New York Mills Resident Launches Casting Call for Upcoming Film

Open casting set for April 9 at NYM School Library

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:49pm

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A stark, abstract illustration featuring a shadowy, jagged silhouette of a zombie figure emerging from a dark background, conveying the suspenseful and eerie tone of the independent film project.An independent filmmaker's call for local talent to join his upcoming zombie movie production taps into the creative energy of New York Mills.New York Mills Today

Community adults across New York Mills and the surrounding area will have the chance to find their place as an actor in an upcoming feature film 'Darkness,' directed by independent filmmaker and NY Mills resident Joel Trujillo. Trujillo has been making films since 1993 and is excited to see how his newest creative project is influenced by the people, places and culture of central Minnesota.

Why it matters

This open casting call provides a unique opportunity for local residents to get involved in the filmmaking process and potentially appear in an independent feature film shot in their own community. Trujillo's passion for low-budget, practical effects-driven horror movies also highlights the creative potential of small-town Minnesota.

The details

Trujillo has made several feature-length films over the past 20 years as one of his favorite hobbies. After moving to NY Mills in 2019, he is now casting for his latest project, a zombie movie called 'Darkness.' The open casting call on April 9 is open to actors, extras, zombie performers, makeup artists and crew members 18 and older, with no prior acting experience required for extra roles. Trujillo plans to utilize AI technology to help with special effects and post-production, as his low-budget approach makes it difficult to achieve Hollywood-level movie magic through practical means alone.

  • The open casting call will be held on Thursday, April 9 from 6-9 p.m. in the NY Mills High School Library.
  • Production of 'Darkness' will begin in mid-May to early-June 2026.

The players

Joel Trujillo

An independent filmmaker and NY Mills resident who has been making films since 1993. He is directing the upcoming feature film 'Darkness' and is excited to involve the local community.

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What they’re saying

“Growing up, I was always fascinated with how the movies were made, especially George Lucas' Star Wars. George A. Romero, one of my biggest influences, since this is a zombie movie. I was fascinated with how things were done, how things that look in the movie don't look like it behind the scenes.”

— Joel Trujillo, Filmmaker

“That summer, my dad had borrowed a camcorder from his friend to film our vacation. So in the meantime, with the camcorder just sitting there waiting for this trip, I started filming my Batman action figures, because I was a huge Tim Burton, Michael Keaton Batman fan at the time.”

— Joel Trujillo, Filmmaker

What’s next

Trujillo plans to cast the main roles within 24 hours of the April 9 open casting call, and production on 'Darkness' will begin in mid-May to early-June 2026.

The takeaway

This grassroots filmmaking project in small-town Minnesota highlights the creative potential of local communities and the enduring passion of independent artists who are willing to work within tight budgets to bring their visions to life.