Conversations with Stephanie Franklin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Franklin.

Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been in the Film and Television Industry for almost 20 years now. I started out with background acting, but really wanted to get in to production just didn’t know how to go about it. And then a post I randomly saw on FB mentioned to look at Craig’s List postings. As luck would have it, I found one and emailed them. Given Craig’s List reputation back in the day, I wasn’t expecting much from it and wasn’t sure how trustworthy it was. A day later I got an email back asking my availability. I spoke with an Associate Producer on the phone and it turned out to be for a regional commercial for a bank that would be filming in Charlotte. They offered me the role of Production Coordinator, which at the time I had no business being since I had never worked in production a day in my life, but I went into it with a “fake it ’til you make it mindset.” It was fun and a great learning experience. After that shoot, that same production company hired me on a handful of other shoots over the next couple of years. They were all small crews and I was able to learn something about every department, since you kind of lend a helping hand across the board on those small shoots. One shoot in particular that stuck with me even today, was for this digital segment called B Real for ESPN and that episode featured the first African American female tire changer for NASCAR. Brehanna Daniels was such a cool person to meet and she loved her job. She is such a bad ass.

After some time I joined Staff Me Up, like we all do and found a post for a show with FoodNetwork. That one turned out to be The Great Food Truck Race. At that time it was the largest production I worked on and I really enjoyed being part of that show and that crew of people. I keep in touch with a few of them still to this day. That show led me to working in the reality/ docu-series world. I worked on some shows on HGTV and FoodNetwork, but hands down my favorite show during that period in my career was Carnival Eats. The crew was small, all from Toronto and the surrounding area. The best team to work with.

Fast forward to the Global Pandemic. I had been trying to jump from docs-series to scripted content, but didn’t know anyone or have any connections on that side of the industry, so I was a little stuck. I was considering the idea of my time in the industry having run its course. In between, production jobs I was still doing Background work. I did a day or two on a show that shot in Charleston and made acquaintances with one of the AD’s on that show. He mentioned he was going to be heading to Wilmington, NC to film a pilot series soon. I mentioned my work background. He reached out to me a little bit later and hired me on to that show. This was February 2020. I arranged to travel to Wilmington March 10. That morning I got the call that they halted production. The next day the world stopped. It was a jarring time. I felt, as I’m sure most of us did, that this is it. No more filming. I felt like I had my one chance at scripted content and that was it.

To fill the days I took tons of online acting classes because acting is my favorite pastime and something I’ve always been passionate about. So many casting directors and coaches were offering free workshops and classes. While scrolling through YouTube one afternoon, I came across a video about film production. The channel was “Beyond Film School” with Amber Sherman. She offered so much information and it intrigued me. I scoped her website and found that she did Production Assistant training in person, but she was beta testing an online training version due to the pandemic. I hadn’t worked as a PA in quite some time at this point, but I love learning and Amber actively works on film sets in NY, so I knew her course would have some great information in it. If you haven’t heard of Beyond Film School, please check out Amber’s YouTube channel. She’s an amazing teacher and an even better friend.

When productions started back after COVID, I still had no insight on how to get onto scripted shows, so I went back to docs-series. Then I got a call from Amber. By then we had become friends. She was traveling down to the South to work on a feature in Atlanta and asked if I wanted to join the team. Yes! Yes! Yes! It was for a David Frankel directed film. Great experience for sure. The 1st AD was a veteran in the industry, Anne Berger and she took care of her crew.

As you know, it’s all about networking in this industry, as in most industries, so from there I continued to stay in contact with crew and friends I made and ended up on a handful of other features over the years. I had great experiences and some not so great experiences, but I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the best in the game and made some good friends along the way.

The last couple of years, I’ve stayed closer to home in the Upstate area of South Carolina working on independent film and have fallen in love with it. It’s definitely not big budget stuff, and maybe the crafty isn’t always the best (LOL), but being able to work in my hometown with some of my greatest friends makes it all worthwhile.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. As with everything, life has a way of interfering. COVID was definitely a hard road to navigate, obviously professionally, but also personally.
I also struggle with imposter syndrome a ton. I’m in my mid-forties now and I know I’ve earned my job titles and I know I’m good at what I do, but I have so many moments where I think, how am I pulling this off. I shouldn’t be doing this. I should just go back to being a stay at home mom. I have no business being in this industry. It sounds silly, but I think it also maybe just goes with the territory of being a woman and being a mom.

I’ve had to learn to juggle being a mom and working in this crazy industry. It’s not a normal 9-5 job, hours are long and grueling and mom guilt is very real, but I’m lucky to have the most supportive husband, always encouraging me when I’m ready to quit and just be home.

While most of the crews I’ve worked with have been great, every once in a while I’ve encountered some toxicity from a coworker or two. It sucks big time, but I can hold my own and know how to stand up for myself.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Right now I’m currently a Producer. I work in independent films. We’re trying to bring more indy movies to the Upstate of South Carolina. We have the most talented group of individuals in our area and I think slowly the word is starting to spread. I’m also learning the distribution side of the industry. I love making movies, but I want to learn how to get them out there to the world.
I also sit on two Film Festival Boards, Tryon International Film Festival which is coming up the weekend of Oct 9-12. We’re in our 11th year and it’s such a fun festival in the most beautiful small town in Western North Carolina and Reedy Reels Film Festival which will take place next Spring in Greenville, SC and is also in it’s 11th year.
Along with those boards I’m an executive board member of the SC PTA Board. I clearly love being on boards LOL. I love the PTA board because I was on PTA at all of my kids’ schools for the last 20 years and I”m a huge advocate for education and making sure all kids have an equal opportunity to learn no matter their circumstances and PTA helps make that happen.
As far as what sets me apart, I don’t know that anything in particular does. I’m just me. I love people and I’m absolutely in love with my tribe. I tell them all the time, it takes a village to make a movie, just like it takes a village to raise kids, so there’s no room for egos. Kids and making movies are similar in the fact that they both will humble you real quick and not even bat an eyelash.

As for what I’m most proud of, that answer is the easy: being a mom.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Find your tribe. You need a good support system to surround yourself with. Attend local film events and networking events. Where I’m based in Greenville we have a wonderful community of filmmakers called Film Bar Greenville. They host workshops and weekly get togethers at local breweries. It’s a great way to get your name out there when just starting out. There’s another group in the Atlanta area, Georgia Film Connection, that is a good way to get involved.
Ask questions and listen to the industry veterans tell their stories. I’ve heard some of the most wild stories from peers that have been doing this for 40+ years and they always drop great nuggets of insight. Take the time to listen to your mentors and check your ego at the door.
Create your own content. It may be cliche and you’ve probably heard it way too many times, but if you’re starting out and having a hard time finding jobs then create the work for yourself. Gather your friends and make a short film and submit it to regional film festivals. Build your portfolio that way.
Most importantly, stay humble.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.filmbar.org
• Instagram: @stephmariefrank
• Other: https://www.tryoninternationalfilmfestival.org