Lead Role for "The Sponsor" Short Film
Thaddeus, a deeply lonely and emotionally unstable man, sits alone in his car preparing to end his life. A drunk stranger accidentally interrupts the moment, leading Thad into a nearby AA meeting where the group mistakes him for a recovering alcoholic and showers him with praise. Addicted to the validation, Thad kidnaps another alcoholic — Doug — and forces him to drink, confess, and deteriorate so he can study what “real alcoholism” looks like and imitate it. Five years later, Thad has reinvented himself as a beloved sobriety coach. During a keynote speech, he quotes Doug’s dying words and receives a thunderous standing ovation. Offstage, alone, he drops the act — and the chilling smile that emerges reveals a predator fully coming into his power.
6 role s
Thad is intelligent, charismatic, and emotionally attuned — the kind of man people trust instantly. On the surface, he is calm, grounded, and compassionate. Underneath, he is deeply manipulative, driven by a need for admiration and control. He thrives when others depend on him. The performance requires restraint, psychological precision, and the ability to communicate menace through stillness, listening, and subtle shifts in behavior. Dark comedic timing is essential.
Doug Hall is a middle-aged alcoholic whose vulnerability, humor, and deterioration unknowingly spark the birth of Thaddeus’ false identity. Equal parts tragic and darkly funny, Doug is not a caricature — he’s human, wounded, and slowly unraveling. His scenes require an actor who can balance uncomfortable comedy with raw realism, grounding the film’s darkest turn. Doug is not the villain — he is the mirror that reveals who Thad truly is. This is a physically and emotionally demanding role.
An AA regular who jumps into leadership mode the second the drunk man collapses. Assertive, confident, and loud enough to be heard across the room. He brings urgency and structure to the moment, giving the scene momentum and helping sell the group’s real-world experience with crisis situations.
A grounded, alert AA member who reacts immediately when Thad bursts in. She’s compassionate, but practical — the type who’s seen enough chaos in recovery spaces to know when something is serious. Helps create the “everyone snaps into action” moment that kicks off the AA scene.
A friendly, encouraging AA member who immediately celebrates Thad like he’s a hero. He’s physical (handshake, shoulder slap) and socially confident, turning Thad into “the guy” in the room without realizing the damage he’s doing. He helps build the comedy and the unsettling validation Thad craves.
The AA member who jumps in at the perfect moment to stop chaos from going too far. He delivers the line that turns the awkward misunderstanding into a punchline — clear, direct, and almost parental. He’s comedic, but grounded, and helps keep the group dynamic believable.
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