In what might be the most Portsmouth casting call of all time, filmmaker Vincent Herman of Subject to Change Entertainment has hit a snag. His upcoming indie feature Rat Songs—a day-in-the-life romp about three young degenerates whose acid trip goes sideways—needs a very specific role filled: a topless actress for a parody adult film-within-the-film.
Yes, you read that right. And before you ask—no, there’s no paycheck up front. The ad makes that clear. The “salary” comes in the form of a promise: 1% of the film’s backend profits.
What’s the “backend”?
In Hollywood, “backend” doesn’t mean what you think it means (at least not in this case). It’s industry-speak for payment that comes after the movie sells, usually from profits or distribution deals. If Rat Songs sells to a distributor or makes bank on streaming, that’s when the promised 1% kicks in. If it doesn’t? Well, your paycheck looks suspiciously like a goose egg.
Put simply: it’s like agreeing to be paid in lottery tickets. You might cash in, you might not.
But don’t dismiss Herman just yet
While the ad itself might sound like the setup to a late-night sketch comedy bit, Herman is no amateur. Alongside his Subject to Change Entertainment partners—his brother Travis and Chelsea Watkins—he’s been cranking out creative projects for years.
Past credits include:
- A “sweded” remake of Die Hard (that’s a no-budget, deliberately rough remake, à la Be Kind Rewind).
- The Indiscriminate Weight of Mondays
- A steady stream of sketches and shorts on the group’s YouTube channel.
That hustle has earned Herman credibility in Portsmouth’s tiny but determined indie film scene. He’s proven film is possible here, even on a shoestring.
Why the topless scene?
Before anyone clutches their pearls, Herman isn’t making an adult film. The scene is a gag: the main characters watch a dirty movie and riff on it, Mystery Science Theater-style. Without something on screen, the joke doesn’t land. As Herman put it himself, “I’m not skilled enough of an editor to composite something in later.”
He’s also quick to note there will be an intimacy coordinator on set, whose sole job is to ensure the actor’s comfort and boundaries.
Rat Songs: Portsmouth on Acid
At its heart, Rat Songs isn’t about nudity. It’s about capturing the feel of Portsmouth’s overlooked corners and the people who inhabit them. Herman describes the script as both comedic and raw, inspired by real characters and situations he’s observed around town.
Crowdfunding raised $400—enough to snag a boom mic and professional recorder. That may not sound glamorous, but for indie filmmakers, good sound separates “student film” from “real movie.” With that hurdle cleared, the crew is moving forward.
The takeaway
Is Herman’s topless casting call a little awkward? Sure. But it’s also a reminder of what indie film really is: begging, borrowing, and improvising to make stories that matter to the people who tell them.
If someone does take the part, maybe they’ll strike it rich on that backend deal. Or maybe they’ll just end up being part of a weird, scrappy piece of Portsmouth film history.
Either way—lights, camera… well, you know.
