul Indian Horse, a former hockey star undergoing treatment for alcoholism. Saul chronicles his life story as a means of identifying the source of his addiction.

Saul’s story begins in the northern Ontario bush and he end up at St. Jerome’s Indian Residential School.

A degree of respite arrives in the form of Father Leboutilier. The young priest introduces the students to hockey and Saul develops a passion for the game.

The movie follows Saul’s life as he ages and as his notoriety as a gifted hockey player grows. It is a story recounting the devastating memories of his life in residential school and how they haunt his successes and future.

“This is very significant First Nations project so it’s quite exciting,” Weller said.

Auditions can be booked by calling 250-378-1864.