Project Type: Feature Film - Classic Family Adventure
Genre: Whimsical Family Comedy-Adventure (Think "Paddington" meets "Home Alone")
Tone & Style: This isn't your typical kid's movie. It's sophisticated storytelling that respects children's intelligence while delivering pure joy. The tone is elegant mischief—Eloise is clever, not chaotic. Think wit over wackiness, charm over chaos.
Comparable Projects: "Paddington," "Matilda," "The Grand Budapest Hotel" (but kid-friendly), classic Shirley Temple films
Scene Context: This is Eloise's world being threatened for the first time. Her beloved Plaza—her entire universe—could change forever. We're watching a little girl realize that even the most magical places aren't immune to the adult world's complications.
Eloise is a force of nature disguised as a little girl. She's not bratty—she's brilliant. Not spoiled—she's sophisticated. She sees herself as an equal to every adult in the hotel because, frankly, she's often smarter than they are. She's curious about everything, fearless in pursuit of answers, and absolutely convinced that she belongs wherever she decides to be.
The unofficial mayor of the Plaza Hotel. Eloise genuinely believes she's an integral part of the hotel's operations—and honestly? She kind of is. She's the Plaza's heart and soul, even if the adults don't always appreciate that fact.
Mr. Salomone sees her as a delightful menace who somehow always gets her way. The staff probably love her but also slightly fear her ability to turn any situation into an adventure. To adults, she's precocious and charming but exhausting.
I'm Eloise, the Plaza Hotel's most important resident (even if some adults forget that sometimes). I'm an expert in hotel operations, an adventurer, and the person who makes sure everything stays interesting around here. I know every secret passage, every staff member's name, and exactly which elevator button gets you to the roof fastest.
MY lobby. The Plaza Hotel lobby isn't just where I live—it's my kingdom. Every marble tile, every crystal chandelier, every velvet chair is part of my world. This place has rules, but I'm the exception to most of them.
It's a perfectly ordinary afternoon that's about to become perfectly extraordinary. It's the time of day when interesting things usually happen—which is why I'm here instead of wherever Nanny thinks I should be.
Pure elegance trying to contain pure chaos (me). The Plaza lobby is all gold and marble and crystal—very serious and adult. But I'm here now, so it's about to become much more fun. There are guests who think they're important, staff who pretend they don't love me, and Mr. Salomone who's about to tell me something VERY interesting.
Mr. Salomone is my favorite grown-up because he treats me like I'm smart (which I am). He also gives the best information when properly motivated. Levi is my newest friend and adventure partner—he gets it. These other people are just temporary visitors to MY hotel.
Something is different today. I can feel it. Mr. Salomone is acting weird, and when adults act weird, it usually means something interesting is happening that they don't want to tell me about. Which means I absolutely must find out what it is.
ANSWERS. Why is today special? Who is this "new owner"? And most importantly—how do I make sure nobody changes MY Plaza? I want to understand this threat so I can figure out how to stop it.
Adults and their ridiculous need to "protect" me from information. Mr. Salomone's desire to avoid my questions. The fact that grown-ups think children can't handle important things (which is obviously wrong).
By being absolutely impossible to ignore. If gentle questioning doesn't work, I'll escalate to mild threats (handstand walking across the lobby). If that doesn't work, I'll escalate to pure Eloise logic until he surrenders and tells me everything.
This is elegant mischief, not chaotic energy. Eloise moves through the Plaza like she owns it (because she does), but she also respects the space. The cartwheel is playful but controlled. The threat to walk on her hands is dramatic but calculated. Even her stumble backward should have a theatrical quality—this is a girl who understands drama.
Every "No!" should be different. The first one is disbelief. The second one is horror. By the time he mentions high tea, it should be pure anguish. Chart this emotional escalation and make each reaction bigger than the last—but still truthful to a child's emotional reality.
Yes, Eloise could be seen as the "precocious rich kid." But that's surface level. The truth is: Eloise is a child who's been treated as an equal by adults her entire life, which means she's developed genuine wisdom and leadership skills alongside her natural curiosity. She's not bratty—she's empowered.
"The world is full of interesting people doing interesting things, and if you ask the right questions and refuse to accept boring answers, you can be part of any adventure you want."
The Trap: Playing Eloise as "cute kid being precocious."
The Truth: Playing Eloise as "tiny CEO discovering her company is being sold."
Don't stay on one emotional level. Eloise goes from playful to threatening to victorious to confused to horrified to devastated—all in three minutes. Map out each shift and make them clear. The bigger the range you show, the more impressive your audition becomes.
If you can't do a real cartwheel, don't fake it badly. Instead, substitute it with some other physical action that shows Eloise's confidence and slight disregard for lobby decorum. Maybe she slides across the marble floor, or does a little spin, or walks backward while talking. Make it YOUR version of Eloise's entrance.
You've just been having an adventure with Levi, probably showing him some secret Plaza location or teaching him the proper way to slide down the banister. You're in a great mood, feeling very pleased with yourself for making a new friend. You cartwheel into the lobby expecting to find the usual boring adult business, but instead you sense something different in the air. Your curiosity sensor is immediately activated.
After Mr. Salomone mentions canceling high tea and you stumble backward, you have a choice for how to end this beat:
Choose the one that feels most true to YOUR version of Eloise.
Try the scene standing, sitting, moving constantly, or staying perfectly still. Eloise should probably be in motion for most of it—she's too energetic and curious to stay static. But find moments where she freezes (when processing shocking information) or explodes into movement (when making threats).
Even though your reader is off-camera, really listen to their delivery. If Mr. Salomone sounds tired, let that inform how hard you push. If he sounds amused by your threats, get more dramatic. If he sounds genuinely upset about the changes, let that scare you more. Stay alive in the scene.
If they ask for something different, try "Eloise with more vulnerability." Same determination and curiosity, but let us see that underneath all that confidence is a little girl who's never faced real uncertainty before. This could show beautiful range while still honoring the character.
Final Pep Talk: You're not auditioning to play a child. You're auditioning to play a force of nature who happens to be seven years old. Eloise doesn't see herself as "just a kid"—she sees herself as the most interesting person in any room. Your job is to make casting believe that's absolutely true. Show them an Eloise who's impossible to forget, impossible to dismiss, and absolutely impossible to say no to. The Plaza Hotel is her kingdom, and you're about to prove why.