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FACULTY
MEET THE TEAM BEHIND RAW!
Sophie Ann Rooney
Sophie Ann Rooney is an award-winning director, filmmaker, and industry mentor with over 20 years of experience across film, television, theatre, and video games. She has directed for Netflix’s Daniel Spellbound (serving as both director and casting director for two seasons) and helmed the Kodak-awarded Fallen Fighter. Her work in AAA gaming includes voice directing and leading performance departments for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Ubisoft), earning multiple industry nominations, including a BAFTA Award for Performance. In 2024-25, she has been hired as a performance capture directing consultant on a highly anticipated game.
Sophie’s training spans some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. She was awarded merit scholarships at The Royal Central and the Oxford School of Speech & Drama. She further honed her craft at L’Atelier de Blanche Salant, apprenticed with Amy Werba, and studied at EICAR – International Film School of Paris. Her background blends classical training with hands-on experience, giving her a unique perspective on performance, storytelling, and industry demands.
As the Founder of RAW Actor Studio, Sophie has successfully mentored and coached countless actors, helping them secure roles in film, TV, theatre, voice-over, and video games. Her story and performance tools—LEAD© and PATHWEY™—are designed to unlock an actor’s full potential, ensuring they can command the screen, own the audition room, and thrive in a highly competitive industry.
Sophie’s directing career also includes her role as Executive Artistic Director of The King Black Box, where she has directed and production designed over 40 plays with TKBB and companies such as Sterling Studio Theatre, Theatre Machine, The Beaumont Stage as well as in her hometown of Paris. Her productions are known for their exceptional storytelling and attention to detail, earning praise from critics like Glenn Sumi and The Toronto Star: Joshua Chong.
Sophie is represented by Ryan Goldhar at The Characters Talent Agency (Film/Literary), Murray Gibson at Red Management (Talent), and James Crammond at Noble Caplan Abrams (Voice-Over).
In addition to her work in film, tv, film, voice over, theatre, animation and videogame, Sophie is a casting professional and a performance lead with deep industry knowledge. Her actors don’t just “take class”—they get career-shaping guidance, access to industry connections, and the skills to book the job.
If you're an actor ready to train at the highest level, sharpen your craft, and build a career that lasts, RAW Actor Studio is where you need to be.
Train with someone who knows what books—and why.
📍 RAWACTORSTUDIO.COM | THEKINGBLACKBOX.COM | @shotbylofa
Sophie’s training spans some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. She was awarded merit scholarships at The Royal Central and the Oxford School of Speech & Drama. She further honed her craft at L’Atelier de Blanche Salant, apprenticed with Amy Werba, and studied at EICAR – International Film School of Paris. Her background blends classical training with hands-on experience, giving her a unique perspective on performance, storytelling, and industry demands.
As the Founder of RAW Actor Studio, Sophie has successfully mentored and coached countless actors, helping them secure roles in film, TV, theatre, voice-over, and video games. Her story and performance tools—LEAD© and PATHWEY™—are designed to unlock an actor’s full potential, ensuring they can command the screen, own the audition room, and thrive in a highly competitive industry.
Sophie’s directing career also includes her role as Executive Artistic Director of The King Black Box, where she has directed and production designed over 40 plays with TKBB and companies such as Sterling Studio Theatre, Theatre Machine, The Beaumont Stage as well as in her hometown of Paris. Her productions are known for their exceptional storytelling and attention to detail, earning praise from critics like Glenn Sumi and The Toronto Star: Joshua Chong.
Sophie is represented by Ryan Goldhar at The Characters Talent Agency (Film/Literary), Murray Gibson at Red Management (Talent), and James Crammond at Noble Caplan Abrams (Voice-Over).
In addition to her work in film, tv, film, voice over, theatre, animation and videogame, Sophie is a casting professional and a performance lead with deep industry knowledge. Her actors don’t just “take class”—they get career-shaping guidance, access to industry connections, and the skills to book the job.
If you're an actor ready to train at the highest level, sharpen your craft, and build a career that lasts, RAW Actor Studio is where you need to be.
Train with someone who knows what books—and why.
📍 RAWACTORSTUDIO.COM | THEKINGBLACKBOX.COM | @shotbylofa
Grisha Pasternak
Grisha Pasternak is a filmmaker, mentor and artist as well as the Head of Operations at RAW. Grisha teaches the technical side of the acting profession to give actors the proper tools to help with effective and efficient preparation.
Grisha studied film at TMU and went on to do multiple shorts, music videos, spec commercials with feature films on the horizon. He is also a 14 year member of the industry as an actor and uses his experiences in front and behind the camera to help actors understand their responsibilities and empower them to rise to the occasion in the professional world.
Grisha believes that learning how to read and understand Story and your role in it is critical for any hope of longevity and consistency in this industry. Grisha's aim as a mentor is to guide and build the actors' toolkit in a way that allows for autonomy in their work and constant refinement of skills. Everyone is capable of transforming from beginner to professional, insecure to empowered, scared to confident. Grisha gives the tools for that transformation.
As an actor, due to the natural intensity of his looks, Grisha has made a career of playing bad guys and boy has he enjoyed it! In his spare time he is working on his golf swing and disappearing into a plethora of his eclectic interests.
"It doesn't matter if they are new to acting or just looking for a fresh perspective. The team at RAW will challenge, encourage and motivate anyone to better themselves. Grisha is an incredible teacher. He has given me the tools to continue to develop my process and hone my craft because his approach to the work is so detailed."
-Alumni Student
Grisha studied film at TMU and went on to do multiple shorts, music videos, spec commercials with feature films on the horizon. He is also a 14 year member of the industry as an actor and uses his experiences in front and behind the camera to help actors understand their responsibilities and empower them to rise to the occasion in the professional world.
Grisha believes that learning how to read and understand Story and your role in it is critical for any hope of longevity and consistency in this industry. Grisha's aim as a mentor is to guide and build the actors' toolkit in a way that allows for autonomy in their work and constant refinement of skills. Everyone is capable of transforming from beginner to professional, insecure to empowered, scared to confident. Grisha gives the tools for that transformation.
As an actor, due to the natural intensity of his looks, Grisha has made a career of playing bad guys and boy has he enjoyed it! In his spare time he is working on his golf swing and disappearing into a plethora of his eclectic interests.
"It doesn't matter if they are new to acting or just looking for a fresh perspective. The team at RAW will challenge, encourage and motivate anyone to better themselves. Grisha is an incredible teacher. He has given me the tools to continue to develop my process and hone my craft because his approach to the work is so detailed."
-Alumni Student
Leighton Alexander Williams
Guest: Filmmaker and Mentor
Randy Singh
Guest: Cinematographer
RAW Reels
RAW Reels
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