Episode Details

Syracuse Actor Studio on Building Community and Launching SAS Fest at The Palace Theater Host Noah Chrysler interviews Laura Disser and Joe Cunningham, co-founders of Syracuse Actor Studio (SAS), a monthly, donation-supported gathering of local actors and creatives featuring rotating instruction, exercises, performances, panels, workshops, and occasional field trips to connect Syracuse’s theater and film ecosystem. They discuss SAS Fest, a free-admission (donations encouraged) Central New York screening event at The Palace Theater in Eastwood running Sunday the 19th from 12–9, featuring 21 local projects including short films, a feature, and music videos. Joe and Laura describe how SAS collaborations helped generate many of the films and share their new short film, “Mariah,” about a disgraced CIA operative battling addiction and confronting her past, shot at recognizable Syracuse locations. They outline growth plans including a 501(c)(3), an interim board, and a long-term vision for a film incubator called Cinema City. 00:00 Welcome to Good News York 00:18 Meet Joe and Laura 00:35 What Is SAS 01:20 Inside Monthly Sessions 02:47 SAS Fest Details 04:03 Why SAS Fest Exists 07:31 Community Fuels Creativity 08:55 New Film Collaboration 10:29 Mariah Plot Pitch 11:09 Writing Directing and Locations 13:44 Playing a CIA Role 15:02 Yin Yang Partnership 16:20 Organized Chaos Filmmaking 17:27 Self Tapes and Auditions 18:02 SAS Future Vision 21:23 SAS Fest Details 22:21 Community Growth Stories 24:13 Palace Theater Praise 24:49 Final Thanks and Sign Off