Older actress (w/d) as "Martha" for a bachelor's thesis film

Hello! We’re a student team from RheinMain University of Applied Sciences and are looking to cast someone in the role of “Martha” for our bachelor’s thesis film, “Let’s Go to Switzerland.” Since this is a student project, this production is unfortunately a no-budget production. Meals will be provided on set, and we can discuss travel expenses if necessary.

Logline: When their 89-year-old mother decides to die by assisted suicide, two adult siblings must overcome their own fear of loss and respect their mother’s wishes.

• Shooting period: 7 shooting days between December 9–18, 2026 (to be finalized by November 15)

• Filming location: expected to be Mainz/Wiesbaden

• Bachelor’s thesis film for the Media: Conception & Production

• Acting experience preferred

• Living in the Rhine-Main area is an advantage

If you’re interested in joining us, you can apply via Jobwork. Please send recent photos and a showreel.

We look forward to receiving your application!
Contact person: Franziska

MARTHA

Gender: female

Character age: 75–90 years

Language: German (native speaker), preferably with a dialect (Rheinhessian)

Martha has led a long and fulfilling life. She is a widow, loves her family more than anything, and knows exactly what she wants. Even as a child, she was rebellious, nonconformist, and headstrong. As a woman, she also learned early on to assert herself, stand up for herself, and not let others dictate to her so easily. She has retained this independence and strength of will well into her old age. She isn’t afraid of arguments, though she tends to clash quickly and fiercely with her son Michael in particular. Neither of them, however, ever holds a grudge. Right up until the end, Martha retains her dry and sometimes macabre sense of humor.

Martha is not seriously ill and, despite her advanced age, can still laugh, enjoy beautiful moments with her family, and remain comparatively fit for her age. For her, this does not contradict her desire to die. She has made peace with her life and feels it has been fulfilled. That is why she wants to leave on her own terms, as long as she is still able to make that decision herself.

While Martha has been clear about her own wishes from the start, she finds it harder to deal with her children’s fears. She has to fight to ensure that her family trusts her to make this decision and takes her seriously. When she feels patronized or misunderstood, she can become hurtful during arguments. At the same time, Martha must also recognize what her decision demands of the people who love her. Her self-determination remains her own, but she does not bear the emotional consequences alone.