Actor / Writer / Producer

A Vimeo link is available upon request

Synopsis

By day, Riley crunches numbers, sips overpriced lattes and survives on four hours of sleep as an investment banker. By night, he’s fighting evil villains, heading up the mafia and taming the wild west–at least in his fantasies. But even imaginations have plot holes. You see, Riley’s true calling has always been to be an artist, a passion buried under the heavy weight of spreadsheets and the societal expectation to "get rich or die tryin’.” His journey takes us on a rollercoaster through the jungle of corporate America, mental health, relationships on the rocks, and the relentless pursuit for something more meaningful than a hefty paycheck—like an Oscar (or at least a People’s Choice Award). It’s a story that asks: is success about the money in your bank account—or the dreams you refuse to let go of, no matter how how grandiose they seem?

Writer’s Statement

What kind of 26-year-old leaves a high-paying investment banking job to become an actor? Well, the name is Henriksen. Justin Henriksen. The idea for Playing the Protagonist was born at 5 a.m. on a Wednesday, about six years ago. Exhausted from another 19-hour day at work, I decided to finally listen to the voice inside my head. It wasn’t just the hours; it was the nagging feeling that I was living someone else’s life. There comes a moment when you realize that the safest bet is the one you place on yourself. Playing the Protagonist is for the dreamers—the ones who refuse to live a life that truly isn’t theirs.