"THE LIFEGUARD" Casting News
- Presidential Productions
- Jan 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 12
Airlie Beach-local Cast in Lead Role of The Lifeguard
Australian performer Roo Dee Ford has been cast in the role of Damocles the Lifeguard in Presidential Productions' upcoming short film The Lifeguard, following a standout audition that saw the actor hired on the spot. The casting marks a significant milestone for the production as it moves toward filming in Airlie Beach, Queensland, this January.
At just 21-years-old in his first dramatic role, Ford brings a distinctive physical and psychological presence to the complex short film, shaped by his extensive background in acrobatics; including juggling, unicycle and comedy performance. That training has informed not only his physical discipline, but also his control, precision, and confidence in front of the camera—qualities central to portraying Damocles, a character defined by composure on the surface and mounting internal fracture beneath.
Director James Cunningham cited Ford’s immediate understanding of the role, determination and confidence, as decisive in the casting process. From his audition, Ford demonstrated an instinctive grasp of the character’s emotional restraint , embodying a performance that balanced stillness with intensity. The decision to cast him was made immediately, with Cunningham noting that Ford brought “a rare sense of focus, control and inner life that the role demands.”
Damocles is a lifeguard publicly framed as a figure of heroism, yet privately unraveling under the psychological weight of a submerged truth. Ford’s performance will lean into this contradiction, grounding the film’s psychological descent in authentic physical detail and emotional precision. His presence is marked by quiet dread, controlled movement, and moments of startling vulnerability that allow the audience to slip beneath the character’s polished exterior.
Throughout pre-production, Ford will continue to refine his portrayal, working closely with Cunningham to explore the fractured psychology of the character. The aim, according to the production, is to create an intimate, pressure-filled performance where tension is sustained not by overt action, but by what remains unspoken.
Central to the film’s emotional force is Ford’s willingness to expose the character’s vulnerability and enter deeply uncomfortable emotional territory. "Ford’s interpretation of Damocles will transform the character from a symbol of public heroism into a haunting portrait of psychological suffocation," says Cunningham. "His journey through this story examines the corrosive weight of guilt, the terror of exposure, and the fragile boundary between truth and performance."
With filming scheduled for January in Airlie Beach, The Lifeguard continues to position itself as a tightly controlled psychological study, anchored by a lead performance that promises both physical authority and emotional depth. Roo Dee Ford’s casting signals a bold and focused direction for the project.
For more information, visit presproductionsco.com/the-lifeguard
