Ayers

About Ayers

S.S. Ayers is a storyteller - a Director, Actor, Writer, Voiceover Artist and co-founder of [RARE] Lotus Productions. Originally from Washington, DC, she tells character-driven stories that take place during moments of collapse (natural disasters, political breakdowns, wars, and post-apocalyptic worlds). As a Black American woman, she\'s very aware of how little real power or agency she\'s often given in everyday life. So she\'s interested in what happens when those systems disappear and women like her are forced to make impossible choices, not just to survive but to decide who they want to be. Ayers believes when the rules fall apart, people can’t hide from who they really are. A character like Carol on The Walking Dead really speaks to Ayers.\"I was blown away watching her grow from someone silenced and abused before the world fell apart into a strategic, self-authored survivor in the collapse. Her character shows how collapse can strip away imposed identity and reveal strength that was always there,\" says Ayers.\"My work focuses on women making hard choices under extreme pressure, where freedom comes at a real cost. Through psychological thriller, horror, and feminist noir, I use collapse as a way to explore liberation and to show women that our power is real, even when the world tells us it isn’t.\"Stori made her Broadway debut in 2024 in Kenny Leon’s production of \"Home\" where she earned a nomination for Distinguished Performance from the Drama League. She played Regina, childhood best friend of Tiffany Haddish, on the TBS series The Last O.G. starring Tracey Morgan. As a director, Stori directed the world premiere of Confederates by Dominique Morisseau at Signature Theatre in NYC. For this production she won an Antonyo Award for Best Direction (Off-Broadway) and received a nomination for Outstanding Direction from the Drama League. Stori serveed as the Associate Director of Skeleton Crew on Broadway in 2021. Stori partnered with her classmate from graduate school to start [RARE] Lotus Productions. Together they co-created, co-produced and co-starred in a web series entitled THE NEXT RIGHT THING. Stori’s web series was accepted into the Bushwick Film Festival, the HollyWeb Festival, The Reel Sisters Festival, Indie Memphis, the New York Indie Theatre Film Festival, the Bronze Lens Festival, the Miami Web Fest where it was nominated for Best Dramedy and the 2018 NYC Web Fest where it was nominated for Best Pilot.Stori is a proud member of SDC and Actors’ Equity and is the former Executive Assistant to Dominique Morisseau and showrunner Katori Hall.

Experience

1. Film Director

   Paradigm Talent Agency

   Aug 2024 — Present · Los Angeles, CA, US

   Lead the creative vision and execution of narrative film projects from development through post-production. Collaborate with writers, producers, cinematographers, designers, and actors to translate scripts into compelling visual stories. Direct performances, oversee shot composition and visual style, and guide the tone, pacing, and emotional impact of each project. Manage cross-departmental teams while balancing creative goals with production logistics, budgets, and schedules to deliver cohesive and impactful films.Key Responsibilities:(1) Develop and articulate the creative vision for film and television projects(2) Direct actors and shape performances to serve story and character(3) Collaborate with department heads (cinematography, production design, costume, sound, and editing) to build the visual and tonal language of the film(4) Plan visual storytelling through shot lists, storyboards, and rehearsals(5) Lead production on set, making real-time creative and logistical decisions(6) Work closely with editors and composers in post-production to refine pacing, tone, and narrative clarity

Education

• The American Film Institute

  Masters of Fine Arts, Directing

• Penn State University

  Master's Degree, Acting

• Penn State University

  Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), Acting

  2011 — 2014

• Mary Baldwin University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Theatre/Theater

  2005 — 2009

• Mary Baldwin University

  Bachelor's Degree, Theatre/Theater