THE ROLE
A Psychological Horror Feature Film
The Role is a contained psychological horror feature film from Nyawa Pictures, exploring obsession, identity, artistic pressure, and the terrifying lengths people will go to in pursuit of success.
Set largely within a secluded rural rental home, the film follows struggling actor Steve Gently as he prepares for a career-defining vampire role through increasingly extreme method acting. What begins as dedication slowly spirals into psychological collapse as the line between performance and reality disappears.
Designed as a highly producible low-budget feature with strong commercial and festival potential, The Role aims to combine elevated psychological horror with grounded character drama and dark industry satire.
Inspired by films such as Black Swan, Saint Maud and Nightcrawler, the project is also a strategic step toward building long-term sustainable feature filmmaking pathways within South Australia.
Thank You to our Supporters
We would like to sincerely thank all Kickstarter supporters, Australian Cultural Fund donors, supporters, collaborators, and community members helping bring The Role to life.
Independent filmmaking in South Australia is only possible through community support, collaboration, and audiences who believe in bold Australian storytelling. Every contribution directly assists the growth of local jobs, emerging creatives, and future South Australian feature film production.
DONATE TO OUR KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN (REWARDS)
DONATE TO OUR ACF CAMPAIGN (TAX DEDICTIBLE)
Follow the Film
Follow the journey of The Role through production updates, behind-the-scenes content, casting announcements, teaser material, and festival news via:
Nyawa Pictures | Mount Lofty Studios
Facebook: Nyawa Pictures Facebook | Website: Mount Lofty Studios
Instagram: Nyawa Pictures Instagram | Mount Lofty Studios Instagram
Key Creatives
Adam Gerard
Director
Adam Gerard is a South Australian filmmaker, producer, and creative industry advocate known for his work supporting emerging screen talent and independent Australian productions.
As the founder of Cabana Productions, Adam has built a reputation for emotionally driven storytelling and a strong commitment to creating opportunities for diverse voices within the South Australian film community.
He has also contributed to industry development initiatives and filmmaker mentorship programs across the state.
Travis Akbar
Writer/Producer
Travis Akbar is a Wongutha man, producer, writer, and founder of Nyawa Pictures and Wirra Distribution.
His work focuses on commercially driven genre storytelling while creating opportunities for emerging and underrepresented voices within the Australian screen industry.
The Role was specifically developed as a contained feature film designed to elevate South Australian creatives from short-form projects into feature filmmaking.
Yogi Devgan
Producer
Yogi Devgan is a producer and founder of Mount Lofty Studios, a South Australian production company focused on developing ambitious local film and television projects.
Through The Role, Mount Lofty Studios continues its commitment to supporting emerging South Australian talent, scalable genre filmmaking, and sustainable local screen production. The collaboration between Nyawa Pictures and Mount Lofty Studios represents a shared goal of growing South Australia’s feature film sector and creating opportunities for local cast and crew to gain professional feature film experience.
Cast
Murray Curtis
Steve Gently
Murray Curtis is an emerging South Australian actor known for his strong screen presence and emotionally grounded performances. He previously delivered an intimidating turn as Jeff Reed in The Speedway Murders and has appeared across several South Australian productions.
Having worked regularly with this creative team, THE ROLE represents a shared goal of elevating local talent into feature filmmaking together.
In The Role, Murray takes the lead as Steve Gently. A washed-up actor terrified of becoming irrelevant. Charismatic yet deeply insecure, Steve commits himself to extreme method acting in a desperate attempt to reclaim his career, slowly losing his grip on reality in the process.
TBC
Razeeen 'Raze' Parthipan
Raze is a South Aisan-Australian delivery driver with goth sensibilities and a fascination with mythology, folklore, and the supernatural. Intelligent, emotionally guarded, and empathetic, Raze forms an unexpected connection with Steve while confronting traumas from her past.
TBC
Millie Albright
A young auteur horror director whose intelligence, confidence, and creative ambition have rapidly elevated her within the film industry. Passionate about meaningful storytelling, she sees genuine potential in Steve beneath his fading career.
TBC
Mike Harding
Steve’s abrasive talent agent and constant source of pressure. Blunt, cynical, and obsessed with relevance, Mike represents the harsh commercial realities of the entertainment industry while still genuinely wanting Steve to succeed.
TBC
Harper Eloise
A bright and ambitious young director’s assistant helping manage the production around Millie’s film. Organised, optimistic, and eager to prove herself within the industry, Harper represents the next generation of emerging film creatives navigating the chaos of independent filmmaking.
TBC
Ninti
An AI assistant application used by Steve throughout his preparation process. Calm, clinical, and strangely unsettling, Ninti feeds Steve information, ideas, and validation that slowly contribute to his psychological unraveling.