Daily Inspiration: Meet Stephanie Terrero

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

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Thank you so much for having me! I started professionally as an actress well over seven years ago. I had zero knowledge on how or where to start in this industry as an actor. I was so green. I decided that after film school (where I learned all aspects of pre and post-production), I should get on set as much as possible and started doing work as a production assistant. A production assistant (PA) is one of the most thankless jobs in our field, I didn’t know it at the time but it requires a lot of hard work. The job of a PA is, in short, to run errands/accomplish tasks that are asked of them by anyone in the various departments of the production. Having done PA work, I want to take the time to say thank you to all the production assistants worldwide. I see you and I appreciate what you do! While I was working as a PA, I knew I wanted to become an actor but had more film crew experience than acting. I saw the actors on set and I knew I could do what they did, just as well as them. Speaking to one of the actors, I ended up joining an acting class at a studio near downtown Manhattan (I was based in New York at the time) and started my career.

Once my classes were done, I got professional headshots and set up profiles on Actors Access and Casting Networks. These are websites that actors need profiles on to submit themselves and have their representation, submit them for work as well. I started submitting myself for jobs and soon was auditioning for network television co-stars via self-submission. After two years, I felt more confident in my work and asked my acting coach at the time if he knew of any agents who were looking for new clients. He was a veteran actor and referred me to one of his first managers, since they ran a boutique agency, he figured it would be a good fit and it was! I signed with my first manager and started auditioning for major studio features and popular television shows. I worked with them for three years, gaining not only acting experience but insight into the business aspect of the industry. I decided to leave the agency as I was growing as an actor and businesswoman and had certain goals I wanted to accomplish. At the time I left, I had finished performing Off Broadway for the first time and was so excited to start this new chapter, but then COVID hit. The industry shut down and no one knew what was going on. Without representation and trying to figure out the new normal, I decided to create my own production company. I created Last Laugh Productions NYC and started creating my own content and auditioning virtually for any projects that were still moving forward with production during the pandemic.

Fast forward two years later, it’s 2022 (I still can’t believe it, feels like 2020 was last year) and I’m represented across the board in New York and Los Angeles, created several projects and have accomplished quite a bit in my short career. My content was accepted into various film festivals, where I received various nominations and wins for my work, I was mentioned in Deadline for one of my projects I had submitted to a large film festival and was receiving callbacks/pins for high profile projects. I then decided to switch markets, I’m from New York originally and recently moved to Atlanta to pursue work in this market. Especially as a Latina, I knew my type would be in demand in the southeast market and decided to make the plunge. I’m taking advanced acting classes to make friends, build community and network. I’m excited to discover the differences between the New York market and Atlanta, but I’m stoked to be here. The first four years of my career were foundational to my growth as an actor but the last three years is where I’ve learned how to flex my directing, producing and writing skills. Where I’m at today is ever-evolving and I’m looking forward to my growth, not only in this industry but as a person as well.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been a bumpy road to say the least. I was lucky that the first manager I was referred to signed me, not everyone gets that privilege. I then started auditioning exclusively for co-stars (for those won’t don’t know a co-star, typically, is when you audition to be in one scene on a television show) and navigating in person auditions with part-time jobs was tough. Scheduling was always tricky but I made it work, I never missed an audition. I have quit different part-time jobs in order to be on time for my auditions. As you would imagine, my finances have and still fluctuate and that’s something not too many people are comfortable with. Being an actor means you have to sacrifice job security at a certain point to progress forward. I started doing that early on, and going through financial struggle helped mold my hustle mentality. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for my go-getter attitude. That translated through my work as well; my favorite co-star audition at the time was for The Punisher on Netflix, they loved my work and my New York attitude and called me in to audition for a co-star on Iron Fist too. Didn’t book either but impressed the casting office, which is always the goal as an actor. I also auditioned several times for HBO projects, it was definitely an exciting time to audition for all these large projects because of my representation.

But my next challenge was to find an agent and no matter how many workshops, referrals, or showcases I did, I could not seem to find anyone interested in me. I definitely felt defeated and questioned where I belonged in the industry, and going long periods of time in between bookings didn’t help my self-confidence either. I was only booking non-union short films and student films at the time, and I desperately wanted to book union films and television. The industry has a way of teasing and dangling these opportunities right in front of you, but the more I went without booking union work and finding an agent, the less qualified I started to feel. Once I was on my own during the pandemic, I really had time to change my mindset and my focus. Surprisingly, creating my own content is what made my entire perspective shift, feeling like a power player and not a desperate actor who wants to work is where I found my sanity. Becoming a producer/director/writer helped me see that side of the business, so when I started auditioning for projects again, I had a different energy and a different approach to my auditions. That’s when I started to receive callbacks, availability checks, being put on first refusal, getting pinned, all fancy words to say they’re interested and considering you for the job. Sometimes you need to experience lows in your career to pick yourself up and see the highs. Not everyone goes through this and I’m glad they never had to, but for those who are struggling now, I understand your pain and if you keep pursuing this, you will see results.

Eventually, I found my current manager and my agents who believe in me and what I have to offer, and whenever I start to get on my soapbox about feeling left out (which happens from time to time no matter how successful you become), they reassure me of my abilities. I went from auditioning to co-stars to going out for larger roles such as guest stars and series regular roles. However, another struggle I’ve endured is, as an ethnically ambiguous Dominican, it can be hard to place me. Oftentimes when I’m submitted for a role, casting isn’t quite sure where I fit since I can look like multiple races. I feel like that’s changing as the world changes, but it has been a struggle. It’s a challenging path and I’ve endured personal struggles and professional struggles but I’m excited to be on it. It took me a while but I know how this business works, I know how to approach it from different angles and when doors close (no matter what you’ve accomplished), you make the door open in other ways by creating your own path and getting yourself out there.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m multi-hyphenate these days. I specialize in acting, producing, directing and writing. I would say the biggest thing I’m known for is creating my own content. I created a limited series of three episodes and combined it into one webisode titled, The Vlogs of a Fallen Influencer, I submitted this project to the HBO sponsored film festival, Official Latino Film and Arts Festival. The festival nominated me for best actress and for best webisode, the project then submitted its festival lineup in a press release to Deadline and it was here that my name was mentioned. That alone has opened doors for me, producers have taken meetings with me and larger casting offices have called me in and considered me for larger roles since my reps have used this win, when pitching me. This was a passion project that I directed, wrote, produced, was showrunner for, and did graphics editing. To have such a great outcome from it still amazes me and it’s what I’m most proud of as well. What’s crazy to me is that I was telling my partner that I wanted to be on Deadline one day, in some capacity, and then it happened when I least expected it.

What sets me apart from others is my ability to wear multiple hats as a creative and to be a chameleon when I take on a role. I have the kind of essence that can portray multiple characters once I’ve gone through those physical transformations with hair, makeup and wardrobe to embody the role. I really can go from being preppy and girly to goth and brooding, my ability to transition between roles is why I love what I do. I think what also sets me apart from others is my vast experience in front of and behind the camera. I’ve been on million dollar sets and I’ve been on zero budget sets, and that’s experience that I have taken with me into all my work. I’m also a graphic designer and create my own pitch decks and design websites for others. My pitch decks have gotten excellent feedback and have been seen by some pretty awesome people, and my website design work has done well for my clients. It’s something I do when I have time and find incredible joy in it. I love how I’ve become a multi-hyphenate within the last few years of my career and I’m looking forward to where it’s taking me.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is that it’s okay to reset. The industry will always be here should you decide to leave. If you need to take a few years off to figure life out that’s okay! The industry isn’t going anywhere and you are on your own journey, operating at your own pace. I wish I learned that as soon as I started but glad to know it now and happy to pass that advice onto others. I think sometimes, as creatives, we can think it’s now or never but it doesn’t need to be that way. If for whatever reason you need to leave or pause or recenter, I promise you that the industry will welcome you with open arms upon your return. Surrounding yourself with a great support system will aid you when you have questions and when you want to explore new opportunities. Go forth and do what your heart tells you, there is no wrong answer when doing what’s right for you.

Pricing:

• For designing websites, current rates start at $250+
• For designing pitch decks, current rates start at $200+
  

Contact Info:

• Email: lastlaughproductionsny@gmail.com
• Website: https://stephanieterrero.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/slickysteph
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/slicksteph
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/indepthsteph
• Other: https://imdb.me/stephanieterrero

Image Credits
Justin Clynes, Stan Demidoff, Hector Hernandez