Entertainment Abroad
and trying to make it in the Big Apple
and I was fascinated to hear their stories,
their journey, sometimes a really
harsh and difficult journey.”
Raison was also driven to start the
product because of “the current political
climate.”
“With everything happening since
November I think it’s really important to
one up and listen to immigrant stories
like you and me trying to make things
happen here and who are a positive
asset to America and New York itself,”
she said.
Currently, she invites actors she has
met through productions, auditions and
the Neighborhood Playhouse to her
house. They speak for two to three
hours about what projects they are
working on, any challenges they faced
and a brief section called open mike
where actors can perform a monologue,
play an instrument or sing. The
interview is then condensed to about
30 minutes.
“I’m very interested in what is their
story, what makes it unique but what
is their obsession, what are they driven
by?” she said. “In a way I think it’s for
our community of artists and young
actors who are living and striving here.
They’re all incredibly positive and optimistic
about what they do and so
passionate about their craft.”
So far, Raison has released six
episodes where she interviewed actors
from India, Ukraine, Peru, Italy,
Israel and Mexico. She is also trying
to expand the group of people she
interviews and is “trying to move away
from the Western world.”
Raison profiles Ram Kanneganti, a
recent NYU graduate from Hyderabad,
India, about his passion for clowning
and his recent project for HBO. Camila
Pujol Ochoa, who was born in France
but moved more than 30 times as a
child, talks about her career as an actor
and producer, and Anna Just, who
is from Ukraine, talks about her long
journey to New York and experience in
the 2004 Ukrainian revolution.
She has interviews lined up with
actors who are originally from Egypt
Photo via Instagram/Actsiders
An Astoria resident and actor talks to immigrant
actors on her podcast, “Actsiders.”
and Lebanon and is planning to speak
with actors who moved to New York
from Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Raison hopes to also interview directors
in the future and possibly work
out of a professional studio.
“There are so many adjustments
and different challenges that American
born actors maybe don’t acknowledge,”
she said. “My guests
are people who are resourceful, who
are not waiting to see what happens,
who are incredibly curious and want
to share that with people.”
“Actsiders” is available on iTunes,
SoundCloud and Stitcher. Raison also
has an accompanying blog where she
summarizes her conversations.
I’m very
interested in what
is their story,
what makes it
unique but what
is their obsession,
what are they
driven by? In a
way I think it’s for
our community
of artists and
young actors who
are living and
striving here.
www.qns.com I LIC COURIER I SEPTEMBER 2017 35
INGRID RAISON
Creator of Actsiders
