Full Sail Stories

A small crew huddles with umbrellas around a camera, boom, and preview monitor as the sun sets on the Full Sail backlot, thunderclouds looming in the distance. Director Sarah Goras calls, “Action!” and an actor dressed as a law enforcement officer carries a small girl in his arms down a mock city stoop.

As the scene wraps, Sarah reviews it, turning to the young actress to ask, “Do you want to see it?” Beaming with joy at the prospect of seeing her scene brought to life through the film lens, the young actress joins Sarah at the preview monitor to watch it back.

The Full Sail grad is directing a scene for a short connected to her upcoming feature film, Rose in the Sky. An independent feature inspired by Sarah’s own experiences with human trafficking, Rose follows the story of a teen girl who is trafficked while in foster care and her journey to freedom through dance.

“I ended up moving to Florida back in 2008 and joining what turned out to be a cult church. I was there for six years and just went through a lot of major psychological trauma and abuse in a very hostile environment,” shares Sarah. “I decided to enroll [at Full Sail] and I’m grateful I did. Because if I didn't, I wouldn't have left that place. I ended up essentially finding my voice from what I went through.”

Graduating with a film bachelor’s and creative writing master’s, Sarah is now a screenwriter and director who intends for her work to shine a light on the realities of human trafficking while telling stories that educate audiences and empower survivors.

“I feel like I'm giving these women voices, these women that are unheard voices, giving them a chance to dream. Rose in the Sky has been the most rewarding because it is just such a real thing for the women that I'm giving a voice to, as well as myself. If this girl in this story can do it, so can I.”

Sarah also wrote and directed an upcoming human trafficking training course for United Abolitionists, with intended use for several area companies including Jet Blue, Orlando International Airport, Lynx, Port Canaveral, and Melbourne International Airport.

While she was interested in the traditional, studio-oriented film career after graduation, Sarah soon realized the independent filmmaker path was the one for her, saying, “I had offers to be on set in Atlanta and in LA, to be in the camera department, even the producing department, I was just a really hard and passionate worker in this industry. But I knew what I wanted to do and I knew I couldn't do anything else.”

With selections in more than 100 film festivals and several awards for her short films and feature screenplays, Sarah emphasizes the importance of the festival circuit for filmmakers looking to find success in independent filmmaking.

“I think it's really important to submit to festivals. It's great for learning, as well as exposure. And that's really the goal, exposure. It gives you exposure to audiences and to potential people who can be a part of your future projects,” says Sarah. “[Festivals] help you learn your voice as an artist and also teach you how to take criticism. And how to take rejection.”

Grateful to get to tell compelling, character-focused stories, Sarah was happy to bring her production to Full Sail’s campus, giving students the chance to get hands-on experience working on a funded independent film project with purpose.

“Full Sail has got so many talented people and so many amazing people…. We're not just a bunch of cold people, separate. We are a bunch of friends and family that want to help each other. That's unheard of.”

To report human trafficking to law enforcement in Florida, call 1-855-FLA-SAFE.

Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE) to get help for victims and survivors of human trafficking or to connect with local services.