Joseph Hirsh's Feature Film 'Collapsar' Heads to Los Angeles for a Compact July Shoot

A small but intriguing independent feature is taking shape in Los Angeles, and for actors and crew comfortable with lean, fast-moving productions, it may be worth a closer look. Collapsar, a dramatic feature written, directed, produced, and executive produced by Joseph Hirsh, is currently in the casting phase ahead of a compressed shoot planned for approximately July 24 through 27, 2026. With a reported one-day principal photography window in Los Angeles, this is a micro-schedule production geared toward a tight, focused team.

The film centers on a man who develops a mysterious and worsening illness that his husband believes he is faking. Despite his skepticism, the husband attempts to care for him anyway, only to watch the disease continue to spiral. It is a premise rooted in relational tension and medical ambiguity, the kind of intimate two-hander that lives or dies on the strength of its lead performances. Hirsh is handling not just the directing and writing duties but also serving as casting director on the project, meaning actors interested in the film should be prepared to go directly through him. Producer Anthony Lucido rounds out the core creative team.

Collapsar is a non-union production, which is consistent with its micro-budget, short-schedule format. Non-union features of this scale operate outside the jurisdiction of SAG-AFTRA and IATSE, giving them flexibility on rates, turnaround, and crew structure in exchange for reduced formal infrastructure. For emerging actors building their reel or crew members looking to add an indie credit while maintaining availability for larger concurrent projects, that tradeoff is often worthwhile. The production does not appear to have a studio or distributor attached at this stage, which is typical for independent features at this point in their development cycle.

Los Angeles is both the creative home base and the filming location for Collapsar, which makes local crew and talent the obvious and logical fit here. LA's deep pool of non-union actors and crew makes it well-suited to productions operating at this scale and speed. With a shoot this short, the production will almost certainly rely on local hires exclusively, keeping logistics simple and eliminating any need for travel or housing accommodations. Given the one-day principal photography footprint, the locations department will be working with minimal complexity, and the overall crew size is expected to be small, likely a skeleton team covering core production functions.

At four shooting days (with one day of principal photography specifically noted), the production will need a nimble team that can work efficiently in a compressed window. Crew roles on a shoot of this type typically include a cinematographer, a small camera and grip package, sound, a script supervisor, and a production coordinator or AD to keep the day moving. The intimate nature of the story, focused on two characters navigating illness and distrust in close quarters, suggests minimal location complexity and a production that prioritizes performance over spectacle. This is not a VFX-driven or action-heavy project. It rewards collaborators who thrive in a controlled, character-driven environment.

Collapsar is still in the casting phase with filming roughly six months out, which means the window to get involved, whether as an actor or crew member, is open right now. For the full listing including production contacts and any updates as the project moves closer to its July start, head to ProductionList.com. Bookmark this one if you are a Los Angeles-based non-union actor or indie crew member looking to fill your summer calendar with a quick, meaningful project.

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