RespectAbility Entertainment Professionals Lab 2024
Sophie Sagan-Gutherz
Sophie Sagan-Gutherz is a multi-disciplinary artist who schleps around NYC, occasionally donning a butterfly covered cane. This year, their short film POSSUM (writer, actor, co-producer) won the audience award at its world premiere (Final Girls Berlin, queer horror block). POSSUM currently is on the festival circuit, with an upcoming U.S. premiere and ‘23 placement of quarterfinalist at the Hollyshorts Screenwriting competition.
They recently finished writing their next short film fegele, a queer coming-of-age Hebrew school horror, are co-writing a feature Bubbe’s Cookies, a stoner-buddy comedy between a grandchild and their grandmother, and are developing the pilot Spoonie, a dark comedy sci-fi that explores themes akin to long COVID and disability in your late teens.
They’re often thinking about the body’s relationship to being physically disabled and trans, the five boyfriends they had in seventh grade and the magical woods of Massachusetts.
Playwriting honors include: Irons in the Fire (Faultline Theatre), Greenhouse Lab (Orchard Project), Resident (Fresh Ground Pepper), Resident (The Barn at Lee). Finalist placements: Williamstown J. Michael Friedman Fellowship, Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, The Civilians R&D Group, New Georges The Jam, The Public Emerging Writers Group, and EST Youngblood. Two-time semi-finalist for NPC/The O’Neill.
Select acting collaborations: Lincoln Center, Ars Nova, TFANA, The Public, and Williamstown. TV/Film: Cats and Walls (opposite Dylan Baker), SNL (“”Pride Month Song”), Idol Chaser (VLVMedia).
Sagan-Gutherz is represented by LG Managment for acting and scored a BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts where they studied musical theatre and clowning.
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After an extensive search and interview process, 25 individuals were invited to participate in the Virtual Cohort of RespectAbility’s 2024 Entertainment Lab taking place May 7 – September 24, 2024. This 5-month Lab aims to develop and elevate the talent pipeline of disabled entertainment professionals working behind-the-scenes in television, film, and streaming, while connecting them with industry professionals and creatives. Participants include people with physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health, and other disabilities ranging in age from people in their 20’s through their 60’s. The Lab is a recipient of The Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award.
