Written by Alina Rose Armstrong
At just 19 years old, Sadie Bones has quickly made a name for herself as a talented and promising filmmaker. A graduate of LSTFI’s Two-Year Conservatory, Sadie has already written, produced, and directed her debut feature film, If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing. Despite her impressive achievements, Sadie remains refreshingly humble and hilariously sarcastic, embodying the individuality that sets her apart as an artist.
New York Beginnings
Born and raised in NYC, Sadie was drawn to film and television from an early age, influenced by her parents — both actors who studied at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Institute themselves. Grateful for the vibrant cultural scene of New York, Sadie found inspiration in the city’s broad spectrum of expression and dynamic artistic environment. Her passion for film was further fueled by her admiration for female directors like Sofia Coppola and Greta Gerwig, whose distinctive styles and storytelling abilities helped shape her own artistic vision. Sadie pursued her film studies at the prestigious Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens, renowned for its specialized curriculum and intensive training across various artistic disciplines. Following in her parents’ footsteps, she later chose to continue her education at The Lee Strasberg Institute, drawn to its focus on Method Acting.
Invaluable Lessons from LSTFI
Although Sadie didn’t want to pursue acting herself, she found immense value in taking acting classes at The Institute. While her previous education in film had provided her with technical skills, LSTFI ultimately helped define her directing style through its emphasis on human connection. Sadies credits her experiences at LSTFI with helping her embrace and express herself without inhibition. She also recognizes the humility she developed during her time at The Institute, humorously commenting on “the profound humiliation and embarrassment that often come with acting exercises.” Recounting a particular example, Sadie recalls working on Lee’s Song and Dance exercise in class with Lola Cohen. As the name suggests, the exercise uses song and dance to break the actor out of habitual patterns and encourage genuine, spontaneous expression. The experience led Sadie to shed all remnants of pride, enabling her to overcome self-judgment and fully embrace her authentic self.
In addition to a growing confidence, Sadie gained valuable insights into fostering genuine connections with actors and achieving impactful performances. While in class at LSTFI, Sadie was able to observe her peers perform and improve their craft, and notice the ways in which her teachers brought out the best in their performances. Beyond this, Sadie’s time at LSTFI brought her real-life experiences — friendships, heartache, love, and loss — that “deeply influenced [her] development as an artist and creator.” Ultimately, The Institute became a second home to Sadie, and solidified her desire to become a writer and director.
If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing
Sadie has now accomplished just that: she has written, produced, and directed her first feature film, If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing, starring Aitana Doyle, David Krumholtz, Kevin Corrigan, Galadriel Stineman, and Nadia Dajani. The narrative follows 17-year-old Sydnie, who discovers she’s pregnant after being brutally dumped and decides to keep the baby, only to face the challenges and realizations that follow. While the film addresses poignant themes, it remains a heartfelt comedy at its core, showcasing Sadie’s unique understanding of human emotions and experiences.
Nearly everyone involved in If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing is connected through LSTFI, including teachers, current students, and alumni. Although Sadie notes the film’s storyline is not directly based on true events, its characters are inspired by her own life and the people around her. She even crafted certain roles with specific individuals in mind, describing her writing as “grounded in real heartbreaks and past relationships, intended to resonate with viewers on a personal level.”
The film represents a profound, full-circle experience for Sadie. The film is both her directorial debut and has allowed Sadie to collaborate with peers she has admired since her time at school. She even had the opportunity to direct LSTFI faculty members — including Bill Balzac, Suzanne DiDonna, and Lola Cohen — using the very techniques they once taught her. Sadie emphasizes that her film not only embodies her own artistic growth but also underscores the lasting impact of her LSTFI experiences, bridging her education with her present achievements.
If that Mockingbird Don’t Sing has garnered praise at several festivals, including the Bentonville Film Festival and the Woods Hole Film Festival, where it was a runner-up for Best Narrative Feature Comedy. The Woods Hole Film Festival jury described it as a “funny, wonderfully touching movie told in an innovative and original way,” and specifically commended Sadie, noting that the “19-year-old writer/director skillfully balances moments of laugh-out-loud humor with scenes of devastating empathy.” The film is set to make its New York debut on September 22 at the Village East by Angelika during the SOHO International Film Festival.
