Rising Stars: Meet Morgan Sage of Los angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Sage.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in South Jersey about twenty minutes from Philadelphia. I was obsessed with movies as a kid and I had dreams of becoming an actor from a very young age as did my Grandmother.

I started swimming at the age of four, which was the beginning of a very long and fraught relationship with the sport. At 16, I almost qualified for the Olympic trials in the 100 butterfly, but found myself daydreaming about acting in the school plays during swim practice and making little movies with my friends whenever I could…films that will never see the light of day.

Despite the potential I could have had as an athlete, the summer going into Junior year, I told my parents I didn’t want to swim at a national level any longer and that I wanted to join a film camp instead. They had their reservations but they supported my decision anyway and continue to do so every step of the way.

That summer I started making and acting in films in Camden and the rest was history. I remember being a bit bullied by my swim mates for leaving them to go play pretend with a bunch of film nerds and theater kids in a college campus parking lot at the age of 17, but it was the right call for me.

I got into Emerson College in 2015, where I studied film and spent a lot of time on the sound stage there. I acted in student films every chance I got.

In 2018, I made my thesis. I cast it using Backstage and I was lucky to have found Ximena Lamadrid through their site. We worked on the film together for two months. That was one of the best summers of my life. I was just happy to get to make a movie with all of my friends. Prior to graduating, I interned at AFI where i worked with talented emerging filmmakers on their graduate films.

After Emerson, I moved to Los Angeles, and was able to find administrative work at Warner Brothers and Jax Media while studying acting with teachers like Stephanie Feury, Brandon Thomas, and now Al Warren.

Last summer I acted in Jeffrey Prosser’s web series The Night Jogger (streaming on YouTube). Recently, I’ve been auditioning and looking to collaborate with fellow emerging artists. I’m currently developing a proof-of-concept short film that I wrote and plan to star in this winter.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think when I first moved to LA I had this fantasy that I’d get discovered and be off to the races within the first year of moving here. I can remember going on a night hike with my friends after just arriving to LA. We were looking out over the city and all of it’s lights and I asked them with great naivety, “I wonder what’s going to happen?” I wish I could go back to that moment.

So much has happened. And so much continues to happen (good, bad, ugly) to inform my decisions and shape my career as an actor and director.

It’s been a winding road between Covid, the strikes and the turbulent time the industry (and world) is navigating, but I believe that every challenge an artist faces is more experience to pull from and pour into our work. The work is never done and I am certainly still finding my footing.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an LA based actor/director seeking representation. I studied directing at Emerson College and have had a passion for acting my entire life. I am currently studying with Shape Actors in Highland Park. Right now, I am writing a relationship drama/thriller that takes place in New Mexico. I am also starring in a short film that centers around a couple navigating a 18 year long relationship while my character struggles with pregnancy and career ambition.

I am drawn to relationship driven stories and darker characters, though I enjoy comedy as well. I love independent cinema as well as off-kilter mystery stories like Fargo, Love and Death, Donnie Darko, I’m Thinking of Ending Things and Emily The Criminal. If I had to name a favorite movie, I’d pick Sex Lies and Videotape with Punch Drunk Love being close behind.

I would say, the thing I’m most proud of in my life is my ability to prioritize my art and stick to my gut no matter what gets thrown at me. Pursuing a creative career can be challenging, especially while living far from family. But each day I get to focus on acting and directing, I feel incredibly lucky and deeply fulfilled. I get to do what I love. And love living in Los Angeles.

I would say the thing that sets me apart from others is my optimism.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://morgan-sage.com
• Instagram: msage.jpg

Image Credits
Lukas Markou
Mike Zahar
Emilio Alejandro
Jacob “Kuba” Bojsza
Mac Films
Shelby Lynn Spencer